Are you tired of constantly battling weeds or struggling to maintain bare patches in your garden? Low maintenance ground cover plants for full sun are a great solution! These hardy plants not only thrive under the sun’s intense rays but also require minimal upkeep, making them perfect for busy gardeners. Below is a curated list of 22 options to brighten up your garden while minimizing the work.
1. Creeping Thyme (Thymus serpyllum)
Known for its aromatic foliage, creeping thyme offers a low-growing, dense carpet of greenery that explodes with beautiful purple flowers during summer. It thrives in full sun, requires little water, and tolerates poor soils, making it an excellent choice for sunny spots.
2. Sedum (Sedum spp.)
Also known as stonecrop, sedums are succulent plants that can handle drought and neglect. Their thick, fleshy leaves store water, and they come in a variety of colors and sizes, from small ground-hugging varieties to taller forms.
3. Creeping Juniper (Juniperus horizontalis)
A creeping juniper is an evergreen shrub perfect for sunny locations. It forms a mat of blue-green foliage that stays lush throughout the year, providing interest even in winter. Additionally, it’s drought-tolerant and doesn’t require frequent watering.
4. Lamb’s Ear (Stachys byzantina)
If you’re looking for a soft, textured ground cover, Lamb’s Ear is a perfect pick. Its silver, fuzzy leaves add contrast to your garden, and it requires little water once established. It’s deer- and rabbit-resistant, making it a practical choice for many locations.
5. Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia)
With its trailing stems and small, round leaves, Creeping Jenny can quickly cover large areas of your garden. The plant’s bright green or golden foliage shines in the sun and provides excellent ground cover, though it can spread aggressively if not controlled.
6. Bigroot Geranium (Geranium macrorrhizum)
Known for its hardiness, Bigroot Geranium features lush green foliage and magenta flowers that bloom in late spring. It spreads out into a dense mat that suppresses weeds and is highly drought-tolerant once established.
7. Ice Plant (Delosperma spp.)
Looking for something more exotic? The Ice Plant offers vibrant blooms in shades of purple, pink, and yellow. It’s a drought-resistant succulent that thrives in hot, sunny areas, making it a perfect choice for rock gardens.
8. Blue Star Creeper (Isotoma fluviatilis)
This small ground cover produces tiny star-shaped blue flowers throughout the summer. Blue Star Creeper forms a dense mat of foliage and can withstand foot traffic, making it ideal for pathways and garden borders.
9. Creeping Phlox (Phlox subulata)
With its dense, evergreen foliage and colorful spring blooms, Creeping Phlox is a standout in any garden. It’s great for covering slopes or rock gardens and adds a beautiful splash of color in pink, purple, and white.
10. Ground Cover Roses (Rosa spp.)
For a more traditional look, Ground Cover Roses add elegance to any landscape with their continuous summer blooms. They come in various colors, are disease-resistant, and require little attention once established.
11. Sedum ‘Dragon’s Blood’
This particular sedum variety produces deep red foliage and clusters of star-shaped flowers. It’s a low-growing succulent that spreads quickly, making it ideal for filling in gaps in your garden.
12. Brass Buttons (Cotula coronopifolia)
A unique and visually interesting ground cover, Brass Buttons features small fern-like leaves and yellow button-like flowers. It’s perfect for adding texture and color contrast to your garden.
13. Creeping Liriope (Liriope spicata)
This evergreen ground cover produces grass-like foliage and spikes of purple flowers in summer. Creeping Liriope is drought-tolerant and can quickly fill in empty areas, providing a lush, green carpet.
14. Chokeberry (Aronia spp.)
A native shrub, Chokeberry offers not only dense ground cover but also clusters of white flowers in spring followed by dark berries. Its vibrant fall foliage adds seasonal interest to your garden.
15. Hosta (Hosta spp.)
Although commonly grown in shade, there are some Hosta varieties that tolerate full sun. These plants have striking, broad leaves in a variety of colors and are perfect for creating contrast in a garden bed.
16. Snow-in-Summer (Cerastium tomentosum)
This fast-spreading ground cover produces silver foliage and a blanket of white flowers in early summer. Snow-in-Summer thrives in poor, rocky soils and needs little care once established.
17. Thrift (Armeria maritima)
With its tufts of grass-like foliage and bright pink flowers, Thrift is a great choice for borders or rock gardens. It thrives in full sun and is both drought- and salt-tolerant.
18. Gazania (Gazania spp.)
These bright, daisy-like flowers in shades of yellow, orange, and red thrive in full sun and poor soils. Gazania blooms from spring to fall and adds a cheerful splash of color to any garden.
19. Ornamental Grasses
Certain ornamental grasses like Blue Fescue or Northern Sea Oats make excellent ground covers for sunny areas. Their fine textures and movement in the breeze add dynamic interest to the garden.
20. English Ivy (Hedera helix)
A hardy and evergreen option, English Ivy is known for its ability to cover large areas quickly. It’s especially useful on slopes or as ground cover under trees, but be cautious as it can become invasive.
21. Creeping Thyme ‘Magic Carpet’
A variety of creeping thyme, Magic Carpet is a low-growing plant that covers the ground with a mat of purple flowers. It’s drought-tolerant and great for filling in spaces between stepping stones or along garden paths.
22. Ajuga (Ajuga reptans)
This fast-growing ground cover produces glossy leaves and spikes of blue flowers in spring. Ajuga can quickly spread and is useful for covering large areas, but it may require trimming to prevent it from overtaking your garden.
FAQs
Q1: What is the best low-maintenance ground cover for full sun?
Creeping thyme, sedum, and lamb’s ear are all excellent low-maintenance options for sunny areas. They thrive with minimal water and care once established.
Q2: Can ground covers help with soil erosion?
Yes! Plants like creeping liriope and creeping phlox are great for controlling soil erosion, especially on slopes.
Q3: Do these ground covers attract wildlife?
Many ground covers, such as bigroot geranium and creeping thyme, attract pollinators like bees and butterflies with their flowers, adding even more value to your garden.
