Low‑Maintenance Groundcovers

Spreading Plants for Coverage, Color & Weed Suppression

Groundcovers are the quiet workhorses of the landscape—filling gaps, softening edges, suppressing weeds, and creating a cohesive, finished look. This curated collection features reliable, fast‑establishing varieties chosen for their ability to spread, thrive, and provide season‑long interest with minimal care.

Whether you’re covering slopes, lining walkways, filling bare spots, or creating a living carpet beneath shrubs and trees, these groundcovers deliver dependable performance and long‑lasting beauty.

Mazus reptans

A dense, low‑growing groundcover with tiny lavender blooms. Excellent between stepping stones or in moist areas.
Placement: Full sun to part shade; prefers consistent moisture.

Creeping Red Thyme (Pint)

Fragrant, drought‑tolerant, and pollinator‑friendly. Forms a tight mat that releases scent when walked on.
Placement: Full sun; thrives in dry, rocky soil.

Sweet Woodruff (Pint)

A soft, shade‑loving groundcover with star‑shaped leaves and delicate white spring flowers.
Placement: Part to full shade; prefers moist, rich soil.

English Ivy (Bare Root)

A classic evergreen groundcover that spreads quickly and provides year‑round coverage.
Placement: Part shade to shade; adaptable and vigorous.

Alexander’s White Iberis (Candytuft) (Pint)

A spring‑blooming groundcover with bright white flowers and tidy evergreen foliage.
Placement: Full sun; well‑drained soil.

Vinca minor ‘Ralph Shugert’

Evergreen groundcover with glossy leaves edged in white. Adds brightness to shady areas.
Placement: Part shade to shade; drought‑tolerant once established.

Vinca minor ‘Bowles’

A vigorous, deep‑green evergreen groundcover with periwinkle‑blue blooms.
Placement: Part shade to shade; excellent for slopes and under trees.

Vinca minor (Standard)

Reliable, fast‑spreading evergreen with classic blue flowers.
Placement: Part shade to shade; low‑maintenance.

Pachysandra terminalis

A staple shade groundcover with glossy foliage and dense coverage.
Placement: Shade to deep shade; thrives under trees.

Purple Beauty Creeping Phlox

A spring showstopper with vibrant purple blooms that form a cascading carpet.
Placement: Full sun; excellent for slopes and rock gardens.

Emerald Blue Creeping Phlox

Soft blue spring blooms that create a lush, spreading mat.
Placement: Full sun; drought‑tolerant once established.

Candy Stripe Creeping Phlox

Pink‑and‑white striped blooms that brighten borders and slopes.
Placement: Full sun; thrives in well‑drained soil.

General Planting Instructions for Groundcovers

Choose the right location.
Match sun or shade requirements to ensure strong spreading and color.

Prepare the soil.
Loosen the top 6–8 inches and mix in compost to improve drainage and root growth.

Space plants appropriately.
Plant 8–18 inches apart, depending on the spread rate, to allow mats to fill in naturally.

Water deeply after planting.
Keep soil evenly moist for the first 2–3 weeks, then water as needed until established.

Mulch lightly between plants.
Use a thin layer to suppress weeds while allowing runners to spread.

Trim or shear after blooming.
Encourages denser growth and keeps mats tidy.

Avoid heavy foot traffic.
Use stepping stones for walkways to prevent damage to young plants.

Allow time to fill in.
Most groundcovers take one full growing season to knit together into a solid carpet.