Ground covers are a fantastic way to add beauty and functionality to your garden or yard. Whether you have full sun or shade, there are plenty of options that can thrive and enhance your outdoor space. Here are eight easy-to-grow ground covers to consider:
1. Creeping Thyme
- Sun/Shade: Full sun
- Description: Creeping thyme forms a dense mat of attractive, fragrant foliage and tiny flowers. It’s drought-tolerant once established and can withstand foot traffic, making it ideal for pathways or between stepping stones.
2. Ajuga (Bugleweed)
- Sun/Shade: Part shade to full shade
- Description: Ajuga features glossy, colorful foliage in shades of green, burgundy, or bronze, depending on the variety. It produces short spikes of blue, purple, or pink flowers in spring, adding a splash of color to shaded areas.
3. Liriope (Lilyturf)
- Sun/Shade: Part shade to full shade
- Description: Liriope is a tough, evergreen perennial with grass-like foliage that spreads slowly to form a dense ground cover. It’s low-maintenance and produces spikes of violet or white flowers in late summer.
4. Sedum (Stonecrop)
- Sun/Shade: Full sun to part shade
- Description: Sedums are succulents with fleshy leaves that store water, making them extremely drought-tolerant. They come in various sizes and colors, from low-growing varieties perfect for rock gardens to taller types suitable for borders.
5. Vinca Minor (Periwinkle)
- Sun/Shade: Part shade to full shade
- Description: Vinca minor is a fast-spreading evergreen ground cover with glossy green leaves and lovely blue or white flowers in spring. It thrives in shady areas where other plants struggle.
6. Sweet Woodruff
- Sun/Shade: Part shade to full shade
- Description: Sweet woodruff forms a lush carpet of whorled leaves and delicate white flowers in spring. It’s well-suited for woodland gardens or shady borders and has a pleasant, sweet scent when dried.
7. Japanese Spurge (Pachysandra)
- Sun/Shade: Part shade to full shade
- Description: Japanese spurge is an excellent ground cover for dense shade under trees or along woodland paths. It has glossy evergreen foliage and small white flowers in spring.
8. Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia)
- Sun/Shade: Full sun to part shade
- Description: Creeping Jenny features bright chartreuse leaves that form a dense mat of trailing foliage. It’s ideal for cascading over walls or containers and adds a splash of vibrant color to any garden.
These ground covers not only suppress weeds and reduce erosion but also provide habitat for beneficial insects and wildlife. Whether you’re looking to fill sunny spots or shady corners, there’s a ground cover on this list to suit your needs. Plant them in the appropriate conditions, provide adequate water until established, and watch your garden transform with lush greenery and vibrant blooms.
