Low Maintenance Ground Cover Plants

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If you have bare patches of soil in your garden that you cannot seem to fill, slopes that are difficult to mow, or areas under trees where grass refuses to grow, ground cover plants are your answer. They spread naturally to fill empty spaces, suppress weeds, and require almost no maintenance once established — making them one of the smartest additions to any low maintenance garden.

Here are the best low maintenance ground cover plants for every situation, every style, and every budget.

What Are Ground Cover Plants?

Ground cover plants are low growing plants that spread horizontally to cover the soil surface. They serve several practical purposes in a garden:

Suppress weeds by blocking light from reaching the soil
Prevent soil erosion on slopes and banks
Retain moisture in the soil by reducing evaporation
Fill difficult spaces where grass or other plants struggle
Reduce maintenance by eliminating the need to mow or weed regularly
Add beauty with foliage, flowers, and texture

Once established most ground cover plants spread on their own, filling in bare patches without any help from you.

What to Look for in a Low Maintenance Ground Cover

Not all ground covers are equally low maintenance. Here is what to look for:

Drought tolerant once established — does not need constant watering
Spreads reliably without becoming invasive
Works in your light conditions — sun, shade, or both
Hardy in your climate zone — check your USDA hardiness zone before buying
Resistant to pests and disease — does not need regular treatment

Best Ground Cover Plants for Sun

Creeping Thyme

One of the most popular ground covers for sunny spots and for good reason. Creeping thyme forms a dense low mat covered in tiny pink or purple flowers in summer. It is incredibly tough, drought tolerant, and even releases a pleasant fragrance when walked on — making it a popular choice for planting between stepping stones and pavers.

Why it works:

Extremely drought tolerant once established
Flowers attract bees and pollinators
Stays evergreen in mild climates
Works between pavers and stepping stones
Very low growing — no mowing needed

Best for: Full sun, well drained soil, pathways, rock gardens

Sedum (Stonecrop)

Sedums are succulent ground covers that thrive in hot dry conditions where other plants struggle. They come in a wide range of colors — from bright green to blue grey to burgundy — and many produce cheerful star shaped flowers in late summer and fall.

Why it works:

Extremely drought tolerant
Thrives in poor dry soil
Comes in many colors and textures
Attracts pollinators when in flower
Spreads reliably without becoming invasive

Best for: Full sun, dry or poor soil, rock gardens, slopes

Creeping Phlox

Creeping phlox is one of the most spectacular ground covers in spring when it erupts into a carpet of flowers in pink, purple, white, or bicolor. For the rest of the year it forms a neat evergreen mat that suppresses weeds effectively.

Why it works:

Stunning spring flower display
Evergreen — looks good year round
Spreads to cover slopes and banks
Drought tolerant once established
Very low maintenance after planting

Best for: Full sun to partial shade, slopes, rock walls, spilling over edges

Ice Plant

Ice plant is a succulent ground cover that produces jewel bright daisy like flowers in pink, orange, yellow, and purple. It is one of the most drought tolerant ground covers available and thrives in hot coastal conditions.

Why it works:

Extremely drought tolerant
Brilliant colorful flowers
Excellent for erosion control on slopes
Thrives in poor sandy soil
Very fast spreading

Best for: Full sun, dry conditions, coastal gardens, slopes

Black Eyed Susan Vine

For a ground cover that doubles as a climber, black eyed Susan vine produces cheerful orange and yellow flowers all summer long. It spreads quickly to cover bare ground and can also be trained up a trellis or fence.

Why it works:

Long blooming season
Covers ground quickly
Cheerful colorful flowers
Works as both ground cover and climber
Attracts pollinators

Best for: Full sun, warm climates, multipurpose ground cover and climber

Best Ground Cover Plants for Shade

Hostas

Hostas are the ultimate shade ground cover — bold architectural foliage in green, blue, gold, and variegated varieties that fills shady spots beautifully. They die back in winter and return reliably every spring, spreading slowly to form impressive clumps over time.

Why it works:

Thrives in deep shade where little else grows
Beautiful bold foliage in many colors
Returns reliably every year
Gradually spreads to fill space
Very low maintenance once established

Best for: Full to partial shade, under trees, north facing areas

Ajuga (Bugleweed)

Ajuga is one of the most effective shade ground covers available. It spreads quickly by runners to cover large areas, produces attractive spikes of blue purple flowers in spring, and comes in varieties with purple, bronze, or variegated foliage.

Why it works:

Spreads very quickly to cover bare ground
Attractive foliage year round
Blue purple flower spikes in spring
Tolerates both shade and sun
Suppresses weeds very effectively

Best for: Shade to partial sun, under trees, difficult slopes

Vinca Minor (Periwinkle)

Vinca minor is a classic shade ground cover with glossy evergreen leaves and pretty blue purple flowers in spring. It spreads reliably, tolerates deep shade, and requires virtually no maintenance once established.

Why it works:

Evergreen — looks good year round
Tolerates deep shade
Pretty spring flowers
Spreads to cover large areas
Very low maintenance

Best for: Full to partial shade, under trees, slopes and banks

Note: Vinca can become invasive in some regions — check whether it is recommended for your area before planting.

Sweet Woodruff

Sweet woodruff is a delicate looking but surprisingly tough shade ground cover with whorled bright green leaves and tiny white flowers in spring. It spreads reliably in moist shady conditions and releases a pleasant vanilla like fragrance when the leaves are crushed.

Why it works:

Thrives in moist shady spots
Pretty white spring flowers
Pleasant fragrance
Spreads to fill space naturally
Dies back in winter and returns reliably

Best for: Moist shady spots, under trees, woodland gardens

Hellebores

Hellebores are not a traditional spreading ground cover but planted in groups they form effective weed suppressing colonies in shady spots. Their nodding flowers appear in late winter and early spring — often while snow is still on the ground — making them one of the most valuable plants in any shade garden.

Why it works:

Flowers in late winter when little else is blooming
Evergreen in mild climates
Gradually self seeds to fill space
Extremely low maintenance
Tolerates dry shade — one of the most difficult conditions

Best for: Dry to moist shade, under trees, woodland gardens

Best Ground Cover Plants for Slopes and Erosion Control

Crown Vetch

Crown vetch is one of the most effective erosion control plants available. It spreads aggressively by runners and roots to bind soil on steep slopes and produces pink clover like flowers all summer.

Why it works:

Extremely effective at controlling erosion
Spreads very quickly on difficult slopes
Drought tolerant once established
Fixes nitrogen in the soil
Low maintenance once established

Note: Crown vetch can be invasive — use with caution and check local guidelines before planting.

Best for: Steep slopes, erosion prone areas, difficult banks

Juniper Ground Cover

Low growing juniper varieties make excellent ground covers for sunny slopes. They spread slowly but steadily to form dense weed suppressing mats and are virtually indestructible once established.

Why it works:

Extremely hardy and long lived
Tolerates drought, heat, and cold
Dense growth suppresses weeds effectively
Evergreen year round interest
Very low maintenance once established

Best for: Full sun, slopes and banks, difficult dry areas

How to Plant Ground Cover Successfully

Getting ground covers established is the main investment of time and money — after that they largely look after themselves.

Step 1 — Prepare the soil Remove existing weeds thoroughly before planting. This is the most important step — ground covers spread to suppress future weeds but they cannot outcompete established ones. Add compost to improve soil quality if needed.

Step 2 — Plant at the right spacing Most ground covers are planted 12-18 inches apart — they will fill in the gaps over one to two growing seasons. Planting closer speeds up coverage but costs more; planting further apart saves money but takes longer.

Step 3 — Mulch between plants Apply a 2-3 inch layer of mulch between newly planted ground covers to suppress weeds while they establish and retain moisture in the soil.

Step 4 — Water regularly in the first season Most ground covers need regular watering in their first growing season to establish a strong root system. After that most are drought tolerant and need little to no supplemental watering.

Step 5 — Be patient Ground covers work on their own schedule. The first year they sleep, the second year they creep, the third year they leap — this old gardening saying is genuinely true for most ground cover plants.

Transform Problem Areas Into Beautiful Spaces

Ground cover plants are one of the most practical and cost effective solutions in any garden. They turn difficult problem areas — dry slopes, deep shade, bare patches under trees — into attractive low maintenance spaces that look after themselves.

Choose the right plant for your conditions, get it established well in the first season, and let it do the rest of the work for you. That is what low maintenance gardening is all about.

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