Last Updated on October 31, 2021 by Phil
Looking for the best ground cover plants?
Here are some of the most amazing ones that will let you liven up any blank space, be it in shaded areas, pathways or walkways.
Ground cover aren’t often the star of any garden. But, they make a great supporting cast to the beautiful flowers and lush lawn you may have.
Here are our top picks.
Blue Star Creeper
This is an amazing plant to grow if you want to over a flat or slightly inclined space in your garden.
The small light blue flowers are lovely to look at. And, they’re spaced out well enough to make them very visually appealing.
They bloom from spring all through early in the fall. And, they cover ground quite fast.
That said, it’s important to not that they’re toxic.
So, it’s not a good idea to have them if you have pets or young kids playing in the yard.
Spotted Dead Nettle
Another very gorgeous looking ground cover to consider is the spotted dead nettle.
This is a better option if you have pets and young kids since it’s edible.
It also doesn’t irritate your skin.
Both their foliage and flower are very unique looking.
In most cases, its leaves are more dominant. But, the small white, purple or pink flowers break up all the greens.
Sweet Woodruff
Should you like the small flowers but want them to dominate your ground cover instead of the leaves, check this one out.
The sweet woodruff is another spectacular looking plant that makes a dull blank space lively again.
They grow up to 6-12 inches high. And, cover around 9 to 18 inches in breadth.
Unlike most plants, they do prefer partial or full shade.
That said, their fragrant white star-shaped flowers are very beautiful to look at.
Liverleaf
The liverleaf gets its name from the shape of its foliage.
Yes, they do resemble your liver.
While that’s not the more appealing thing to ting about, you do get the consolation of them being lovely to look at.
They’re start-like flowers are among the earliest bloomers when spring arrives and the snow melts.
This lets you enjoy their color which comes blue, pink, white and purple.
Thyme
So far, our list has been all about beautiful ground cover plants.
Here’s one that may not look at bright or colorful.
Yet, it’s solid and nice to look at.
But, it’s biggest selling point is it’s fragrance and your ability to use it in all sorts of cooking.
Thyme is a well-known herb that’s used to flavor grilled meats and many other dishes.
What you probably didn’t know is that they make amazing ground cover. And, that there are more than 50 kinds around.
So, if you’re growing an edible garden, this is an herb worth considering.
Liriope
Liriope is a flowering perennial. But, it looks more like grass.
This gives your garden or walkway a completely different look and feel compared to the other plants above.
They’re also taller growing up to 18 inches high which gives any area more character.
In addition to its lovely looks, it’s also very useful.
That’s because it helps control weeds and reduces your risk of erosion.
Lily of the Valley
If you like watching royal weddings, you’ve probably noticed their wedding bouquets filled with the same white flowers.
Those are lilies of the valley.
Kate Middleton, Grace Kelly and even Queen Victoria all held a bouquet of this beautiful blossom.
Needless to say, it’s small, white bell-shaped flowers are spectacular to look at.
Add to that their lovely floral fragrance.
As a ground cover, they’re perfect for partially shaded areas, which some plants don’t grow on.
They’re fairly short and grow only to about 4 to 8 inches.
And, it’s worth noting that eating them is poisonous. But, they’re safe to touch and hold.
Lamb’s Ear
These herbaceous perennials get their names because they resemble the ears of lambs.
While that’s not the most enticing thing, they’re unique texture is what makes them popular ground cover.
Of course, their appearance makes them no match for the lovely blooms those above have. But, it really depends on what you want to use them for.
Lamb’s ear offer higher coverage, reaching 12 to 18 tall.
They’re also fun for kids because of the way they look and feel.
Creeping Juniper
The creeping juniper is another plant that won’t beat those with beautiful florals.
But, they do offer more practical benefits making them common in many gardens as well.
For one, they’re good at preventing many common weeds from invading your lawn.
This is a big thing if for any homeowner and gardener.
Additionally, they look much like grass.
But, they come with a lot less maintenance. You don’t have to mow them. And, they require less maintenance.
In fact, you can outright neglect them and they won’t die on you.
Creeping Phlox
While it may have start with the same description as the creeping juniper, I can assure you that this is very different from it.
The creeping phlox is beautiful and abundant.
This makes it perfect if you want to fill an area with lovely blooms.
It’s well known for it’s beautiful flowers. And, its ability to grow in droves.
This allows you to densely cover a space and make it look amazing.
The creeping phlox is an herbaceous perennial.
While it does take a couple of years to grow, your patience will be rewarded.
Brass Button
Brass buttons are short ground cover with fern-like leaves.
They only get to 2 inches high which makes them perfect for smaller spaces.
This feature also makes them a popular adornment when it comes to fairy gardens, terrariums and other miniature plant landscapes.
While their foliage is their dominant feature, they do have small, yellow flowers that break up all the green color.
This makes them lovely to look at.
Wall Germander
The wall germander is a subshrub. That is it’s a dwarf shrub.
They grow between 1 to 3 feet and enjoy full sun.
Due to their size and look, they’re often used for borders.
One thing to note is that bees are attracted to them. Thus, you may want or not want that around, depending on how you feel about bees.
On one end, they’re great pollinators. But, they also sting. And, increased pollination can trigger more allergies if anyone at home is susceptible.
Nepeta
Nepeta is also known as catmint or catnip. Why?
It’s because cats love them.
As the name also suggests, they’re from the mint family.
This plant is great if you’re looking for something easy to grow. They live for long periods of time and aren’t easily destroyed by rabbits or deer.
Additionally, you don’t have to worry about pests with these perennials.
Catnip generally grow to between 10 and 24 inches in height.
You’ll find them in different colors include blue, pink and white.
Roman Chamomile
You’re probably familiar with this plant because it’s used in a well-known kind of tea.
They’re also present in cosmetics as well as other herbal products.
What you may not be aware of is that there are two types of chamomile: Roman and German.
Roman is what’s considered true or real chamomile.
But, you’ll find both are used in essential oils, teas and cosmetics as well.
In addition to their effects, they also have a sweet fragrance.
As plants, roman chamomile is gets to about 3 to 6 inches high.
They’re perennials. So, you don’t have to keep replanting it year in and year out.
It’s important to note that it likes cooler weather and prefers partly shaded areas.
Basket of Gold
This plant gets its name from its looks.
It is composed of many small bright yellow/gold flowers.
What makes it stand out is that they grow in clumps. As such, they’re very impressive to look at together.
They get to about 12 inches in height and spread to around 2 feet around.
To get the best effect, grow them under full sun.
These perennials are also drought tolerant which makes them easier to care for.
Corsican Mint
Corsican mint is yet another kind of mint.
As such, it has a peppermint scent that’s fairly intense.
Bruising them releases more of the aroma as well.
It’s edible, which makes it useful if you want to use it for salads or cooking.
They’re also non-toxic to your pets which make them a good choice if you let your furry ones roam around the garden a lot.
Creeping Thyme
This is another kind of thyme.
It’s a better option if you are more interested in looks as opposed to the herb for cooking or garnishing food.
While they belong to the same genus, not all of these plants are edible.
However, they’re aromatic as well.
Because of their lovely looks and texture, creeping thyme is often grown as ground cover for aesthetic purposes, rather than edibility.
They’re likewise a good choice if your garden is frequented by unwanted deer.
Moss Rose
If you look around your nursery or where you buy your gardening supplies, you’ll likely see these flowers being sold.
That’s because home gardeners love them for beddings.
This is due to their beautiful blooms which come in pink, red, yellow and orange. All of which are bright and bold.
They also grow to about 8 inches high and cover up to 2 feet.
Thus, they work well as ground cover to beautify a blank space.
That said, moss rose like hot climates.
They also enjoy full sun for hours daily.
Conclusion
Hopefully, the beautiful ground covers above help you find something that suits your garden or yard. They make wonderful additions, especially in areas that need some sprucing up.
What’s you’re favorite ground cover plant?
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