Ground covers are a powerful tool in any gardener’s kit. They suppress weeds, help retain moisture, reduce soil erosion, and add beauty to otherwise blank spaces. Whether you’re aiming for bold drama or subtle elegance, there’s a ground cover out there that can fit the role.
Let’s explore some standouts that break away from the ordinary—bringing texture, color, and structure to gardens in unique ways.
Variegated Butterbur
Petasites japonicus ‘Variegatus’
Zones: 3–8
Size: 2 to 3 feet tall, 2 to 5 feet wide
Conditions: Partial to full shade; moist to wet soil
This isn’t your typical low-profile ground cover. With its bold umbrella-like leaves and dramatic variegation, it offers serious presence. Ideal for boggy, shady spots, it stabilizes soil while providing a lush, architectural display. Though it can be assertive, it’s manageable when given defined borders, such as paths or stone walls.
Trifoliate Bittercress
Cardamine trifolia
Zones: 5–9
Size: 3 to 6 inches tall, 9 to 12 inches wide
Conditions: Partial to full shade; moist, rich, well-draining soil
This delicate-looking plant adds charm along shady paths or beneath airy shrubs. It stays evergreen in mild climates, offers sweet white blooms in spring, and quietly spreads without aggression. Despite its name, there’s nothing bitter about this plant—it’s all grace.
Alpine Water Fern
Austroblechnum penna-marina
Zones: 7–9
Size: 6 to 12 inches tall, up to 3 feet wide
Conditions: Partial to full shade; moist, rich, well-draining soil
If you’ve ever wished for a fern that doubled as a ground cover, this is it. Forming a dense, evergreen mat, this little fern delights with delicate fronds and colorful new growth in spring. It thrives in alpine-like conditions and makes an excellent low-maintenance filler.
Colorful Self-Sowers for Sun
Examples: California poppy (Eschscholzia californica), purple poppy mallow (Callirhoe involucrata)
Zones: Variable (typically Zones 4–10)
Size: 6 to 12 inches tall, up to 3 feet wide
Conditions: Full sun; rocky or well-drained soil
For a more naturalistic or drought-tolerant approach, flowering self-sowers like poppies and mallow offer seasonal ground cover with bright colors and cheerful form. Though they may go dormant in the summer, their roots help suppress weeds, and they self-seed reliably without being invasive.
Rethinking Ground Covers
Ground covers don’t have to be dull or purely functional. They can be showy, sculptural, whimsical, or rugged—playing a vital role in garden design while meeting practical needs. Whether you’re managing erosion, filling in shady corners, or creating seasonal color, these lesser-known selections can add personality and performance to your landscape.