Gardening Flowers Perennials 25 Low-Maintenance Groundcover Plants that Look Great in Any Yard These low-growing perennials don't need a lot of care to thrive, even in challenging situations. By Andrea Beck Andrea Beck Andrea Beck served as garden editor at BHG and her work has appeared on Food & Wine, Martha Stewart, MyRecipes, and more. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Updated on April 12, 2023 Reviewed by Sylvia Duax Reviewed by Sylvia Duax Sylvia Duax has over 15 years of experience as a professional Horticulturist with expertise in: sustainable garden maintenance techniques; Southeastern U.S., especially in the mid-Atlantic regional gardening; native plants; wildlife gardening; small space, urban and container gardening and community engagement. Learn about BHG's Gardening Review Board Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Doug Hetherington A groundcover plant offers an easy solution for adding color to bare spots under large trees, sunny slopes, and other challenging areas. In addition, these plants act like living mulch, protecting soil from erosion and drought. The following perennial groundcovers work well in various situations without requiring much care. 15 Types of Groundcover You Can Walk on for a Pretty Garden Path 01 of 25 Armeria Marty Baldwin A charming plant not seen enough in gardens, armeria (Armeria maritima) offers low, grassy foliage and clusters of bright pink or white flowers in late spring and early summer. Look for 'Rubrifolia', which provides burgundy-tinged foliage for extra interest. Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil Size: To 8 inches tall Zones: 3-9 02 of 25 Barren Strawberry Nancy Rotenberg Native to eastern North America, barren strawberries (Waldsteinia fragarioides) form dense, spreading clumps of strawberry-like foliage. In spring, they produce small yellow flowers, followed by inedible fruit. Growing Conditions: Full sun to part shade and moist, well-drained soil Size: 1 foot tall Zones: 4-8 03 of 25 Bloody Cranesbill Jeff McNamara Bloody cranesbill (Geranium sanguineum) gets its colorful name from the bright red its foliage takes on in fall. Many varieties are available in flower colors of blue and purple that bloom in May and June, then sporadically through the rest of the growing season. This low-maintenance groundcover plant spreads slowly but eventually forms broad swaths if you let it. Growing Conditions: Full sun to part shade in well-drained soil Size: 1 foot tall Zones: 4-8 15 Drought-Tolerant Groundcovers for a Low-Maintenance Landscape 04 of 25 Brass Buttons King Au An evergreen groundcover plant in warmer areas, brass buttons (Leptinella squalida) offers fern-like, fine-textured foliage and button-shaped, yellowish flowers. 'Platt's Black' variety has very dark leaves that look especially striking surrounding lighter plants or landscaping features like boulders. Plus, it can tolerate a little foot traffic, so it's a good choice between stepping stones as long as it receives steady moisture. Growing Conditions: Full sun and moist, well-drained soil Size: 6 inches tall Zones: 4-7 05 of 25 Bunchberry Mike Eagleton A native groundcover that does well in shade, bunchberry (Cornus canadensis) features cute little white flowers in spring, followed by bright red fruits in fall. The leaves also develop festive shades of bronzy-purple in autumn. Growing Conditions: Full shade and well-drained soil Size: To 6 inches tall Zones: 2-7 17 Best Shade Plants to Add Color to Your Landscape 06 of 25 Crested Iris Walter Chandoha Sometimes known as woodland iris, crested iris (Iris cristata) is a native of eastern North America and can be found in various forms and patterns in blue and white. Once established, they are carefree, cheery groundcovers for a shady woodland garden. Growing Conditions: Part to full shade in moist, well-drained soil Size: 9 inches tall Zones: 3-9 07 of 25 Dianthus Denny Schrock Dianthus, also called pinks, are members of the carnation family, and the flowers have a pleasant clove-like fragrance. The plants, which grow in low, dense mats that spread slowly, are quite drought-tolerant after they're established. There are lots of pretty varieties to choose from, and some stay lower than others. One popular choice is 'Firewitch', which has bright pink blooms and stays about 8 inches tall. Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil Size: up to 30 inches tall Zones: 3-8 08 of 25 Epimedium Bob Stefko Dry shade can be a tricky landscaping problem. Thankfully, epimedium (Epimedium grandiflorum) thrives in these conditions. There are many excellent varieties, but a few beautiful ones include 'Pierre's Purple,' 'Sulphureum,' and 'Lilafee.' Growing Conditions: Part to full shade and well-drained soil Size: 8 inches tall Zones: 3-9 12 Tough Perennials That Grow in Dry Shade 09 of 25 European Ginger Julie Mikos European ginger (Asarum europaeum) is prized for its glossy, heart-shaped leaves and vigorous growth. While not invasive, this groundcover plant wastes no time forming a sizable colony in your landscape. A native alternative is wild ginger (Asarum canadense), which has heart-shaped leaves but isn't as glossy. Growing Conditions: Part to full shade and well-drained soil Size: To 4 inches tall Zones: 4-8 10 of 25 Sedum Jerry Pavia Low-growing sedums may not produce the big bang of color like their taller cousins, but it's hard to go wrong with this ultra-low-maintenance, drought-tolerant groundcover plant for sunny spots. Two of the hardiest creeping varieties are gold moss stonecrop (Sedum acre) and Sedum kamtschaticum (shown here). Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil Size: 3 inches tall Zones: 4-9 11 of 25 Hens-and-Chicks Peter Krumhardt A perfect companion for sedums, hens-and-chicks (Sempervivum spp.) is an ideal succulent for the rock garden, stone wall, or crevice in the sidewalk. Hens-and-chicks is one of the most low-maintenance groundcovers. Just plant and enjoy. Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil Size: 4 inches tall Zones: 3-9 12 of 25 Sweet Woodruff Mike Jensen Sweet woodruff (Galium odoratum) is an easy-to-grow option when you need a groundcover for shade. It will even add a pleasant fragrance to your yard, from the leaves (which smell like fresh hay when mown or crushed) and the small white flowers that appear in spring. This spreading perennial isn't prone to invasiveness. Still, it can get a little exuberant when grown in optimal conditions with lots of moisture, so keep an eye on it. Growing Conditions: Part to full shade and moist, well-drained soil Size: To 12 inches tall Zones: 4-8 13 of 25 Lady's Mantle Matthew Benson This low-maintenance perennial is a cottage garden favorite that offers a unique treat: Fine hairs on the scalloped leaves sparkle with water droplets in the early morning light. Lady's mantle (Alchemilla mollis) blooms in late spring to early summer, producing clusters of tiny chartreuse blooms. This classy groundcover can seed itself around, so make sure to deadhead the flowers to keep your planting more contained. Growing Conditions: Sun to part shade and moist, well-drained soil Size: To 18 inches tall Zones: 4-7 14 of 25 Lamium Rich Pomerantz Also known as deadnettle, lamium (Lamium maculatum) is a reliable, easy-care groundcover for shade. Most will bloom through the summer, producing clusters of pink, purple, or white flowers. Even when not in bloom, lamium has eye-catching, silver-marked green foliage that brightens up shady corners. This low-maintenance perennial makes a beautiful alternative to a struggling lawn. However, it is invasive in some areas of the country so check before planting. Growing Conditions: Full shade and moist, well-drained soil Size: 8 inches tall Zones: 4-8 15 of 25 Creeping Phlox Doug Hetherington A slow-growing, sprawling perennial, creeping phlox (Phlox subulata) forms dense mats of narrow green leaves. This easy-care groundcover puts on an eye-catching show in spring when it becomes covered in pink, white, purple, red, and bicolor flowers. Perfect for edging sidewalks and walkways, creeping phlox won't become a rowdy neighbor to the tulips, daffodils, and other spring bulbs that look charming planted with it. Growing Conditions: Full sun and moist, well-drained soil Size: To 8 inches tall Zones: 3-9 16 of 25 Thyme Peter Krumhardt Enjoy the fresh smell of thyme (Thymus serpyllum) underfoot in your garden. This evergreen groundcover offers fragrant foliage and pink or white flowers in spring or summer. Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil Size: To 10 inches tall Zones: 4-9 15 of the Easiest Herbs to Grow for Beginners 17 of 25 Golden Moneywort Erica George Dines Also called creeping Jenny, golden moneywort (Lysimachia nummularia 'Aurea') is a fast-growing groundcover that forms mats of tiny chartreuse leaves along thin, sprawling stems. The coloring will look brightest in full sun, but it grows well in part shade, too. Just beware, this perennial can quickly get out of hand, so it's best grown where it can be controlled, such as in a bed bordered on all sides by concrete or other hardscaping. And it's considered invasive in some regions of the country, so check if it's a problem where you live before planting. Growing Conditions: Full sun to part shade and moist soil Size: 3 inches tall Zones: 3-7 How to Build a Curved Brick Garden Border 18 of 25 Showy Evening Primrose Ed Gohlich Native to the Southwestern U.S. and Mexico, showy evening primrose (Oenothera speciosa) makes an excellent heat-, drought- and humidity-tolerant groundcover. It will reward you in midsummer with cuplike pink flowers that open in the evening or on cloudy days. While it's easy to grow, it can spread aggressively in ideal conditions, so make sure it has room to ramble. Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil Size: 2 feet tall Zones: 5-9 19 of 25 Soapwort Povy Kendal Atchison Soapwort (Saponaria x lempergii ) is a low-maintenance perennial that deserves to be grown in more gardens. It makes a pretty, mat-forming groundcover. It produces so many starry pink flowers in summer that the green foliage is almost completely covered. 'Max Frei' is a variety with an extra long bloom time, running into fall. Growing Conditions: Full sun to part shade and well-drained soil Size: To 1 foot tall Zones: 3-7 20 of 25 Prostrate Veronica Marty Baldwin This perennial is the groundcover version of the taller, well-known veronica (Veronica prostrata). Its pretty blue spring flowers create a dazzling contrast to the golden foliage of cultivars such as 'Trehane' and 'Goldwell.' Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil Size: To 1 foot tall Zones: 4-8 21 of 25 Japanese Forestgrass Bob Stefko Ornamental grasses are a beautiful way to add texture to the landscape. Low-growing forms make excellent groundcovers, and Japanese forest grass (Hakonechloa macra) is one of the best. It comes in glowing shades of gold and chartreuse and forms flowing mounds that hug the ground. Growing Conditions: Full sun to part shade in moist, well-drained soil Size: To 2 feet tall Zones: 5-9 10 Best Types of Ornamental Grass That Are Native 22 of 25 Leadwort Scott Little Leadwort (Ceratostigma plumbaginoides) is an excellent low-maintenance groundcover for putting on a late-season show. Leadwort begins blooming in late summer with beautiful, electric-blue flowers and continues until the first frost. Then, the leaves turn a gorgeous shade of burgundy red in fall. Growing Conditions: Full sun to part shade and well-drained soil Size: To 12 inches tall Zones: 5-9 23 of 25 Mondo Grass Ed Gohlich Popular in Southern gardens, mondo grass (Ophiopogon japonicus) is a tough, drought-tolerant groundcover plant that doesn't mind heat and humidity. It forms clumps of strappy, grass-like green foliage; dark-leaf varieties add a moody hue to the garden and create pleasing contrasts with plants with paler foliage. Despite its appearance and name, mondo grass is more closely related to lilies. This plant is considered invasive in some areas of the country, so make sure to check before planting it. Growing Conditions: Shade and moist, well-drained soil Size: To 24 inches tall, depending on variety Zones: 6-10 24 of 25 Snow-in-Summer Peter Krumhardt Snow-in-summer (Cerastium tomentosum) has silvery evergreen foliage, but the show really kicks into high gear when its billowing mounds of crystalline white flowers appear in spring. This drought-tolerant groundcover plant makes a stunning accent to a stone wall, patio, or rock garden. Snow-in-summer can handle a range of soil types as well. Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil Size: 3 inches tall Zones: 3-7 25 of 25 Lamb's Ear William N. Hopkins Kids especially love the fuzzy leaves of this classic perennial. Soft and silvery, lamb's ear (Stachys byzantina) forms low-growing mounds. Equally fuzzy spikes of purple to pink flowers appear in spring and summer. If you don't want this plant to self-seed, make sure to deadhead the flowers. Good cultivars to look for include 'Cotton Ball,' 'Big Ears,' and 'Primrose Heron.' Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil Size: To 18 inches tall Zones: 4-7 Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit