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!
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Phlox subulata 'Candy Stripe'
Item #: 1419
Zones: 3a to 9b
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 6" tall
Culture: Sun
Origin: United States
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $20.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Phlox subulata 'Nettleton's Variation'
Item #: 2940
Zones: 3a to 9b
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 2" tall
Culture: Sun to Part Sun
Origin: United States
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $20.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Phyla nodiflora 'Ramble On'
Item #: 17820
Zones: 7b to 10b
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 1" tall
Culture: Sun
Origin: United States
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $20.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Pleopeltis lepidopteris 'Morro dos Conventos'
Item #: 10774
Zones: 7b to 9b, at least
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 18" tall
Culture: Sun to Light Shade
Origin: Brazil
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $28.00Regular priceUnit price perNext crop available: 08/16/2024Sold out -
Podophyllum peltatum f. deamii 'Marcel Raymond'
Item #: 16855
Zones: 5a to 8b, at least
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 15" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: United States
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $34.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Podophyllum peltatum 'Maid Marion'
Item #: 15374
Zones: 5a to 8b, at least
Dormancy: Winter, Summer
Height: 15" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: United States
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $27.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Podophyllum peltatum 'Missouri May'
Item #: 9703
Zones: 5a to 8b, at least
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 15" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: United States
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $34.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Podophyllum peltatum 'Wagon Wheels'
Item #: 9966
Zones: 5a to 8b, at least
Dormancy: Winter, Summer, Fall
Height: 15" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: United States
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $27.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Polygonatum infundiflorum 'Lemon Seoul'
Item #: 5473
Zones: 5a to 9b, at least
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 36" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Shade
Origin: Korea
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $26.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Polygonatum involucratum 'Green Hankies'
Item #: 8243
Zones: 5a to 8b, at least
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 12" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Shade
Origin: Korea
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $26.00Regular priceUnit price perNext crop available: 05/24/2024Sold out -
Polygonatum macropodum
Item #: 6000
Zones: 5a to 8b, at least
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 30" tall
Culture: Light Shade to Shade
Origin: China
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $29.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Polygonatum odoratum 'Angel Wing' PP 21,543
Item #: 3167
Zones: 4a to 9b
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 18" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: China, Japan, Korea
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $36.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Polygonatum odoratum 'Chanticleer'
Item #: 17451
Zones: 4a to 9b
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 36" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Shade
Origin: Korea
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $28.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Sold out
Polygonatum odoratum 'Red Legs'
Item #: 15568
Zones: 4a to 9b, at least
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 20" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Shade
Origin: Japan
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $32.00Regular priceUnit price perNext crop available: 06/21/2024Sold out -
Polygonatum odoratum var. pluriflorum 'Jinguji'
Item #: 9209
Zones: 4a to 9b, at least
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 20" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Shade
Origin: Japan
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $32.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Polygonatum odoratum 'Variegatum'
Item #: 895
Zones: 4a to 9b
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 20" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Shade
Origin: Asia
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $25.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Polystichum acrostichoides
Item #: 295
Zones: 4a to 9b
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 15" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Shade
Origin: United States
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $23.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Polystichum polyblepharum
Item #: 1266
Zones: 5b to 9b, at least
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 18" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Shade
Origin: Japan, Korea
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $22.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Primula vulgaris 'Belarina Amethyst Ice'
Item #: 11956
Zones: 5a to 7b, at least
Dormancy: Summer, Fall
Height: 7" tall
Culture: Light Shade
Origin: Hybrid
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $20.00Regular priceUnit price perSold out -
Primula vulgaris 'Belarina Lively Lilac'
Item #: 15881
Zones: 5a to 7b, at least
Dormancy: Summer, Fall
Height: 7" tall
Culture: Light Shade
Origin: Hybrid
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $20.00Regular priceUnit price perSold out -
Primula vulgaris 'Belarina Pink Ice' PP 16,598
Item #: 15880
Zones: 5a to 7b, at least
Dormancy: Summer, Fall
Height: 7" tall
Culture: Light Shade
Origin: Hybrid
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $20.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Pteris vittata 'Benzilan'
Item #: 4255
Zones: 7b to 10b, at least
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 36" tall
Culture: Sun to Part Sun
Origin: China
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $24.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Pulmonaria 'Dark Vader'
Item #: 4346
Zones: 3a to 8b
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 12" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: Hybrid
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $21.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Pulmonaria 'Diana Clare'
Item #: 10352
Zones: 3a to 8b
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 10" tall
Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade
Origin: Hybrid
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Regular price $21.00Regular 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.