16 Tough Ground Cover Plants for a Low-Maintenance Landscape
When it comes to landscaping, hardy ground cover plants are a great choice for gardeners who want a beautiful yet low-maintenance garden.
These 16 resilient plants can handle tough conditions, such as poor soil, heavy foot traffic, or full sun.
Ideal for adding texture, color, and coverage to any landscape, these ground covers require little care once established, making them perfect for busy gardeners or challenging garden spots.
Explore these options to find the right ground cover plants for your landscape needs.
Asiatic Jasmine
Asiatic jasmine showcases dark green, glossy leaves that form a dense mat, bringing elegance to any space. In spring, small flowers bloom in shades of white, yellow, or pink, adding subtle color.
This vining evergreen thrives in various conditions, offering a low-maintenance option for ground cover. You’ll appreciate its ability to bring texture and life to your landscape effortlessly.
Creeping Phlox
Creeping phlox bursts into color with its pink, lavender, or purple flowers blanketing the ground in early spring. The dense mat of blooms thrives under full sun, creating a striking display that catches the eye.
This plant not only enhances your garden's appeal but also adds a touch of wild beauty, making it an ideal choice for rock gardens and borders.
Lamb’s Ear
Lamb's ear brings a unique touch with its soft, silver-green leaves that create a fuzzy carpet. Tolerant of high heat and poor soil, it provides a reliable ground cover for tough areas.
Its velvety foliage adds a gentle texture to the garden, inviting you to reach out and feel the softness while admiring its resilient nature.
Creeping Jenny
Creeping jenny brings a lush, green spread that brightens garden beds with its round leaves. Thriving in both full sun and part shade, it prefers moist soil and will add a lively touch to water gardens or damp areas.
The plant's vibrant color and trailing habit enhance any space, making it perfect for hanging baskets or filling in gaps between stones.
English Ivy
English ivy possesses a classic appeal with its dark green, lobed leaves that grow quickly, covering walls or creeping along the ground. The vigorous vine requires regular pruning to keep it in check, but its adaptability makes it a favorite for shady corners and trellises.
You’ll find it brings a touch of old-world charm while adding greenery to any setting.
Dwarf Mondo Grass
Dwarf mondo grass creates a lush carpet with its fine, dark green blades. This drought-resistant ground cover handles sun and shade with ease, offering versatility for different garden areas.
Its dense growth pattern provides a natural texture that brings depth to any landscape, while the low-maintenance nature makes it a practical choice for busy gardeners.
Vinca Minor
Vinca minor possesses deep blue or purple flowers that bloom against dark green foliage, creating a striking contrast. The low-growing plant roots from spreading shoots, forming a dense mat that thrives in shaded areas.
You’ll find it adds a burst of color to borders or under trees, making it a versatile and attractive ground cover for many garden settings.
Ajuga
Ajuga features striking blue, lavender, or pink spikes that rise above its dense mat of foliage in early summer. The glossy leaves come in various colors, adding year-round interest to your garden beds.
This ground cover adapts well to shaded areas, providing a colorful solution for filling in gaps or adding texture to borders and pathways.
Creeping Thyme
Creeping thyme adds fragrance to the garden with its tiny, aromatic leaves and delicate flowers. This hardy plant thrives in dry soil and can even grow between stepping stones or in rocky areas.
The creeping habit provides a natural, textured look that enhances pathways and ground-level arrangements, blending charm with resilience effortlessly.
Wild Ginger
Wild ginger displays heart-shaped, bright green leaves that form a fragrant mat, adding a lush look to slopes or shaded areas. It grows well as an edging plant, providing a low-maintenance solution for filling in difficult spots.
The subtle aroma and rich foliage make it a beautiful addition to woodland gardens or borders where greenery is desired year-round.
Moss
Moss offers a natural, carpet-like appearance that adds tranquility to shaded gardens or Japanese-inspired landscapes. Its soft texture requires no mowing and minimal care, making it a perfect solution for areas where traditional grass struggles.
The subtle green tones bring a peaceful ambiance, creating a serene setting that invites you to appreciate nature’s simplicity.
Geraniums
Geraniums bring a burst of violet-blue flowers that create mounds of colorful blooms throughout the growing season. Preferring shady spots, this low-maintenance plant requires little care while adding brightness to your garden.
The soft hues and lush growth provide a calming atmosphere, making it a lovely addition to borders or containers where you can enjoy its charm up close.
Hardy Ice Plant
Hardy ice plant brings evergreen beauty to gardens with its daisy-like flowers that brighten spaces from spring through fall. Growing well in zones 5 to 11, it offers a splash of color with pink or yellow blooms while thriving in sunny locations.
The plant’s ability to withstand drought makes it an ideal choice for rock gardens or dry areas where other plants might struggle.
Roman Chamomile
Roman chamomile adds a touch of whimsy with its tiny flowers that dot the lawn, creating a charming, soft green mat. Thriving in sunny locations but tolerating some shade, it brings a fresh fragrance that enhances outdoor spaces.
You might find its dainty blooms and feathery leaves make it an appealing choice for pathways or as a unique lawn alternative.
Sedum
Sedum stands out for its drought resistance and variety of shapes and colors, providing an easy-care option for sunny areas. This tough succulent grows well in dry soil and offers a vibrant display that attracts pollinators.
The versatility and hardiness make it a must-have for rock gardens, containers, and spots where other plants might struggle.
Miniature Brass Buttons
Miniature brass buttons spread to create a dense, carpet-like mat with their small, fern-like leaves. Thriving in shaded areas, this ground cover brings a delicate texture and unique visual interest to garden beds.
The combination of above and below-ground runners ensures it fills in spaces beautifully, making it a charming choice for woodland settings.