The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Floweringground coversare considered something of a holy grail for landscapers.
Many flowering ground covers bloom for only a short period during the spring or summer.
But ground cover usually is cheaper in the long run, as it requires little maintenance.
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Here are some of the best flowering ground covers that can add appeal to any landscape.
Also known ascreeping phlox, this variety is distinguishable from the much taller perennial known asgarden phlox.
There are several colors to choose from, and many gardeners opt to plant combinations of colors.
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Still, hosta does not win any prizes for its flowers.
It is the leaves that people really love, coming in various colors and sizes.
The plant is fairly shade-tolerant, hardy, and long-living.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
It does prefer lots of water and good drainage.
Remove dead foliage in the fall to prevent decay in the planting bed.
Candytuft
Thecandytuftplant (Iberis sempervirens) is truly dazzling, with its numerous brilliant white flowers.
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Prune it back after it is done blooming to prevent it from becoming leggy.
In that case, you still might have to tidy up the plant by removing older portions.
Instead, use the ice plant to dress up an area for the summer.
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Its common name embodies this confusion.
Take advantage of lilyturf’s identity crisis, and enjoy both its blooms and its attractive, grass-like leaves.
It can grow in many conditions as long as it has adequate drainage.
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Yellow alyssum is a perennial.
To avoid confusion, another common name for it is basket-of-gold.
The plant grows to about a foot tall and features clusters of small yellow flowers offset against blue-gray leaves.
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This vine thrives in shade, and there is no denying that vinca bears an attractive flower.
So why would anyone despise this plant?
Vinca is a victim of its own success.
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It spreads so well as a ground cover that some people find it invasive.
So remove its runners from areas where you don’t want the plant.
Thyme
Some types ofthyme(Thymus) ground cover flower profusely, albeit minutely.
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Thyme generally doesn’t mind poor soil, though it prefers good drainage.
If the plant becomes woody, give it a substantial pruning to rejuvenate growth.
A bonus of using thyme ground cover is its fragrance.
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The smell comes from the leaves, not the blooms, and its intensity depends on the variety.
It can be useful when you want to cover ground with plants of varying heights for visual interest.
Until your plant is established, give it plenty of water and some afternoon shade.
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Its leaves are also quite colorful in the fall.
The plant is a perennial ground cover.
If your goal is alow-maintenance yard, yellow archangel could be a good fit.
The Spruce / David Beaulieu
Prune established plants if they become leggy for a more compact look.
Its stems, leaves, and flowers can be red, depending on the variety and conditions.
Its small flowers don’t last long enough to qualify as an outstanding feature.
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But its stems and leaves can look quite nice in rock gardens.
Take care not to overwater your plant, as this can kill it.
Provide it with sharp drainage and average to lean soil, and it should thrive.
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But don’t let that stop you from growing this sedum.
The plant is easy to grow and can be pruned whenever you feel it has gotten too large.
Plant bugleweed in fertile, well-draining soil where air circulation is good to prevent diseases and pests.
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Only water it whenever the soil dries out about one to two inches down.
The plant grows around six inches tall and blankets the ground in small white flowers in the spring.
Theclimbing hydrangeavine (Hydrangea anomala ssp.
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petiolaris) is among that select group.
The plant likes consistently moist soil and might need extra watering in hot weather.
Lamb’s ear’s silver-green leaves are soft and fuzzy to the touch like the ear of a lamb.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
The plant grows rapidly but can be controlled withedging.
It is fairly drought-tolerant, though some leaves might turn brown in extended dry spells.
But avoid overhead watering, as the leaves can rot when they become too wet.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
But snow-in-summer has one downfall: It is a short-lived perennial, especially in warm regions.
To keep this plant healthy, good drainage is essential.
Trim off faded blooms and old foliage, and snow-in-summer will look nice all summer.
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You might consider them in the latter category if your aim is to grow a well-manicured lawn.
But lovers ofwildflowersare fond of the plant.
Group several wild violets to create the best display.
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The plant is fairly low maintenance and best left undisturbed to spread.
Provide it with consistent moisture, especially when planted in full sun.
Ground cover flowers including lamium and poppy mallow will bloom all summer long.
You may get a second summer bloom out of other spring flowers like periwinkle.
Ajuga and creeping thyme are two of the fastest spreading flowering ground cover plants.
But it’s easy to grow and non-invasive.
