Imagine transforming your traditional, high-maintenance lawn into a living, breathable, beautiful, and functional landscape. Ground cover plants aren’t just a landscaping trend—they’re a sustainable revolution in garden design.
These resilient botanical alternatives create a dynamic, sensory experience where every step releases fragrant herbs, supports local ecosystems, and reduces your environmental footprint.
Here are the 12 plants that transform mundane outdoor spaces into interactive, living landscapes.
1. Creeping Thyme
Thymus serpyllum is a gardener’s dream ground cover that combines functionality with sensory delight. This low-growing herb creates a dense mat that can withstand light foot traffic while releasing a delightful fragrance with every step.
Thriving in zones 3-9 and preferring full sun, creeping thyme offers multiple varieties, including red Coccineus and pink-flowering cultivars.
Its tiny flowers attract pollinators, making it an ecological powerhouse that looks stunning between stepping stones or as a lawn alternative.
2. Sedum
Sedum, also known as stonecrop, provides a unique ground cover solution with its colorful, low-growing succulent varieties. These plants create a carpet of interesting textures and colors, ranging from chartreuse to bronze.
Adaptable to zones 3-9 and loving full sun, sedums are incredibly drought-tolerant and require minimal maintenance.
Their fleshy leaves store water, allowing them to survive dry spells while providing a distinctive landscape element.
3. Irish Moss
Despite its name, Irish moss (Chondrus crispus) isn’t a moss but a fast-growing perennial that forms a lush green carpet. It creates a soft, cushioned surface that can handle light foot traffic and adds a delicate texture to garden paths.
Gardeners appreciate Irish moss for its tiny star-shaped white flowers and ability to grow quickly.
It performs best in full sun with regular but not excessive watering, creating a dense ground cover that looks particularly stunning between paving stones.
4. Creeping Mazus
Mazus reptans produces delicate lilac-blue flowers and dense green foliage that offers a beautiful solution for shadier garden areas. This semi-evergreen perennial thrives in hardiness zones 5-8, creating an attractive ground cover for less sunny locations.
Ideal for paths and areas with limited sunlight, Mazus spreads quickly and provides a carpet of color.
Its low-growing habit makes it perfect for creating interesting textures between stepping stones or in woodland-style gardens.
5. Dichondra
Dichondra argentea is an herbaceous perennial that produces a dense green or silver mat with delicate white flowers. It typically grows 2-3 inches tall, covers areas much faster than traditional grass, and requires less maintenance.
Best suited for areas with partial to full sunlight, dichondra thrives in warm weather and needs careful watering.
It’s an excellent choice for gardens that don’t experience heavy foot traffic, providing a unique alternative to standard lawn solutions.
6. Ajuga
Ajuga reptans, or bugleweed, transforms garden edges with stunning bronze and green foliage. This versatile ground cover looks beautiful, can handle moderate foot traffic, and adapts to various light conditions.
Tolerant of shade and dry soil, ajuga spreads quickly and offers gardeners a low-maintenance solution for problem areas.
The ‘Black Scallop’ cultivar is particularly recommended for its ease of care and fast-growing nature. It can even be mowed after flowering.
7. Lithodora
Lithodora diffusa brings a burst of brilliant blue to gravel gardens and pathways. Originating from Mediterranean regions, this ground cover thrives in dry, rocky conditions and xeriscaping environments.
With its dense, rosemary-like foliage and starry blue summer flowers, lithodora creates a stunning ground cover that can withstand challenging soil conditions.
Recommended cultivars, such as ‘Heavenly Blue’ and ‘Grace Ward, ‘ offer gardeners multiple options for incorporating this resilient plant.
8. Creeping Jenny
Lysimachia nummularia, known as creeping Jenny, provides a vibrant yellow-green ground cover that spreads rapidly and tolerates various light conditions. Its ability to grow in sun and shade makes it versatile for different garden environments.
This plant creates a dense mat that can handle light foot traffic and helps suppress weeds.
Its bright chartreuse foliage adds a luminous quality to garden paths and difficult-to-plant areas.
9. Snow-in-Summer
Cerastium tomentosum offers a unique ground cover with silvery-gray foliage and delicate white flowers. This aggressive spreader creates a stunning carpet that can withstand full sun and provides excellent erosion control.
Gardeners appreciate snow in summer for its ability to thrive in challenging conditions and create a dramatic visual impact.
Its low-growing habit makes it perfect for rock gardens and areas with poor soil
10. Yarrow
Achillea millefolium offers a tough, walkable ground cover that attracts beneficial pollinators while creating a soft, textured landscape. Its feathery foliage and clusters of tiny flowers make it a versatile choice for gardeners seeking both functionality and beauty.
Thriving in zones 3-9, yarrow can handle moderate foot traffic and grows best in full sun conditions. The plant’s ability to withstand drought and poor soil makes it an excellent alternative to traditional grass lawns.
Different cultivars offer color variations from white to deep yellow, providing gardeners multiple aesthetic options.
11. Clover
White clover (Trifolium repens) presents a sustainable, low-maintenance ground cover that improves soil health. This nitrogen-fixing plant creates a lush green carpet that remains green throughout the growing season and requires minimal maintenance.
Incredibly resilient, clover can withstand moderate foot traffic and thrives in various soil conditions.
Its ability to stay green during dry periods and its low growth habit makes it an excellent lawn alternative.
12. Beach Strawberry
Fragaria chiloensis, commonly known as beach strawberry, offers a unique ground cover solution that combines visual appeal with edible benefits. This native plant spreads quickly, creating a glossy green mat with white flowers and tiny red berries.
Growing 4-6 inches tall, beach strawberry tolerates moderate foot traffic and provides an attractive alternative to traditional lawns. Its runners help it spread quickly, creating a beautiful, dense ground cover that produces small, sweet strawberries.
Gardeners in coastal and temperate regions will find this plant particularly appealing for its adaptability and low-maintenance characteristics.
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Davin is a jack-of-all-trades but has professional training and experience in various home and garden subjects. He leans on other experts when needed and edits and fact-checks all articles.