Its dense foliage is good to cover parts of your garden subject to a lot of sun. The most common use of this perennial plant is to edge pathways or flowerbeds. Creeping thyme is also a drought tolerant evergreen plant that can survive periods of dryness. Gregg’s prairie clover grows well on rocky slopes. This creeping plant grows well in USDA hardiness zones 5 – 9. One of the distinguishing features of the plant is its strawberry-like foliage. When mature and well established, the plant forms a soft mat over the ground. This helps to prevent the branches from falling away from the center and leaving a hole in the middle of the clump. We have all types of ground covers for sun! Spread: 1 to 2 feet. Moss phlox. This fast growing ground cover is a great landscaping choice for planting between stepping stones or as a path border. But "creeping" in the name indicates where this plant parts ways with cotoneaster. This little darling grows only 3″ tall. Plant in USDA hardiness zones 3-10. Creeping Juniper is a fast growing hardy ground cover plant for large sunny areas. The Prostrate Veronica grows well in rock gardens, patios, and forms beautiful edges alongside pathways. Phlox stolonifera (left) and Phlox subulata (right) are perennial flowering ground covers for full sun. Because this is a fast-growing plant, it requires some maintenance to control it. Drought resistant like sedum. To make sure your ground covers get the job done (ya know, dressing up your landscape), follow the instructions on their plant care tag to give them the right conditions. To make sure that the Barren Strawberry plant flourishes, plant it in full sun and make sure the soil is moist. It is indeed a shrub, but it is called horizontalis for a reason. This is not a common type of ground cover plant despite it being available in most countries. … The Creeping Phlox (Phlox stolonifera) is a flowering perennial ground cover for sun which provides a carpet of green cover throughout the year. Thymus – Also known as ‘Walk-On-Me Plant’ or ‘Mother of Thyme’. Many creeping perennial ground covers that withstand bright sunshine also provide year-round green cover for your landscaping solutions. Lilyturf (Liriope muscari): This clump-forming evergreen groundcover is ideal for sloped sites or for … When planted in full sun, these spreading plants choke out weeds and create a carpet of lush green foliage. Along with lots of sun, creeping thyme generally prefers poor soil with sharp drainage. Has a large display of lilac colored flower spikes thru summer. Basket of Gold is also called “yellow alyssum,” however, it should not be confused with plants from the alyssum species. Evergreen Ground Cover Plants for Sun or Shade (With Pictures) In early spring, yellow showy blossoms appear on the plant and give a splash of color to your garden. The plant grows well in cold hardiness zones 4 – 8. This ground cover for the sun grows between 4” and 8” (10 – 20 cm) tall. Evening Primrose varieties require well-drained soil to thrive. Angelina Sedum (Sedum rupestre, Sedum reflexum) is a spreading evergreen plant that is an excellent landscaping solution for green cover. Other names for this showy ground cover include ‘pinkladies,’ ‘Mexican primrose,’ and ‘pink evening primrose.’. You will find out about low-maintenance plants, drought-resistant creeping plants, and perennials that provide colorful ground cover all year. Flowering ground cover plants for sunny conditions enhance your garden with an array of stunning colors. Ajuga reptans (also called bugleweed or carpetweed) has dark green leaves with hints of purple and violet. The low-growing mat type of plant, Blue Star Creeper (Isotoma fluviatilis) is great for sunny gardens where dense ground cover is required. They're valuable for … They're also fairly low-maintenance. It can be difficult to grow in high heat and humidity, but it's tolerant of drought and shallow, rocky soil. Creeping Jenny (Evergreen)- One of the fastest growing evergreen ground covers. The aptly named Basket of Gold (Aurinia saxatilis) is a robust evergreen ground cover that produces stunning bright yellow clusters of flowers. Just because a plant can tolerate a lot of sun, it doesn't necessarily mean it likes dry soil. For a fragrant, full-sun ground cover, choose creeping thyme. It’s an excellent ground cover where other types of plants are difficult to grow. Depending on the climate, the plant can be evergreen or a deciduous perennial. If you live in USDA zones 4 to 7, then this carefree low-growing plant provides great year-round ground cover and bright flowers in the spring. This sun-loving and drought-tolerant variety of catmint makes for a great flowering ground cover. Great for: Shade, Retaining walls, Crevices, Dry shade, Moist shade, Woodland area, Accent, Containers, Lawn substitute The Black Mondo Grass is one of the best fast growing ground cover for slopes that tolerant of sun and it grows well in a partial shade area too. Another mat-forming perennial plant is Soapwort (Saponaria officinalis) that withstands a lot of sun and summer heat. Height: 3 to 6 inches. Growing conditions: Full sun. Follow the care tips for your particular species in terms of watering to keep it healthy. Vinca major is aggressive; rooted cuttings spaced at 6 inches cover an area within a year. Select from low maintenance, drought tolerant, evergreen, fast growing, wet areas, slopes or plants that you can walk on. Soapwort ‘Max Frei’ grows to a height of just over a foot (30 cm) and provides stunning pink or purple blooms all summer and fall. This is key because if you are using it as a ground cover for a sunny spot, it will continue to supply visual interest even after it's done blooming. And Calluna vulgaris ‘Wickwar Flame’ not only features bright yellow foliage all summer, but in winter the whole plant develops vivid reddish orange tints. The plant grows in small clumps that measure up to 12” (30 cm) high and has a spread of 20” (50 cm). This Is How to Grow Healthy Succulent Plants, Understanding Sunlight Exposure Needs of Garden Plants, 10 Best Deer-Resistant Shrubs for Landscaping, 15 Best Zone 7 Plants to Put In Your Garden, 15 Best Zone 8 Plants to Put In Your Garden, 18 Yellow-Flowering Plants for Your Garden, Best Perennials That Offer Long Bloom Periods, 10 Best Flowering Plants That Deer Will Not Eat, 10 Best Ornamental Grasses for Containers, 14 Best Fall-Blooming Flowers for Your Perennial Garden. Globe Ice Plant (Ruschia punctulata) Globe Ice Plant is cold tolerant and is best for cooler areas. There are several cultivars with varying heights and foliage colors from which to choose. Brass Buttons is a flowering ground cover for sunny locations. Ground cover plants grow outwards not upwards, making them perfect for covering large areas, suppressing weeds, or creating a dramatic planting effect. This hardy tiny plant has tall long creeping stems that provide good evergreen cover in your garden. Like cotoneaster, lamb's ear (Stachys byzantina) is not necessarily a short plant. Also, if you need green cover in the shade, you can plant it around trees, under shrubs, or on shaded slopes. Brass Buttons (Leptinella squalida) is a type of flowering spreading plant for covering the ground, especially in sunny areas of your garden. When it comes to soil quality, this perennial evergreen can withstand dry soil. evergreen groundcover for shade. Silver mound artemisia is strictly a foliage plant. The geranium stems grow to 12” tall (30 cm) and have a spread of up to 24” (60 cm). It is the foliage that counts with this ground cover. The large green leaves and their spreading habit will provide plenty of ground cover for your sunny garden. This perennial ground cover withstands dry conditions and is on the list of low-maintenance bedding plants. This sun-loving ground cover grows between 6” and 10” (15 – 25 cm) in height. A perfect evergreen groundcover for zone 7 is the creeping juniper. In Texas, the evergreen ground cover plants can take a variety of soil types, produce flowers and can stand up to the hot summer weather. But unlike ice plants, Angelina sedum is not grown for its flowers. Creeping juniper varieties, such as 'Blue Rug', share the shrub classification with cotoneaster. Because this creeping plant enjoys wet or damp soil, you can plant it around ponds or soggy areas of your garden. It … Another fast-spreading ground cover plant is the Creeping Juniper (Juniperus horizontalis) which is a shrubby type of low-growing plant. The plant is a perennial (one that grows for several years) and likes full sun or partial shade, and dry soil. Lenten Rose. Late in the spring, clusters of white fragrant flowers appear giving you beautiful white ground cover. This low-spreading plant is virtually carefree and being an evergreen perennial, it provides green ground cover all year. This low-growing type of perennial plant is described as a semi-evergreen that grows well in sunny conditions. The best place to plant this flowering perennial is in full sunlight and well-drained soil. Barren Strawberry (Waldsteinia fragarioides) is a clumping type of ground cover plant that enjoys lots of sunshine. Planting many of this ground cover will form a lush evergreen mat and help keep weeds away. If you are looking for a low-maintenance ground cover plant, then the Golden Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia ‘Aurea’) is an excellent landscaping choice. However, ajuga grows best in well-drained soil with medium moisture in full sun. Zones: 3 to 9. Hardy geraniums grow well in USDA zones 3-8. The best ground covers for shade, sun or partial light in South Louisiana gardens Dan Gill, The Times-Picayune garden columnist Published Mar 12, 2015 at 11:50 pm | … Lamb’s Ear. The best way to enjoy its refreshing smell is to walk on it. Still, this spreading, full-sun ground cover will make it worth your while if you solve its drainage, as it produces a dazzling display of flowers. Many are almost blue with others in green and gold tones. When looking for the best ground cover plants for full sun, it’s important to take into account a number of factors. Brass buttons have low growth with the creeping plant only reaching 2” (5 cm) in height. This sun-loving evergreen gound cover is a hardy short woody plant that grows to about a foot (30 cm) in height. For the darkest leaf color, plant in full sun. We'll help you find the best ground cover that will provide beauty, color, staying power and ease of use. The main attraction is the plant's silvery leaves, which are fuzzy and velvety like the ears of a lamb. Kathleen Miller is a Master Gardener and Horticulturist with over 30 years experience in gardening and sustainable farming. This native evergreen shrub is covered in small, leathery, deep green leaves, which turn maroon in cold weather. 'Six Hills Giant' Catmint (Nepeta x faassenii) This sun-loving and drought-tolerant variety of catmint … FYI: Full sun … Artificial Grass: If you want the look of a green, lush ground cover without the water requirements, … Planting flowering Creeping Thyme in your garden also reduces work as the creeping plant keeps weeds at bay. Dry soil and blazing sun are challenging living conditions for most plants, but bearberry thrives in this combination. Soapwort is a flowering ground cover that loves full sun. This type of spreading ground cover plant is also very carefree and grows in most types of soils, even ones that have an occasional drought. These plants feature vibrant flowers, cheerful berries, interesting leaves, a pleasing aroma, and evergreen foliage. That's right: Far from suffering damage, this ground cover does not mind a reasonable amount of foot traffic. Here are 10 ground covers that are easy to grow in full sun. Stems from the Blue Star Creeper (also called ‘swamp isotome’) grow along the ground and the small dark green ovate leaves provide dense cover. Sedum reflexum (left) and Sedum rupestre (right) are perennial succulents ground cover plants for sunny areas. Evergreen ground covers that thrive in areas of full sun (hot and dry) consist of varieties that grow well in sites less than 50 sq. The creeping plant thrives in USDA hardiness zones 6-9. In full-sun, dry areas, Phlox subulata forms a thick, pretty carpet that keeps weeds at bay. This fast sprawling plant provides dense ground cover in any part of your garden. Introducing "One Thing": A New Video Series, The Spruce Gardening & Plant Care Review Board, The Spruce Renovations and Repair Review Board, 'Six Hills Giant' Catmint (Nepeta x faassenii), Creeping Juniper (Juniperus horizontalis), Silver Mound Artemisia (Artemisia schmidtiana), Angelina Sedum (Sedum rupestre 'Angelina'). When well established, this plant forms a mat-covering, and when it flowers it is easy to see why it’s called Snow-in-Summer. Ideal for banks, under trees or across large areas in your border - any spot where grass is not wanted. The plant only grows to an average height of 4” (10 cm) and has a spread of 12” (30 cm). They range in sizes and soil preferences, and some are even drought-tolerant. The plant provides good ground cover when planted in sunny areas. A full range of Groundcovers for Portland, Vancouver. Early in the growing season, little urn-shaped white-and-pink flowers appear among the leaves. These mat-forming, low-growing plants are tough enough to tolerate light foot traffic and best of all, some varieties will also release a delightful fragrance every time you brush by. During the middle of June, delightful pink blossoms appear that last until the fall. Big Root Geranium is a flowering low maintenance ground cover for full sun. The plant is also a good option to landscape a slope that gets constant sun throughout the day. You also can cut it back if the plant gets too leggy. Grass is a great groundcover but requires a lot of nitrogen and water, especially in full sun. Veronica prostrata is a blue flowering ground cover that grows well in sunny conditions. If you live in a hot climate, then the Apple Geranium is a drought-tolerant variety that also gives good ground cover. Hardy in zones 3 – 9; 1 – 3-inces tall x 18 – 24-inch spread; full sun to partial shade. Some will grow to around knee- or hip--high, others will lie low and hug the ground. You can also plant creeping or clumping perennials that flower if you want to brighten up your garden. Perfect for low foot traffic areas, thyme is soft to walk on, looks great, and can help you keep the weeds down. For a more striking effect in your garden, you could choose the “Platt’s Black” cultivar. This creeping perennial is good to plant on sunny slopes, in south-facing rock gardens, between stepping stones, and under shrubs. Candytuft is a hardy flowering ground cover that loves sunny areas. So, the best way to use this plant is to plant it in mass to create as much silver ground cover as you require. Snow-in-summer ground cover looks like flowery snow drifts that can spill over stone walls and landscape. The issue is you have to provide it with sharp drainage. A gorgeous ground cover for the garden floor or spilling over a container edge. The term "groundcover" includes low-growing plants that never reach more than a couple of inches in height as … This perennial attractive ground cover plant thrives in USDA zones 4 – 9. Another drought-resistant perennial is Candytuft (Iberis sempervirens) which likes plenty of sunshine and blossoms annually every spring. Choosing the right types of ground cover plants that thrive in full sun is essential for any landscaped garden. But the flowers aren't all that special, and you might even opt to cut down the spikes to keep the plant at ground cover level. Alternative groundcover in the sun can conserve moisture and reduce the need for chemical applications. Plant around stepping stones or for a decorative, dense-growing ground cover. Perennial Candytuft grows well in USDA hardiness zones 3 – 9 and survives frost and cold winters well. These plants are also drought-resistant; however, flowers will be smaller in drier conditions. Trailing Periwinkle (Vinca minor) This ground cover plant yields beautiful periwinkle blue or violet … The Creeping Thyme (Thymus serpyllum) is a low-growing, low-maintenance sun-loving ground cover plant that produces stunning flowers every year. The creeping plant only reaches heights of around 3” (7cm) and is a good substitute for lawns where grass won’t grow. Once established, Big Root Geraniums are very low-maintenance plants that generally take care of themselves. David Beaulieu is a garden writer with nearly 20 years experience writing about landscaping and over 10 years experience working in nurseries. This common creeping ground cover loves the sun and grows in hardiness zones 4 to 8. These provide plenty of color when they flower. Although they can grow in shaded areas, they need full sunlight for their showy flowers to blossom. Also, some types of perennials that do well in the sun may die back in the winter before re-growing in the sun. You may also find that this spreading plant grows well in partial shade. The Snow-in-Summer is a creeping type of perennial that has small silky green leaves. Russian arborvitae has wonderful rust color and grows two feet high (.6 m.) with no fuss maintenance. Vinca "Variegata" has white-edged leaves. Flowers appear in spring and are attractive blooming along with interplanted daffodils. The Golden Creeping Jenny is the best choice from the other Lysimachia cultivars as it is a fast-spreading plant but not as invasive. Plants root at each node, and hug the ground, producing a beautiful carpet of lime green to gold. In fact, one of the reasons why this no-fuss ground cover is a popular landscaping choice is due to its ability to grow in most condition. An easy-to-care for ground cover, there are a few varieties of thyme to consider. Evergreen groundcovers are well-suited to a range of soil conditions found in shade. 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