Flowering ground covers are an excellent solution for filling in bare spots in your garden, preventing weeds, and adding color and texture to your landscape. These plants are not only beautiful but also highly efficient at spreading and creating a lush carpet of blooms. Whether you need to cover a sunny area or a shady spot, there’s a ground cover plant that’s perfect for your garden.
In this article, we’ll explore 15 flowering ground covers that spread quickly and provide a burst of color throughout the growing season. Each plant has its unique characteristics and requirements, ensuring that you’ll find the perfect match for your garden needs. Let’s dive into the world of ground covers and discover these vigorous bloomers!
Creeping Thyme
Creeping Thyme (Thymus serpyllum) is native to Europe and North Africa. This aromatic herb forms a dense mat of tiny, fragrant leaves and blooms with clusters of pink, purple, or white flowers in the summer. Creeping thyme thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, making it an ideal choice for rock gardens, pathways, and borders.
One of the best features of creeping thyme is its ability to attract pollinators like bees and butterflies. It’s also drought-tolerant and low-maintenance, requiring minimal care once established. With its delightful fragrance and rapid spread, creeping thyme is a wonderful addition to any garden.
Ajuga
Ajuga (Ajuga reptans), also known as bugleweed, is native to Europe. This versatile ground cover is known for its attractive foliage, which can be green, bronze, or variegated, and its spikes of blue, pink, or white flowers that bloom in spring. Ajuga thrives in partial to full shade and moist, well-drained soil.
Ajuga is excellent for shady areas where grass struggles to grow. Its dense growth habit helps suppress weeds, and it spreads quickly to form a lush carpet of color. Ajuga’s striking foliage and flowers add visual interest to garden beds, borders, and woodland gardens.
Sweet Woodruff
Sweet Woodruff (Galium odoratum) is native to Europe, North Africa, and Western Asia. This ground cover is known for its whorls of lance-shaped leaves and clusters of tiny, star-shaped white flowers that bloom in late spring to early summer. Sweet woodruff thrives in partial to full shade and moist, well-drained soil.
Sweet woodruff is perfect for shady areas, such as under trees or along north-facing walls. Its pleasant fragrance, reminiscent of freshly cut hay, makes it an excellent choice for scented gardens. Sweet woodruff spreads rapidly, creating a dense mat that helps prevent soil erosion and suppress weeds.
Creeping Jenny
Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia) is native to Europe and Western Asia. This fast-spreading ground cover features round, golden-green leaves and bright yellow flowers that bloom in late spring to early summer. Creeping Jenny thrives in full sun to partial shade and moist, well-drained soil.
Creeping Jenny’s vibrant foliage and cheerful flowers make it a popular choice for adding color to garden beds, borders, and containers. Its trailing habit also makes it ideal for hanging baskets and window boxes. Creeping Jenny spreads quickly, creating a dense carpet that helps prevent weeds and soil erosion.
Vinca Minor
Vinca Minor (Vinca minor), also known as periwinkle, is native to Europe and Asia. This evergreen ground cover features glossy, dark green leaves and blue, purple, or white flowers that bloom in spring. Vinca minor thrives in partial to full shade and well-drained soil.
Vinca minor is perfect for shady areas where grass struggles to grow. Its dense growth habit helps suppress weeds, and its evergreen foliage provides year-round interest. Vinca minor spreads rapidly, creating a lush carpet of color that brightens up any garden space.
Lamium
Lamium (Lamium maculatum), also known as deadnettle, is native to Europe and Asia. This ground cover is known for its attractive, variegated foliage and clusters of pink, purple, or white flowers that bloom from spring to summer. Lamium thrives in partial to full shade and moist, well-drained soil.
Lamium is excellent for shady areas, such as under trees or along north-facing walls. Its dense growth habit helps suppress weeds, and its colorful foliage and flowers add visual interest to garden beds and borders. Lamium spreads quickly, creating a lush carpet of color and texture.
Phlox Subulata
Phlox Subulata (Phlox subulata), also known as moss phlox or creeping phlox, is native to North America. This low-growing ground cover features needle-like leaves and masses of star-shaped flowers in shades of pink, purple, white, and blue that bloom in spring. Phlox subulata thrives in full sun and well-drained soil.
Phlox subulata is perfect for rock gardens, slopes, and borders. Its vibrant flowers attract pollinators, and its dense growth habit helps prevent soil erosion and suppress weeds. Phlox subulata spreads quickly, creating a colorful carpet that brightens up any garden space.
Ice Plant
Ice Plant (Delosperma cooperi) is native to South Africa. This succulent ground cover features fleshy, needle-like leaves and vibrant, daisy-like flowers in shades of pink, purple, red, and yellow that bloom from spring to fall. Ice plant thrives in full sun and well-drained soil.
Ice plant is perfect for rock gardens, slopes, and sandy soils. Its drought-tolerant nature makes it ideal for xeriscaping. Ice plant’s vibrant flowers attract pollinators, and its dense growth habit helps prevent soil erosion and suppress weeds. With its long-lasting blooms and low-maintenance nature, ice plant is a valuable addition to any garden.
Hardy Geranium
Hardy Geranium (Geranium spp.), also known as cranesbill, is native to various regions around the world. This ground cover features deeply lobed leaves and clusters of cup-shaped flowers in shades of pink, purple, blue, and white that bloom from spring to fall. Hardy geraniums thrive in full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil.
Hardy geraniums are excellent for borders, woodland gardens, and rock gardens. Their long-lasting blooms attract pollinators, and their dense growth habit helps suppress weeds. With their vibrant flowers and easy care, hardy geraniums are a delightful addition to any garden.
Snow-in-Summer
Snow-in-Summer (Cerastium tomentosum) is native to Europe and Western Asia. This ground cover features silvery-gray leaves and masses of white, star-shaped flowers that bloom in late spring to early summer. Snow-in-summer thrives in full sun and well-drained soil.
Snow-in-summer is perfect for rock gardens, slopes, and dry, sandy soils. Its drought-tolerant nature makes it ideal for xeriscaping. Snow-in-summer’s vibrant flowers and silvery foliage create a striking contrast in the garden. With its rapid spread and low-maintenance nature, snow-in-summer is a valuable addition to any landscape.
Creeping Phlox
Creeping Phlox (Phlox stolonifera) is native to the eastern United States. This ground cover features rounded leaves and clusters of fragrant, star-shaped flowers in shades of pink, purple, white, and blue that bloom in spring. Creeping phlox thrives in full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil.
Creeping phlox is perfect for rock gardens, slopes, and borders. Its vibrant flowers attract pollinators, and its dense growth habit helps prevent soil erosion and suppress weeds. With its long-lasting blooms and low-maintenance nature, creeping phlox is a delightful addition to any garden.
Candytuft
Candytuft (Iberis sempervirens) is native to southern Europe. This evergreen ground cover features glossy, dark green leaves and clusters of pure white flowers that bloom in spring. Candytuft thrives in full sun and well-drained soil.
Candytuft is perfect for rock gardens, borders, and slopes. Its dense growth habit helps suppress weeds, and its bright flowers attract pollinators. With its long-lasting blooms and low-maintenance nature, candytuft is a valuable addition to any garden.
Mazus
Mazus (Mazus reptans) is native to the Himalayas. This ground cover features small, glossy green leaves and clusters of blue, purple, or white flowers that bloom in late spring to early summer. Mazus thrives in partial shade to full sun and moist, well-drained soil.
Mazus is perfect for rock gardens, borders, and pathways. Its dense growth habit helps suppress weeds, and its bright flowers attract pollinators. With its rapid spread and low-maintenance nature, mazus is a delightful addition to any garden.
Lithodora
Lithodora (Lithodora diffusa) is native to the Mediterranean region. This ground cover features small, dark green leaves and clusters of bright blue flowers that bloom from spring to summer. Lithodora thrives in full sun to partial shade and well-drained, acidic soil.
Lithodora is perfect for rock gardens, borders, and slopes. Its dense growth habit helps suppress weeds, and its bright flowers attract pollinators. With its vibrant blooms and low-maintenance nature, lithodora is a valuable addition to any garden.
Thyme
Thyme (Thymus spp.) is native to the Mediterranean region. This aromatic herb features small, fragrant leaves and clusters of tiny, pink, purple, or white flowers that bloom in summer. Thyme thrives in full sun and well-drained soil.
Thyme is perfect for rock gardens, borders, and pathways. Its dense growth habit helps suppress weeds, and its aromatic foliage adds a delightful fragrance to the garden. With its rapid spread and low-maintenance nature, thyme is a delightful addition to any garden.
Veronica
Veronica (Veronica spp.), also known as speedwell, is native to various regions around the world. This ground cover features small, lance-shaped leaves and clusters of blue, pink, white, or purple flowers that bloom from spring to summer. Veronica thrives in full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil.
Veronica is perfect for rock gardens, borders, and pathways. Its dense growth habit helps suppress weeds, and its bright flowers attract pollinators. With its long-lasting blooms and low-maintenance nature, veronica is a delightful addition to any garden.
Epimedium
Epimedium (Epimedium spp.), also known as barrenwort, is native to China and Japan. This ground cover features heart-shaped leaves and clusters of delicate, star-shaped flowers in shades of yellow, pink, white, or purple that bloom in spring. Epimedium thrives in partial to full shade and well-drained soil.
Epimedium is perfect for shaded borders, woodland gardens, and ground cover under trees. Its dense growth habit helps suppress weeds, and its attractive foliage and flowers add visual interest to the garden. With its low-maintenance nature and ability to thrive in dry shade, epimedium is a valuable addition to any garden.
