15 Beautiful Ground Cover Plants That Keep the Weeds Away

Ground cover plants choke out weeds, control erosion, and protect the roots of neighboring plants.

close up of hens and chicks succulents
Photo:

Claudia Cooper / Getty Images

Lush green grass looks beautiful in any landscape, but it can require a lot of maintenance. Ground cover plants are the perfect solution if you want something that's easier to care for but doesn't sacrifice curb appeal. These low growers are low-maintenance, choke out weeds, control erosion on slopes, fill in areas where grass won't grow, and protect the roots of neighboring plants. No matter your landscape needs, ground cover plants offer a quick fix—and their cool colors and attractive textures mean they look great, too. Ahead, gardening experts share their picks for the best ground cover plants to grow in your garden.

  • Kelly Funk, president of Park Seed, one of the United States's oldest and largest mail-order seed and plant companies.
  • Melinda Myers, gardening expert and host of the Great Courses How to Grow Anything DVD series.
01 of 15

Bugleweed

ajuga
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A fast-growing and dense ground cover option, bugleweed (Ajuga) has deep green-and-chocolate-brown leaves that form an effective barrier against weeds. To plant bugleweed, wait until your last frost, then dig holes just deep enough for the root ball, leaving about 8 inches of space between each perennial. Loosen the roots and place the ball into the ground, packing in the soil as you go. Once planted, thoroughly water the site. Every third year, bugleweed will need pruning so it doesn't grow invasively.

  • Zones: 4 to 11
  • Size: 11 inches tall x 15 inches wide
  • Care requirements: Full sun to part shade; rich, well-draining soil
02 of 15

Stonecrop

Sedum
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Stonecrop (Sedum) encompasses a large group of plants, but the low-growing varieties work well as ground covers. The low-maintenance, drought-tolerant plant requires water at the time of planting and whenever the top 2 inches of soil are dry. To plant stonecrop, dig a hole just deep enough for the top of the root ball to be level with the soil's surface then fill in the surroundings. The variety you've chosen will dictate the distance between each root ball, so consult the instructions on the plant care tag.

  • Zones: 3 to 11
  • Size: 16 to 18 inches tall x 24 inches wide
  • Care requirements: Full sun; well-draining soil
03 of 15

Creeping Raspberry

Creeping raspberry
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A desirable option if you want a pest-free lawn, creeping raspberry (Rubus calycinoides) can stand up to deer and light foot traffic. "Creeping raspberry forms a dense carpet [and has] long spreading branches covered with textured emerald green leaves," says Kelly Funk, president of Park Seed. Plant each root ball about 4 to 6 feet apart, avoiding areas that don't have proper irrigation or where the soil is frequently moist.

  • Zones: 6 to 9
  • Size: 9 to 12 inches tall x 5 feet wide
  • Care requirements: Part sun or part shade; well-draining soil 
04 of 15

Lilyturf

Lilyturf
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Ideal to plant on banks and slopes, lilyturf (Liriope muscari) forms an impenetrable mat and flowers from summer to fall. The drought-tolerant plant grows quickly under ideal growing conditions. Although it's a plant that thrives in shaded locations, it can also withstand sunlight. The perennial should be watered regularly during its first growing season and then scaled back to once a week. To plant lilyturf, space each seedling about 1 foot apart so they have room to grow.

  • Zones: 5 to 10
  • Size: 8 to 12 inches tall x 8 to 12 inches wide
  • Care requirements: Full shade to part sun; well-draining soil
05 of 15

Creeping Mahonia

Creeping mahonia
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This low-growing evergreen shrub is a favorite because it adds multi-season interest to your garden. In spring, its fragrant, golden-yellow flowers bloom. During summer and fall, creeping mahonia (Mahonia repens) produces blue-black fruit—and when winter arrives, you're left with purple-green leaves. The plant should be watered frequently during its first year, but once established, watering is only needed during high temperatures or times of drought. "Depending on how thick your desired coverage is, plant about 2 to 3 feet apart," says Funk.

  • Zones: 5 to 8
  • Size: 12 to 24 inches tall x 12 to 36 inches wide
  • Care requirements: Full shade to part sun; moist, acidic soil
06 of 15

Creeping Thyme

Creeping thyme
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Are you hoping to attract pollinators to your garden? Creeping thyme (Thymus serpyllum) is one way to do so. It's great for planting between walkway stones, as edging in a flower or vegetable garden, or cascading over rocks in a terraced garden. What's more, during summer, it blossoms into stunning pink-and-purple flowers. The ground cover only requires water about once every 10 days. "Germination can be slow (up to one month), but once the seeds sprout, there's no stopping them," Funk says.

  • Zones: 5 to 9
  • Size: 2 inches tall x 12 inches wide
  • Care requirements: Full sun; average dry, well-draining soil
07 of 15

Hens and Chicks

Hens and chicks
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One of the most popular succulents for hot, dry gardens, hens and chicks (Sempervivum tectorum) forms bright rosettes of foliage that spread freely by their offshoots. It should be watered lightly about once every few weeks as the plant is easily susceptible to root rot. To plant, till a spot in your yard with partial to full sunlight, then dig a 3-inch deep hole for the hen—the larger succulent of the bunch—and place the chicks directly on top of your soil. "Sprinkle a thin coating of gravel over the top of the soil to keep the moisture in," Funk says.

  • Zones: 3 to 8
  • Size: 3 to 6 inches tall x 6 to 12 inches wide
  • Care requirements: Partial to full sun; average dry, sandy, well-draining soil
08 of 15

Yellow Alyssum

Basket of gold alyssum
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As low maintenance as it gets, this long-lived and super colorful ground cover forms adorable clusters of yellow blooms. The fuss-free plant should be watered occasionally during summer, but beyond that, the only real maintenance it requires is pruning when it blooms. Plant yellow alyssum (Aurinia saxatilis) about 16 to 18 inches apart for a thick carpet of gold.

  • Zones: 5 to 9
  • Size: 6 to 12 inches tall x 12 to 18 inches wide
  • Care requirements: Full sun; well-draining soil
09 of 15

Red Barrenwort

Red barrenwort
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Red barrenwort (Epimedium x rubrum) grows heart-shaped green leaves in the summer and then a subtle red tinge emerges in the spring and fall. "This is a favorite of mine as it tolerates dry soil once established and provides seasonal interest," says Melinda Myers, gardening expert and host of the Great Courses How to Grow Anything DVD series. Although it should be watered regularly when initially planted, it can withstand low water situations once established. When planting the perennial, make sure its roots sit just below the soil's surface or the plant may rot if planted too deep.

  • Zones: 4 to 8
  • Size: 12 inches tall x 24 inches wide
  • Care requirements: Partial to full shade; rich, well-draining soil
10 of 15

Coral Bells

Coral bells
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Bring bees and hummingbirds to your garden with this colorful foliage that contains nectar for wildlife. Coral bells (Heuchera) are known for their uniquely shaped leaves and bright pink to red flowers, which bloom in late spring and last through early summer. The ground cover should be watered generously during dry periods and spent flower stalks should be pruned regularly. Plant with the crown (where the leaves meet the stem) slightly above the soil surface. Coral bells are subject to frost heaving, which is when the plant gets pushed up as soil freezes over, says Meyers. If this happens, you may need to replant or tamp the ground cover back in place.

  • Zones: 4 to 9
  • Size: 6 to 16 inches tall x 12 to 36 inches wide
  • Growing Conditions: Partial to full shade; well-draining soil
11 of 15

Pennsylvania Sedge

Pennsylvania Sedge
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While there are a handful of carex varieties, Pennsylvania sedge (Carex pensylvanica) is one of the most popular. Often used as a substitute for lawn grasses, carex can be mowed or allowed to grow into a more meadow-like planting, Meyers says. Easy to care for because it is disease-resistant, drought-tolerant, and unappetizing to most pests, Pennsylvania sedge should be watered about once every two weeks. Seed germination is difficult with this variety, so it's recommended to plug small container-grown plants into the lawn instead.

  • Zones: 3 to 8
  • Size: 12 inches tall x 12 inches wide
  • Care requirements: Partial shade; average, moist soil
12 of 15

Creeping Speedwell

Creeping Speedwell ground cover with purple flowers

Kristine Radkovska / Getty Images

Creeping speedwell (Veronica filiformis) is a low-growing plant that masses tiny blue flowers that bloom in mid to late spring. The drought, heat, and humidity-tolerant plant should be watered whenever the top 3 inches of soil are dry. Plant about 1 to 2 feet apart to give it ample room to spread, Funk says.

  • Zones: 3 to 8
  • Mature size: 4 to 6 inches tall x 12 to 24 inches wide
  • Soil requirements: Full sun; well-draining soil
13 of 15

Creeping Jenny

close up of creeping jenny ground cover

Andres Victorero / Getty Images

Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummula) is a semi-evergreen perennial that can be grown as a ground cover or used in containers and hanging baskets. It can be an aggressive spreader, so it's typically not recommended for borders where it can be difficult to control.

  • Zones: 3 to 9
  • Size: 2 to 4 inches tall x 12 to 18 inches wide
  • Care requirements: Full sun to partial shade; moist, well-draining soil
14 of 15

Asiatic Jasmine

asiatic jasmine ground cover

DigiPub / Getty Images

Asiatic jasmine (Trachelospermum asiaticum) is a fast-growing plant that will fill your yard with a pleasant, inviting scent. Its glossy green leaves offer multiple seasons of interest while white flowers cover the plant from spring to summer.

  • Zones: 7 to 11
  • Size: 6 to 18 inches tall x 36 inches wide
  • Care requirements: Full sun to partial shade; well-draining soil
15 of 15

Blue Daze

Blue daze ground cover

wahid hasyim asyari / Getty Images

A dwarf variety of morning glory, blue daze (Evolvulus glomeratus) is a non-vining plant that is typically grown as an annual. It's recognized by its bright blue flowers that form over a mound of fuzzy green leaves.

  • Zones: 9 to 11
  • Size: 4 to 6 inches tall x 24 to 36 inches wide
  • Care requirements: Full sun to partial shade; moist, well-draining soil
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