Low Maintenance Groundcovers
Ajuga reptans
Evergreen groundcover with glossy green to bronze foliage and spikes of blue violet flowers. Grows 4 to 8 inches tall. Ideal for woodland gardens, shaded pathways, and erosion control on slopes. Zones: 3 to 9.
Low maintenance groundcovers provide dependable coverage while helping reduce the time spent weeding, watering, and caring for open areas of the garden. Many spread steadily to suppress weeds, protect soil, and soften the edges of borders and pathways, all while contributing texture, foliage interest, and seasonal color. Their diverse forms make them suitable for everything from sunny slopes to shaded spaces beneath trees.
Well adapted to a variety of growing conditions, these plants help create a more finished landscape with relatively little upkeep. By choosing groundcovers that are naturally vigorous and well suited to the site, gardeners can enjoy attractive, cohesive plantings that require less ongoing attention throughout the year.
ARCTOSTAPHYLOS
01
Highlights ►
4 to 8 in tall
3 to 6 ft wide
Sun to part shade
Evergreen
Flowers
Moderate spread
Trailing habit
Drought tolerant
Arctostaphylos groundcovers provide year-round structure and handsome evergreen foliage with very little upkeep, making them excellent choices for low-maintenance landscapes. Arctostaphylos uva-ursi ‘Vancouver Jade’ (shown here) forms dense carpets of glossy green leaves that create a tidy appearance throughout the seasons and pink urn-shaped flowers, while Arctostaphylos 'Pacific Mist' spreads gracefully with soft gray-green foliage that hugs the ground. Their naturally low growth helps suppress weeds and reduce the need for frequent attention. Small spring flowers and colorful berries add another layer of seasonal interest.
The varied foliage colors and textures bring depth to paths, slopes, and rock gardens. Their broad mats blend beautifully with conifers, ornamental grasses, and drought-tolerant companions, creating landscapes rich in texture and enduring beauty.
CORAL BELLS (Heuchera)
02
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10 to 14 in tall
18 to 24 in wide
Part to full shade
Evergreen
Flowers
Slow spread
Clump forming
Few pests
Coral bells bring colorful foliage and refined texture to low-maintenance groundcovers, where their mounded habits create attractive drifts throughout the year. Heuchera 'Spellbound' (shown here) displays silver leaves brushed with purple tones, while Heuchera 'Paris' adds bright pink flower sprays above compact chartreuse foliage. Their dense clumps fill spaces between larger plants and provide lasting interest with minimal attention.
Foliage shades range from vivid to dramatic among the cultivars. Heuchera 'Forever Purple' produces glossy violet leaves that hold their color through much of the season. Their compact forms blend beautifully with hostas, ferns, and epimediums, creating ground-level tapestries filled with texture, color, and seasonal appeal.
Related: Explore All Heucheras ➔
HEATH (Erica)
03
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6 to 12 in tall
18 to 24 in wide
Sun to part shade
Evergreen
Flowers
Moderate spread
Mat forming
Drought tolerant
Heaths bring color and fine texture to low-maintenance groundcovers, where their evergreen foliage forms tidy mats that remain attractive throughout the year. Erica carnea 'Springwood White' (shown here) produces masses of white flowers in late winter, while Erica carnea 'Springwood Pink' adds soft rosy blooms that brighten the landscape when little else is flowering. Their needle-like foliage creates a delicate texture that contrasts beautifully with broader-leaved companions. The low, spreading habit makes them well suited to borders, slopes, and rock gardens.
Flower colors range from soft pastels to deeper shades among the cultivars. Erica x darleyensis 'Kramer's Red' bears vivid rosy-purple blooms that provide welcome color during the cooler months. Their graceful forms pair beautifully with dwarf conifers, hellebores, and spring bulbs, creating ground-level plantings rich in texture and seasonal interest.
BUGLEWEED (Ajuga)
04
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4 to 6 in tall
12 to 24 in wide
Sun to full shade
Semi-evergreen
Flowers
Fast spread
Mat forming
Dense cover
Bugleweed brings colorful foliage and dense coverage to low-maintenance groundcovers, where its spreading habit quickly fills gaps and softens the edges of borders and pathways. Ajuga reptans ‘Mahogany’ (shown here) features deep bronze foliage topped with blue flower spikes, while Ajuga reptans ‘Burgundy Glow’ adds a tapestry of green, cream, and burgundy tones that remain attractive throughout the growing season. Their low growth creates a living carpet that helps reduce open soil and provides year-round texture. Spring blooms add another layer of seasonal appeal.
Leaf colors and patterns create a surprising variety of effects. Ajuga reptans ‘Pink Lightning’ bears soft pink flowers with cream and green variegation that brightens shaded spaces. Their colorful mats combine beautifully with ferns, hostas, and spring bulbs, creating ground-level plantings rich in texture and contrast.
ST. JOHN’S WORT (Hypericum)
05
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12 to 18 in tall
24 to 36 in wide
Sun to full shade
Semi-evergreen
Flowers
Fast spread
Colony forming
Dense cover
St. John's wort brings warm color and broad coverage to low-maintenance groundcovers, where its spreading stems create dense carpets of foliage throughout the growing season. Hypericum calycinum (shown here) produces large golden-yellow flowers with prominent tufts of stamens that stand out against rich green leaves. The low, branching habit helps soften slopes and fill open spaces between shrubs and perennials. Its vigorous growth creates a lush appearance that adds texture and continuity to the landscape.
Seasonal interest extends beyond the flowering period, as the foliage provides an attractive backdrop for neighboring plants. The bright blooms pair beautifully with ornamental grasses, conifers, and spring bulbs, creating ground-level plantings rich in color, texture, and natural appeal.
HARDY GERANIUM
06
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18 to 24 in tall
18 to 24 in wide
Sun to part shade
Deciduous
Flowers
Moderate spread
Clump forming
Few pests
Hardy geraniums bring long-lasting color and soft texture to low-maintenance groundcovers, where their spreading habits weave naturally through borders and around larger plants. Geranium x magnificum produces masses of rich violet-blue flowers above deeply cut foliage, while Geranium x magnificum 'Blue Blood' (shown here) offers similarly vibrant blooms with an especially intense blue coloration. Their rounded mounds help cover bare soil and provide an attractive framework that remains appealing well beyond the flowering season. The finely divided leaves add texture without overpowering neighboring plants.
Growth habits and flower colors create a range of effects among the cultivars. Geranium x cantabrigiense ‘Biokovo’ bears pale pink flowers above aromatic foliage that often develops reddish tones in autumn. Their graceful forms combine beautifully with ferns, hostas, and spring bulbs, creating colorful carpets rich in texture and seasonal interest.
PERIWINKLE (Vinca)
07
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12 to 18 in tall
24 to 36 in wide
Sun to full shade
Evergreen
Flowers
Fast spread
Trailing habit
Dense cover
Periwinkles bring year-round coverage and colorful blooms to low-maintenance groundcovers, where their trailing stems weave through borders and beneath shrubs. Vinca major ‘Maculata’ (shown here) features glossy green leaves splashed with golden centers, adding brightness even when not in flower, while Vinca minor 'Bowles' produces abundant violet-blue blooms above rich evergreen foliage. Their spreading habit creates dense carpets that help unify planting areas and soften edges. The combination of flowers and foliage provides lasting interest across the seasons.
Leaf patterns and flower colors offer different effects within the genus. Their graceful runners pair beautifully with ferns, hostas, and spring bulbs, creating ground-level plantings rich in texture, contrast, and subtle seasonal color through much of the year.
CYCLAMEN
08
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3 to 6 in tall
6 to 12 in wide
Part to full shade
Deciduous
Flowers
Slow spread
Colony forming
Few pests
Cyclamen bring delicate flowers and beautifully patterned foliage to low-maintenance groundcovers, where their compact habits create pockets of interest beneath trees and shrubs. Cyclamen coum subsp. coum f. pallidum 'Album' (shown here) bears pristine white blooms above marbled leaves, while Cyclamen coum produces cheerful flowers in shades of pink during the colder months. Their rounded foliage forms attractive carpets that provide texture long after flowering has passed. The intricate leaf markings add subtle detail to shaded borders and woodland gardens.
Bloom time varies among the species, extending the display over many months. Cyclamen hederifolium offers elegant pink flowers followed by handsome ivy-shaped leaves that remain attractive into winter. Their refined forms pair beautifully with ferns, hellebores, and spring bulbs, creating ground-level plantings rich in texture and seasonal color.
SEDUM
09
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4 to 6 in tall
18 to 24 in wide
Full sun
Semi-evergreen
Flowers
Fast spread
Mat forming
Drought tolerant
Sedums bring colorful foliage and broad coverage to low-maintenance groundcovers, where their succulent leaves create attractive mats with little attention. Sedum spurium ‘Red Carpet’ (shown here) develops reddish foliage accented by rosy flowers, while Sedum Sunsparkler ‘Lime Twister’ adds bright green leaves edged with creamy tones. Their spreading habits help soften rock gardens, and sunny borders while providing texture throughout the growing season. The fleshy foliage introduces a distinctive character to ground-level plantings.
Foliage colors shift with the seasons, adding another dimension to the display. Hylotelephium 'Blue Elf' forms compact mounds of blue-gray foliage topped with rosy-pink flowers. Their varied textures combine beautifully with ornamental grasses, thyme, and small conifers, creating landscapes rich in contrast and seasonal color.
Related: See All Sedums ➔
JAPANESE SPURGE (Pachysandra)
10
Highlights ►
6 to 8 in tall
18 to 24 in wide
Part to full shade
Evergreen
Flowers
Moderate spread
Colony forming
Dense cover
Japanese spurge brings year-round texture and a polished appearance to low-maintenance groundcovers, where its dense growth forms attractive carpets beneath trees and shrubs. Pachysandra terminalis 'Green Sheen' (shown here) features glossy evergreen foliage that creates a rich green backdrop throughout the seasons, while Pachysandra terminalis ‘Silver Edge’ adds a touch of brightness with leaves outlined in creamy white. Their compact habit helps cover bare soil and lends continuity to shaded borders and woodland paths. Small white flower spikes provide a subtle display in spring.
Foliage color and texture give these plants lasting appeal. Their spreading mats blend beautifully with ferns, hostas, and spring bulbs, creating layered ground-level plantings filled with contrast, structure, and understated beauty.
COTONEASTER
11
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8 to 12 in tall
4 to 6 ft wide
Sun to part shade
Evergreen
Flowers
Moderate spread
Trailing habit
Drought tolerant
Cotoneaster groundcovers provide year-round texture and broad, spreading coverage with very little intervention, making them excellent choices for low-maintenance landscapes. Cotoneaster dammeri (shown here) forms dense mats of small, glossy evergreen leaves that help soften slopes, pathways, and retaining walls. In late spring, clusters of small white flowers appear among the foliage, followed by bright red berries that persist well into the colder months. Their low-growing habit helps suppress weeds and reduce open soil between larger plants.
The changing seasons bring new colors and textures to these versatile groundcovers. The berries and evergreen foliage add visual interest long after flowering has ended. Their graceful branches combine beautifully with conifers, ornamental grasses, and rock garden plants, creating landscapes rich in texture, contrast, and seasonal color.
GRAPE HYACINTH (Muscari)
12
Highlights ►
6 to 8 in tall
4 to 6 in wide
Sun to part shade
Deciduous
Flowers
Slow spread
Colony forming
Few pests
Grape hyacinths bring waves of spring color to low-maintenance groundcovers, where their compact flower spikes emerge above narrow leaves to create drifts of blue and violet. Muscari armeniacum produces densely packed cobalt-blue blooms that naturalize readily, forming colorful colonies over time. Muscari aucheri 'Ocean Magic' (shown here) offers soft blue flowers with white tips that lend a lighter touch to spring plantings. Their modest size makes them ideal for filling spaces between larger perennials and shrubs. The grassy foliage provides texture before gradually fading as summer approaches.
These small bulbs create impressive effects when planted in groups. Their colorful flowers pair beautifully with daffodils, primroses, and early tulips, creating ground-level displays rich in color and spring beauty.
Related: Explore All Bulbs ➔
BERGENIA
13
Highlights ►
8 to 12 in tall
12 to 18 in wide
Sun to full shade
Evergreen
Flowers
Moderate spread
Clump forming
Few pests
Bergenias bring bold foliage and early color to low-maintenance groundcovers, where their broad evergreen leaves create attractive mounds throughout the year. Bergenia 'Flirt' (shown here) produces rosy flower clusters above compact foliage, while Bergenia cordifolia 'Bach' adds soft pink blooms that emerge in early spring. Their leathery leaves provide a strong contrast to finer textures and help create continuity beneath shrubs and among larger perennials. Seasonal changes often bring reddish and bronze tones to the foliage, extending the display beyond flowering.
Leaf colors and growth habits create a variety of effects among the cultivars. Bergenia cordifolia 'Tubby Andrews' features distinctive cream-marbled foliage that brightens shaded borders. Their substantial forms combine beautifully with hostas, ferns, and spring bulbs, creating ground-level plantings rich in texture and year-round interest.
BARREN STRAWBERRY (Waldsteinia)
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Highlights ►
4 to 6 in tall
18 to 24 in wide
Sun to full shade
Semi-evergreen
Flowers
Moderate spread
Colony forming
Dense cover
Barren strawberry brings fresh green foliage and cheerful spring color to low-maintenance groundcovers, where its spreading habit forms tidy mats beneath trees and along pathways. Waldsteinia ternata (shown here) produces bright yellow flowers above strawberry-like leaves that remain attractive through much of the year. The dense growth helps knit planting areas together while providing a soft, natural appearance. Its finely textured foliage creates a pleasing contrast with broader-leaved companions and larger shrubs.
Even after flowering has passed, the foliage continues to provide structure and color. Their low, spreading forms pair beautifully with ferns, hostas, and spring bulbs, creating ground-level compositions rich in texture, contrast, and enduring beauty.
BARRENWORT (Epimedium)
15
Highlights ►
8 to 12 in tall
18 to 24 in wide
Part to full shade
Semi-evergreen
Flowers
Slow spread
Colony forming
Few pests
Barrenworts bring delicate flowers and refined foliage to low-maintenance groundcovers, where their slowly spreading habits create elegant drifts beneath trees and shrubs. Epimedium x cantabrigiense 'Red Form' (shown here) bears marbled light pink and white flowers above fresh spring foliage, while Epimedium x rubrum produces dark pink and white bicolor blooms that hover above heart-shaped leaves. Their airy flowers and compact growth provide a graceful transition between larger woodland plants and smaller spring bulbs. Emerging foliage often displays reddish tones that add another layer of seasonal interest.
Different flower colors lend distinct personalities to the cultivars. Epimedium x warleyense 'Orangekönigin' offers peachy-orange blossoms that bring warmth to shaded borders. Their finely textured forms combine beautifully with ferns, hostas, and hellebores, creating ground-level plantings rich in contrast and understated beauty.