The Ultimate Guide to Flowering Ground Covers: Enhance Your Landscape With Colorful Plants
Are you tired of the constant maintenance that comes with a traditional lawn? Do you want to add more beauty and diversity to your outdoor space? Flowering ground covers might be the solution you’re looking for. These plants are not only low-maintenance but also incredibly attractive when they bloom.
Ground covers are perfect for tackling common landscaping challenges such as areas that are too steep to mow, shady spots under trees, and uneven driveways. They can also create a seamless border along walkways and paths. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore 15 of the best flowering ground covers that will transform your outdoor space and make your gardening tasks a breeze.
Benefits of Flowering Ground Covers
Ground cover plants serve a dual purpose in landscaping. They not only add beauty and color to your garden but also offer practical solutions for various landscaping challenges. Here are some key benefits of flowering ground covers:
- Low-maintenance: Ground covers require minimal care compared to traditional lawns.
- Weed suppression: These plants form dense mats that crowd out weeds and inhibit their growth.
- Erosion control: Ground covers help prevent soil erosion and stabilize slopes.
- Attractive blooms: Flowering ground covers add a pop of color and visual interest to your landscape.
- Diverse options: From low-growing creepers to taller clumping varieties, there are ground covers for every space and situation.
Our Favorite Flowering Ground Covers
- Bugleweed (Ajuga reptans)
- Zone: 3-10
- Height: 6 inches
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Features: Spikes of blue to white blossoms, glossy purple-tinged leaves
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Canadian Anemone (Anemone canadensis)
- Zone: 3-8
- Height: 1-2 feet
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Features: White flowers, toothed green leaves
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Candytuft (Iberis sempervirens)
- Zone: 3-8
- Height: 12 inches
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Features: Clusters of white blossoms, evergreen foliage
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Creeping Phlox (Phlox subulata)
- Zone: 3-9
- Height: 2 inches
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Features: Colorful carpet of pink, blue, or white blooms, evergreen leaves
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Creeping Thyme (Thymus praecox)
- Zone: 4-8
- Height: 3 inches
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Features: Delightful minty aroma, pink-purple flowers
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Deadnettle (Lamium maculatum)
- Zone: 3-8
- Height: Varies
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Features: Variegated leaves, pink blossoms
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Hosta (Hosta sieboldiana)
- Zone: 3-8
- Height: Varies
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Features: Variegated green and white leaves, white or purple flowers
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Horned Violet (Viola cornuta)
- Zone: 6-11
- Height: 6-8 inches
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Features: Purple and blue blossoms, green leaves
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Japanese Pachysandra (Pachysandra terminalis)
- Zone: 5-9
- Height: 12 inches
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Features: Glossy green foliage, white blossoms
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Liriope (Liriope spicata)
- Zone: 5-10
- Height: 1-2 feet
- Features: Blue, white, or purple blossoms, grass-like foliage
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Lithodora (Lithodora diffusa)
- Zone: 6-8
- Height: 12 inches
- Features: Bright blue blossoms, hairy green leaves
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Pig Squeak (Bergenia cordifolia)
- Zone: 3-8
- Height: 12 inches
- Features: Dark green leaves, pink flowers
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Spike Speedwell (Veronica spicata)
- Zone: 3-8
- Height: 1 foot
- Features: Purple, blue, pink, or white blossoms
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Sweet Woodruff (Galium odoratum)
- Zone: 4-8
- Height: 8 inches
- Features: White star-like blossoms, spiraled green leaves
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Wishbone Flower (Torenia fournieri)
- Zone: 2-11
- Height: Varies
- Features: Trumpet-shaped blossoms in various colors, oval leaves
How to Choose the Right Flowering Ground Cover for Your Garden
When selecting flowering ground covers for your garden, consider the following factors:
- Climate: Choose plants that are suitable for your hardiness zone.
- Soil and Light Conditions: Select plants that thrive in the soil and light conditions of your garden.
- Maintenance: Consider the level of maintenance required for each plant.
- Size and Height: Pay attention to the mature size and height of the ground cover to ensure it fits your space.
By choosing the right flowering ground covers for your garden, you can create a vibrant and low-maintenance landscape that will enhance the beauty of your outdoor space.
Tips for Growing Flowering Ground Covers
- Plant Selection: Choose a variety of ground covers to create an appealing palette of colors and textures.
- Spacing: Give your ground covers room to spread and establish a dense mat.
- Maintenance: Regularly check and trim your ground covers to prevent overgrowth.
- Mulching: Mulch around your ground covers to retain moisture and suppress weed growth.
- Native Plants: Consider using native ground covers for a more sustainable and low-maintenance landscape.
By following these tips, you can ensure that your flowering ground covers thrive and add beauty to your garden throughout the year.
Enhance Your Landscape With Flowering Ground Covers
Flowering ground covers offer a versatile and attractive solution for landscaping challenges. By incorporating these plants into your garden, you can create colorful carpets of blooms that require minimal maintenance and add visual interest to your outdoor space. Whether you have a steep slope, a shady spot, or a narrow border to fill, there’s a flowering ground cover that’s perfect for your garden. Choose from the wide variety of plants listed above to transform your landscape and create a beautiful and vibrant outdoor oasis.
Let us know which flowering ground covers you choose for your garden and how they enhance your landscape in the comments below. Happy gardening!
For more gardening inspiration, check out our other guides:
– 17 Temperate Flowering Perennials That Will Grow Almost Anywhere
– Perennials for Butterfly Gardens
– Choosing the Perfect Flowering Perennials: 5 for Your Shade Garden
– 9 Best Full-Sun Flowering Perennials for Southern Gardens
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