33 Colorful Groundcover Plants for a Low-Maintenance Garden (2024)

15 Types of Groundcover You Can Walk on for a Pretty Garden Path

Armeria

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

Barren Strawberry

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

Basket-of-Gold

Basket-of-gold (Aurinia saxatilis) loves to grow between paving stones, at the edges of gravel paths, in rocky outcroppings, and between stacked stones of a retaining wall. This prolific bloomer is covered with large clusters of flowers in April and May that attract butterflies and bees. After the plant finishes blooming, the gray-green foliage forms an attractive mat.

Growing Conditions: Full sun with afternoon shade and well-drained soil

Size: To 12 inches tall

Zones: 3–7

Bloody Cranesbill

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

Brass Buttons

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

Bunchberry

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

Christmas Fern

Producing lush fronds, evergreen Christmas fern (Polystichum acrostichoides) is best planted near water gardens or ponds. These attractive ferns are welcome additions to woodland or cottage gardens and pair well with other shade-loving perennials. The rhizomatous fern spreads to 2 feet wide.

Growing Conditions: Full shade to dappled light and moist, well-drained soil

Size: To 3 feet tall

Zones: 3–9

Creeping Phlox

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

Crested Iris

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

Dianthus

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

Epimedium

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

European Ginger

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

Evening Primrose

Native to the Southwestern U.S. and Mexico, 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

Golden Moneywort

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. 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

Golden Star Plant

Golden star plant (Chrysogonum virginianum) is also known by the name of green-and-gold because of its combination of attractive green foliage and star-shaped yellow blooms. This low-maintenance plant forms a spreading mat in sun or shade but doesn’t spread aggressively. Golden star plant is a perfect choice as a ground cover for woodland gardens, naturalized areas, or beneath trees and shrubs.

Growing Conditions: Full sun to part shade and well-drained soil

Size: To 12 inches tall

Zones: 5–9

Hardy Ice Plant

Hardy ice plant (Delosperma spp.) forms a low mat of succulent foliage that spreads about 2 feet wide; this is a good plant to use on slopes to prevent erosion. Ideal for hot, dry gardens, this ground cover plant flowers continuously from late spring or early summer into fall.

Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil

Size: To 6 inches tall

Zones: 5–10

Heartleaf Brunnera

Heartleaf brunnera (Brunnera macrophylla) is a low-growing perennial admired for its attractive heart-shaped, silvery-gray or variegated green and white leaves and tiny sky-blue flowers that bloom in spring. The foliage has a course texture, so deer and rabbits tend to avoid it.

Growing Conditions: Full to part shade and well-drained soil

Size: To 3 feet tall

Zones: 3–8

Hellebore

Hellebore (Helleborus spp.) is a winter-hardy perennial that blooms for weeks beginning in late winter in white, pink, yellow, or maroon shades. These plants make an excellent groundcover for dry, shady areas, slowing spreading and reseeding themselves to fill in around other plants.

Growing Conditions: Full to part shade and rich, well-drained soil

Size: To 3 feet tall

Zones: 4–9

Hens-and-Chicks

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

Japanese Forest Grass

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

Lady’s Mantle

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

Lamb’s Ear

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, 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

Lamium

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

Leadwort

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

Mondo Grass

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 check before planting it.

Growing Conditions: Shade and moist, well-drained soil

Size: To 24 inches tall, depending on variety

Zones: 6-10

Pennsylvania Sedge

Pennsylvania sedge (Carex pensylvanica) is a tough and versatile low sedge that serves as an excellent groundcover in dry, shady areas, filling in around other perennials and eliminating the need for mulch. It spreads quickly to form large, dense mats of foliage.

Growing Conditions: Full to part shade and dry to moist, well-drained soil

Size: 10 to 12 inches tall

Zones: 3–7

Prostrate Veronica

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

puss*toes

puss*toes (Antennaria dioica) is a ground-hugging perennial and low-maintenance groundcover. It produces a fuzzy, silvery-green mat of foliage that is 2–3 inches tall and spreads 18 inches wide. Tiny white or pink flowers bloom in late spring and early summer and rise to 10 inches. The ‘Rubra’ cultivar is a standout plant that thrives in hot, dry areas and poor soil.

Growing Conditions: Full sun and dry, rocky, or average soil

Size: To 10 inches tall

Zones: 3-8

Sedum

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

Snow-in-Summer

Snow-in-summer (Cerastium tomentosum) has silvery evergreen foliage, but the show 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: 3-5 inches tall

Zones: 3-7

Soapwort

Soapwort (Saponaria x lempergii ) is a low-maintenance perennial that should 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

Sweet Woodruff

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

Thyme

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