Ground Cover Plants: Spreading Plants that Stop Weeds Growth

Ground cover plants are always ‘more is less”; their significance, beneficial properties for soil, and aesthetic appeal cause every plant lover to grab them and complete their garden look. These shrubs and perennial plants add greenery and fullness, which would otherwise not be possible in areas where the soil is not sufficiently fertilised and leaves behind planting gaps.

Ground Cover plants are the varieties of herbage that grow horizontally in the yard, cover the bare soil portions, and require low maintenance. You will not see them growing more than an inch or a maximum of four feet. All ground cover plants serve the purpose of eliminating the issue of weeds and erosion. What matters is selecting what type suits your land – a difficult task, though!

You are at the right place if you are looking for the best, low-maintenance ground cover plants. This blog post reveals information about ground cover plants’ sneak peek, their importance, their types, and much more. Do not waste any minute and hook on to it.

Ground Cover Plants – Categories

Ground Cover plants are the varieties of herbage that find its importance as a beneficial opportunity for lawnscaping. From forming the plant carpet to growing in the areas where nothing grows, ground cover plants are one-of-a-kind.

These plants are available in several categories for different soil and plantation problems. For instance, halting weed germination, improving pollination, or bringing back soil moisture, ground cover plants are present.

However, you must select while keeping in mind what suits your area. For this, our team has devised some types you can glance at and make your decision accordingly.

Sedum Ground Cover Plants

• Plant Type: perennial
• Size: two to six inches tall and two feet wide
• Sun Exposure: full sun, full shade, partial sun
• Soil Type: well-draining soil
• Bloom Seasons: summer
• Flower Color: blue, white, pink, or yellow
• Growing Zones: most USDA zones 3-9

The first easy-care pickers for your empty-looking garden are sedum ground cover plants, better known as stonecrops. These plants grow best in hot or arid areas and reach up to the height of two to six inches tall and two feet wide.

These fast-growing plants are available in different sizes and shapes and give white, pink, or yellow flowers in summer. The amount of light sedum ground covers differs from full shade, full sun, and partial sun. You must know that these are deer-resistant. Here are some of the sedum ground cover plants:

1. White Sedum
2. Murale
3. Pink Mongolian Stonecrop
4. Purple Emperor
5. Chinese Sedum

Ice Plant Ground Cover

• Plant Type: perennial and herbaceous
• Size: 3–6 in. tall, 12–24 in. wide
• Sun Exposure: full sun
• Soil Type: well-draining soil or sandy
• Bloom Seasons: summer, spring, fall
• Flower Color: pink, red, purple, orange or yellow
• Growing Zones: most USDA zones 4-11

Another ground cover plant is ice plant ground, better known as Delosperma and Lampranthus. The speciality of the plants lies in the fact that these grow in poor-soil or drought-tolerant lands where every other plant rejects thriving. The maximum length goes up to six inches to one foot.

These plants are fast-growing and of several kinds, thriving small, aster-like flowers in shades of red, pink, purple, or magenta. Because they grow on dry lands, these ground cover plants are in a full sun and water routine once a month. Here are several ice ground cover plants you must know:

1. Delosperma brunnthaleri
2. Lampranthus haworthii
3. Delosperma cooperi
4. Lampranthus aurantiacus

Creeping Ground Cover Plants

• Plant Type: perennial, evergreen, succulent
• Size: 1-12 inches in height, 12-24 inches width
• Sun Exposure: full sun, partial shade, full shade
• Soil Type: well-draining
• Bloom Seasons: spring, summer
• Flower Color: pink, purple, white, blue, yellow,
• Growing Zones: depending on the type of plant

You can understand creeping ground cover plants as all-rounders, covering Sedum species, Delosperma, jasmine, rose, and many more. What makes them separate category is their growing zones, which are different depending on the type of ground covers you select. Succulent ground covers require different conditions, sedum ground covers different, and the cycle goes on like this.

As far as their plantation is concerned, creeping ground covers plants containing herbage that requires full sun, partial or full shade. You must remember that the soil for these ground covers must be well-draining for pollination and weed control.

1. Creeping Thyme
2. Vinca minor
3. Phlox subulata
4. Sedum
5. Pachysandra

Jasmine Ground Cover Plants

• Plant Type: evergreen
• Size: 1-3 feet tall, 3-6 feet wide
• Sun Exposure: full sun, partial shade
• Soil Type: well-draining, slightly acidic to neutral
• Bloom Seasons: summer, spring, fall
• Flower Color: white, yellow, star-shaped
• Growing Zones: 8-10 zones, 6-11 tolerant zones

Understanding Jasmines as ground covers is fascinating. There are fast-growing climber plants that, once fulfilled the plantation conditions, grow vigorously. To use them as lush green ground covers, you need sturdy supports.

Furthermore, they require well-draining soil, but it must be slightly acidic to neutral. The notable thing about Jasmine ground cover plants is that they grow fragrant flowers, creating an amazing atmosphere. These plants require full sun or partial shade, depending on the variety of jasmine you choose. Below are a few Jasmine ground cover plants you need to cover boring and hollow areas of your yard.

1. Star Jasmine
2. Confederate Jasmine
3. Night-blooming Jasmine
4. Asiatic Jasmine
5. Star Jasmine

Ground Cover Rose Plants

• Plant Type: shrub
• Size: 2-4 feet tall, 3-6 feet wide
• Sun Exposure: 6+ hours of direct sunlight (full sun)
• Soil Type: well-draining fertile soil
• Bloom Seasons: spring, summer, fall
• Flower Color: pink, red, white, yellow, and bi-color
• Growing Zones: 4-9 zones

Rose plants have charms for plant lovers and non-plant lovers’ clans. From its aesthetic-looking sight and variety of colours to its fast-growing ability, everyone likes using rose plants in any available form. Rose ground cover plants are mostly shrubs that grow to almost two to four feet tall and three to six feet wide, forming flower carpets over the land.

These plants demand full direct sunlight of about six hours to bloom in the summer, spring, and fall seasons. Since roses have nothing to do with winter, it does not grow the way you want in this season. Also, these are disease-resistant and low-maintenance ground cover plants and help thrive flowers of bright colours with glossy leaves. Below are ground cover rose plants you can bring to your home to get rid of weeds and make your lawn rosy

1. Pink pavement
2. Red cascade
3. Cinderella
4. Flower carpet
5. Floribunda roses

FAQs

What ground cover for Hosta plant?

The best ground cover for your Hosta plant is Lamium maculatum. This ground cover decorates the edges of your home garden or lawn with purple, white, or pink flowers.

Are lilacs ground cover plants?

No, lilacs are not ground cover plants, nor are they used for the purpose. However, Californian lilacs are exceptional ground covers, grow in well-drained soil, require less water, and pop up blue-scented flowers.

What is the ground cover of a myrtle plant?

Creeping myrtle, such as Vinca minor or periwinkle, is the ground cover of a myrtle plant. It gives a flowery carpet of star-like blue flowers and attracts butterflies.

Wrapping Up

Ground covers are unavoidable whenever the idea of filling the empty land spaces arises. These grow horizontally on the land, forming a carpet of flowers and shrubs. In addition, they keep soil moisture retention levels stable, auctioning against weeds and erosion. Though these plants work almost identically, understanding what type or category suits the particular land best is necessary. 

This guide describes all you need to know about ground cover plants and how they work. So, never waste a minute reading it to the end.