Until I discovered the perennial ground cover plants that I’m about to share with you, I was struggling to cultivate ground cover plants every season.
The quest to have perennial ground cover plants that suit every landscape situation inspired me to carry out research. Here is what I found out.
According to research by the Colorado State University Extension, ground covers plants help link together ornamental plants and effective way to control weeds
Perennial ground cover plants are cultivated for various reasons; to retain soil moisture, because they have the capacity to germinate every blooming season with fresh buds, refresh colors with fragrance flowers, attract pollinators, and to control erosion.
Whatever your purpose of searching for perennial ground cover plants, you’ll definitely find it in this list.
To make your search easier, here are top 10 perennial ground cover plants.
1. Hen And Chicks (sempervivum Tectorum)
Hen and Chicks plants have the capacity to survive under poor and not well-drained soil. The nature of the soil doesn’t delay their growth and spread.
The scientific name of Hens and Chicks is Sempervivum Tectorum, which means live forever. The name came as a result of the plants high-resistant to weather conditions.
They keep on refreshing and producing buds with a wide range of fragrant flowers that attract pollinators.
They’re drought-resistant plants that require low maintenance. At every growing season, the plants do well without much watering.
Hen and Chicks perennial ground cover plants are used to attract pollinators because of the all season flowers it produces.
Landscaping your yard with Hen and Chicks plants to give it an eye-catching impresion because of the natural rosettes shaped flowers. The natural rosettes come in different colors that brighten up the environment.
The plants are known for their tiny stalk that suspended the round rosettes of different colors, which precede the leaves.
Each Hen and chick’s round rosettes can spread into a wide area. Because of their wide distance spread of rosettes and the leaves makes them perfect plants to control weeds.
Growing Maintenance For Hen and Chicks
All season growing plants that have the capacity to adapt into different climates. The rosette colors change as it grows new flowers.
The plants require full sunlight and well-drained soil to grow. It also grows under gritty soil. The plants don’t require much fertilizer to germinate.
The plants are propagating by hand planting. Propagation is through pulling out the chicks to plant it in another location.
Hen and Chicks are available at most of the locations that sell plant seeds. You can also grow the plants through nurseries planting.
During nurseries, ensure there is full light and well-drained soil that’ll keep the plants healthy.
Note Hens and Chicks don’t require much fertilizer but require the soil to be watered and provide full sunlight.
2. Bugleweed (Ajuga Reptans)
Bugleweed florish during hot weather conditions — especially when the plant is fully growed.
It’s a perennial ground cover plant that grows shiny and smooth deep green leaves. The leaves are streaking with chocolate-brown.
During summer, the plant produces glossy streaks of blue, purple, pink or white flowers. The flowers grow up to a certain height that is between 1 – 2 inches.
In spring months, the flower grow into two 2 colors:
- Purple and White
- Pink and Blue
You can cultivate it under any climate conditions. The method of cultivation at each growing season and weather conditions is the only difference.
Part of the method of cultivation is the difference in the watering period and the quantity of water supplied.
During summer months, you need to water the plant at least once a week, during spring months, you can only water the plant once a month.
Weather conditions don’t affect Bugleweed growth rate. It spreads faster on the ground during spring times to keep the soil moisture for a certain period during summer.
It’s highly tolerant to shade or sun. The rapid spread of the leaves makes it suitable to control weeds. When under trees, it uses partial sunlight to grow deep green leaves.
It grows very well under any shade — because the plant requires both partial and full sunlight to grow.
When cultivated under trees, Bugleweed will still produce its best flowers and leaves.
It has wide leaves, which can easily get the ground cover. Most people like the plant because of the capacity to get the ground cover easily.
You can successfully grow Bugleweed plants in zone 3 — 10. It does well in moist soil with full sun light.
Bugleweeds can grow up to 6 inches tall when established. Spread its foliage fast and quickly on the ground. However, the plant spreads faster during spring than summer.
3. Creeping Phlox (Phlox Subulata)
Creeping phlox plants grow tall and at the same time spread to cover the ground.
Creeping phlox is also called Moss phlox.
You can use it to control erosion, retain soil moisture because it spreads to create shade and is dense to the ground.
Landscaping your yard with Creeping phlox will increase the value and make it aesthetic.
Creeping phlox spread up to 1 inch depth on the ground and still maintain 4 inches height.
The multiple color flowers make most people like the plant. The colors create an inviting impression, especially during spring months. Creeping phlox flowers grow different colors like blue, white, and purple.
Flowers and leaves create shade that makes it difficult for weed to grow under. The color of the leaves are deep green.
You can successfully grow Creeping phlox under zone 3 – 9. The zone area shows that the plant has perennial ground cover that’s resistant to drought.
Creeping phlox plants florish during spring and are highly drought tolerant.
4. Roman Chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile)
Roman Chamomile is perennial ground covering plants that grow glossy charming flowers. It grows an inviting dining bush with flowers that are dense on the ground.
Once Roman Chamomile is established it requires little or no maintenance. The only maintenance Roman Chamomile needs after growth is regular trimming.
The plant needs full light to grow and remains greenish but requires moderate or no watering once it is fully grown. Trimming will also make the plants spread into a wide area.
Roman Chamomiles grow round seeds. When the seeds open, it turns to flowers. Two colored flowers with ball-shaped seeds at the center.
Roman Chamomile has a thin stem that carries the white flowers, while the yellow seeds are at the top of white flowers. All season flowers that bloom especially during hot weather conditions.
The more you trim the Roman Chamomiles the more it spreads around. It can cover a wide area.
Most gardeners like the plant because it is easy to maintain and it doesn’t consume time during trimming. You can choose not to trim it, and still spread but not as it will be if the plant were trimmed.
Roman Chamomiles is an edible plant that you can either consume fresh or dry.
Roman Chamomile is edible and medicinal. You can use it for salad or steeped in teas to give you the exact taste.
Roman Chamomiles produce highly scented flowers. You can perceive the perfume from a long time.
5. Spike Speedwell (VERONICA SPICATA)
Perennial ground cover plant that is highly drought-resistant. The plant doesn’t require much watering but full sunlight to make blossoms.
Spike speedwell is also known as riyal candles. It has charming and smooth and serrated foliage that’s green.
The flowers are like a concave shape with 2 inches tall. Shining and deep purple with blue at the center of the flowers. The foliage forms the siting base for flowers to blossom.
The flowers have different colors that range from purple, blue, pink, and white.
Spike Speedwell grows tall and still dense down. It is an all season plant that’s effective in attracting pollinators.
Gardeners cultivate Spike Speedwell to repel pests that damage plants in the garden. The plant is effective in keeping the soil moist for days.
Dedicious plant that you can use to control erosion. During sring time that plant become dedicious but still have charmine and attractive flowers. During the dedicious state of the plants, the flowers still maintain the same colors.
You can cultivate Spike speedwell plant in zone 3 and 8. It grow under partial and full sunlight.
It require moisture soil and well-drained soil. You need to apply moderate watering when the plant is still at the early stage.
Spike speedwell make it easily to kill weed because of the dedecious nature of the plant. You dont need to apply much fertilizer to make the plant germinate faster and established.
6. Lily of the Valley
Lily of the Valley can grow in zone 2 and 9. it thrive under hot weather conditions especially when their is full sunlight. The plant flourish under partial roaming.
If you need perennial plant that can get the ground ciover easily and faster, then conside Spike speedwell plants. The plant only require watering at the early stage to develop tap troots.
The tap roots is what the plant uses to absor nutrient during summer. The green remain the same during but turns to deep green during early spring time.
Scented perennial plants that can easily grow tall. The scented nature of the plant remian with all thriugh growing season.
It creates full shade with narrow long foliage that makes the area cool. The strappy green leaves support the flower to produce nectars that pollinators or butterflies like most.
Lily of the valley is highly drought-resistant plants that you can use to increase the face value of landscape.
Lily of the valley plant is one of the easy growth plants. If you’re looking for fast spreading perennial cover plants, then lily of the valley. Lily of the valley spreads fast when it grows even on the sand or loam soil.
7. Hosta (Hosta Sieboldiana)
Hosta is a perennial ground cover plant that grows in zone 3 – 8. It can withstand extreme hot weather conditions.
It requires full sunlight to florish. It does well in damp moisture and well-drained soil. The plant doesn’t require much fertilizer to germinate.
It’s foliage is streaky with forest green to lime green. Also, some of the leaves are variegated with green and white.
Hosta is also known as plantain lilies. It has wide green foliage that creates shades which prevent weed growth from the ground.
It has a thin stem of about 2 – 4 inches tall. At the top of the stem is bloomed an inflorescence. The flowers are variegated with white and purple, which grow tall up to 1 – 2 inches.
The flowers are bell-shaped like with rich nectars that birds, butterflies and other insects like. The green leaves spread widely on the ground, which prevent other pets from damaging other plants.
It’s a good plant for controlling erosion. It dense down at about 2 inches, which prevents erosion from creating where it has been planted.
During summer, the flowers offer a sweet scent that invites pollinator agents. Having a Hosta plant in your garden, you don’t worry about pollination.
8. Creeping Thyme
Creeping Thyme grows thinny foliage that cover the ground. It’s one of the low grow perennial ground cover plants.
The leaves are green with round seeds at the base of the leaves. Each stem is clutter with seeds that make the plant dense down.
Creeping Thyme has flowers of purple and white. During summer, the flowers thrive, while spring they florish. Flowers are brownish and white during summers, while spring it changes to streak purple brown and white.
It spread faster during spring months than summer months. Under full sunlight the plant thrives. It requires more water than sunlight at the early growth stage.
Creeping Thyme grows well in poor soil and is highly drought-resistant when it is fully grown.
You can propagate it by stem cutting and planing. It requires little or none fertilizer at the early stage but none fertilizer when it is fully grown.
Creeping thyme is an all season plant that can easily adapt into any weather conditions. Irrespective of the season you expose it to the plant florish.
Creeping Thyme survives in most seasons because the leaves cover the ground and make it moist for days. Also it has fibrous tap roots that goes down the soil, which absorb nutrients.
Highly pest repellent plants that you can grow in your garden to keep other plants out of pest reach.
Some people cultivate Creeping Thyme plants to increase the value of their landscape, while others use it to either control erosion or to keep the soil moisture.
It’s called Creeping Thyme because the way and rate at which it spreads on the ground faster compared to other perennial ground cover plants.
Creeping Thyme leaves are edible and medicinal. So, there are various reasons while people cultivate the plants.
9. Pig Squeak (Bergenia Cordifolia)
Pig squeak grows tall and as well dense on the ground. It produces shining and smooth heart-shape like leaves of dark green.
Pig squeak delays in growth rate irrespective of how rich the soil is. It creates a beautiful all green sight when it is fully established.
Complete green perennial ground cover plants to create unique sight during landscape. The sight becomes more beautiful when the plants attain the same height.
Pig squeak has pink stalks that blossom with the leaves. Even though the plant is moderately harsh weather tolerant, it doesn’t require over moist soil.
It does well in a moderate watered soil. The moisture should be 1 inch deep down for them to stay healthy especially during the early stage.
The height of Pig squeak is over 11 inches when it’s fully matured. At this point, you don’t need to bother yourself for much watering.
When you rub Pig squeak leaves together, it produces a squeak sound. The sound that the leaves emit when rubbing together brought about the name Pig squeak.
You can cultivate Pig squeak in zone 3 – 8. In some locations you can cultivate Pig squeak under full sunlight.
Some areas with full sunlight don’t affect the growth rate of the plant because the full light has considerable heat that Pig squeak can survive under.
While in some other locations the full sunlight comes with heat that affects the growth rate of the plants.
The plant thrives through most of the weather conditions and keeps its foliage to be shining dark green. It can easily be identified with the complete shining dark green.
10. Delosperma (Delosperma cooperi)
Delosperma is a perennial ground cover plant that changes as weather conditions change.
When there is an extreme cold the flowers and turn pale white, while extreme heat the flowers fold and show pale brown.
It has glossy purple leaves that spread widely on the ground. Succulent plant that grows low and also densed to the ground.
Highly effective plant to control erosion. You can also have it at the center of your landscape.
Delosperma is a drought resistant plant that requires low maintenance. The only maintenance this plant needs after it has fully established is watering. At least once every two weeks.
Delosperma glows beautiful and eye-catching flowers, which increase the value of outdoor. The all purple flower that you make a statement of impression when cultivated at the center of landscape.
It can be used to demarcate boundering when trimmed to grow straight and densed down with 1 inch height.
Irrespective of the weather conditions, the plant maintains the same color flowers. It’s not affected by the weather. You can also trim to grow above 1 inch height. Whatever height you desire. Trim the plants to obtain such height before it fully established.
Delosperma can grow in zone 5 to 9. And well-drained soil with moisture. It needs full sunlight to blossom and thrive under cold weather conditions.
Conclusion
Here you have perennial ground cover plants of different growing behaviour, which you can choose from based on your need.
These perennial ground cover plants are carefully selected after extensive research to ensure you quest is satisfied and worth your investment.
