Fix your garden’s trouble spots with these low-growing perennials, annuals, and shrubs.
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, including old favorites like Pachysandra and Vinca, as well as small shrubs, perennials, and annuals.
To make sure your ground covers get the job done (ya know, dressing up your landscape), follow the instructions on their plant care tag to give them the right conditions. 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.1Lily of the Valley
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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. This sweetly-scented perennial spreads easily, so keep it in check by planting it in well-groomed areas like along walkways or close to the house’s foundation. It prefers full shade, but can handle some morning sun.
2Creeping Thyme
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Low-growing mats of Creeping Thyme are covered in teeny purple or white flowers in late spring, which makes it a haven for pollinators. This tenacious perennial spreads rapidly, thrives in full sun, is cold hardy, grows in poor soil, and is drought tolerant once established. And, of course, you can snip off the leaves for cooking.
3Creeping Juniper
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This type of evergreen comes in an array of shapes and sizes. It’s tough-as-nails once established, tolerating poor soil and drought conditions. The horizontally-spreading branches of creeping junipers make a dense mat that weeds can’t penetrate. It prefers full sun.
4Dead Nettle
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Dead nettle, also known as Lamium, is a low-growing perennial with silver-splashed leaves and bursts of purple, pink, or white flowers that pop up in spring and early summer. It prefers shade, but will tolerate some sun.
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5Ajuga
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Glossy leaves in shades of deep green, bronze, and chocolate-brown make this perennial a great low-growing lawn alternative for almost any climate. In summer months, little spikes of blue, purple, pink or white flowers will appear. Ajuga spreads rapidly in varying conditions, tolerating shade or sun.
6Aronia
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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.
7Sedum
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Low-growing varieties of sedum make easy-to-care-for ground covers, especially since its fleshy leaves retain enough water to survive dry spells. While some have small flowers, the main focal point is the colorful foliage, which ranges from chartreuse to bronze. It needs full sun to survive.
8Lavender
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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.
9Epimedium
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In early spring, flowers that look like fairy wings appear on this perennial. Epimedium, also called Bishop’s Cap, can tolerate dry conditions once established. It’s cold hardy and prefers part shade.
10Thrift
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This lesser-known perennial has attractive little mounds of grassy foliage, and teeny ball-shaped blooms that pop up in late spring to early summer. It likes part to full sun.
11Mondo Grass
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While this glossy, strappy green is popular in the southern states, it can survive anywhere. It grows in little clumps, likes moist soil, and prefers full to part sun.
12Oregano
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You might not think of oregano as a ground cover, but this herb forms dense clumps of scented foliage. With full sun, this green herb will grow small flowers in summer, attracting plenty of pollinators. Snip some for cooking, or keep it trimmed back to manage its height.
13Dianthus
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Straight from your grandma’s garden, Dianthus is an old-fashioned perennial with a vanilla-like scent. Sometimes called Pinks because the petals look like they’ve been trimmed with pinking shears, this pretty ground cover comes in a range of heights, anywhere from low-growing to 2 feet tall. It needs full sun to bloom best.
14Ferns
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Ferns come in an array of shapes, sizes, and colors. Planted in groupings, it makes a lovely ground cover. It prefers moist ground, drought-tolerant once established, and needs full shade.
15Sweet Woodruff
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The petite white star-shaped flowers provide a nice contrast to the deciduous green foliage. While this perennial spreads rapidly, you can mow it to regain control. Keep it in a shady spot, especially under trees and shrubs.
16Lamb’s Ears
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Just like the name implies, the fuzzy silver leaves resemble lamb’s ears. In mid-summer, however, they’re dotted with beautiful purple-pink flowers. It likes full sun, but can tolerate part shade.
17Chamomile
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Choose from an annual or perennial variety, and watch charming daisy-like flowers bloom throughout this bushy plant. It likes full sun, and requires regular trimmings to keep it from taking over the yard. Fun bonus: The flowers, either fresh or dried, can be used in salads or steeped in teas.
18Irish Moss
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The soft moss-like foliage of this plant forms a dense mat underfoot. In spring, tiny white flowers add to its ethereal beauty. While it prefers full sun, it needs regular moisture, especially during hot months.
19Sweet Alyssum
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This fast-growing annual looks gorgeous tumbling over rock walls or along the edges of walkways. It quickly forms a thick mound and blooms all summer long, producing a sweet honey scent that attracts pollinators throughout the season. It flowers best in full sun.
20Siberian Cypress
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Hailing all the way from Siberia, this cold-hardy evergreen has fern-like foliage that turns a pretty bronzy color in colder climates. Try to plant it in large groupings on a hillside or along the house’s foundation to prevent erosion. It likes full sun.
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