what is the best ground cover plant

What is the best low growing ground cover?

Which flowers are best for low maintenance ground cover?

• Geranium ‘Rozanne’ is my favourite hardy geranium and is so easy to grow. ...
• Gypsophila repens is a lovely flower to direct sow into borders as it grows around established perennials for a soft and 'frothy' looking prettiness that is hard to find with ...
• Nemophila 'Five Spot' is a super cute plant which you can direct sow around the edges of borders. ...

What is the lowest growing ground cover?

Useful as a lawn replacement and planted between pavers, creeping thyme is a very versatile, walkable ground cover that grows to about 4 inches tall. “Elfin” thyme is one of the lowest-growing varieties (staying below 2 inches) but doesn’t spread to form a mat as quickly as woolly thyme (T. pseudolanuginosus). When crushed, thyme leaves give off a pleasant herbal scent.

How to choose ground cover plants?

Plant leafy ground cover plants to add texture to your garden.

• Ivy plants, which will spread and climb easily through your garden
• Lamb's-ears, perennial plants with fuzzy leaves and a silvery green hue
• Vincas, a low growing ground cover with green and white leaves
• Dymondia, a ground cover plant with slender, slightly curly leaves

What is the best ground cover flower?

27 Common Ground Cover Flower

1. Flowering Thyme. Flowering thyme, also known as creeping thyme, is an extremely popular ground cover flower. ...
2. Bugleweed. Bugleweed is another ground cover flowers with a nice aromatic scent. ...
3. Alyssum. ...
4. Canadian anemone. ...
5. Candytuft. ...
6. Sedum. ...
7. Delosperma. ...
8. Creeping Phlox. ...
9. Deadnettle. ...
10. Black Mondo Grass. ...

More items...

What is the fastest growing ground cover plant?

Fast-Growing Ground Cover for ShadeSweet Woodruff. Zones 5 to 8. ... Bunchberry. Zones 2 to 7. ... Goldenstar. Zones 5 to 8. ... Trailing Periwinkle. Zones 4 to 8. ... Creeping Thyme. Zones 4 to 9. ... Yellow Alyssum. Zones 4 to 7. ... Ice Plant. Zones 5 to 10. ... Creeping Juniper. Zones 3 to 9.

What is the best low maintenance ground cover?

Reduce the amount of time required for weeding and looking after your plot by adding some of the best low maintenance ground cover plants to your planting scheme.Checkerberry/American Wintergreen. ... Mondo grass. ... Alchemilla Mollis (Lady's Mantle) ... Creeping thyme. ... Sedum spurium 'Dragons Blood' ... Bergenia. ... Heather.More items...•

What is the best type of ground cover?

The Best Low-Maintenance Ground Covers for Your GardenHeuchera. 2/16. ... Honeysuckle. 3/16. ... Brass Buttons. 4/16. ... Creeping Phlox. 5/16. ... Creeping Jenny. 6/16. ... Stonecrop. 7/16. ... Vinca Minor. 8/16. ... Lamium. 9/16.More items...

What is a good ground cover to prevent weeds?

6 Best Ground Cover Plants to Prevent WeedsNameWater RequirementsZonesPhlox Stoloniferamoist conditions5–9Phlox Subulata (Creeping Phlox)dry soil3–9Red Creeping Thymedry3–9Dragon's Blood Sedumoccasional water3–82 more rows•Feb 25, 2022

What is the cheapest ground cover for landscaping?

Cheap Natural Perennial Ground Cover OptionsCreeping Periwinkle – $1.07 per plant.Walk-on-Me Thyme – $3.99 per plant.Moss Phlox – $4.59 per plant.Violets and Pansies – Seeds range from $0.95 to $2.95.Early Snow Glories – $2.40 per plant.

What ground cover comes back every year?

White Stonecrop In midsummer, it produces tiny clusters of white flowers that attract butterflies. White stonecrop provides year-round interest with its reddish-brown leaves in the fall and winter.

What is the best ground cover to replace grass?

Best Ground Covers as Grass AlternativesSun-loving perennials.Shade-loving perennials.Fragrant ground covers. Chamomile lawn. Creeping thyme. Corsican mint.Ornamental grass.Clover.Moss.

What is the cheapest way to landscape a backyard?

Utilizing crushed stones or garden rocks is one of the easiest cheap backyard landscaping ideas you can find. Instead of having to pay a hefty price for lawn turfs such as grass or other plants, you can easily fill a lot of space by using the type of crushed stone pictured or even garden rocks, gravel, etc.

What ground cover can take a lot of water?

Several species of the ornamental grass and ground cover called sedge (Carex) can tolerate wet soil while providing year-round color. Variegated Japanese sedge (Carex morrowii 'Aurea-variegata') is a deer-resistant, water-loving grass producing green blades with creamy white striping, reveals Monrovia.

What kills weeds permanently?

Yes, vinegar does kill weeds permanently and is a viable alternative to synthetic chemicals. Distilled, white, and malt vinegar all work well to stop weed growth.

What is the most invasive ground cover?

Bugleweed. Bugleweed has pretty purple flowers and grows from ground-hugging rosettes. One individual plant looks harmless and charming, but it will spread by runners and quickly form a dense mat. There are places, like hillsides, where mat-forming plants are welcome.

How many ground cover plants do I need?

How Many Plants Do I Need?Spacing between plantsSq ft per plantNumber of plants per 100 sq. ft.12"1 sq ft10015"1.56 sq ft6418"2.25 sq ft4424"4 sq ft242 more rows

What is the best low maintenance ground cover Australia?

As particularly hardy plants, groundcovers are also generally quite easy to grow and require little to no maintenance....7 hardy groundcovers for Australian gardensLamb's ear. ... Native violet. ... Star jasmine. ... Bellflower. ... Blue bugle. ... Creeping boobialla. ... creeping Thyme.

What is the best ground cover to replace grass?

Best Ground Covers as Grass AlternativesSun-loving perennials.Shade-loving perennials.Fragrant ground covers. Chamomile lawn. Creeping thyme. Corsican mint.Ornamental grass.Clover.Moss.

What can you put down instead of grass?

Eco-Friendly Alternatives to a Grassy LawnGroundcovers. Groundcovers sprawl across the ground but don't grow tall, eliminating the need to mow, providing the perfect alternative to grass. ... Corsican Mint. ... Creeping Thyme. ... Clover. ... Ornamental Grasses. ... Evergreen Moss. ... Native Perennial Beds. ... Artificial Turf.

What is the most drought tolerant ground cover?

Here are the nine best drought-tolerant ground covers for your landscape:Angelina sedum (Sedum rupestre 'Angelina')Bearberry cotoneaster (Cotoneaster dammeri)California fuchsia (Epilobium canum)Creeping thyme (Thymus praecox)Dwarf periwinkle (Vinca minor)Hardy ice plant (Delosperma cooperi)More items...•

What is the best ground cover for a dry area?

Sedum. If you live in a warm, dry area, sedum is the way to go. “Any low-growing sedum varieties make ground cover that is very easy to take care of,” Stark says. “It has fleshy leaves that hold moisture to help it survive short drought periods .”.

What is the best zone for Ajuga?

Ajuga, also known as carpet bugleweed, is a gorgeous ground cover plant. This perennial grows in USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 3 through 9. “You’ll get very glossy leaves in shades of chocolate-brown, bronze and deep green,” says Jen Stark, master gardener and founder of Happy DIY Home.

What is creeping thyme?

Creeping thyme is “one of the hardiest non-edible, aromatic ground cover plants for dry, well-draining areas that receive heavy sun and little to moderate water ,” says Mark Gutierrez, co-owner of Gutierrez & Sons Tree Service. This landscaping powerhouse comes in several varieties to suit any space.

What zone is pink knotweed?

According to Gutierrez, it’s “a rugged evergreen option for ground cover in USDA Hardiness Zones 8 to 9.”. It grows particularly well in flat areas. Pink knotweed’s leaves alone are brilliantly colored.

Is sedum a good ground cover?

This plant comes in a broad array of colors, and some varieties even flower. Because of this, sedum is one of the most versatile ground cover plants.

Does Ajuga need sun?

Ajuga can handle sun or partial shade, and Stark says that it does well in almost any soil type. It needs good soil drainage and moderate water.

Do clover lawns need to be mowed?

Clover doesn’t need to be mowed. And according to Erinn Witz, co-founder and writer at SeedsandSpades.com, it needs little to no watering or fertilizing once it’s established. There are varieties suited for full sun and shade.

What is the best ground cover for a flowerbed?

The creeping thyme, commonly referred to as “mother of thyme” is probably one of the best ground cover plant choices for a flowerbed, especially for the sunny areas of a garden.

What Are Ground Cover Plants?

These are the low-growing plants that spread quite fast and form a dense cover.

How to propagate creeping sedum?

Propagation. Creeping sedums are the easiest to propagate. Simply cut a few stems, then shallowly stick them onto some potting soil. The tall sedums are best propagated via division. When planting, ensure the root ball’s top is on the same level as the surface. Place your plant in the hole, then fill it in.

How to grow portulaca from seed?

Growing portulaca from seed. Directly plant the seeds into the garden (after the last frost) or start them indoors 6-8 weeks just before your area’s projected last frost date. Ensure the soil is slightly moist and that the seeds are not completely covered; because they require light to germinate.

What is a creeping sedum?

Creeping/low-growing sedums (such as Sedum tetractinum, Sedum ternatum, and many others) feature long narrow stems that develop and spread along the ground—often a few inches tall—forming colorful mats of fleshy foliage…. …Therefore, a good ground cover plant choice for rock gardens, path edges, and stone walls.

How tall does Portulaca grow?

The plant grows to a height of 3-9 inches and spreads, creating a dense mat befitting any choice of the garden.

What is the name of the plant that grows in the ground?

Also known as the bugleweed, Ajuga reptans is an herbaceous perennial ground cover native to North America. The plant grows and spreads quite fast through its underground runners known as stolons. It has shiny dark green foliage and blooms in mid to late spring—putting forth purple, violet, or blue flower spikes.

What is the best ground cover for a heath?

Heathers are low growing, evergreen shrubs that make excellent ground cover plants. Native to heaths and moorlands, they do best in acidic soil in a sunny spot. The flowers range in colour from white, pink, purple and red. There are two main types: callunas flower from late summer through to winter, while ericas flower from winter to spring. The flowers are much loved by bees.

What is ground cover?

Ground cover plants are naturally low-growing plants that form attractive mounds or carpets. They cover the ground quickly, covering bare soil. They are often low-maintenance and often evergreen. Ground cover plants are used to fill in gaps at the front of a border, as well as those tricky spots at the bases of shrubs that are difficult to plant.

What is a hardy geranium?

Hardy geraniums. Hardy geraniums are incredibly versatile plants, as they thrive in sun or shade and in most soil types. They look good in almost all styles of planting, from cottage gardens to a more contemporary schemes. They’re great for growing at the front of the border and under shrubs and roses.

Why do we need ground cover plants?

As they cover the soil, ground cover plants are great for suppressing weeds. They act like a mulch, so they can help to lock in soil moisture and nutrients . Some can even help with soil erosion on slopes, their roots holding everything together when it rains.

Do you have to weed before planting ground cover?

Weed the area thoroughly before you plant, as it will be difficult to remove weeds once the plants are in. There are many types of ground cover plant, grown for their evergreen foliage or flowers, and sometimes both. Here are 20 of the best. 1.

Is Lily of the Valley evergreen?

It bears scented white bell-shaped in late spring. It spreads quickly and has gorgeous white, bell-shaped flowers in late spring, which are deliciously scented. It also makes a lovely cut flower. Grow in moist soil. Lily of the valley is not evergreen, so the foliage will die back in winter.

Is lavender a good plant for a border?

Lavender is a great choice for a front of a border, planting under roses, lining a path, or for covering a sunny area. Lavandula angustifolia is evergreen and more hardy and long-lived than French and Spanish lavenders – try the classic varieties ‘Hidcote’ and ‘Munstead’. The flowers are very attractive to bees. Grow in well drained soil in a sunny spot and cut back after flowering to keep the plants neat. Give them another light trim in spring.

What is the best ground cover for shade?

6. Ajuga. Ajuga is one of the most stunning ground cover flowers for shade and is both an annual as well as a perennial. Its also known as Bugleweed and offers an attractive ground cover for your garden. It grows rather fast, often sabotaging the growth of other plants.

What is the best plant to grow in front of a blue haze?

Gardeners grow Blue Haze in front of other perennial plants to lend more attractiveness to the landscape. 2. Sedum . Sedum is an excellent choice for gardeners looking for a ground cover with yellow flowers. It is an ornamental succulent plant that thrives perfectly in full sunny spots.

What is the best zone for creeping pholox?

These are evergreen only in USDA Zones 8 to 10. 9. Creeping Phlox. Creeping Phlox is a sturdy and low maintenance ground cover plant you all can easily grow in between rocks in your gardens. It produces lovely looking blossoms in pastels that help in covering bald patches in your gardens.

How tall does a hardy ice plant grow?

These grow to reach a height of 2 inches and bloom vigorously in dry climates. 5.

How big does Euphorbia grow?

This ornamental plant grows well in full sun and reaches up-to 8 feet in height and measures 12 to 15 inches in width.

What plants grow fast?

Ground cover plants grow fast and have the ability to form into beautiful blankets of blooms at spots inaccessible by other plant varieties. These produce blossoms in various colors like yellow, white and purple and are mostly used on edges or borders of gardens. 1. Euphorbia Blue Haze.

Does Lily of the Valley grow in shade?

If you’re searching for stunning ground cover flowers for shade, then Lily of the Valley must be mentioned for its a plant that thrives well in shade and produces lovely aromatic blooms in white. The blooms last for a long time and brighten up any shady spot in your garden.

What is ground cover?

Ground cover plants are all-around problem-solvers: They retain moisture, control erosion, and provide habitat for pollinators like bees and butterflies. While grass is typically the best way to fill out empty space, sometimes low-growing plants are a better — and prettier — option. There are so many options to choose from, ...

How much sun should I give my ground cover?

FYI: Full sun means an area gets 6+ hours of direct sunlight per day, part sun is anywhere from 3 to 6 hours of direct sunlight, and full shade is up to 3 hours of sun. If you're planting a shrub or perennial that you want to last from one year to the next, make sure it's suited according to your USDA Hardiness Zone (find yours here ). And remember that although these ground cover plants are extremely tolerant, they still need to be watered during dry spells for the first year or two until their root systems are well-established.

What is the name of the shrub with white flowers?

6 Aronia. Mark Turner. Aronia is a pretty low-growing native shrub that has tiny white flowers amid glossy green foliage. When several are planted together, they form a dense hedge that thrives in almost any type of soil and full sun.

How long do ground cover plants need to be watered?

And remember that although these ground cover plants are extremely tolerant, they still need to be watered during dry spells for the first year or two until their root systems are well-established. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below.

Is Lily of the Valley tolerant?

While it may be one of the toughest (er, tolerant) plants out there, Lily of the Valley looks as sweet as can be with darling white bells dangling from strappy green leaves.

Is creeping thyme drought tolerant?

This tenacious perennial spreads rapidly, thrives in full sun, is cold hardy, grows in poor soil, and is drought tolerant once established.

Do lavender plants need full sun?

If you've seen the lavender fields in Provence, you know this sweetly-scented perennial with purple or blue flowers looks amazing planted en masse. It doesn’t like wet feet, so make sure the soil is well-drained. It needs full sun to flourish.

What is the best ground cover for shade?

Yet, it quickly covers the ground and produces clusters of white flowers. The best quickly-spreading ground cover for shade is Periwinkle ‘Bowles’ Variety.’. This hardy cultivar is less-invasive than other periwinkles. Also the leafy, fast-growing spreading plant produces stunning purple flowers in the shade.

How tall do bellflowers grow?

This low-growing bellflower plant only grows 6” (15 cm) tall. Plant bellflowers as ground cover in full sun wherever you need color all summer long. These ground-hugging plants are perfect for sunny gardens in zones 4 – 9.

What is a candytuft plant?

Candytuft ( Iberis sempervirens) Candytuft is a flowering fast-growing ground cover plant for full sun. This spreading evergreen perennial is a low-growing bushy plant that produces clusters of dainty white flowers in early summer. Plant candytuft in raised beds or as sprawling ground cover in your garden.

How wide does a rock cress plant spread?

As a full-sun ground cover, the ground-hugging plant has a spread of 2 ft. (60 cm). Rock cress is perfect for adding color to slopes, mixed beds, borders, or rock gardens. Grow the evergreen perennial in zones 5 – 7.

How tall does Rock Cress grow?

The mat-forming perennial shrub doesn’t grow taller than 9” (22 cm) and tolerates bouts of drought.

Is creeping Jenny invasive?

Creeping Jenny is an invasive ground cover plant for full sun that quickly spreads. This low-growing attractive spreading plant has brightly-colored foliage and spreading stems. Creeping Jenny produces flowers in midsummer and its evergreen perennial growth provides year-long interest. The creeping stems of this plant take root wherever they touch the ground.

Is Speedwell a perennial?

Speedwells are easy to care for flowering perennials that prefer a sunny location with well-draining soil. Speedwell is a non-invasive ground cover plant that has vigorous growth. Speedwell plants quickly form a low mat of lush green glossy foliage that’s ideal for low-maintenance ground cover in full sun.

How tall does a low growing ground cover plant grow?

It will cover your garden while giving it a unique bright look. This plant will not grow taller than 3 inches. Besides, it is a real tough plant.

What is the best ground cover for moss roses?

Portulaca is widely known as the moss rose. One of the most fabulous decorative flowers for ground covering. This colorful low growing ground cover plant will definitely make your garden stunningly beautiful. It will bloom in many colors including yellow, pink, red, white, orange and many other colors. Most of all, this cute delicate looking flower is among the toughest ground covering plants. It tolerates poor conditions and neglect.

How tall is an Ajuga plant?

Ajuga is a beautiful low growing ground cover plant that reaches a maximum height of 6 inches. The plant has a unique foliage that ranges from chocolate-purple foliage to ‘Chocolate Chip’ to the reddish-bronze foliage of ‘Rubra’.

How tall is a blue flower?

This is another beautiful ground covering plant that reaches a maximum height of 1 foot. It has an absolutely alluring blue flower that will adorn your ground and make it charming.

What color is a sage plant?

One of the best beautiful features of this plant is that its different colors including white, purple and pink, add a colorful accent to any greens.

Can pachysandra grow in shady areas?

This is an ideal choice if your ground does not get a lot of sunlight. Pachysandra grows and thrives best in shady spots. This plant usually takes few seasons to completely grow but once it does it becomes absolutely sturdy. It will endure neglect and abuse.

Is a sage plant a ground cover?

This plant is neither famous nor known. Although being one of the best ground covers, many gardeners haven’t heard of it. It is a sturdy plant that can tolerate traffic. You could walk on it.

What is the difference between creeping juniper and cotoneaster?

Creeping juniper varieties, such as ' Blue Rug ', share the shrub classification with cotoneaster. But "creeping" in the name indicates where this plant parts ways with cotoneaster. These are short, surface-hugging plants that are excellent for controlling soil erosion on sunny hillsides. They're also fairly low-maintenance. Prune the plant during the spring if you wish to keep it from spreading or if there is a diseased or dying section, and make sure the plant has evenly moist soil until it matures.

How tall is Cotoneaster?

Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster horizontalis) Rockspray cotoneaster ( Cotoneaster horizontalis) can reach a few feet tall, though you can train it through pruning to remain shorter. That might not sound like a ground cover to you. It is indeed a shrub, but it is called horizontalis for a reason.

What is silver mound artemisia?

Silver mound artemisia is strictly a foliage plant. There is no flower spike to deal with when growing this ground cover that loves full sun. Where lamb's ears sport a coarse plant texture, silver mound has a fine texture. So depending on how you are working with plant textures in your landscape, this distinction could make the difference in your plant selection. To keep this plant looking its best, give it a slight pruning as summer begins. This helps to prevent the branches from falling away from the center and leaving a hole in the middle of the clump.

Is Rockspray cotoneaster a shrub?

It is indeed a shrub, but it is called horizontalis for a reason. Rockspray cotoneaster exhibits a strong tendency to grow horizontally like a ground cover, rather than vertically, and it appreciates sunlight. Plus, its bright red berries are numerous enough to furnish considerable ornamental value to a landscape.

Is catmint a drought tolerant plant?

The Spruce / Letícia Almeida. This sun-loving and drought-tolerant variety of catmint makes for a great flowering ground cover. 'Six Hills Giant' has a mounding growth habit and bears numerous small flowers. If you cut it back after its first bloom, it should flower for most of the growing season.

Can ice plants grow in the sun?

People sometimes have trouble growing the ice plant. It is a succulent, but cold is typically not the problem. The issue is you have to provide it with sharp drainage. Still, this spreading, full-sun ground cover will make it worth your while if you solve its drainage, as it produces a dazzling display of flowers.

Can a plant tolerate a lot of sun?

Dry Soil. Just because a plant can tolerate a lot of sun, it doesn't necessarily mean it likes dry soil. Follow the care tips for your particular species in terms of watering to keep it healthy. Here are 10 ground covers that are easy to grow in full sun. 01 of 10.

1 – Ajuga

2 – Portulaca

3 – Phlox

4 – Sedum

5 – Carpet Juniper

6 – Bunchberry

7 – Evergreen Candytuft

8 – Yarrow

9 – Liriope

10 – Creeping Thyme

• The creeping thyme, commonly referred to as “mother of thyme” is probably one of the best ground cover plant choices for a flowerbed, especially for the sunny areas of a garden. It’s short and stocky, therefore able to adequately offer landscaping aesthetics often delivered by grass. In addition to its sweet fragrance, which often peaks during bloo...

See more on diyhomegarden.blog