Spring Blooming Groundcovers
Primula vulgaris 'Belarina Lively Lilac'
Deciduous groundcover with fully double white blooms brushed and edged in lilac and purple. Forms a compact mounded habit and grows 4 to 6 inches tall. Ideal for borders, containers, and woodland garden displays. Zones: 4 to 8.
Spring blooming groundcovers bring fresh color and seasonal interest to the garden, spreading across the landscape with carpets of flowers as the growing season begins. Their blooms range from soft whites and pinks to shades of purple, blue, and yellow, often appearing above foliage that helps fill spaces between shrubs, pathways, and borders. These plants add texture and continuity while creating a space that feels bright, inviting, and full throughout the changing season, helping transition the garden from early spring into the abundance of late spring and beyond.
BUGLEWEED (Ajuga)
01
Bugleweed spreads quickly through the spring garden, forming dense carpets of foliage topped with upright flower spikes that bring color early in the season. Ajuga reptans (shown here) is grown for its blue to violet flower spikes that rise above low-growing foliage, creating a broad display across borders and shaded planting areas. Its spreading habit and layered growth help maintain seasonal interest while adding texture and coverage to mixed plantings.
A useful addition to woodland gardens, borders, or groundcover plantings, these perennials provide color and texture as spring progresses. Ajuga reptans ‘Burgundy Glow’ offers variegated foliage in shades of green, cream, and burgundy, while Ajuga reptans ‘Mahogany’ adds deep bronze-purple leaves for stronger contrast throughout the season. Together, these selections provide colorful foliage, spring bloom, and a refined presence in the garden.
CORAL BELLS (Heuchera)
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Coral bells create lasting interest through colorful foliage that remains prominent well beyond the spring flowering season, bringing texture and contrast to garden spaces. Heuchera ‘Red Lightning’ is grown for its chartreuse leaves marked with bold red veining that create a dramatic display across low mounds of foliage. Its dense habit and distinctive leaf coloration help maintain seasonal interest to mixed plantings.
A valuable addition to borders, woodland gardens, or groundcover plantings, these perennials provide color and texture as spring progresses. Heuchera ‘Ruby Tuesday’ (shown here) offers rich ruby-red foliage, while Heuchera ‘Spellbound’ adds silvery-purple leaves with darker veining and changing seasonal tones for stronger contrast throughout the season. Together, these selections provide colorful foliage, subtle spring bloom, and a refined presence in the garden.
Related: Explore All Heucheras ➔
ANEMONE
03
Spring blooming anemones spread through the garden with low carpets of foliage and delicate flowers that appear early in the season beneath trees and among emerging perennials. Anemone nemorosa ‘Robinsoniana’ is grown for its soft lavender-blue flowers that create a gentle display across woodland plantings and shaded borders. Its spreading habit and early bloom period help maintain seasonal interest while adding texture and coverage to mixed plantings.
A charming addition to woodland gardens, borders, or groundcover plantings, these perennials provide color and texture as spring progresses. Anemone nemorosa ‘Bracteata Plena’ (shown here) offers fully double white flowers with layered petals, while Anemone nemorosa ‘Green Dragon’ adds unusual green-tipped flowers with distinctive foliage detail. Together, these selections provide varied flower forms, early spring color, and a refined presence in the garden.
CROCUS
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Crocuses emerge among the earliest flowers of the season, bringing bright color and low-growing interest to the spring garden after winter fades. Crocus tommasinianus ‘Whitewell Purple’ (shown here) is grown for its rich violet-purple blooms that open above narrow grassy foliage, creating a broad display across borders and naturalized spaces. Its spreading habit and early flowering help maintain seasonal interest while adding texture and coverage to mixed plantings.
A pretty addition to rock gardens, borders, or groundcover plantings, these perennials provide color and texture as spring progresses. Crocus vernus ‘Jeanne d’Arc’ offers crisp white flowers, while Crocus vernus ‘Pickwick’ adds large silvery-lavender blooms marked with distinctive purple striping for stronger contrast throughout the season. Together, these selections provide early spring bloom, varied flower color, and a refined presence in the garden.
BERGENIA
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Bergenias provide broad evergreen foliage and early flowers that create bold texture and seasonal color across the spring garden. Bergenia ‘Flirt’ (shown here) is grown for its bright pink flower clusters that rise above compact mounds of rounded green leaves, creating a colorful display early in the season. Its dense habit and substantial foliage help maintain seasonal interest while adding texture and coverage to mixed plantings.
A dependable addition to borders, woodland gardens, or groundcover plantings, these perennials provide color and texture as spring progresses. Bergenia ‘Bressingham White’ offers clean white flower clusters, Bergenia ‘Winter Glow’ brings rosy-pink blooms and foliage that develops rich burgundy tones in cooler weather while Bergenia cordifolia ‘Tubby Andrews’ adds cream-edged variegated foliage with soft pink blooms for stronger contrast throughout the season. Together, these selections provide evergreen structure, spring bloom, and a refined presence in the garden.
PRIMROSE (Primula)
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Primroses brighten the spring garden with low clusters of flowers that emerge early in the season, bringing color to borders and shaded spaces. Primula sieboldii (shown here) is grown for its delicate pink to lavender flowers held above soft green foliage, creating a broad display beneath trees and among woodland plantings. Its clumping habit and early flowering period help maintain seasonal interest while adding texture and coverage to mixed plantings.
A colorful addition to woodland gardens, borders, or groundcover plantings, these perennials provide color and texture as spring progresses. Primula elatior offers soft yellow flowers with deeper centers, while Primula vulgaris ‘Prima Bella Creme’ adds creamy pale yellow blooms paired with dark foliage for stronger contrast throughout the season. Together, these selections provide early spring bloom, soft texture, and a refined presence in the garden.
CREEPING PHLOX (Phlox)
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Creeping phlox blankets the spring garden with dense carpets of foliage and abundant flowers that create broad swaths of color early in the season. Phlox subulata ‘Ruby Riot’ (shown here) is grown for its rich rosy-red blooms that nearly cover the evergreen foliage, creating a vibrant display across slopes, borders, and rock gardens. Its spreading habit and heavy flowering help maintain seasonal interest while adding texture and coverage to mixed plantings.
A colorful addition to rock gardens, borders, or groundcover plantings, these perennials provide color and texture as spring progresses. Phlox subulata ‘Purple Beauty’ offers soft violet-purple flowers, while Phlox subulata ‘Spring Scarlet’ adds vivid scarlet-red blooms for stronger contrast throughout the season. Together, these selections provide abundant spring bloom, colorful flower displays, and a refined presence in the garden.
CRANESBILL (Geranium)
08
Hardy geraniums spread gently through the spring garden, forming low mounds of foliage covered with flowers that provide long-lasting seasonal color. Geranium x magnificum (shown here) is grown for its large violet-blue flowers with darker veining that create a broad display above deeply divided green foliage. Its mounding habit and generous flowering period help maintain seasonal interest while adding texture and coverage to mixed plantings.
A useful addition to borders, woodland gardens, or groundcover plantings, these perennials provide color and texture as spring progresses. Geranium x cantabrigiense ‘Biokovo’ offers pale pink flowers that soften toward white, while Geranium sanguineum ‘Max Frei’ adds vivid rosy-magenta blooms for stronger contrast throughout the season. Together, these selections provide extended spring bloom, soft texture, and a refined presence in the garden.
MANZANITA (Arctostaphylos)
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Arctostaphylos groundcovers create broad evergreen mats that bring structure and seasonal interest while producing delicate flowers in early spring. Arctostaphylos uva-ursi ‘Vancouver Jade’ (shown here) is grown for its dense, glossy green foliage and clusters of soft pink urn-shaped flowers that appear above trailing stems. Its spreading habit and year-round coverage help maintain seasonal interest while adding texture and coverage to mixed plantings.
A valuable addition to slopes, woodland edges, or groundcover plantings, these shrubs provide color and texture as spring progresses. Arctostaphylos ‘Pacific Mist’ offers silvery blue-green foliage with a taller, spreading habit that forms broad carpets across the landscape. Together, these selections provide evergreen structure, early spring bloom, and a refined presence in the garden.
PERIWINKLE (Vinca)
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Vinca spreads steadily through the spring garden, forming evergreen mats of foliage accented by flowers that bring color early in the season. Vinca major ‘Maculata’ (shown here) is grown for its glossy green leaves marked with golden-yellow centers and soft violet-blue flowers that appear above trailing stems. Its vigorous habit and year-round foliage help maintain seasonal interest while adding texture and coverage to mixed plantings.
A practical addition to woodland gardens, slopes, or groundcover plantings, these perennials provide color and texture as spring progresses. Vinca minor ‘Bowles’ offers rich violet-blue flowers with a more compact, dense habit that creates a fuller appearance throughout the season. Together, these selections provide evergreen structure, spring bloom, and a refined presence in the garden.
CYCLAMEN
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Cyclamen emerge early in the season with delicate flowers and patterned foliage that create low-growing interest across the spring garden. Cyclamen coum is grown for its rounded leaves and upswept pink flowers that appear close to the ground, creating a colorful display beneath trees and among woodland plantings. Its spreading habit and early flowering help maintain seasonal interest while adding texture and coverage to mixed plantings.
A charming addition to woodland gardens, borders, or groundcover plantings, these perennials provide color and texture as spring progresses. Cyclamen coum subsp. coum f. pallidum ‘Album’ (shown here) offers pure white flowers, while Cyclamen coum Pewter Group adds silvery pewter-patterned foliage paired with lavender blooms for stronger contrast throughout the season. Together, these selections provide early spring bloom, distinctive foliage, and a refined presence in the garden.
ROCK CRESS (Aubretia)
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Rock cress blankets the spring garden with dense mats of foliage and masses of flowers that brighten borders early in the season. Aubrieta ‘Axcent Light Blue’ is grown for its soft lavender-blue blooms that nearly cover the foliage, creating a broad display across walls, slopes, and garden edges. Its spreading habit and heavy flowering help maintain seasonal interest while adding texture and coverage to mixed plantings.
A charming addition to rock gardens, borders, or groundcover plantings, these perennials provide color and texture as spring progresses. Aubrieta deltoidea (shown here) offers vivid purple to violet flowers held above low-growing evergreen foliage, creating a more natural appearance throughout the season. Together, these selections provide abundant spring bloom, colorful flower displays, and a refined presence in the garden.
NAVELWORT (Omphalodes)
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Navelwort spreads gently through the spring garden, forming low carpets of foliage covered with small flowers that brighten shaded spaces early in the season. Omphalodes cappadocica ‘Starry Eyes’ (shown here) is grown for its blue flowers edged in white that create a broad display above soft green foliage beneath trees and along borders. Its spreading habit and long-lasting bloom period help maintain seasonal interest while adding texture and coverage to mixed plantings.
A delightful addition to woodland gardens, borders, or groundcover plantings, these perennials provide color and texture as spring progresses. Omphalodes verna offers bright forget-me-not blue flowers that spread naturally through shaded garden areas for stronger seasonal impact. Together, these selections provide early spring bloom, soft texture, and a refined presence in the garden.
DEADNETTLE (Lamium)
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Deadnettles spread quickly across the spring garden, forming colorful mats of foliage topped with flowers that brighten shaded spaces early in the season. Lamium maculatum ‘Orchid Frost’ (shown here) is grown for its silver foliage edged in green and soft lavender-pink flowers that create a broad display beneath trees and along borders. Its trailing habit and long-lasting foliage help maintain seasonal interest while adding texture and coverage to mixed plantings.
A valuable addition to woodland gardens, borders, or groundcover plantings, these perennials provide color and texture as spring progresses. Lamium maculatum ‘Beacon Silver’ offers bright silver foliage with pale pink flowers, while Lamium maculatum ‘Anne Greenaway’ adds variegated green and gold foliage paired with rosy-purple blooms for stronger contrast throughout the season. Together, these selections provide colorful foliage, spring bloom, and a refined presence in the garden.
BARRENWORT (Epimedium)
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Barrenwort forms graceful carpets of foliage and delicate spring flowers that bring texture and seasonal color to shaded garden spaces. Epimedium x cantabrigiense ‘Red Form’ (shown here) is grown for its nodding flowers in soft rose-pink and creamy tones with yellow centers, creating a light display beneath trees and along woodland borders. Its spreading habit and changing foliage tones help maintain seasonal interest while adding texture and coverage to mixed plantings.
A dependable addition to woodland gardens, borders, or groundcover plantings, these perennials provide color and texture as spring progresses. Epimedium x rubrum offers red and yellow flowers with bronzy spring foliage, while Epimedium grandiflorum ‘Queen Esta’ adds larger soft pink blooms with elegant spurred petals for stronger contrast throughout the season. Together, these selections provide early spring bloom, distinctive foliage, and a refined presence in the garden.