Brighten your sunny garden effortlessly with these stunning, low-maintenance ground covers.
See below to add vibrant color and lush texture to create a breathtaking landscape at your place!
Must-Have Sun-Friendly Ground Cover Plants for a Vibrant Garden
1. Creeping Golden Oregano
Imagine walking barefoot on a carpet of vibrant golden leaves that release a delightful aroma as you step.
Adding Creeping Golden Oregano to your garden not only brings a splash of color but also serves as a practical herb for your kitchen.
Its compact growth ensures a tidy appearance while thriving under full sun.
- USDA Growing Zones: 4-9
- Height: 3-5 inches
- Low Growing Cultivars:
- ‘Compactum’: A compact variety with dense, golden foliage and a spreading habit.
- ‘Variegatum’: Features variegated leaves with creamy margins, adding visual interest.
- Botanical Name: Origanum vulgare ‘Aureum’
2. Creeping Thyme
Feel the soft crunch of aromatic foliage beneath your feet as Creeping Thyme carpets your garden with beauty and scent.
Perfect for sunny pathways or rock gardens, it not only adds color but also attracts beneficial pollinators.
Its resilient nature ensures it stays lush and vibrant with minimal maintenance.
- USDA Growing Zones: 4-9
- Height: 2-6 inches
- Low Growing Cultivars:
- ‘Elfin’: Extremely compact growth with tiny, aromatic leaves and delicate flowers.
- ‘Pink Chintz’: Features soft pink flowers and a dense, mat-forming habit.
- ‘Carmoline’: Bright pink blooms with a vigorous, spreading growth pattern.
- Botanical Name: Thymus spp.
3. Sweet Alyssum
Envision a garden blanketed with tiny, fragrant flowers that invite butterflies and bees to dance among them.
Sweet Alyssum offers a delicate touch of color that enhances any sunny spot, whether in borders or containers.
Its low-growing habit ensures a neat appearance while providing continuous blooms throughout the season.
- USDA Growing Zones: 4-9
- Height: Up to 6 inches
- Low Growing Cultivars:
- ‘Snowflake’: Pure white flowers with a sweet fragrance, forming a dense mat.
- ‘Blue Wave’: Light blue blooms that create a stunning carpet of color.
- ‘Cinderella’: Compact growth with abundant, double flowers in white or pink.
- Botanical Name: Lobularia maritima
4. Creeping Phlox
Create a vibrant mosaic of colorful blooms that blanket your garden with lively patterns each spring.
Creeping Phlox thrives in full sun, creating a stunning display that is both visually appealing and highly attractive to butterflies.
Its dense, low-growing form makes it perfect for edging or filling in rocky areas with minimal effort.
- USDA Growing Zones: 4-9
- Height: About 6 inches
- Low Growing Cultivars:
- ‘Emerald Pink’: Deep pink flowers with vibrant green foliage.
- ‘Candy Stripe’: Features bicolored flowers in pink and white, adding a striped effect.
- Botanical Name: Phlox subulata
5. Sedum (Low-Growing Varieties, e.g., Sedum spurium)
Imagine a garden where succulent leaves shimmer under the sun, complemented by clusters of charming flowers.
Low-growing Sedum varieties provide both texture and color, thriving in hot, sunny locations with ease.
Their hardy nature makes them an excellent choice for low-maintenance landscapes that stay beautiful year-round.
- USDA Growing Zones: 4-9
- Height: 3-6 inches
- Low Growing Cultivars:
- ‘Dragon’s Blood’: Red-tinged foliage with pink flowers, providing striking contrast.
- ‘Blue Spruce’: Bluish-gray foliage with star-shaped white flowers, resembling spruce needles.
- Botanical Name: Sedum spp.
6. Common Purslane
Feel the warmth of the sun as Portulaca spreads its vibrant, succulent blooms across your garden beds.
This cheerful ground cover thrives in full sun, offering a burst of color with minimal water and maintenance.
Its trailing habit makes it ideal for covering rocks, pathways, or container edges with ease.
- USDA Growing Zones: 4-9
- Height: Typically 4-6 inches
- Low Growing Cultivars:
- ‘Margarita’: Bright yellow flowers with a compact, trailing habit.
- ‘Alba’: Pure white blooms that spread elegantly over surfaces.
- ‘Bicolor’: Features flowers with contrasting colors, such as yellow centers with red edges.
- Botanical Name: Portulaca grandiflora
7. Ice Plant
Watch as Ice Plant carpets your garden with dazzling, daisy-like flowers that sparkle under the midday sun.
Its succulent leaves store moisture, making it exceptionally drought-tolerant and perfect for sunny, rocky areas.
The vibrant blooms provide a striking contrast against the foliage, adding lasting beauty with little upkeep.
- USDA Growing Zones: 4-9
- Height: 2-6 inches
- Low Growing Cultivars:
- ‘Nana’: Dwarf variety with vibrant pink flowers and a compact growth form.
- ‘Firestorm’: Intense orange blooms with a spreading, low-growing habit.
- ‘Beautiful’: Showy flowers in shades of pink and red, ideal for rock gardens.
- Botanical Name: Delosperma spp.
8. Candytuft
Imagine clusters of pure white flowers cascading gracefully across your garden, creating a serene and elegant ground cover.
Candytuft thrives in full sun, offering a delightful display that attracts butterflies and other pollinators.
Its evergreen foliage ensures year-round interest, making it a versatile addition to any sunny landscape.
- USDA Growing Zones: 4-9
- Height: Up to 6 inches
- Low Growing Cultivars:
- ‘Snowdrop’: Pure white flowers with a compact, mounding growth.
- ‘Ruby’: Deep red blooms that add a bold splash of color.
- ‘Snow Queen’: Double white flowers with a dense, evergreen foliage.
- Botanical Name: Iberis sempervirens
9. Gazania spp. (Select Low Varieties)*
Bring a burst of vibrant color to your garden with Gazania’s daisy-like flowers that thrive under the full sun.
These low-growing varieties are perfect for adding a cheerful touch to rock gardens, borders, or container displays.
Their resilient nature ensures continuous blooms throughout the sunny seasons, brightening up any space effortlessly.
- USDA Growing Zones: 4-9
- Height: 4-6 inches
- Low Growing Cultivars:
- ‘Zanzibar Gem’: Vibrant, daisy-like flowers in assorted bright colors.
- ‘Mexican Sunset’: Features warm hues of orange and yellow, perfect for sunny spots.
- Botanical Name: Gazania spp.
10. Bugleweed (Choose Low-Growing Cultivars)*
Experience the unique beauty of Bugleweed with its striking foliage and delicate blue flower spikes that flourish in sunny areas.
Low-growing cultivars like ‘Black Scallop’ and ‘Chocolate Chip’ add depth and contrast to your garden beds, making them a standout choice for ground cover.
Their resilient nature ensures they remain lush and attractive even in challenging sunny conditions.
- USDA Growing Zones: 3-9
- Height: 3-6 inches
- Low Growing Cultivars:
- ‘Black Scallop’: Striking dark purple foliage with blue flower spikes.
- ‘Chocolate Chip’: Unique brown-spotted leaves with rich blue flowers.
- Botanical Name: Ajuga reptans
