For sunny areas with well-drained soil, creeping phlox (Phlox subulata) covers the ground while only growing 4 to 6 inches tall.
For sunny areas with well-drained soil, creeping phlox (Phlox subulata) covers the ground while only growing 4 to 6 inches tall.
If you have a large area to cover, consider Gro-Low Sumac (Rhus aromatica)‘. This shrub will spread to become 6 to 8 feet across and 2 to 3 feet tall, so it won’t take many plants to fill in a large area.
Bugleweed (Ajuga reptans) is a low-growing ground cover plant that quickly spreads mats of foliage. It grows well in zones 4 through 9, in sun and shade.
If you have dry and sunny conditions, several varieties of Sedum spurium should keep weeds from taking hold. Most sedums, sometimes called stonecrop, are hardy in zones 3 through 8 and stay low to the ground.
For a native plant option, Kathy Jentz, author of Groundcover Revolution, recommends groundsel (Packera aurea), sometimes called butterweed, golden ragwort or senecio.
To brighten up shady areas, try Lamium maculatum. Most varieties have variegated foliage, which, along with white or purplish-pink flowers, lets them stand out in the shade.