Versatile Ground Covers: 11 Plants Suggested by Gardening Professionals to Thrive in Barren, Arid, and Shaded Areas
Transform the yard with these hidden gems! Often overshadowed, these ground cover plants truly shine in tough spots.
- Goldmoss Stonecrop (Sedum acre)
- Characteristics: Evergreen, sun-loving, and fast-growing. This rugged ground hugger pleases with vibrant leaves and yellow blooms. Works wonderfully in poor soils and minimal moisture.
- Ruddy Clover (Trifolium rubens)
- Characteristics: Attracts bees and pollinators with its showy magenta-red blooms and trifoliate blue-grey leaves. Thrives in well-drained, sunny spots but also good for naturalizing areas and meadows.
- Christmas Fern (Polystichum acrostichoides)
- Characteristics: Tall, elegant fern with dark green, textured fronds. Ideal for shady or part shady spots, providing interest, form, and wildlife shelter.
- Sweet Woodruff (Galium odoratum)
- Characteristics: Thrives in dry shade, perfect for woodland gardens and under trees. Small, fragrant white blooms add spring charm to gaps in loose paving or rock gardens.
- Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia)
- Characteristics: Brightens dull spaces with its golden-green foliage. Also known as a wildlife-friendly pond plant, it's adaptable to various conditions and creates a lush cover for wildlife.
- Japanese Spurge (Pachysandra terminalis)
- Characteristics: A hardworking evergreen that thrives in acidic soil beneath shrubs and trees,Create a charming carpet of glossy serrated leaves and tiny white flowers.
- Ajuga 'Chocolate Chip' (Ajuga reptans)
- Characteristics: An easy-to-care glossy-leaved perennial that forms thick mats in part sun or shade, effective at blocking light to weeds, and offers four-season interest.
- Sedum 'Dragon's Blood' (Sedum spurium)
- Characteristics: Low-growing, creeping sedum with purple-tinged foliage and deep red starry blooms in summer. Ideal for rock gardens, walls, and paving slabs, it responds well to minimal care.
- Turkish Speedwell (Veronica liwanensis)
- Characteristics: A tough, low-growing perennial blooming early in spring to provide vital nectar to pollinators. Thrives in lean, well-drained soils and can withstand foot traffic.
- Hardy Plumbago (Ceratostigma plumbaginoides)
- Characteristics: Elusive yet hardworking ground cover that performs beautifully in sun or dry shade, handling clay soils and moderate foot traffic. Ideal for USDA zones 6-9 beneath trees or large shrubs.
These unsung heroes of the garden not only enhance the aesthetics but also play a pivotal role in soil stabilization, erosion prevention, and fostering biodiversity. Discover these underrated evergreens and underrated houseplants to continue enriching your green spaces!
Adorn your home-and-garden with underrated evergreens that thrive in tough spots, such as the Hardy Plumbago (Ceratostigma plumbaginoides) for USDA zones 6-9 beneath trees or large shrubs. These plants not only provide a lifestyle enhancement with their beauty but also contribute to soil stabilization and biodiversity.
Incorporate ground cover plants like the Goldmoss Stonecrop (Sedum acre) into your home-and-garden or home-and-garden-style lifestyle for charming carpet-like growth in poor soils and minimal moisture, creating a vibrant addition to your home's exterior.
