Hardy ground cover plants are the perfect answer when you’re tired of mowing lawns and struggling with high-maintenance grass. They not only save time and energy but also bring beauty, texture, and resilience to your landscape.
With their ability to spread, suppress weeds, and handle tough spots, these plants create a vibrant, low-maintenance carpet of green.
Ground covers can transform slopes, fill bare patches, and even attract pollinators while protecting the soil from erosion. They add visual charm, soft pathways, and in some cases, fragrant touches beneath your feet.
If you’re looking for plants that give both function and style, these hardy choices are some of the best to start with.
#1 Asiatic Jasmine
Asiatic Jasmine forms a dense mat with its glossy dark green leaves that stay lush all year. In spring, you’ll see tiny white, yellow, or pink flowers that add delicate charm.
It’s excellent for covering large areas where grass struggles to grow. To establish it, plant rooted cuttings in well-drained soil and water regularly until it fills in. Trim the vines occasionally to keep a neat look.
#2 Creeping Phlox
Creeping Phlox creates a stunning carpet of pink, lavender, or purple flowers in spring. It thrives in full sun, making it ideal for bright spots in the yard.
This plant softens the edges of pathways, borders, and rock gardens beautifully. For best results, plant it in soil with good drainage and give it a light trim after flowering to keep it compact. It’s a cheerful burst of color early in the season.
#3 Lamb’s Ear
Lamb’s Ear stands out with its soft, fuzzy silver-green leaves that beg to be touched. It tolerates heat and poor soil, making it a hardy option for difficult spots.
The silvery tone provides contrast alongside other vibrant plants. Plant it in sunny areas and water sparingly once established. It’s perfect for edging beds or adding texture to your landscape.
#4 Creeping Jenny
Creeping Jenny brings a bright splash of green or golden foliage that cascades beautifully. It does well in both sun and part shade, thriving in moist soils.
This plant is especially striking in containers or along borders where it can spill over edges. Plant it in damp areas and water regularly to keep its color vibrant. It fills spaces quickly, making it a reliable ground cover.
#5 English Ivy
English Ivy spreads quickly, forming a dense cover of dark green leaves. Its growth is vigorous, so pruning is important to prevent it from overtaking unwanted areas.
It’s useful for covering shady walls, slopes, or under trees where grass won’t grow. Plant cuttings in moist, well-drained soil and provide some support if you want it to climb. With care, it creates a classic, timeless look.
#6 Sedum
Sedum is a hardy succulent that handles drought and neglect with ease. It comes in many varieties, each with unique leaf shapes and flower colors.
Full sun is where Sedum performs best, creating bright mats of green with seasonal blooms. Plant it in sandy or rocky soil and water lightly until it establishes. It’s a tough plant with plenty of charm for sunny landscapes.
#7 Miniature Brass Buttons
Miniature Brass Buttons form a compact mat with tiny textured foliage. It grows well in shade and adds a lush green layer to darker corners of the yard.
This plant spreads through runners both above and below the soil, creating a thick cover. To grow it successfully, plant in moist soil and keep it watered during dry periods. It’s an excellent choice for shaded pathways or under trees.
#8 Creeping Thyme
Creeping Thyme is a fragrant ground cover that produces masses of delicate flowers. It thrives in dry soil and tolerates foot traffic, making it great between stepping stones.
The blooms attract pollinators and add a sweet aroma to the garden. Plant it in sunny, well-drained spots and water occasionally during dry spells. You’ll love the way it transforms simple pathways into living carpets.
#9 Wild Ginger
Wild Ginger offers glossy, heart-shaped leaves that form a beautiful green mat. It works well for slopes, shady spots, or naturalized areas.
The plant also produces small, hidden flowers near the soil surface. To grow it, plant rhizomes in rich, moist soil and water regularly until established. Its foliage alone is enough to create a stunning backdrop in shade gardens.
#10 Dwarf Mondo Grass
Dwarf Mondo Grass creates a grassy carpet with deep green, narrow blades. It’s a slow grower but adds a neat, low-maintenance look to pathways or borders.
The plant tolerates both sun and shade, making it very versatile. Plant in clumps and water consistently during the first season. Once established, it resists drought and requires minimal attention.
#11 Roman Chamomile
Roman Chamomile is both beautiful and functional, with small daisy-like flowers and a pleasant fragrance. It can create a soft, low-maintenance lawn alternative in sunny areas.
The plant thrives in full sun but adapts to part shade as well. Sow seeds in well-drained soil and water gently until plants establish. Walking on it releases a refreshing scent, adding charm to the landscape.
#12 Moss
Moss is an easy option that thrives where grass won’t, especially in damp, shady spots. It creates a lush green carpet with no need for mowing.
Perfect for Japanese-inspired gardens, moss softens rocks and pathways naturally. To encourage growth, keep the soil moist and free of debris. It’s low effort and instantly serene.
#13 Hardy Ice Plant
Hardy Ice Plant brings daisy-like flowers in bright shades, making it both colorful and tough. It’s evergreen in many climates and thrives in poor, sandy soils.
This succulent loves full sun and needs little water once established. Plant it in well-drained spots and let it spread across slopes or dry patches. Its blooms attract attention while the foliage holds steady year-round.
#14 Vinca Minor
Vinca Minor forms a dense, evergreen mat with glossy foliage and blue or purple flowers. It roots along its stems, quickly filling spaces and suppressing weeds.
This plant handles shade well, making it perfect under trees. Plant cuttings in moist, fertile soil and water until it’s established. Once settled, it’s low-maintenance and keeps its charm through all seasons.
#15 Geraniums
Hardy Geraniums, also called Cranesbills, grow into mounds of green foliage topped with violet-blue flowers. They prefer partial shade and bring continuous beauty with minimal effort.
Perfect for borders or shaded slopes, they adapt well to many soils. Plant them in rich, moist soil and trim back after flowering to encourage fresh growth. They add a pop of color and last for years.
#16 Ajuga
Ajuga, or Bugleweed, is a fast-spreading ground cover with attractive foliage and vibrant flower spikes. Its leaves range from deep green to bronze and purple, offering year-round interest.
In summer, it produces spikes of blue, lavender, or pink flowers that attract pollinators. Plant it in moist, well-drained soil and keep it watered during dry spells. It quickly fills in bare spots with beauty and resilience.