When it comes to creating a beautiful, low-maintenance garden, flowering ground cover plants are your secret weapon!
As a mom who loves spending time outdoors but doesn’t have hours to devote to gardening, I’ve fallen head over heels for these versatile beauties.
Ready to save time, attract wildlife, and enjoy flowers from spring to fall? Let’s dive into 51 of the best flowering ground covers.
1. Big Root Geranium
Features and Care
Big root geranium is my go-to for easy-care options. With its beautiful pink, red, or pale pink blooms and interesting variegated foliage, it’s a real showstopper in my garden. I love how it thrives with minimal attention, giving me more time to enjoy my outdoor space with the kids.
2. Spotted Dead Nettle
Foliage and Flower Varieties
The spotted dead nettle has become a family favorite. Its variegated foliage adds interest even when it’s not blooming, and the dense clusters of white, pink, and purple flowers are simply delightful. My little ones love spotting the different colors in our garden.
3. Moss Rose
Varieties and Growing Conditions
Moss rose, with its needle-like foliage and tiny colorful flowers, is a stunning addition to any garden. I’ve planted it in various spots, and it never fails to impress with its array of yellow, pink, red, white, and orange blooms.
4. Rock Rose
Bloom Period and Colors
Rock rose has been a game-changer in our garden. Its showy flowers in orange, pink, yellow, scarlet, and white bloom from spring to fall, providing long-lasting beauty. It’s like having a constant celebration in our backyard!
5. Lily Turf
Foliage and Flower Characteristics
Lily turf is a tough cookie in our garden. Its deep green, grass-like foliage is always a treat, and those spikes of violet or lavender flowers from late summer until fall? Simply gorgeous!
6. Sweet Woodruff
Fragrance and Growing Conditions
I adore sweet woodruff for its delicate white flowers and the heavenly fragrance it adds to our shaded areas. It’s become a sensory delight for the whole family.
7. Creeping Thyme
Edible and Deer-Resistant Properties
Creeping thyme is a multitasker in our garden. It’s low-growing, edible, and deer-resistant. Plus, it barely reaches 3 inches tall, making it a fantastic alternative to grass in some areas.
8. Brass Buttons
Growth Habits and Flowering Period
Brass buttons have become a fun addition to our garden. The yellow-golden flowers that appear from spring to summer always bring a smile to our faces.
9. Creeping Phlox
Uses and Color Options
Creeping phlox is our go-to for bordering flower beds. Its pleasant flowers in pastel hues create a soft, dreamy look that we all love.
10. Sedum
Ornamental Succulents for Ground Cover
Sedum has been a revelation in our sunny, well-drained areas. These ornamental succulents are not only beautiful but also incredibly low-maintenance.
11. Dalmatian Bellflower
Growth Habit and Bloom Period
The Dalmatian bellflower forms a lovely mat in our garden, with its small rounded leaves and star-shaped blue-purple flowers blooming from spring through summer.
12. Lily of the Valley
Characteristics and Ideal Locations
Lily of the valley has become our secret weapon for shady areas. Its fragrant, bell-shaped white flowers are simply enchanting, and it’s one of the easiest ground covers we’ve grown.
13. Dwarf Periwinkle
Adaptability and Growing Conditions
Dwarf periwinkle has been a lifesaver in our garden’s problem areas. It tolerates poor soil and drought like a champ, all while blooming prolifically.
14. Goodness Grows
Bloom Period and Garden Styles
Goodness Grows has added a touch of charm to our cottage-style garden. Its summer-to-fall blooming period keeps our outdoor space looking lively for months.
15. Firecracker Plant
Wildlife Attraction and Versatility
The firecracker plant has turned our garden into a wildlife haven. It’s drought-tolerant and attracts nectar-feeding birds and butterflies, much to our delight.