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!
-
Sold outHosta 'Fingertips'
Item #: 12964
Zones: 3a to 8b
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 3" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: Hybrid
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $29.00Regular priceUnit price per
Next crop available: 04/17/2026Sold out -
Sold outHosta 'Fire and Ice'
Item #: 2754
Zones: 3a to 8b
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 15" 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 'First Frost'
Item #: 7213
Zones: 3a to 8b
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 16" tall
Culture: Light Shade
Origin: Hybrid
Pot Size: 2 qt. (1.9 L)
Regular price $29.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Sold outHosta 'Floramora'
Item #: 6112
Zones: 3a to 9b
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 -
Sold outHosta 'Flower Show'
Item #: 17527
Zones: 3a to 9b
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 'Frog in my Throat' PPAF
Item #: 18292
Zones: 3a to 7b
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 18" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: Hybrid
Pot Size: 2 qt. (1.9 L)
Regular price $35.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Sold outHosta 'Funny Mouse'
Item #: 11312
Zones: 3a to 8b
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 4" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: Hybrid
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $27.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Hosta 'Gigantosaurus' PP 35,135
Item #: 18262
Zones: 3a to 8b
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 30" tall
Culture: Light Shade
Origin: Hybrid
Pot Size: 3 qt. (2.8 L)
Regular price $30.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Sold outHosta 'Golden Needles'
Item #: 9451
Zones: 3a to 8b
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 6" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: Hybrid
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $27.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Hosta 'Golden Pixie'
Item #: 15844
Zones: 3a to 8b
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 3" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: Hybrid
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $27.00Regular priceUnit price per
-
Hosta 'Green Thumb'
Item #: 10522
Zones: 3a to 8b
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 2" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: Hybrid
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $27.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Hosta 'Hans'
Item #: 9409
Zones: 3a to 7b
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 21" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: Hybrid
Pot Size: 2 qt. (1.9 L)
Regular price $29.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Hosta 'Hope Springs Eternal' PP 33,266
Item #: 17171
Zones: 3a to 8b
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 22" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: Hybrid
Pot Size: 2 qt. (1.9 L)
Regular price $29.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Hosta 'June'
Item #: 1672
Zones: 3a to 8b
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 15" 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 'Komodo Dragon'
Item #: 2551
Zones: 3a to 8b
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 30" tall
Culture: Light Shade
Origin: Hybrid
Pot Size: 3 qt. (2.8 L)
Regular price $29.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Hosta 'Liberty'
Item #: 4736
Zones: 3a to 8b
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 24" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: Hybrid
Pot Size: 2 qt. (1.9 L)
Regular price $35.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Sold outHosta 'Little Redneck'
Item #: 9534
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 $27.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Hosta 'Lone Star' PP 35,234
Item #: 18263
Zones: 3a to 7b
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 26" tall
Culture: Light Shade
Origin: Hybrid
Pot Size: 3 qt. (2.8 L)
Regular price $29.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Hosta 'Love Story' PP 34,224
Item #: 17267
Zones: 3a to 8b
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 14" tall
Culture: Light Shade
Origin: Hybrid
Pot Size: 3 qt. (2.8 L)
Regular price $29.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Sold outHosta 'Menorah'
Item #: 12830
Zones: 3a to 9b
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 18" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: Hybrid
Pot Size: 3 qt. (2.8 L)
Regular price $29.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Hosta 'Mini Skirt' PP 26,743
Item #: 6343
Zones: 3a to 8b
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 7" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: Hybrid
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $29.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Hosta 'Miss America' PP 32,068
Item #: 16522
Zones: 3a to 8b
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 19" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: Hybrid
Pot Size: 3 qt. (2.8 L)
Regular price $29.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Hosta 'My Fair Lady' PP 35,524
Item #: 18264
Zones: 3a to 8b
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 17" tall
Culture: Light Shade
Origin: Hybrid
Pot Size: 2 qt. (1.9 L)
Regular price $29.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Sold outHosta 'Old Faithful'
Item #: 2080
Zones: 3a to 9b
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 24" tall
Culture: Light Shade
Origin: Hybrid
Pot Size: 2 qt. (1.9 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.