After throwing my back out trying to maintain my “Pinterest-perfect” garden last spring, I knew something had to change.
My physical therapist actually suggested looking into low-maintenance plants, and that’s how I found these 10 incredible groundcovers.
Now my yard looks better than ever, and I haven’t had to ice my back since!
1. Armeria: The Hidden Charmer
I first discovered Armeria in my neighbor’s garden and instantly fell in love. This delightful plant features low, grassy foliage topped with cheerful clusters of pink or white flowers.
The Ruber Folia variety has become my absolute favorite, with its burgundy-tinged foliage adding an unexpected pop of color to my garden beds.
It’s perfect for busy gardeners since it thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, growing just 8 inches tall. Plus, it’s incredibly hardy, surviving in zones 3-9!
2. Bunchberry: The Shade Lover
Living in a heavily wooded area, I struggled to find plants that would thrive in my shady yard until I discovered Bunchberry.
This native groundcover puts on quite a show with adorable white flowers in spring, followed by bright red fruits in fall.
My kids love watching the foliage transform into beautiful bronzy purple shades in autumn. At just 6 inches tall and hardy in zones 2-7, it’s been the perfect solution for those tricky shaded spots.
3. Bloody Cranesbill: The Color Chameleon
Don’t let the dramatic name fool you – this plant is a total sweetheart in the garden!
I planted it along my walkway three years ago, and it’s slowly spread into a gorgeous swath of blue and purple blooms that appear in May and June.
The real show happens in fall when the foliage turns a striking bright red. Growing up to a foot tall in zones 4-8, it’s become my go-to for adding year-round interest with minimal effort.
4. Dianthus: The Fragrant Friend
There’s nothing quite like the sweet, clove-like fragrance of Dianthus wafting through the garden on a warm summer day.
My Fire Witch variety has been blooming reliably for years, creating dense mats of bright pink flowers that my daughters love to admire.
These tough little plants laugh in the face of drought and can grow anywhere from 8 to 30 inches tall, depending on the variety.
5. Sweet Woodruff: The Woodland Wonder
If you’re looking for a dream plant for those challenging shady spots, Sweet Woodruff is your answer.
I discovered its delightful hay-like fragrance by accident while weeding – the crushed leaves release the most wonderful scent!
It’s spread beautifully under my maple trees, reaching about 12 inches tall and producing delicate white blooms each spring.
6. Lady’s Mantle: The Morning Dew Catcher
My morning coffee ritual now includes admiring the way water droplets sparkle on Lady’s Mantle’s scalloped leaves. It’s like nature’s own fairy lights!
The clusters of chartreuse blooms that appear in late spring add such a lovely, soft touch to my garden borders.
One quick tip from personal experience: deadhead the flowers unless you want little Lady’s Mantle babies popping up everywhere. Growing up to 18 inches tall in zones 4-7, it’s become my reliable garden companion.
7. Lamium (Dead Nettle): The Shade Illuminator
Don’t let the strange name “Dead Nettle” fool you – this plant brings so much life to dark corners!
I planted it beneath my massive oak tree where nothing else would grow, and now its silver-patterned leaves brighten up that whole area.
The pink, purple, or white flower clusters are just the icing on the cake, blooming throughout summer at a modest 8 inches tall.
8. Thyme: The Fragrant Stepper
When my kids dash across our garden path, they always pause to enjoy the aromatic burst from our creeping thyme.
This Mediterranean beauty has become my secret weapon for those hot, dry spots where other plants struggle to survive.
At just 10 inches tall, it creates a gorgeous evergreen carpet dotted with pink or white blooms that the bees absolutely adore.
9. Snow-in-Summer: The Garden’s Frost
Living up to its whimsical name, Snow-in-Summer transforms my spring garden into a magical winter wonderland.
Its silvery evergreen leaves provide year-round interest, but the real show happens when masses of white flowers blanket the ground.
At only 3 inches tall, it’s perfect for draping over my rock garden walls, and it never complains about drought – my kind of plant!
10. Creeping Phlox: The Spring Symphony
If there’s one plant that stops traffic in my front yard, it’s definitely the creeping phlox.
Every spring, it creates the most spectacular display of pink, white, purple, and red blooms that literally carpet the ground.
Growing just 8 inches tall, it plays nicely with my spring bulbs and has become the star of my early garden show.