Many perennials can also be considered groundcovers. Certainly, low-growing spreading plants are groundcovers but so are clumping, non-spreading plants that look nice when grown in large groups. Check out our huge selection of the best groundcovers for shade or sun. Low maintenance and tough!
-
Heuchera 'Grande Amethyst' PP 30,932
Item #: 14350
Zones: 4a to 8a
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 16" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: United States Hybrid
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $23.00Regular priceUnit price per
-
Sold outHeuchera 'Paris' PP 18,881
Item #: 8503
Zones: 4a to 8b, at least
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 9" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: United States Hybrid
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $22.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Heuchera 'Smoke and Mirrors' PP 31,785
Item #: 13089
Zones: 4a to 8a
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 10" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: United States Hybrid
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $22.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Sold outHeuchera 'Zipper' PP 25,428
Item #: 12729
Zones: 4a to 8a
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 8" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: United States Hybrid
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $22.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Hosta 'Above the Clouds' PP 34,341
Item #: 17265
Zones: 3a to 8b
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 24" tall
Culture: Light Shade
Origin: Hybrid
Pot Size: 3 qt. (2.8 L)
Regular price $27.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Hosta 'Afterglow' PP 26,755
Item #: 11920
Zones: 3a to 8b
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 24" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: Hybrid
Pot Size: 3 qt. (2.8 L)
Regular price $29.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Hosta 'Angel Falls' PP 28,785
Item #: 11923
Zones: 3a to 7b
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 16" tall
Culture: Light Shade
Origin: Hybrid
Pot Size: 2 qt. (1.9 L)
Regular price $29.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Hosta 'Autumn Frost' PP 23,224
Item #: 9145
Zones: 3a to 8b
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 12" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: Hybrid
Pot Size: 2 qt. (1.9 L)
Regular price $29.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Hosta 'Azure Gem'
Item #: 13303
Zones: 3a to 8b
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 7" tall
Culture: Light Shade
Origin: Hybrid
Pot Size: 2 qt. (1.9 L)
Regular price $0.00Regular priceUnit price perThis plant is available for JLBG Members only.
-
Sold outHosta 'Blue Mouse Ears'
Item #: 4677
Zones: 3a to 8b
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 6" tall
Culture: Light Shade
Origin: Hybrid
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $24.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Hosta 'Blue Spoons'
Item #: 13800
Zones: 3a to 8b
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 10" tall
Culture: Light Shade
Origin: Hybrid
Pot Size: 2 qt. (1.9 L)
Regular price $0.00Regular priceUnit price perThis plant is available for JLBG Members only.
-
Hosta 'Blue Twister'
Item #: 15972
Zones: 3a to 8b
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 11" tall
Culture: Light Shade
Origin: Hybrid
Pot Size: 2 qt. (1.9 L)
Regular price $29.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Hosta 'Branching Out'
Item #: 9541
Zones: 3a to 8b
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 12" tall
Culture: Light Shade
Origin: Hybrid
Pot Size: 3 qt. (2.8 L)
Regular price $29.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Hosta 'Brother Stefan'
Item #: 5351
Zones: 3a to 7b
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 22" tall
Culture: Light Shade
Origin: Hybrid
Pot Size: 3 qt. (2.8 L)
Regular price $29.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Hosta 'Christmas Eve'
Item #: 16076
Zones: 3a to 8b
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 24" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: Hybrid
Pot Size: 3 qt. (2.8 L)
Regular price $29.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Sold outHosta 'Church Mouse'
Item #: 4516
Zones: 3a to 8b
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 8" tall
Culture: Light Shade
Origin: Hybrid
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $27.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Hosta 'Crazy Mouse'
Item #: 13307
Zones: 3a to 8b
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 8" tall
Culture: Light Shade
Origin: Hybrid
Pot Size: 2 qt. (1.9 L)
Regular price $27.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Hosta 'Dancing in the Moonlight' PP 35,175
Item #: 18261
Zones: 3a to 8b
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 18" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: Hybrid
Pot Size: 2 qt. (1.9 L)
Regular price $29.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Sold outHosta 'Designer Genes'
Item #: 2861
Zones: 3a to 8b
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 12" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: Hybrid
Pot Size: 2 qt. (1.9 L)
Regular price $29.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Hosta 'Diamond Lake' PP 30,769
Item #: 13553
Zones: 3a to 8b
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 17" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: Hybrid
Pot Size: 3 qt. (2.8 L)
Regular price $0.00Regular priceUnit price perThis plant is available for JLBG Members only.
-
Hosta 'Dixie Cups'
Item #: 7209
Zones: 3a to 8b, at least
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 15" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: Hybrid
Pot Size: 3 qt. (2.8 L)
Regular price $0.00Regular priceUnit price perThis plant is available for JLBG Members only.
-
Hosta 'Do Wop'
Item #: 7834
Zones: 3a to 8b
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 17" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: Hybrid
Pot Size: 2 qt. (1.9 L)
Regular price $0.00Regular priceUnit price perThis plant is available for JLBG Members only.
-
Hosta 'Dressed to Kill'
Item #: 13039
Zones: 3a to 8b
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 12" tall
Culture: Light Shade
Origin: Hybrid
Pot Size: 3 qt. (2.8 L)
Regular price $29.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Hosta 'Earth Angel'
Item #: 4715
Zones: 3a to 8b
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 36" tall
Culture: Light Shade
Origin: Hybrid
Pot Size: 3 qt. (2.8 L)
Regular price $29.00Regular priceUnit price per
More Information About Groundcovers
What Is a Groundcover Plant?
There are a lot of plants can be considered perennial groundcovers. Certainly, low-growing spreading plants are groundcovers but so are clumping, non-spreading plants that look nice when grown in large groups. Flowering groundcovers cover large open areas of garden, help prevent erosion, suppress weeds, reduce soil water loss through evaporation, and with proper plant selection, they look great while doing it. Plus, they reduce your need for mulch, which is nice because who likes spreading mulch all over the place every year?
Garden Design With Ground Cover Perennials
- Flowering ground cover plants are an interesting alternative to conventional lawns if you do not walk on them too often.
- In woodland areas, where turf will not grow, you should use ground covers for shade.
- You can grow ground covers in between patio pavers and along paths and over the tops of stone walls to soften the edges of the stones.
- Hill sides that are hard to access and tough to maintain should be planted with ground cover perennials to minimize erosion and still look manicured. Especially drought tolerant groundcovers.
- In open spaces try growing taller flowering perennials that push up through your ground covers for a two-layered effect.
What Are the Best Ground Cover Perennials?
If all you can find at your local garden center are the ubiquitous vincas and ivies, check out our rare and unique perennials that make good tough ground cover plants. Below are some ground covers that we especially like.
Best Ground Covers for Shade:
- Carex - Evergreen ground cover for shade with grassy texture. several variegated forms to choose from.
- Hardy ferns - Shade ground cover with great texture for the shade garden.
- Woodland phlox - Beautiful blue flowers in spring. Spreads around by seed into a groundcover for shade.
- Ophiopogon (mondo grasses) - Dwarf varieties are great in-between pavers.
- Hosta - Always a classic ground cover for shade!
Best Ground Covers for Sun
- Dianthus (carnation) - Blue foliage (some varieties) and colorful, clove scented flowers.
- Sedum (stonecrop) - Drought tolerant succulent looks great draping over walls. We love sedum as a ground cover.
- Liriope (monkey grass) - Tough as nails and easy to maintain. Great, drought-tolerant ground cover for sun, part-sun, or shade.
- Verbena (vervain) - Fantastic hardy perennial and flowering ground cover that attracts butterflies.
- Delosperma (ice plant) - Colorful flowering ground cover succulent that is hard to beat as a full sun ground cover.
- Muhlenbergia (muhly grass) - Fine textured ornamental grass that is tough, dear resistant, and looks great growing in mass.
- Laurentia (blue star creeper) - Low growing, herbaceous ground cover with teeny tiny leaves topped with teeny tiny blue flowers...cute as a button.
Be sure to check out our many blog posts about groundcovers at the Juniper Level Botanic Garden blog.