Colorful Groundcovers For Your Yard

By definition a groundcover is a low-growing plant that's used as borders, edging, and to fill in spaces between flagstones.  They suppress weed growth and are a must for every landscape.  Fortunately for us, there are many groundcovers to choose from and this article highlights some of my favorites.  I have all of these groundcovers in my gardens and around the yard.

Some groundcovers will flower while others do not.  All of the groundcovers I've listed will flower and a few are very showy during their springtime display.  These groundcovers are perennials and easy to grow.  If you're looking for a tried-and-true groundcover, any of these beautiful plants will do.

Ice Plants (Delosperma)

I have two favorite groundcovers and the Yellow Ice Plant is one of them.  A nice dense, low-growing plant, it keeps the weeds at bay and is attractive year round.  It's an unusual looking plant because the leaves are thick, juicy and oval-shaped succulents that turn red in the fall for a very attractive display.  In spring, it becomes quite a show with bright yellow daisy-like flowers.  It's a show stopper when in bloom and attracts bees and butterflies. As a succulent, it needs low water maintenance and lots of sun.  It is not a good plant to place in-between flagstones or where people can walk on it as it will get crushed and die.  Unfortunately, deer also like this plant so it's best kept behind a fence and not in the open unless you don't have a deer problem. There are several varieties of Ice Plants and most are Zones 5-9.

Snow-In-Summer (Cerastium)

Snow-In-Summer is my other favorite plant and it's more versatile than the Ice Plant. This plant will grow quickly and fill in a wide space around it. It's very dense and attractive year round.  I highly recommend this plant.

Snow-In-Summer has several great qualities that gardeners love.  First, its flowers are spectacular and gives this plant its name.  The small bright white flowers are a pure white and seem to light up the garden unlike any other white flowering plant.  For texture, its leaves are a silvery-grey which adds color to the garden after the blooms disappear.  It's also a very hardy plant that's well-suited for Zones 3-9.  Deer avoid this plant and rabbits prefer other plants.  Another advantage is that it grows in poor soils including sand or clay. It's height is about 4-6 inches which makes it a nice edging plant. Don't overlook this dainty beauty if you need a groundcover.

Thyme

Thyme may be an herb but it's also a fabulous groundcover.  This is a great plant to use in-between flagstones or to fill in any space in a rock garden. There are several varieties of thyme that are worth considering as a groundcover and a culinary herb.  My favorite is Mother-of-Thyme.  It has rosy flowers in the spring and then stays attractive with its dark green leaves.  Woolly Thyme is another good choices as well as Pink Creeping Thyme.  Most thymes are only 2 inches tall and are great for Zones 4-9.

Greek Yarrow (Achillea)

A very pretty low-growing yarrow that's perfect in a rock garden or as a border. It grows about 4 inches tall and is not as dense as most groundcovers but is very attractive.  Because of its height, it's not good for filling spaces in-between flagstones.  In spring, this dainty plant blooms profusely with small white daisies in clusters.  Bees are attracted to the flower.  It survives in Zones 4-8 and well-drained soils.  Greek Yarrow has grayish-green foliage that grows in a mound and adds contrast to the garden.

Veronica aka 'Speedwell'

There are many varieties of Veronica and most have small blue flowers in the spring to brighten up your landscape.  Veronica forms a dense mat of emerald green foliage that leaves no room for invading weeds. Most Veronicas need full sun to afternoon shade during the hot summer days.  This plant is a slow grower and is suggested for Zones 4-9. They prefer loamy soil and need the soil to be well-drained.

Images: Copyright Sandy James

References: High Country Gardens

Classy Groundcovers

The Gardener's Network