Raymond WhitneyLandscapers regard flowering ground covers as a sort of holy grail. Both beauty and function are provided by these plants, which add color to a landscape while also helping to control weeds and prevent erosion.
A ground cover is a good option if you want to conceal a problem spot without sacrificing the room’s aesthetic appeal.
The use of ground cover plants in landscaping is essential.
Gardening answers to common issues and questions, such as:
- What should I plant on a slope that my lawnmower can’t handle?
- Under a tree with prominent roots, what will grow?
- How can I ensure that my driveway has a consistent border?
- What can I grow so that I don’t have to mow it?
Many spring and summer flowering ground covers are only in bloom for a short time. In order to maintain their attractiveness throughout the growing season, the best examples have both attractive foliage and flowers.
Ground covers that bloom isn’t just functional; they can also be beautiful!
What about this?
What do you see in front of you? In my case, it was a sea of green that needed thatching, seeding, fertilization, and watering on a yearly basis, year after year.
A low-maintenance focal point, like a flowering shrub, could take the place of a small patch of grass.
These flowering ground covers will make your outdoor space more beautiful and less time-consuming to maintain.
1. Bugleweed (Ajuga reptans)
If you live in Zones 3 to 10, bugleweed (Ajuga reptans) is a mint-family plant with a preference for moist soil, full sun, and partial shade.
Depending on where you live, you may be able to grow this plant year-round.
Bugle-shaped blossoms of varying colors can be found on the six-inch plant, which is named after the spikes of blossoms.
These plants have glossy, toothed, or smooth leaves that are often tinged with purple. May to June is when the flowers are in bloom.
This is a plant that you may have a hard time controlling because of its tendency to spread.
To avoid diseases and pests, grow bugleweed in fertile, well-draining soil. When the soil is dry to a depth of 1 to 2 inches, water it.
- Growing Zones in the USDA range from 3 to 10.
- Variety of colors: Blue and violet.
- Sunlight Intensity: bright to dappled
- Organic, medium-moisture, well-draining soil is what you’ll need for your plants.
2. Canadian anemone (Anemone Canadensis)
The perennial Canadian anemone, scientifically known as Anemone Canadensis, is a species of wildflower that is endemic to the United States. It grows best in full sun to partial shade and thrives in moist soil.
It can be up to two feet tall at its highest point. The flowers are white and separate from one another, while the leaves are a vibrant green color with toothed margins.
3. Candytuft (Iberis sempervirens)
It prefers full sun and well-drained soil, and it is tolerant of drought. Candytuft (Iberis sempervirens)
Candytuft (Iberis sempervirens) is a stunning flowering plant, with a profusion of pure white blooms. After it has finished blooming, give it a good pruning to keep it from getting too long.
Candytuft’s flowers are composed of fragrant clusters of white petals that are so numerous that the elongated green leaves underneath them are hidden. April and May are the peak blooming months.
The leaves of candytuft, on the other hand, can spill over the retaining wall if it is planted behind a fence or a retaining wall. If that’s the case, you may still need to remove some of the plant’s older parts to make it more manageable.
- 4 to 8 USDA Growing Zones
- White, pink, red, and lilac are all options for color.
- Full exposure to the sun’s rays
- Alkaline to mildly alkaline soil is required.
4. Creeping Phlox (Phlox subulata)
If you’re looking for a bold way to add color to your garden without having to spend much money, try moss phlox or creeping phlox. It has tiny, evergreen leaves.
When cascading over garden walls and slopes, it can withstand light foot activity. Perennial in most locations, it is a native variety suitable for Zones 3 to 9.
When in bloom, the plants can reach a height of six inches. This occurs from March to May. Give it some sun to some shade, with a medium soil and moisture level.
5. Creeping Thyme (Thymus praecox)
Thymus praecox, a wild form of the herb, is ideal for use between stepping stones because of its creeping nature. Minty aromas are released by lightfoot circulation.
With full sun and well-drained, dry to medium soil, this woody perennial can thrive in Zones 4 to 8. In mild climes, it is drought-tolerant and evergreen.
In the months of June and July, tiny spikes of pink-purple blossoms appear on this plant, which grows to a height of about three inches and has tiny, round, glossy green leaves.
The scent comes from the leaves, not the flowers, and the intensity of the scent varies depending on the type of plant.
- Zones 4 through 9 on the USDA Plant Hardiness Map
- Colors: pink, purple, red, and white
- Sunlight Intensity: bright to dappled
- Average, well-drained, neutral to slightly alkaline soil is ideal for growing plants.
6. Deadnettle (Lamium maculatum)
Laminum maculatum may survive in Zones 3 to 8 in partial to full shade. In temperate climates, it is an evergreen plant. The leaves are green and silvery-white, and pink flowers bloom from May to July.
Cool, low-humidity areas with well-drained soil are ideal for this drought-resistant shrub. From a few inches to approximately two feet in height, the varieties form an interconnected network that prevents soil erosion and crowd out weeds.
You can use the shorter variety to fill in gaps between paving stones and in rock gardens and border gardens, where weeds are a problem.
7. Hosta (Hosta sieboldiana)
In addition to being hardy perennials, hosta leaves come in a variety of colors, from forest green to lime green to white.
White or purple flowers grow on tall stalks during the spring and summer months in inflorescence. Some of the cultivars emit a pleasant smell.
Hostas, sometimes known as plantain lilies, have been a constant presence in my family’s gardens for generations. Her gigantic plants were covered with foot-long dark green leaves, which she tended to.
In a ritual that continues to this day, these were divided for propagation at my parents’ house and later at my own.
Perfect for zones 3 to 8, most prefer shady areas and rich, moist soil, although others love full sun. Some tower over two feet in the air.
8. Horned Violet (Viola cornuta)
From April through June, horned violets produce fragrant, two-toned purple and blue flowers with green, spherical leaves. In temperate areas, they are perennials.
Creeping horned violets, which grow at a height of six to eight inches, thrive in Zones 6 to 11. They thrive in full sun to partial shade and prefer well-drained, well-drained soil.
9. Japanese Pachysandra (Pachysandra terminalis)
Under trees, Japanese pachysandra (spurge), an evergreen perennial, is a great alternative to grass.
It’s also deer-resistant and has no severe pest or disease problems as an added plus.
Those sprigs germinated in a matter of days. In a short time, the tree roots were hidden by a beautiful bed of glossy green whorled leaves, which also protected them from further lawnmower damage. During the month of April, spikey white blooms added to the appeal.
Small white blossoms cover the ground in the spring as the shrub grows to around 6 inches tall. Remove any debris, such as fallen leaves, from the plant in order to increase airflow.
- Growing Zones in the USDA range from 5 to 9.
- It comes in a variety of colors: White
- Partially shaded to completely shady
- Rich, medium-moisture, well-draining soil is required
10. Liriope (Liriope spicata)
Also called lily grass, liriope This sturdy perennial grows beneath my rosebush in the front yard. One to two feet in height, it is a clumping and creeping kind of grass-like plant.
During the months of August and September, spikes of tiny blue, white, or purple blooms develop. In contrast, some plants have leaves that are green and others that are multicolored.
Both the sun and the shade are good environments for Liriope, and it prefers a moist, rich soil to thrive in. Zones 5 through 10 can use it. Zone 6 is where I live, and my plants turn brown in the fall and spring.
Garden borders made of liriope are both beautiful and effective at preventing soil erosion on steep slopes. If you can’t plant grass under trees, this is an excellent alternative.
If you can’t decide whether you favor the flowers or the grass-like leaves of lilyturf, take advantage of its indecisiveness. With appropriate drainage, it can thrive in a wide range of environments.
- 4 through 10 USDA Growing Zones
- Lavender and white are the most common hues.
- Sunlight Intensity: bright to dappled
- Needs average soil that drains well and is acidic to neutral in pH.
11. Lithodora (Lithodora diffusa)
My first lithodora was recently planted. At the nursery, it was the little blue blossoms that drew my attention.
Shade and well-drained soil are essential in hot climates where this plant thrives.
This plant is suitable for Zones 6 to 8 and can handle light foot activity. There are no stems on its little, hairy “sessile” green leaves, so it’s easy to miss.
In May, Lithodora bursts into full bloom and continues to bloom intermittently until August. It is a year-round plant in temperate regions.
A mild winter plus a thick layer of mulch should ensure that my annual/perennial plant survives the winter.
That’s one thing I immediately discovered about this plant: It’s not going to spread and naturalize if it has to compete with other native plants and wildflowers.
Give your new ground covers plenty of room to expand. They’ll be able to choke out the competition with their matted root systems once they’re established.
12. Pig Squeak (Bergenia cordifolia)
The squeaky sound the leaves make when rubbed together gave the perennial its common name, “pig squeak.” It can grow in Zones 3 to 8 and prefers partial to full shade.
During the months of April and May, pig squeak blooms, a clumping shrub with glossy dark green foliage and stalks of pink petals. It is a slow-growing plant that can grow up to 12 inches tall. Drought tolerance is built into this plant’s genetic makeup.
13. Spike Speedwell (Veronica spicata)
Clumping perennial spike speedwell, or “royal candles,” can be grown in Zones 3 to 8.
The tall spikes of this plant are topped with tiny blossoms in hues of purple, blue, pink, or white, which are borne atop narrow green leaves. There is a bloom period from June to August.
It prefers full sun, moist soil, and well-drained soil for spike speedwell to thrive. It can reach a height of a foot or more. A riot of color is created by the intertwining of numerous plants.
14. Sweet Woodruff (Galium odoratum)
Perennial sweet woodruff has star-shaped white blossoms atop whorled (spiraled) green leaves, and is highly fragrant. May and June are the best months to see it in bloom.
Sweet woodruff thrives in Zones 4 to 8 and prefers moist, well-drained soil and partial to full shade. It reaches a height of about eight inches and grows quickly. Using this variety as an underplanting for shrubs is a great idea.
In keeping with my love of woodland gardening and the use of shade-loving perennials, sweet woodruff is a favorite of mine.
In addition, planting ground cover under a tree can be difficult, but sweet woodruff performs well. Sweet woodruff’s only flaw is that it dies back in the winter, preventing it from being an outstanding flowering ground cover (though the roots do survive).
- 4 to 8 USDA Growing Zones
- Varieties of Color: White
- Partially shaded to completely shady
- Rich, loamy, moist, and well-draining soil is required.
15. Wishbone Flower (Torenia fournieri)
A shade-tolerant annual, wishbone flower is also known as bluewings or clown flowers.
It thrives in moist, well-drained soil that is suitable for Zones 2-11. In shades of purple, pink, white, and yellow, wishbone’s trumpet-shaped blossoms often have contrasting “throats.” Oval-shaped leaves of light green color are found.
As a shade-loving plant, the wishbone is sought after because of its ability to produce vibrant color throughout the summer.
16. Ice Plant (Delosperma cooperi)
For the long-blooming ice plant (Delosperma cooperi) to live up to its hardy name, it needs soil with excellent drainage. The plant’s common name derives from the way sunlight reflects off of its leaves, which gives the appearance that they are covered in ice crystals. For year-round erosion control in northern gardens, this is not the ground cover to use despite its hardiness. Instead, use the ice plant to brighten up a shady spot in time for the warmer months.
- Between five and ten
- These colors can be found in a variety of shades and hues.
- Full exposure to the rays of the sun
- Dry, well-draining soil with a pH of 7.0 or higher is ideal.
17. Yellow Archangel (Lamiastrum galeobdolon)
There are several species of a yellow archangel (Lamiastrum galeobdolon), which are all types of decomposed, yellow-flowered dead nettles. Perennial ground cover, this plant. The yellow archangel has four things to admire: Colorful flowers cover the plant, which grows well in partial shade and is tolerant of moderate drought. A yellow archangel is a good option if you want a low-maintenance yard. For a more compact look, prune established plants if they become leggy.
- The USDA’s four to nine growing zones
- Variety of Colors: Yellow.
- Partially shaded to completely shady
- Loamy, well-draining soil is ideal.
