Looking for a low-maintenance alternative to weed? Whether you want to spice up your garden path with a pretty border or hide an unsightly bare spot under a tree, these easy to seed buds will make it easy. In addition to visual interest, ground covers protect against soil erosion and retain moisture while also serving as a natural habitat for butterflies and bees.
Read on for our favorite low-growing flora—from pretty perennials and dainty shrubs to elegant evergreens.
Golden Moneyweed
Also known as the creeping jenny, this short, long-stemmed perennial that can grow up to two feet across produces yellow calyx flowers in spring.
Striking at any time of year, the popular herb displays a variety of colors, from dark green and gold to silver and variegated leaves. The drought-tolerant periwinkle requires little attention and thrives best in full sun to partial shade.
This sweetly scented perennial with bell-shaped flowers, which can grow up to 30cm, is very fast growing and requires minimal maintenance. Note that this may be the case poisonous If you take it, avoid it if you have pets or children.
Not to be confused with the ginger you find in grocery stores, this slow-growing shade lover — which has kidney- or heart-shaped leaves depending on the variety — is ideal for woodland gardens and prefers acidic, moist soil that is well-drained.
Leave plenty of room for this easy-to-grow groundcover that displays scalloped leaves and subtle yellow-green flowers in late spring and early summer.
Loved by several species of butterflies (including the brown sprite and Freija fritillary), this berry-filled subshrub thrives in dry, sandy soil in full sun.
Also known as False Rock Cress, the tough bud grows well in rocky, alkaline soil. A member of the mustard family, the European boasts gray-green foliage and bright magenta flowers in spring.
Extremely drought tolerant, this quick spreader bears a drizzle of rubbery, plum-colored foliage with clusters of pink flowers that bloom in late summer to early fall.
This attractive, deer-resistant groundcover — also known as deadnettle — is quick to spread but not invasive and features bicolored leaves and snapdragon-like flowers that range from pink and purple to white.
The fragrant darling – prized for its antiseptic properties – thrives in hot, dry areas with gravel soil. It requires at least six hours of full sun per day and takes two to three years to form a thick ground cover that reaches heights of up to 18 inches.
One of the few ground covers that grows well in dry shade, the perennial periwinkle displays clusters of flowers in a spectrum of hues, from white and yellow to purple and pink.
This Australian perennial is two inches tall and advertises purple, fern-like foliage studded with circular yellow buds that appear late in spring.
This slow-growing semi-green thrives best in moist, low-light environments. Its curved blades take on a pink hue in autumn, increasing its aesthetic appeal.
This hardy species displays bright, star-shaped flowers in a variety of hues and is native to rocky outcrops and sandy barrens.
This shade-loving groundcover with white tipped flowers does not need to be fertilized and should only be watered during dry periods.
Also known as “Vinca,” the light purple plant’s ability to creep and take root easily makes it perfect for planting in areas without sun and on slopes and hills where rain typically causes erosion.
This easy-to-plant perennial—which should only be watered when the soil gets very dry—has soft, fluffy leaves with a velvety feel. In summer, the sunbather sprout pink and purple spiky flowers.
The aromatic evergreen can thrive in hot, dry conditions with low fertility and is highly adaptable. It thrives in compacted and sandy areas where grass will not grow, making it an ideal substitute.
soapwort
Used by early settlers as a laundry detergent (hence the name), the self-seeding herb, which tolerates almost any soil type, usually sprout in colonies and reaches its peak between mid-summer and fall.
This hardy plant has fragrant, deeply lobed leaves that turn rusty red in fall. Five-petalled 1-inch flowers appear in clusters in spring to late summer.
Masus
Studded with tiny blue blooms in summer, this native Asiatic is small but mighty — reaching a maximum height of two inches, growing quickly and doing particularly well in rock gardens and under full sun.
This low-lying spiller is found in coastal areas and thrives in small cracks, rock gardens, and other soil-poor locations. When planted in large numbers, it gives off a sweet, honey-like scent.
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