Ground Cover

Ground cover plants are low, spreading plants that knit together to blanket bare soil, smother weeds, and hold in moisture. This collection brings together the best ground covers for every situation, from sun-baked banks and dry shade under trees to the gaps between stepping stones and slopes that are hard to mow. You will find creeping evergreens that stay green all year, flowering carpeters that feed pollinators, and tough, drought-tolerant mats that need almost no care once established. For Indian gardens we flag heat- and monsoon-tolerant options, while cooler US and UK plots get frost-hardy choices. Each guide covers spacing, how fast the plant spreads, and whether it can take foot traffic, so you can green up problem areas without endless weeding or watering. Use these picks to replace thirsty lawn, edge a border, or simply cover ground fast.