15 Best Evergreen Ground Cover Plants

Evergreen ground cover plants enhance your garden by providing year-round greenery and visual interest. With their lush foliage, they help reduce garden upkeep by suppressing weeds, controlling erosion, and eliminating the need for mowing on slopes. Explore some of the best options for evergreen ground covers, including both herbaceous perennials and low-growing shrubs.

Warning

Some species of fast-growing ground covers, especially non-native ones, can be invasive. If you decide to plant them, be prepared to control their spread, otherwise these plants can do more harm than good in your landscape (and beyond).

01 of 15

Creeping Myrtle

Periwinkle, also known as creeping myrtle (Vinca minor f. alba), is more often seen with blue flowers but it also comes in a variety with white blooms. Because this flowering vine can take dry shade, it's a problem solver. Unfortunately, it's invasive in some areas, so check with your local extension office before planting it. For landscapes where it's not invasive, or where having a strong, deer-resistant ground cover for dry shade is important enough that you don't mind the extra maintenance to control it, creeping myrtle can be a suitable pick.

• Name: Creeping myrtle (Vinca minor f. alba)

• USDA Hardiness Zones: 4-9

• Soil Needs: Well-drained

• Light: Full sun partial shade, shade

• Mature size: 3-6 in. tall with trailing vines up to 18 in. long

02 of 15

Japanese Spurge

This broadleaf evergreen ground cover for shade is a tough plant. It is drought-tolerant, resistant to pests, deer, and rabbits, and it can grow in clay soil. With its leathery, shiny leaves, it forms dense mats that inhibit weed growth. All of this comes at a price though, Japanese pachysandra (Pachysandra terminalis) spreads beyond the intended garden areas and into natural areas. Established colonies are difficult to remove. To keep it confined to the intended area, dig up the spreading runners annually or bury a barrier in the soil.

The non-invasive alternative to Japanese pachysandra with similar growing conditions and equally suitable to xeriscaping in the shade is Allegheny spurge (Pachysandra procumbens). It is native to the southeastern United States.

• Name: Japanese pachysandra (Pachysandra terminalis)

• USDA Hardiness Zones: 4-8

• Light: Partial shade, shade

• Soil Needs: Slightly acidic

• Mature size: 6 in. tall, 12 in. wide

03 of 15

Creeping Phlox

This ground cover for full sun is native to North America. Creeping phlox (Phlox stolonifera) prefers its soil to be kept evenly moist but tolerates dry soil. It is a semi-evergreen plant with needle-like leaves but it's valued much more for its flowers, which form a thick mat of color. Red, pink, white, blue, bicolored, rose, lavender, and purple are all possible flower colors for this early spring bloomer. For the best display, grow masses of the phlox on a hillside, where they will double as erosion-control plants.

If creeping phlox spreads too much, divide the plants and transplant them to other spots in the yard.

• Name: Creeping phlox (Phlox stolonifera)

• USDA Hardiness Zones: 5-9

• Light: Full sun, partial shade

• Soil Needs: Well-drained

• Mature size: 6–12 in. tall, 9–18 in. wide

04 of 15

Black Mondo Grass

Botanically, black mondo grass is not a grass but a perennial with tuberous roots in the lily family. This semi-evergreen is native to Japan. Its signature quality is its grass-like blades, whose dark color makes it one of the truly black plants. It does well in semi-shaded areas and it is attractive in the front of a border, as an edging plant, or in rock gardens. with moderate water needs. Note that black mondo grass (Ophiopogon planiscapus 'Nigrescens') grows slowly so it is not the type of ground cover you would plant when you want to quickly fill a bare spot in your landscape.

• Name: Black mondo grass (Ophiopogon planiscapus 'Nigrescens')

• USDA Hardiness Zones: 6-9

• Light: Full sun, partial shade

• Soil Needs: Moist, well-drained

• Mature size: 9-12 in. tall and wide

05 of 15

Creeping Thyme

One of the evergreen varieties of creeping thyme is Archer's Gold thyme (Thymus citriodorus 'Archer's Gold'). This drought-tolerant thyme cultivar with golden foliage is a perennial for full sun.

Like most Mediterranean herbs, it thrives in dry, well-drained soil. It is a good choice for walkways and other areas with light to moderate foot traffic because it does not get crushed easily. The plant releases a lovely fragrance when its leaves are stepped on. You can also tuck it between garden stepping stones.

• Name: Archer's Gold thyme (Thymus citriodorus 'Archer's Gold')

• USDA Hardiness Zones: 5-9

• Light: Full sun, partial shade

• Soil Needs: Well-drained

• Mature size: 4-6 in. tall, continuous spread

06 of 15

Spotted Dead Nettle

For dry areas that are shaded or partially shaded, spotted dead nettle (Lamium maculatum) is a pretty flowering ground cover. It has pink flowers in the spring and summer and doubles as a foliage plant, thanks to its silvery leaves edged in green. The leaves can be either evergreen or semi-evergreen, depending on the site conditions. Various cultivars offer different features. 'Aureum' has white leaves with golden margins and pink flowers. The dark green leaves of 'Golden Anniversary' have golden edges with a central white stripe and lavender flowers in the spring.

• Name: Spotted dead nettle (Lamium maculatum)

• USDA Hardiness Zones: 4-8

• Light: Partial shade, shade

• Soil Needs: Well-drained, loamy

• Mature size: 6-9 in. tall, 12-24 in. wide

07 of 15

Angelina Stonecrop

The numerous plants in the Sedum genus also include low-growing, trailing varieties. Angelina stonecrop (Sedum rupestre 'Angelina') is one of the popular choices for evergreen ground covers. The color of the needle-like foliage depends on how much sun it gets, ranging from chartreuse to golden color. Tiny yellow flowers appear in the summer. In the fall, the foliage turns a striking orange or rust color. Though Angelina grows moderately fast, it may take a couple of years for the plant to flower. Once established, it is drought-resistant.

• Name: Angelina stonecrop (Sedum rupestre 'Angelina')

• USDA Hardiness Zones: 5-9

• Light: Full sun, partial shade

• Soil Needs: Moist, well-drained

• Mature size: 4–6 in. tall, 1–3 ft. wide

08 of 15

Lenten Rose

For an early-blooming ground cover, consider lenten rose. The formation of flower buds on this plant is a sure sign of spring. The fact that its flowers nod down to the ground makes it hard to see them; if possible, grow this ground cover on a landscaping berm or other elevated area so that you don't have to kneel on the earth to appreciate their beauty. Or grow the 'Ivory Prince' cultivar, which is the only kind with flowers that keep their heads up. It may take lenten rose (Helleborus x hybridus) two to three years to mature into a flowering plant, spreading slowly. An added benefit is that, unlike other spring-flowering plants, it is vole-resistant. The plant is toxic to humans and pets.

• Name: Lenten rose (Helleborus x hybridus)

• USDA Hardiness Zones: 4-9

• Light: Partial shade

• Soil Needs: Moist, well-drained, loamy

• Mature size: 12-18 in. tall and wide

09 of 15

Wall Germander

Because it is low-growing and clump-forming, this broadleaf evergreen subshrub (plants with woody stems) works well as a ground cover. Wall germander (Teucrium chamaedrys) is native to the Mediterranean and it is drought-tolerant so it's suitable for xeriscapes. Wall germander is a great choice as an edging plant along walkways in sunny areas because it's a low-maintenance ground cover.

• Name: Wall germander (Teucrium chamaedrys)

• USDA Hardiness Zones: 5-9

• Light: Full sun

• Soil Needs: Well-drained

• Mature size: 9-12 in. tall, 1-2 ft. wide

10 of 15

Candytuft

Candytuft (Iberis sempervirens) is another drought-tolerant Mediterranean subshrub that flowers best in full sun. The plant is evergreen in southern locations semi-evergreen at the northern end of its zone range. With their low, mounding growth habit, candytufts brighten gardens with abundant white or pink blossoms for several weeks in late spring and early summer. The different cultivars vary in height, spread, and bloom colors. 'Nana' is a shorter cultivar that reaches a height of only 6 inches. 'Purity' is a good cultivar for moon gardens, as its flowers are brilliant white.

• Name: Candytuft (Iberis sempervirens)

• USDA Hardiness Zones: 3-9

• Light: Full sun, partial shade

• Soil Needs: Well-drained

• Mature size: 12–18 in. tall, 12-16 in. wide

11 of 15

Creeping Juniper

Creeping juniper (Juniperus horizontalis 'Wiltonii') is a hardy evergreen plant with silvery-blue foliage. In the winter, it can take on a purplish tone. It is a drought-tolerant ground cover that craves full sun and excellent soil drainage. It is a great practical solution for sunny slopes where water runs off quickly. The growth rate is intermediate but the spread of the mature plant can reach several feet. Not only are creeping junipers low-maintenance shrubs, but they can also save you work by holding back the soil on erosion-prone hillsides, thanks to their sturdy root systems.

• Name: Creeping juniper (Juniperus horizontalis 'Wiltonii')

• USDA Hardiness Zones: 3-9

• Light: Full sun

• Soil Needs: Well-drained

• Mature size: 3-6 in. tall, 6-8 ft. wide

12 of 15

Moonshadow Euonymus

This cultivar of wintercreeper euonymus (Euonymus fortunei 'Moonshadow') is a low-growing, spreading shrub that is prized for its variegated leaves, which are deep green with bright yellow centers. Plant it as a colorful ground cover; it grows at a medium rate. It is very adaptable to both dry and moist locations but the color will be best in full sun. Unfortunately, wintercreeper is a plant frequently browsed by deer.

• Name: Moonshadow wintercreeper (Euonymus fortunei 'Moonshadow')

• USDA Hardiness Zones: 4-9

• Light: Full sun, partial shade

• Soil Needs: Well-drained

• Mature size: 3 ft. tall, 5 ft. wide

13 of 15

Blue Star Juniper

For a taller evergreen ground cover, take a look at Blue Star juniper (Juniperus squamata 'Blue Star'). It is not a creeping juniper, but it stays short, less than 3 feet at maturity, and it slowly grows out rather than up. It can be an effective ground cover for mass plantings. It is valued for its blue, awl-shaped, evergreen needles. The bush displays some resistance to drought once established and it is generally very low-maintenance.

• Name: Blue Star juniper (Juniperus squamata 'Blue Star')

• USDA Hardiness Zones: 4-8

• Light: Full sun

• Soil Needs: Well-drained

• Mature size: 1-3 ft. tall, 1.5-3 ft. wide

14 of 15

English Ivy

English ivy (Hedera helix) was a popular evergreen ground cover for shade in the United States for a long time. Then gardeners began to catch on to the fact that this woody vine is invasive in many areas. With over 400 English ivy cultivars, many can be invasive (check with your local extension service). Only plant it if you can control its spread in shady areas.. Also, keep in mind that English ivy produces flowers in the fall and spreads by seed. Ivy is toxic to humans and pets.

Instead, consider planting a non-invasive native ground cover for shade, such as Allegheny spurge (Pachysandra procumbens) or golden star (Chrysogonum virginianum).

• Name: English ivy (Hedera helix)

• USDA Hardiness Zones: 4-9

• Light: Partial shade, full shade

• Soil Needs: Fertile, moist

• Mature size: 8 in. tall, 50-100 ft. spread

15 of 15

Bugleweed

Bugleweed (Ajuga reptans) has a mat-forming habit, which is great for controlling weeds. It grows fast and under trees where grass cannot get established, and deer don't like it. But the plant can also be invasive in some areas (check with your County Extension if your area is one of them).

There are several bugleweed cultivars, not only varying in foliage and flower color but also in size and spread. Make sure to pick one that has less invasive potential, such as the cultivar 'Burgundy Glow', which spreads more slowly than other varieties.

• Name: Bugleweed (Ajuga reptans)

• USDA Hardiness Zones: 4-9

• Light: Full sun, partial shade

• Soil Needs: Medium moist. well-drained

• Mature size: 6-9 in. tall, 6-12 in. wide

Learn More

Looking beyond evergreen plants, there are many more ground cover options to meet the specific conditions in your yard.

• Flowering Ground Covers

• Ground Covers for Sun

• Best Low-Maintenance Ground Covers

Read the original article on The Spruce