#NoFuss #Ground #Covers #Garden #WeedFree
Tired of spending your weekends pulling weeds? Join the club! Fighting these garden invaders can feel like a never-ending battle that takes the joy out of gardening.
That’s where ground covers come to the rescue. These hard-working plants spread across soil, forming living mulch that naturally blocks weeds from taking root. They’re practical problem-solvers that can save you time, energy, and backaches.
Plus, many ground covers look good year-round and need very little care once established. In this post, I’ll share 10 easy-to-grow ground covers that help keep weeds at bay while adding some nice color and texture to your garden.
These options work well in different growing conditions, so you’re sure to find something that fits your garden’s needs.
1. Creeping Thyme (Thymus serpyllum)
A low-growing perennial ground cover that forms dense mats of tiny, fragrant leaves. Creeping thyme thrives in zones 4-9 and spreads steadily over the years, growing just 2-3 inches tall.
The small pink, purple, or white flowers bloom from early to mid-summer, attracting bees and butterflies. Plants are drought-tolerant once established and perform best in full sun with well-drained soil.
Notable varieties include ‘Coccineus’ with dark pink flowers, ‘Pink Chintz’ with salmon-pink blooms, and ‘Elfin’ with its extra-compact growth. Disease resistant and tolerates moderate foot traffic, making it ideal between stepping stones or in rock gardens.
2. Sweet Woodruff (Galium odoratum)
Sweet Woodruff makes a perfect groundcover for shady spots, producing tiny white star-shaped flowers in spring above neat whorls of green leaves. This hardy perennial (zones 4-8) grows just 6-8 inches tall and spreads slowly but steadily through woodland gardens.
The leaves have a sweet, hay-like fragrance when dried. Plant in partial to full shade in rich, moist soil – though it tolerates dry conditions once established. Heat can be tough on Sweet Woodruff, so northern gardens are ideal.
Common varieties include the standard species with bright green leaves, ‘Emerald Carpet’ with darker foliage, and ‘Snow White’ featuring extra-large blooms. Disease and pest resistant.
3. Bishop’s Weed (Aegopodium podagraria)
Bishop’s weed is a fast-growing perennial ground cover that spreads aggressively through underground runners. The most popular varieties showcase variegated leaves in cream and green patterns, adding light to shady spots.
The plant produces small white flowers in early summer that resemble Queen Anne’s Lace. Popular cultivars include ‘Snow on the Mountain’ with white-edged leaves and ‘Variegata’ showing cream-colored patterns.
This tough plant adapts well to various conditions but prefers partial shade and moist, well-draining soil. Highly resistant to deer, rabbits, and drought once established. Hardy in zones 4-8, it can become invasive in ideal conditions, so plant with caution.
4. Bugleweed (Ajuga reptans)
A low-growing ground cover that spreads quickly and forms dense mats of evergreen foliage. Bugleweed (Ajuga reptans) is a perennial that thrives in zones 3-8, where it blooms from late spring through early summer with spiky purple-blue flowers.
The leaves come in several colors – ‘Bronze Beauty’ features chocolate-purple foliage, ‘Burgundy Glow’ shows off tricolored leaves in silver, pink and green, while ‘Dixie Chip’ maintains compact variegated cream and green growth.
This tough plant handles foot traffic well and resists deer and rabbits. Grows best in partial shade with moist soil but adapts to full sun in cooler regions. Can become aggressive in ideal conditions.
5. Periwinkle (Vinca Minor)
Hardy perennial vines that stay green year-round in zones 4-9, with spreading growth that creates thick ground cover. Small purple-blue or white flowers bloom from spring through fall atop glossy, dark green leaves.
Major varieties include ‘Bowles,’ with larger purple flowers, ‘Alba’ with pure white blooms, and ‘Illumination’ featuring green and gold variegated foliage. Plants tolerate drought once established and resist deer browsing.
Grows best in partial to full shade and prefers well-draining soil. Disease resistant and adaptable to most climates, though growth slows in intense heat. Makes an excellent choice for shady areas where grass struggles.
6. Pachysandra
Ground-covering pachysandra spreads slowly but steadily to create thick carpets of evergreen foliage in shady areas. This reliable perennial grows 6-8 inches tall and works well under trees or along walkways.
Small white flower spikes appear in early spring, though the glossy green leaves are the main attraction. Popular varieties include ‘Green Carpet’ with dense growth, ‘Silver Edge’ featuring white-margined leaves, and ‘Variegata’ with cream-colored splashes.
Deer and rabbit resistant. Grows best in rich, well-draining soil with regular moisture. Handles deep shade better than most plants. Hardy in zones 4-8. Heat tolerant once established.
7. Lamb’s Ear (Stachys byzantina)
Lamb’s Ear lets you add texture to gardens with its fuzzy, silvery-green leaves that are soft as velvet to the touch. This tough perennial spreads steadily through zones 4-8, staying low to the ground at 12-18 inches tall.
Purple flower spikes appear in early summer, though many gardeners remove them to focus on the foliage. Plants thrive in full sun to part shade and handle drought like a champ once established.
Big Ears (Stachys byzantina ‘Helene von Stein’) has extra-large leaves, while ‘Silver Carpet’ stays compact and rarely flowers. Both resist deer and rabbits but can struggle in humid climates where leaves may rot.
8. Stonecrop (Sedum)
Stonecrop’s thick, fleshy leaves come in various shades, from blue-green to burgundy, making excellent ground cover or rock garden additions. This hardy perennial, growing in zones 3-9, handles poor soil and drought with ease.
Pink, red or white star-shaped flowers bloom from late summer into fall, attracting bees and butterflies. Popular varieties include ‘Autumn Joy’ with its salmon-pink blooms, ‘Blue Spruce’ featuring silvery-blue needle-like foliage, and ‘Dragon’s Blood’ with deep red flowers and burgundy leaves.
Thrives in full sun and well-draining soil, showing good heat tolerance once established. Disease resistant and low maintenance, sedums are perfect for gardeners who want reliable plants without fuss.
9. Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia)
Looking for a ground cover that spreads quickly and reliably? Creeping Jenny offers bright green or golden leaves that form a dense carpet only 2 inches tall. This hardy perennial thrives in zones 3-8 and performs well in both sun and partial shade.
Small yellow flowers appear in early summer, adding extra interest. The plant spreads steadily through trailing stems that root where they touch soil. Handles wet conditions without complaint but also tolerates dry spells once established.
Popular varieties include ‘Aurea’ with golden foliage, ‘Green’ with emerald leaves, and ‘Goldilocks’ featuring chartreuse coloring. Best suited for areas with moderate summer temperatures, as intense heat can cause leaf scorch.
10. Houttuynia
A hardy ground cover perennial known for its heart-shaped leaves and ability to spread quickly in moist areas. The foliage comes in green with cream variegation or splashes of red and copper, making it an interesting addition to shady spots.
White flowers appear in late spring through summer. Plant grows best in zones 4-10 and prefers consistent moisture, though it can handle some drought once established. Does well in part shade to full sun in cooler regions.
Popular varieties include ‘Chameleon’ with multicolored leaves, ‘Flore Pleno’ with double flowers, and ‘Gold Heart’ featuring golden-yellow variegation. Note that this plant can spread aggressively in ideal conditions.
11. Allegheny Spurge (Pachysandra procumbens)
Perfect for shaded gardens, Allegheny spurge is a tough, evergreen perennial that spreads via underground rhizomes. Growing just 8-12 inches tall, the leaves emerge bronze in spring before maturing to deep green, creating dense mats of rosette-shaped foliage.
White bottlebrush flowers appear in early spring, floating above the leaves. Performs best in zones 5-9 and handles dry soil once established, though prefers consistent moisture and humus-rich earth.
Heat-tolerant but needs protection from hot afternoon sun. Popular varieties include ‘Betty Sayers’ with extra-wide leaves and ‘Eco-Origin’ featuring a more compact habit.
12. Barrenwort (Epimedium)
Epimedium, commonly known as barrenwort, offers year-round interest with its heart-shaped leaves that emerge in spring with red or bronze tints before maturing to green.
The early spring flowers dance on thin stems above the foliage in shades of yellow, pink, or white. A shade-loving perennial that thrives in zones 4-8, barrenwort tolerates dry conditions once established and grows well under trees where other plants struggle.
The foliage forms dense mats that naturally suppress weeds. Two reliable varieties include E. x rubrum with rosy-red blooms and E. x versicolor ‘Sulphureum’ featuring soft yellow flowers.
Disease resistant and deer proof, this ground cover maintains its good looks even in challenging conditions.
13. Wild Ginger (Asarum)
Known by botanists as Asarum canadense, wild ginger makes a trouble-free ground cover for shaded gardens. The glossy, heart-shaped leaves form a dense carpet that stays evergreen in mild climates and reaches 4-6 inches tall.
Small, maroon flowers appear at ground level in spring, hidden beneath the foliage. Plant wild ginger in rich, moist soil where it will gradually spread to fill shady spots.
Hardy in zones 4-8, it’s deer-resistant and adapts well to both humid and dry conditions once established.
European wild ginger (A. europaeum) has similar characteristics but smaller leaves, while A. splendens offers silvery leaf markings for added interest.
14. Dead Nettle (Lamium maculatum)
Dead nettle makes an excellent ground cover in shady spots, spreading steadily without becoming invasive. This hardy perennial (zones 4-9) grows just 6-8 inches tall and produces waves of pink, purple, or white flowers in mid-spring.
Most varieties feature green and silver variegated leaves that look fresh throughout the growing season. The plant thrives in moist, well-drained soil but can handle periods of drought once established.
Dead nettle grows best in partial to full shade and resists deer and rabbits. Popular varieties include ‘White Nancy’ with silvery leaves and white blooms, ‘Pink Nancy’ featuring rose-pink flowers, and ‘Red Nancy’ sporting deep pink blossoms.
15. Liriope (Liriope muscari)
Liriope grows in tidy clumps that make an ideal border along pathways and garden beds. This evergreen perennial, also known as lilyturf, features grass-like leaves that stay neat and compact year-round.
Small purple or white flower spikes emerge in late summer, followed by dark berries that persist into winter. Heat and drought tolerant once established, liriope thrives in both sun and shade in zones 5-10.
‘Big Blue’ offers deep purple blooms with broad leaves, while ‘Variegata’ sports cream-striped foliage.
‘Silver Dragon’ adds interest with its silver-white striped leaves. Deer and rabbit resistant, liriope holds up well in humid conditions and rarely needs dividing.
16. Mondo Grass (Ophiopogon japonicus)
Mondo grass creates a tidy, low-growing carpet that resembles a miniature lawn. This perennial ornamental grass thrives in zones 6-11, with evergreen blades that reach 6-12 inches tall.
Regular mondo grass has dark green leaves, while dwarf varieties like ‘Gyoku Ryu’ stay under 4 inches. For dramatic contrast, ‘Nigrescens’ offers near-black foliage.
The plants produce small lilac flowers in late summer, followed by dark berries. Mondo grass handles deep shade to partial sun and tolerates heat well once established.
It grows slowly but steadily in rich, well-draining soil and resists deer browsing. Regular watering keeps it lush, though it bounces back from occasional drought.
17. Golden Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia ‘Aurea’)
Ground-hugging Golden Creeping Jenny spreads fast and looks good year-round in zones 3-8. The bright chartreuse leaves form a dense carpet that darkens to lime green in full sun.
Small yellow flowers bloom from late spring through summer. While the species can be aggressive, newer varieties like ‘Aurea’ and ‘Goldilocks’ are better behaved.
This perennial handles both sun and part shade, though leaf color is more intense with more light. Drought tolerant once established but prefers consistent moisture.
Plant grows 2-4 inches tall and roots where stems touch soil. Most vigorous in cool climates, may need afternoon shade in hot regions.
18. Sweet Flag (Acorus gramineus)
Sweet Flag’s sword-like leaves add natural elegance to moist garden areas and pond edges. Growing slowly but steadily in zones 4-11, this perennial groundcover forms neat clumps of strappy foliage in shades ranging from bright green to yellow-striped varieties.
Popular cultivars include ‘Variegatus’ with cream-and-green leaves, ‘Ogon’ featuring golden foliage, and ‘Pusillus’ with its compact grass-like growth.
The plant maintains its color year-round and produces inconspicuous greenish-yellow flower spikes in summer.
Sweet Flag thrives in full sun to part shade and wet conditions, making it perfect for rain gardens. Highly resistant to deer and pests, it handles cold winters well but needs consistent moisture.
19. Foam Flower (Tiarella cordifolia)
Also known as Tiarella, Foam Flower spreads slowly to make an airy carpet of green maple-shaped leaves that stay low to the ground. The tall, wispy flower spikes appear in late spring, resembling cotton candy and ranging from white to soft pink.
As a perennial groundcover that’s hardy in zones 4-9, it tolerates both sun and shade but prefers moist, well-drained soil in partial shade. The deer-resistant foliage often develops bronze-red tones in fall and winter.
Popular varieties include ‘Running Tapestry’ with its deep purple leaf markings, ‘Sugar and Spice’ showing pink-tinged flowers, and ‘Iron Butterfly’ featuring dark center leaf markings.
20. Carpet Bugle (Ajuga reptans)
A hardy perennial ground cover with a spread of small, glossy leaves and spikes of blue-purple flowers that bloom in late spring. Carpet Bugle grows well in zones 4-9 and thrives in both full sun and partial shade, making it a reliable choice for covering tricky spots.
The evergreen foliage comes in shades from dark green to deep purple, with popular varieties like ‘Burgundy Glow’ showing off multicolored leaves, ‘Dixie Chip’ offering bronze-purple tones, and ‘Bronze Beauty’ featuring rich copper hues.
Plants are drought tolerant once established and resist deer browsing. While they prefer moist, well-drained soil, they adapt easily to various conditions and stay neat with minimal care.
21. Corsican Mint (Mentha requienii)
Looking for an herb that spreads quickly and smells amazing? Corsican mint stays low to the ground, reaching just 1/2 inch tall, with tiny round leaves that release a strong minty fragrance when stepped on.
This perennial ground cover grows best in zones 6-9, preferring partial shade and consistently moist, well-draining soil. Small white flowers appear in summer, but the real show is the dense mat of bright green foliage.
Not as cold-hardy as other mints, it may need winter protection in cooler regions. Grows well between stepping stones or as a lawn substitute in shady spots. Popular varieties include ‘Mini Mint,’ ‘Pale Mint,’ and the classic species Mentha requienii.
22. Wild Violet (Viola sororia)
Low-growing wild violets form a dense carpet of dark green, heart-shaped leaves that spread readily in shady areas. These hardy perennials produce masses of purple, white, or yellow blooms in early spring, popping up when most other plants are still dormant.
Wild violets grow best in partial to full shade and rich, moist soil. Native to woodlands, they’re tough enough to handle cold winters and thrive in zones 3-9. Some gardeners consider them too aggressive, but they’re perfect for naturalizing shady spots where other plants struggle.
Common varieties include Common Blue Violet, Confederate Violet with its pale lavender flowers, and Sweet Violet featuring deep purple blooms and a light fragrance.
23. Lily of the Valley (Convallaria majalis)
These sweet-smelling ground covers bloom in late spring, producing arching stems of tiny white bell-shaped flowers that hover above dark green leaves.
A hardy perennial that spreads steadily through underground rhizomes, Lily of the Valley grows best in partial to full shade and moist, rich soil. Plant them in zones 3-8, where they’ll create a low maintenance carpet that reaches 6-8 inches tall.
Common varieties include ‘Bordeaux,’ with rosy-pink flowers, ‘Flore Pleno’ featuring double blooms, and ‘Fortin’s Giant’ with larger flowers than standard types.
While tolerant of cold winters, these plants need consistent moisture and will struggle in hot southern climates.
24. Irish Moss (Sagina subulata)
Despite its name, Irish moss isn’t actually a moss at all – it’s a low-growing perennial in the pink family. Perfect for shady spots, this dense ground cover forms a soft mat of bright green foliage, reaching just 1-2 inches tall.
Tiny white flowers bloom in late spring, giving it a sprinkled-with-snow look. It grows best in zones 6-9, preferring moist, well-draining soil and partial to full shade.
While it can handle some sun in cool climates, it needs protection from intense afternoon heat. Some popular varieties include ‘Aurea’ with golden-green leaves, ‘Minima’ for extra-compact growth, and ‘Silver Threads’ featuring silvery-white foliage. Disease resistant and drought tolerant once established.
25. Green and Gold (Chrysogonum virginianum)
Spreading like a thick carpet, Green and Gold offers a no-fuss solution for shade gardens. This perennial’s heart-shaped leaves create dense coverage while its bright yellow flowers bloom from spring to fall, attracting early pollinators.
Growing just 6 inches tall, it spreads steadily through shallow roots, never becoming invasive. The leaves stay green in mild winters and emerge early in spring.
It performs best in zones 5-9, preferring partial shade and moist, well-drained soil. Once established, it handles dry spells with ease.
Popular varieties include ‘Eco Weeper’ with trailing stems, and ‘Pierre’ featuring larger flowers and more compact growth.
How to Choose the Right Ground Cover for Your Garden
Climate considerations: Choose ground covers that are well-suited to your local climate, including temperature ranges and rainfall patterns. Consider factors such as winter hardiness and drought tolerance to ensure your selected plants can thrive in your specific environment.
Soil type and pH: Different ground covers prefer different soil conditions, so it’s essential to match your plant choice with your garden’s soil type and pH level. Conduct a soil test to determine your soil’s characteristics and select ground covers that will flourish in those conditions.
Sun exposure: Assess the amount of sunlight your garden receives throughout the day and choose ground covers that match those light conditions. Some plants thrive in full sun, while others prefer partial shade or even deep shade, so be sure to select varieties that will perform well in your garden’s specific light environment.
Growth rate and spread: Consider how quickly the ground cover grows and how far it spreads to ensure it fits your garden’s needs and maintenance preferences. Fast-growing varieties can quickly fill in bare areas but may require more frequent pruning, while slower-growing options might take longer to establish but typically need less maintenance.
