A ground cover is any low-growing plant that stays under 24 inches (61 centimeters) and spreads to form a dense mat over bare soil. These plants act as living blankets. They protect the ground, block weeds, and replace grass in spots where your lawn won't grow.
I first learned about ground cover when a patch under my maple tree refused to grow grass. I tried reseeding three times with two types of shade fescue. Nothing worked. A neighbor told me to try pachysandra instead. That one swap turned my worst garden spot into a green carpet that has looked great for five years running now.
The ground cover definition goes beyond just being short. Colorado State Extension calls them plants that grow low and spread with ease. They serve both useful and visual roles in your yard. Some choke out weeds. Others stop erosion on slopes. A few handle foot traffic like a natural pathway. What ties them all together is that they cover the ground in a dense layer that bare soil or mulch alone cannot match.
So what are ground cover plants in terms of how they spread? The UMD Extension lists five main ways they do this. Rhizomes send underground stems outward to pop up new shoots nearby. Stolons are runners that travel across the soil surface and root at each node. Offsets create baby plants right next to the parent. Tip layering happens when a branch touches the ground and roots at the tip. And self-seeding drops seeds that sprout new plants around the original.
Evergreen Ground Covers
- Year-round look: Keep their leaves through winter and provide color even when everything else goes dormant in your yard.
- Top picks: Pachysandra, liriope, and creeping juniper all hold green foliage 12 months of the year in most climates.
- Best use: Plant them where you want consistent coverage that looks neat without seasonal gaps or bare periods.
Flowering Ground Covers
- Seasonal color: Produce blooms in spring or summer that add bright pops of color across large planting areas.
- Top picks: Creeping phlox, creeping thyme, and sweet woodruff each bloom for 3 to 6 weeks during their peak season.
- Best use: Mix with evergreen types so you get flowers in season and green coverage through the rest of the year.
Walkable Ground Covers
- Traffic tolerance: Handle light to moderate foot traffic without getting damaged or developing bare spots over time.
- Top picks: Creeping thyme, brass buttons, and Corsican mint all bounce back from stepping with no lasting damage.
- Best use: Place them between stepping stones, along garden paths, or in areas where people cut through your yard.
When you visit a nursery, look for key phrases on plant labels that tell you something works as a ground cover. Tags that say "spreading habit," "mat-forming," or "fills in fast" point to ground cover varieties. Check the mature height listed on the tag and make sure it stays under 12 inches (30 centimeters) for most uses. Also note the sun requirement since planting a sun-lover in deep shade wastes your money every time.
Ground cover plants do the hard work that grass and mulch can't handle on their own. They fill shady gaps, hold hillside soil in place, and add texture where your lawn gives up. Pick one that matches your light and soil conditions and you will wonder why you didn't plant it years sooner. I know I did.
Read the full article: 10 Best Ground Cover Plants for Any Yard
