Ground cover plants are not only practical for filling in bare spots in your yard but also add aesthetic appeal with their lush foliage and colorful blooms. Whether you’re looking to enhance garden beds, control erosion, or create low-maintenance landscaping, fast-growing ground covers offer quick results and can transform your outdoor space. In this blog post, we’ll explore ten fast-growing ground cover plants that thrive in various conditions and provide beautiful coverage for your yard.
1. Creeping Thyme (Thymus serpyllum)
Creeping thyme is a versatile ground cover known for its fragrant foliage and low-growing habit. It forms dense mats of tiny, aromatic leaves and produces clusters of tiny pink, white, or purple flowers in summer. Creeping thyme is excellent for filling in gaps between stepping stones or cascading over walls and rockeries. It prefers full sun and well-drained soil, making it ideal for sunny areas in your yard.
2. Sedum (Sedum spp.)
Sedums, also known as stonecrops, are drought-tolerant succulents that come in various shapes, sizes, and colors. These hardy plants are easy to grow and thrive in poor soil conditions, making them perfect for areas where other plants struggle. Sedums produce fleshy, water-retentive leaves and often feature star-shaped flowers that attract pollinators. They are excellent ground covers for rock gardens, slopes, and containers, providing year-round interest with minimal maintenance.
3. Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia)
Creeping Jenny is prized for its vibrant chartreuse foliage and trailing habit, making it a standout ground cover in shady areas. This perennial plant forms dense mats of rounded leaves and produces small, yellow flowers in spring and summer. Creeping Jenny thrives in moist, well-drained soil and partial shade but can tolerate full sun with adequate moisture. It’s perfect for borders, edging pathways, or spilling over the edges of containers.
4. Ajuga (Ajuga reptans)
Ajuga, also known as bugleweed, is a fast-spreading ground cover prized for its glossy, burgundy-green foliage and spikes of blue, purple, or pink flowers in spring. This low-growing perennial thrives in partial shade to full sun and adapts well to various soil types. Ajuga is ideal for filling in large areas quickly, suppressing weeds, and providing year-round interest with its colorful leaves and flowers.
5. Vinca Minor (Vinca minor)
Vinca minor, or periwinkle, is a popular ground cover appreciated for its glossy evergreen foliage and delicate blue or white flowers. This trailing plant forms dense mats that suppress weeds and thrive in partial shade to full shade. Vinca minor is low-maintenance once established and is excellent for planting under trees, in woodland gardens, or along slopes where it can spread and create a carpet-like effect.
6. Japanese Spurge (Pachysandra terminalis)
Japanese spurge is a shade-loving ground cover valued for its dark green, leathery leaves and spikes of white flowers in spring. This evergreen perennial forms dense clumps and spreads slowly, making it ideal for edging shady borders or underplanting trees and shrubs. Japanese spurge thrives in moist, well-drained soil and is tolerant of deer and rabbit browsing, making it a reliable choice for low-maintenance landscaping.
7. Dalmatian Bellflower (Campanula portenschlagiana)
Dalmatian bellflower is a charming perennial ground cover with trailing stems adorned by clusters of purple, bell-shaped flowers in summer. This hardy plant thrives in full sun to partial shade and prefers well-drained soil. Dalmatian bellflower is perfect for rock gardens, edging pathways, or cascading over walls, providing a burst of color and attracting pollinators to your garden.
8. Ice Plant (Delosperma spp.)
Ice plants are succulent ground covers known for their vibrant, daisy-like flowers that bloom in shades of pink, purple, yellow, and white. These drought-tolerant plants thrive in hot, dry conditions and poor soil, making them ideal for sunny, sandy areas. Ice plants form dense mats of fleshy foliage that retain water, adding both color and texture to rock gardens, slopes, and containers.
9. Sweet Woodruff (Galium odoratum)
Sweet woodruff is a woodland ground cover appreciated for its fragrant, whorled leaves and clusters of tiny white flowers in spring. This perennial plant thrives in partial to full shade and moist, well-drained soil. Sweet woodruff spreads slowly and forms a dense carpet of foliage, making it perfect for underplanting trees, along pathways, or in shady borders where it adds a touch of elegance and fragrance.
10. Blue Star Creeper (Isotoma fluviatilis)
Blue star creeper is a low-growing perennial ground cover with delicate, star-shaped blue flowers that bloom from spring to fall. This versatile plant forms a dense mat of bright green foliage and thrives in full sun to partial shade. Blue star creeper is perfect for filling in gaps between stepping stones, around ponds, or as a lawn alternative in small spaces. It’s easy to grow, drought-tolerant once established, and attracts pollinators to your garden.
These ten fast-growing ground cover plants offer a range of colors, textures, and growth habits to suit various garden conditions and preferences. Whether you’re creating a vibrant border, filling in bare spots, or designing a low-maintenance landscape, these plants provide quick, beautiful results while enhancing the overall beauty and functionality of your yard.
