20 Ground Cover Plants to Fill out Your Garden, Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads. . Spotted Dead Nettle ( Lamium maculatum) is a flowering type of low growing ground cover plant that thrives in the shade. Lamium is grown for both its pretty foliage and beautiful flowers. The promise is that Lamiums are fast-growing perennial ground cover or container plants that brighten partly sunny spots and produce charming flowers. Creeping Raspberry is a part of the Rosaceae family. This easy-to-grow plant spreads and produces numerous offspring from seed. Turf lawn grasses are by far the most popular ground cover plant in residential landscapes, but some places aren't really suitable for grass growth (like arid desert yards) and some people simply prefer more diverse or unique "lawnscaping.". book to class, Report: Houston ranked No. Creeping thyme ground cover is not invasive, helps prevent weeds from growing, and is a natural deer repellent. Hardy in zones 7 through 10, these low maintenance ground cover plants love full sun and heat. Lamium (Dead Nettle) is a trailing, groundcover perennial. It is much less noticeable at other times of the year, but that doesn't detract from its role as a spring superstar. Thats the beauty of this native spring ephemeral that goes by several names including woodland phlox, wild sweet William and Phlox divaricata. 'Album', has white flowers, shown here blooming before the leaves on September 28, 2011, and spreads to form a ground cover that stays green through the winter . Native to Africa, purple ice plant (Delosperma cooperi) became popular as a cold-hardy ground cover in the United States in the 1990s. Low-growing varieties of sedum make easy-to-care-for ground covers, especially since its fleshy leaves retain enough water to survive dry spells. Spotted Dead Nettle is an excellent ground cover plant because of its flowers and its spreading growth habit. This sun-lover grows to a maximum height of about 12 inches with a 24-inch spread, and it blooms with lavender to pink flowers in July. Check out these favorite ground covers that will require little effort on your part once you plant them. Blooms are cream colored. Although taller than a typical ground cover, yarrow ranks among the most attractive ground cover flowering plants. It has a stripe down the middle that can be white, yellow, red, or silver. Perfect for plantings under perennials or shrubs and as a groundcover or edging plant. Though many annual flowers can be used for ground coverings, it can be laborious to replant large swaths of coverings yearly. Lawns also are considered ground covers, but may require more moisture, sunlight, fertilizer and maintenance than other ground cover choices. World of Flowering Plants. 16 inches apart for coverage in two seasons. Lamium Excellent Ground Cover for Shade. This type of evergreen comes in an array of shapes and sizes. Plants that are under 12 inches tall are good for tight spaces and as edging but can require some weeding to look their best. Lamium is evergreen from Zone 6 south. Divide this plant in the spring for additional and long-living ground cover that can last for a couple of decades. It quickly forms a thick mound and blooms all summer long, producing a sweet honey scent that attracts pollinators throughout the season. 3. Shes passionate about gardening, baking, reading, and spending time with the people and dogs she loves. She has over 30 years of experience in gardening and sustainable farming. If you do not want to open a nursery, and it is crowding other plants, shear in midsummer to promote more compact growth. The only real maintenance required is trimming it back after it has finished flowering, or whenever it becomes too scraggly for your tastes. 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. They dont add much ornamental value, but they do help out the pollinators. It is perfect for rock gardens, edging of pathways or front of the flower border. Rock cotoneaster is considered a full-shun shrub but benefits from some afternoon shade. They are tough and their easy-going adaptability to a wide variety of rocky slopes, clay, and alkaline soils keep them comfortable in the west. Its dense mats are threatening native plants on forest floors. Will ruellia make a good ground cover? To plant creeping juniper on a grassy slope, get rid of the grass, then lay down landscape fabric along the slope. This is a slow-growing and long-lasting ground cover that simply needs pruning every so often to prevent it from growing leggy. They areespecially valued for use in shady spots, which is a condition that many plants dislike. The large, veined, heart-shaped leaves have a spread of 18 to 24 inches, and most varieties bloom in late spring with small pink flowers. A variety of cultivars are available, including Juniperus horizontalis'Blue Rug.'. If you want this to be a fast-growing ground cover plant, make sure it receives 4-6 hours of sun each day. Lamium maculatum stays relatively short, with the typical cultivar standing less than a foot tall. When grown as a ground cover, it is an easy-care plant that requires little maintenance. Its variegated leaves and colorful spring flowers make Lamium a reliable choice for brightening shady garden spots where few other perennials will grow. I've never tried that one. There are also several cultivars (all cold-hardy to at least zone 4, most 3 to 12 inches tall, and all wanting the sun/soil conditions of the species plant) of L.maculatum, including: While dead nettle plants areflowering perennials,stinging nettles, by contrast,arenoxious weeds(but edible when properly prepared). It prefers moderate climates but is able to withstand full sun and drought-like conditions. The midsummer shearing also encourages a second flowering period in September. This common weedy plant is a member of the mint family and forms early groundcover mats, with fuzzy . Spotted deadnettle ground cover grows about 6 to 12 inches (15-31 cm.) Care requirements for creeping phlox are few. Creeping lamium averages 10 inches tall, with small flower groups appearing in the summer. Yellow archangel has colorful leaves and flowers. And, of course, you can snip off the leaves for cooking. But beware: This hardy opportunist, if left unchecked, can become unsightly and sometimes invasive. Noteworthy Characteristics Attractive foliage makes a good groundcover. Dont worry if it doesnt reappear first thing in spring. Height is a foot or so. Growing and Harvesting a Saffron Crocus (Crocus sativus). When planted in full sun it usually needs extra watering, at least until the plant is well established. Also known as lonicera, honeysuckle is an aromatic perennial that blooms with white, yellow, or red flowers in the spring and summer. Grow Canadian wild ginger in humus-rich, moist soil in light shade to deep shade conditions in USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 3 through 8. Flowering: Yes. It has basic requirements and is well worth cultivating in your garden. Ice plants need plenty of sun to thrive. She is married to photographer John Everett and they have one son. If you live in USDA Zones 3 through 9 and have a low spot where grass struggles because its too wet, try planting golden groundsel there instead. This easy-care, mat-forming ground cover provides pops of purple blooms from mid-spring to early summer. Although strawberry begonia is winter hardy in USDA Zones 7 through 9, some people in Zone 6b have reportedly had luck with it overwintering, too. It is a mat-forming perennial ground cover that typically grows 5-8" tall but spreads indefinitely over time by sprawling stems which root in the ground as they go. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. Spotted dead nettles tolerate evenshady areas that have dry soil. Ajuga or Bugleweed is a low-maintenance option that is also . Glechoma hederacea is not the same as henbit (Lamium amplexicaule) or Purple Deadnettle (Lamium purpureum L.), AKA red deadnettle, red henbit. Slugs and snails are attracted to the liquid, fall in and drown. Bright pink, purple or white flowers are a bonus that draws in bumblebees from mid-spring to early summer. Lamium is one of the choices for ground-cover especially if you are looking for ground-cover that is tough yet showy. In fact it thrives on summer drought in dry shade. Pink or white flowers bloom in spring and summer. Not picky, spotted Dead Nettles do just fine in average, well-drained soil. (I prefer to call it lamium), Lamium . The leaves, bulblets and bulbs of the nodding onion plant are edible with a strong onion flavor, but its more common to grow Allium cernuum for its easily identifiable flowers. If you are looking for something unusual, consider wall germander, a broadleaf woody-stemmed evergreen that is often massed or used as a low hedge along retaining walls or in knot gardens. Lamium is a versatile plant, hardy in U.S.D.A. Lamium. If you are looking for a tenacious ground cover that will stare in the face of drought while living in dry, sandy soil in a shady area, either shadara's violets or yellow archangel or bishop's weed should work. Although not as attractive to cats as catnip (Nepeta cataria), catmint is a gardeners dream: an easy-to-grow, robust purple ground cover. In shade, its OK if the soil dries out now and then. Bishop's Goutweed While it works great for ground cover in a shaded area, you will never, ever get rid of it. It's also a beautiful ground cover to consider for moon gardens, but just beware the flowers are less than fragrant. This fact sheet primarily discusses non-native ground covers and rock garden plants for mountain areas above 7,500 feet as well as highlighting some native plants not covered in fact sheet 7.242, Native Herbaceous Perennials for Colorado Landscapes. But they are not grasses, and are instead herbaceous floweringperennial plantsin the asparagus family. Yellow archangel (Lamium galeobdolon 'Hermann's Pride', Zones 4-8) is one of the fastest-growing ground covers. This plant forms a ground-hugging mat topped with wispy white flowers that flutter atop 15-inch-tall stems in late spring to early summer. Once dense, it can be quite attractive, but you will need to corral it or you'll have a sea of ruellia. But with hardy plumbago (Ceratostigma plumbaginoides), youll enjoy a carpet of cerulean blue blooms every year from late summer to frost. When selecting a ground cover for shady areas, make sure to choose shade-tolerant plants that naturally thrive with minimal sunlight. It detests hot, humid weather, but thrives where temperatures drop at night. You can plant this drought-tolerant, low-maintenance ground cover at the edge of a rock garden or other space and more or less forget about it (except for occasional watering) during the summertime. Vinca minor(commonly known as periwinkle) is a very popular ground cover because it's drought-tolerant, pest-free, inexpensive, and easy to grow in just about any type of soil. The only maintenance you'll need to do is remove tattered leaves damaged from a bad winter. While some have small flowers, the main focal point is the colorful foliage, which ranges from chartreuse to bronze. Its native habitat is wooded areas, so it is perfect for a shady woodland garden. It spreads rapidly by above-ground runners and is hardy to Zone 4. 1. Liverleaf's spring floral display makes this small perennial special. And while deer might not like itspink flowers, they do attract butterflies and honeybeesits even believed that it enhances the flavor of the honey. It is an excellent choice as a perennial ground cover since it tolerates a wide range of soil conditions, although it grows most quickly in slightly moist, humus-rich soils. It grows to a maximum height of about 12 inches with an 18-inch spread, and it flowers with white blossoms in spring. Put lamium next to other plants with darker foliage so this ground cover can bring out those colors. Imagine sky blue flowers popping up in and around your shade garden in the springtime, swaying in the slightest breeze, rising above a carpet of Canadian wild ginger or lamium (see below). A member of the mint family, Lamium spreads quickly, is self-seeding, and will rapidly create a ground cover wherever it is planted. Mulching and weeding to prevent unwanted sprouts from stealing water from these low-maintenance succulents, and you can enjoy the cheery color of this low growing ground cover year-round, with a number of varieties to choose from. It takes about 14 days until you see seedlings. There may be restrictions on planting it in these areas. Both have tiny needle-like foliage that spreads along the ground or down rock walls. Doesn't need much water. This quickly spreading ground cover forms a tight, six- to 10-inch tall mass of shiny green foliage that blushes bright red and bronze beginning in early fall. Just like other plants with the word "creeping" in the name, liriope can be considered aggressive and invasive in parts of the United States, from Virginia through to Mississippi. It matures to a maximum height of only 6 inches, so many gardeners choose to plant creeping phlox on a slope or along the top of a retaining wall to appreciate its beauty from several angles. Eventually, they will form a mat. Within two to three years of planting, it forms a lush carpet of velvety, green, heart-shaped leaves that hug the ground. The foliage is evergreen and the 3-inch-high plant trails or spreads, favoring gravel and other sunny, dry conditions in zones 5 through 9. chezmoose. 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. Depending on the variety, you can expect this ground cover to behave as a creeper, or a low-mounded perennial, with small flowers that resemble snapdragons blooming in summer. Spotted dead nettles are generally grown more for their silvery leaves than for their flowers, but the latter can be quite pretty, as well. Susan has received visitors from around the world in her home garden which has been featured in numerous gardening publications. Theywill not require much waterwhen grown in full shade, a fact that (along with their resistance to deer pests) recommends them to homeowners seeking low-maintenance landscaping. Aside from good exposure to sunlight, these leafy green clusters ask little of their gardener with no need to replant every season. This selection forms a spreading patch of small silver leaves with a stunning blue-green edge. Read our, Amethyst in Snow (Centaurea montana 'Amethyst in Snow'), 31 Best-Deer Resistant Flowers and Plants to Grow, 10 Best Deer-Resistant Shrubs for Landscaping, 18 Perennial Flowers That Bloom in Spring, Summer and Fall, 35 Types of Orange Flowers: Identification & Photos, 15 Best Plants for Drought-Tolerant Gardens, Angelina Sedum (Sedum rupestre 'Angelina'), Rock Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster horizontalis), Chinese lantern is also considered invasive. In zones 6 through 8, it remains evergreen most of the year. Just beware: Its rapid growth makes this an invasive plant throughout the Eastern United States, as well as parts of Texas and the Southwest. Compost should be sufficient, as the plants do not require rich soil. The leaves are fairly small, about one inch in diameter. Leadwort begins blooming in late summer with beautiful, electric-blue flowers and continues until the first frost. Name: Ceratostigma plumbaginoides. Nepeta x faassenia, commonly called nepeta, nepeta catmint, or Faassen's catmint, is one of several perennial catmint plants. It does spread under the right conditions, but it is fairly easy to pull it out and keep it from taking over areas where it does not belong. This easy-care mat-forming ground cover provides pops of purple blooms from mid-spring to early summer. The low-lying ground cover is a popular option as a filler for rock gardens or as an accent above retaining walls. She founded Gaia's Farm and Gardens,aworking sustainable permaculture farm, and writes for Gaia Grows, a local newspaper column. Height is a foot or so. 7. Cutting the stems or pinching back to a joint will stimulate new growth for the plant. White Nancy jparkers USDA Zones:3-9 As with yellow alyssum, Angelina sedum can be regarded as a "Goldilocks" ground cover. However, the more sunshine that you give these plants, the more water they will need, since they perform best in evenly moist soil. This aromatic herb can be an invasive plant when grown in moist soil, where it sometimes spreads out of control. . This woodland sedge can tolerate drier soils than many species. The 25 low-maintenance ground cover plants in this list are vigorous (some more than others) but manageable, so they will fill in empty spaces without growing out-of-control. Creeping liriope plants make low-maintenance, tough, and drought-tolerant ground covers with spikey flowers and grass-like foliage. Pachysandra is one of the most widely used ground covers in the country thanks to its extreme durability while it grows under challenging conditions such as too much shade and drought. This clumping perennial is less than a foot tall, with slender, long, arching leaves. This is a highly invasive plant but it's also popular for growing on huge swaths of areas that need ground cover and won't encroach on another's property. They have silver foliage and produce showy pink, purple or white flowers in late spring. Pruning it back can help keep rambunctious runners under control or set your mower to high and shear it back after it flowers in the summer. Lamium is a fast-growing, perennial ground cover that deer and rabbits avoid. Bloom time begins sooner, of course, after a mild winter, since plants do not have to regrow. Swallowtail butterflies, hummingbird moths and hummingbirds are all fans. It needs full sun to survive. Bunchberry is a shade-loving deciduous shrub native to northern portions of North America. With a long bloom period and colorful foliage, most varieties are eye-catching plants throughout the year. Lamium is an excellent ground cover for shade. The low-lying, flowering ground coverit grows no more than 4 inches tallcan endure being stepped and stomped on, making it a smart choice for planting between pavers or for replacing grass. Thus you need to be careful in choosing the right spot to grow this plant. She did graduate work through the University of Georgia system. They're also popular ground covers used to stop soil erosion. Spotted dead nettles should be pruned in the summer after the first blooming period. Arricca Elin SanSone has written about health and lifestyle topics for Prevention, Country Living, Woman's Day, and more. Commonly used as a ground cover in the shade garden, spotted dead nettle is short- There are more than 40 species of lamium, but the best are those that are flowering perennials like the Pink Chablis. RELATED: The 15 Best Plants for Rookie Gardeners. Try it in part shade to full shade, with moist, well-drained soil. It's also toxic to humans and pets. Vinca has few pests, so it can be considered invasive, which is good news if your goal is to keep weeds at bay. Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States. Spectacular as a ground cover in the shade garden, Lamium maculatum (Spotted Dead Nettle) is a perennial plant whose appearance is unlike other perennial ground covers. It spreads well, but is easy to manage. Lamium (Deadnettle) Wonderful as ground cover in a shady area, Spotted deadnettle ( Lamium maculatum) can cover large areas quickly, prevailing in the most unforgiving of conditions. :) Thanks much guys. LAY-mee-um mak-yoo-LAH-tum Description Fast growing; Spotted dead nettle is a good ground cover for moist, shady areas. Type above and press Enter to search. They save their energy for the surprisingly large flowers, white on desert zinnia and yellow on prairie zinnia. Species can be annuals or perennials, with many valued for their ground cover abilities, pollinator-friendly flowers and preference of shady areas. Consult with your local extension office before growing spotted deadnettle because it is invasive in some areas. It likes full sun, but can tolerate part shade. But this plant with prettyfoliageand funny namerarely becomes a problem for those who grow it in areas where it is already native. For a sun-loving, pollinator-friendly herb, creeping thyme ( Thymus praecox) will fill your lawn with a fine-leaved mat of dainty pink, white, or purple flowers. This is a lush trailing ground cover with. If it grows outside its pounds, trim it off or transplant a branch. Ground Cover Dogwood. The versatile strawberry begonia (Saxifraga stolonifera) is neither a strawberry nor a begonia. The plant dies back to the ground in the winter and comes out in the spring, but giving it a good shearing before winter will help keep the plants healthy. Flowering Plants for Bare Garden Spots - Ground Cover Dogwood. It can be excellent for covering large areas of difficult terrain, such as slopes where growing grass would be difficult or impossible. Botanical Name: Cotoneaster horizontalis This tall ground cover has a horizontal growing habit, give it plenty of water and afternoon shade until it is fully grown. Lamium needs shade and a fertile, moist but well-draining soil. Note: This plant is considered invasive across much of the northeast, some areas of the northern Midwest, and parts of the Pacific Northwest. Original Author. Don't site near small plants which may be overtaken. Ooo. This is great if you need to cover a problem area with an attractive ground cover, but not so good if you are trying to grow them in a place where you need a well-behaved plant. You could first try it in a small area container to see how it does in your garden. Spotted deadnettle. It is far too unattractive a little for this low-growing carpet of leaves. We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Creeping thyme (also known as mother of thyme or wild thyme) is a creeping, woody-stemmed perennial that is a favorite plant to use for a low-maintenance ground cover serving as a filler between garden stepping stones. When several are planted together, they form a dense hedge that thrives in almost any type of soil and full sun. 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