How to Choose the Best Ground Cover Plant for Any Area of Your Yard

A flower bed with shrubs but no ground cover can sometimes look like a nicely furnished room with bare floors. The hydrangeas may be blooming, the butterfly bushes may be attracting every butterfly in the county, and the Rose of Sharon may be showing off. Still, the empty soil between the plants can make the landscape feel unfinished.

That is where ground covers come in.

Ground covers are low-growing plants that spread across the soil, helping to fill bare areas, slow erosion, reduce weed growth, and add color or texture to the landscape. Some are evergreen. Some bloom. Some tolerate dry sunshine, while others are happiest under trees where grass refuses to cooperate.

Choosing the right ground cover is important because these plants are supposed to spread. The trick is finding one that spreads enough to do its job without behaving like it owns the entire property.

Snow on the Mountain: Pretty, Tough, and Very Determined

One of the most eye-catching ground covers is Snow on the Mountain (Aegopodium podagraria). It is also commonly called bishop’s weed or goutweed.

The variegated form has green leaves edged with creamy white, giving shaded garden areas a bright, almost frosted appearance. It typically grows around 6 to 12 inches tall and can create a dense carpet beneath trees, along walkways, or in areas where other plants struggle.

Snow on the Mountain prefers partial shade to full shade and usually performs well in moist but well-drained soil. Its light-colored foliage can brighten a dark corner of the yard without requiring flowers to make an impact. Small white blooms may appear above the foliage in late spring or early summer.

It is easy to understand why gardeners have used this plant for years. It is attractive, dependable, and not easily discouraged. Unfortunately, it can be a little too dependable.

Snow on the Mountain spreads through underground stems called rhizomes. Once established, it may move beyond its intended area and become difficult to remove. Even a small piece of rhizome left in the soil can produce new growth.

Before planting Snow on the Mountain, check with your local extension office to learn whether it is recommended in your area. In some regions, it is considered invasive or restricted. It should never be planted near wooded areas, natural spaces, or places where it could escape into the surrounding landscape.

Gardeners who already have an established patch should keep a close watch on it. Remove flower stalks before seeds develop, dig out unwanted runners promptly, and do not toss roots or rhizomes into a compost pile. This is a plant that may look polite, but it has the ambition of a small-town mayor during election season.

Creeping Phlox: A Springtime Favorite

For a sunnier location, creeping phlox (Phlox subulata) is a classic choice. This low-growing perennial forms a dense mat of foliage and produces a blanket of colorful blooms in spring. Depending on the variety, flowers may be pink, purple, blue, or white.

Creeping phlox works especially well along slopes, retaining walls, rock gardens, and the edges of flower beds. It prefers full sun and well-drained soil. After the flowers fade, the evergreen or semi-evergreen foliage continues to provide texture.

This is a good option for gardeners who want a ground cover that does more than cover the ground. When creeping phlox blooms, it looks like someone spilled a bucket of flowers across the landscape.

Creeping Thyme: Small Plant, Big Personality

Creeping thyme is another excellent choice for sunny, well-drained areas. It stays low to the ground and produces tiny flowers that attract bees and other pollinators. It is also drought-tolerant once established.

Creeping thyme works well between stepping stones, along garden paths, or around the edges of beds. Some varieties can tolerate light foot traffic, making them a nice alternative in places where traditional grass may not be practical.

The biggest mistake gardeners make with thyme is planting it in wet soil. Thyme prefers good drainage. It is tough, but it does not enjoy sitting in mud with soggy feet.

Sedum: A Reliable Choice for Hot, Dry Spots

Sedum, also called stonecrop, is a dependable ground cover for sunny locations with dry or rocky soil. Low-growing varieties form spreading mats of fleshy foliage and require very little attention once established.

Depending on the variety, sedum foliage may be green, blue-green, bronze, or reddish. Many types also produce small flowers that attract pollinators.

Sedum is an excellent choice for rock gardens, slopes, borders, and areas that are difficult to water regularly. If you have a sunny patch where other plants seem to wave a white flag by July, sedum may be worth trying.

Ajuga: Colorful Foliage for Partial Shade

Ajuga, sometimes called bugleweed, is a spreading ground cover with attractive foliage that may be green, bronze, purple, or variegated. In spring, it produces short spikes of blue or purple flowers.

Ajuga performs best in partial shade, although it can tolerate some sun if the soil stays reasonably moist. It works well along pathways, underneath shrubs, and in areas where a low carpet of foliage would improve the landscape.

Like many spreading plants, ajuga should be monitored. It is easier to remove an adventurous runner early than to negotiate with a large patch later.

Liriope: Dependable and Easy to Use

Liriope, often called monkey grass or lilyturf, is a popular option for borders, slopes, and areas beneath trees. Its grass-like foliage adds texture, and small flower spikes may appear in late summer.

Some liriope varieties grow in neat clumps, while others spread more aggressively. Read the plant label before buying so you know which type you are bringing home.

Liriope is especially useful when you want a tidy border around a landscape bed or a low-maintenance planting beneath shrubs. It may not be the flashiest plant at the garden party, but it shows up on time and does its job.

Native Ground Covers Are Worth Considering

Native ground covers can be excellent choices because they are adapted to regional growing conditions and can support local wildlife. Depending on your location, options may include native creeping phlox, wild ginger, foamflower, green-and-gold, or native sedges.

A local nursery or extension office can help identify native plants that fit your soil, sunlight, and moisture conditions.

Choose the Right Plant for the Right Spot

Before planting any ground cover, take a few minutes to evaluate the area. Is it sunny or shady? Does water drain quickly or collect after rain? Do you want flowers, evergreen foliage, or both? How much spreading are you prepared to manage?

Ground covers are useful because they fill empty spaces and make the landscape feel complete. Snow on the Mountain can create a beautiful, variegated carpet in a shaded area, but it requires careful consideration because of its aggressive nature. For many gardens, creeping phlox, thyme, sedum, ajuga, liriope, or a regionally appropriate native plant may be a better fit.

Pick the right ground cover, give it a suitable home, and keep an eye on its manners. Your flower beds will look fuller, weeds will have less room to move in, and your shrubs will finally have the finished landscape they deserve.