Best ground cover on Reddit
192 reviews from r/NoLawns, r/NativePlantGardening, r/gardening and 23 more subreddits
192 reviews from
and
By Brand
/By Product
#1
Clover
4.3
(20)
"Clover works well in low light and needs little upkeep."
"You want clover."
"They don’t need to be watered and are EXTREMELY low maintenance."
"I've lived in several houses with clover yards and it's great, usually doesn't need to be mowed, doesn't care if it's abused, practically no maintenance."
"We have clover and it holds up well when established to urine and traffic."
"Moved to clover and couldn't be happier. No dog stains, requires little to no water, always green and doesn't need to be mowed unless you like the manicured look."
"You could try planting a clover lawn, I hear its quite sturdy"
"We planted clover and that worked really well."
"Clover"
"Mix those seeds with some clover; it not only adds stability but is also a nitrogen fixer."
#2
Ajuga
4.7
(10)
"Ajuga took care of a very sloppy and sloped garden bed edge."
"Ajuga is also great for shady yards and requires minimal maintenance."
"I really like ajuga. It's got purple leaves that carpet the ground, the flower spikes only get about a foot tall and pollinators love it."
"The ajugas love it, I have them planted under some acers."
"Ajuga/Bugleweed is fine in shade generally and is a creeper so will spread."
"You might try ajuga or maybe blue rug juniper."
"Ajuga is low growing, spreads easily, and looks good all year mostly with its purple colors."
"Ajuga."
"...plant a variety of lower maintenance shade plants (hosta, vinca, clover?, ajuga, etc) in beds around the mulch."
"Ajuga, also known as bugleweed, tolerates some foot traffic."
#3
Creeping Thyme
4.2
(10)
"A few pieces of Creeping Thyme would add some colour to the boring brickwork."
"Creeping thyme."
"Creeping thyme, Geranium 'rozanne', ajuga, lawn chamomile, creeping jenny are all good ground cover."
"Creeping thyme, clover, dwarf fescue, and a bunch of larger plants for more pollinator variation."
"Creeping thyme"
"We filled ours with creeping thyme and a creeping juniper."
"Creeping thyme."
"Creeping thyme. I have a relative up in the mountains in CO and she planted this on her flagstone patio."
"Wintergreen (although deer love it), creeping or wooly thyme, ajuga, woodland stonecrop."
"Creeping Thyme should be well suited for your zone and climate."
#4
Yarrow
4.7
(6)
"You might also look into yarrow (Achillea millefolium), which is tough, low-maintenance."
"If you have full sun, I recommend antennaria pussytoes, moss phlox, lyreleaf sage, or even yarrow if you're planning to mow it."
"Yarrow is native."
"*yarrow* is generally one of my go-to plants for armageddon-proof low maintenance fast growers."
"Yarrow is also pretty resilient and takes light to moderate foot traffic no problem."
"I second yarrow."
#5
Creeping Phlox
4.6
(5)
"Creeping phlox is a beautiful and resilient ground cover."
"Creeping phlox! It checks off all your requirements: native perennial, ground cover, flowering."
"Creeping Phlox (Phlox stolonifera, sun)"
"Creeping phlox is a great choice for native landscaping and is not invasive."
"Creeping phlox."
#6
Sedum
4.4
(5)
"Sedum ground covers. Get a couple varieties and they will slow merge into a carpet."
"Small leaved Sedums, like ‘Blue Spruce’, ’Angelina’ or ‘Dragons Blood’."
"Sedum, there's a variety that has small yellow flowers, stays low and can be walked on."
"Sedum and aubretia might do the trick either"
"I like sedums."
#7
Pea Gravel
4.2
(5)
"I used pea gravel. Awesome. Everything cleans easy and no mud in the house."
"Pea gravel for the poop area."
"Pea gravel."
"Pea gravel runs or paths."
"Id use pea gravel. Drains better, dries faster."
#8
Vinca
4.5
(4)
"Perennial vinca plants. They bloom in the spring, and spread well."
"I tried so many things over the years and had the best luck with vinca. Pretty tiny purple flowers when it blooms in spring."
"...plant a variety of lower maintenance shade plants (hosta, vinca, clover?, ajuga, etc) in beds around the mulch."
"Vinca minor"
#9
Dichondra
4.3
(4)
"Dichondra is a great option for easy grass growing."
"You will have to amend the soil a bit but native violet, creeping thyme, dichondra repens."
"Low water, rhizomatous, cute leaves, and very unique flowers that grow just barely out of the ground."
"Dichondra looks nice around stones."
#10
Bearberry
4.3
(3)
"I grew bearberry on a similar hill and really like how it turned out."
"Check out bearberry, wild ginger, bunchberry dogwood, anemone."
"Bearberry is nice but it can't be walked on."
#11
Hostas
4.0
(3)
"Hostas? Mine are no maintenance and so pretty."
"Hostas might look nice! They aren't invasive and you can divide them if you find they're getting too big."
"Do variegated hostas, do pachysandra."
#12
Carex
4.0
(3)
"I replaced a large lawn with bushes and a smaller sedge lawn (carex praegracilis) in SoCal (10a/b)."
"Carex species(look up matrix planting)"
"Look for Carex species that are native to you."
#13
Wild Ginger
4.0
(3)
"Wild ginger, fringecup, bleeding heart die back in the winter but have lovely blooms."
"Wild ginger and fringe cups are doing well in the shade at my home."
"Wild ginger is low growing and similar to hostas."
#14
Pachysandra
4.0
(3)
"Pachysandra likes the shade. I like it cause it seems to keep the weeds out the best."
"Patchysandra sounds like a great idea!"
"Pachysandra"
#15
Liriope
4.0
(3)
"Liriope."
"Liriope would be my suggestion. Lots and lots of it."
"I have liriope in my backyard that the dogs just can't get rid of no matter how hard they try."
#16
Creeping Jenny
3.3
(3)
"Creeping Jenny or Moneywort."
"Silver falls, creeping Jenny, dragons blood."
"Not creeping Jenny. That stuff is so invasive and it will take over and doesn’t feel nice underfoot."
#17
Violets
5.0
(2)
"Violets!"
"Violets! Multiple native species to choose from - all are hosts for a nice variety of butterflies."
#18
Fragaria
5.0
(2)
"Native strawberries, Fragaria virginia can provide a dense ground cover, pretty white flowers attractive to many pollinators."
"I planted native strawberries, and they are loving the shade!"
#19
Lamium
5.0
(2)
"I’d plant Lamium. Pretty, hardy, and fast spreading but easily corralled."
"I love Lamium.. Pretty foliage, gets purple flowers in spring and very easy to control."
#20
Native Plants
4.5
(2)
"Go to a native plant nursery (native to your specific region) and you will find the species that will do well in your yard."
"I was hoping to find some like native plant recommendations here that can hold up to doggo poop and play time."
#21
Kurapia
4.5
(2)
"Google kurapia, a hybridized form of lippia grass native to California."
"More expensive but kurapia is pretty cool."
#22
Geranium
4.5
(2)
"Geranium. Perennial kind, not pelagonium pot annual geraniums. You’ll plant 5 or 6 and within one season you’ll have more spread because of the rhizomes than you’ll know what to do with."
"Anybody try hardy geraniums? I’m considering them for a shady walkway next to my house."
#23
Fragaria virginiana
4.5
(2)
"Virginia strawberry (Fragaria virginiana) spreads very quickly via runners."
"Fragaria virginiana can quickly cover an area in part shade."
#24
Wild Strawberry
4.5
(2)
"Wild strawberry, wild geranium, phlox, any aster, goldenrod, blazing star, black eyed susan, coneflower or mountain mint would all be lovely."
"Wild strawberry or yarrow could both work"
#25
Phlox
4.5
(2)
"Phlox! Phlox subulata loves full sun and there are a lot of cultivars available."
"Creeping Phlox is good. Really nice but fairly short blooms, spreads and is low maintenance."
#26
Sweet Woodruff
4.5
(2)
"Sweet woodruff is my favorite ground cover for shade!"
"Sweet woodruff has all the features you want!"
#27
Pearl Weed
4.5
(2)
"Pearl weed is what I was also gonna say. I have a carpet of it."
"I’m 100% considering pearl weed now with everyone mentioning it!"
#28
Frogfruit
4.5
(2)
"Frogfruit is pretty awesome, the NPS is using it as a lawn replacement at some historic sites in Georgia."
"Frogfruit is your best bet for controlling weeds, but it can't fully suppress the most pernicious ones."
#29
Microclover
4.0
(2)
"Microclover or sedums!"
"Microclover is a great alternative that requires less water."
#30
Virginia Creeper
4.0
(2)
"Virginia creeper thrives in various light conditions."
"Grape arbor? Virginia creeper arbor? Other native vine?"
#31
Ferns
4.0
(2)
"Maybe some ferns would be nice as well."
"Pretty much any fern, even some varieties of coleus can manage shade life to some extent."
#32
Ivy
4.0
(2)
"Other option is some ivy of some kind"
"Ivy is versatile and grows well in sun/shade."
#33
Buffalo Grass
4.0
(2)
"I'd do buffalo grass (if you prefer grass), but then water the hell out of it."
"A good solid grass for lawns."
#34
Sunshine Mimosa
3.5
(2)
"Sunshine mimosa, frogfruit, and (for a slightly taller option) dune sunflower all do well."
"Sunshine Mimosa is soooooo difficult to get rid of. Perennial peanut does not spread as much and is easier to remove if needed."
#35
Frog Fruit
5.0
(1)
"Frog fruit. You can find it at Native Nurseries."
#36
UC Verde Buffalograss
5.0
(1)
"[https://ccuh.ucdavis.edu/uc-verde-buffalograss](https://ccuh.ucdavis.edu/uc-verde-buffalograss)"
#37
Pennsylvania Sedge
5.0
(1)
"Pennsylvania sedge!"
#38
Myoporum
5.0
(1)
"If you want a thick mat, myoporum, Dampiera diversifolia, scaevola are also lovely."
#39
Wild Strawberries
5.0
(1)
"Wild strawberries will go crazy with runners!"
#40
Creeping Red Fescue
5.0
(1)
"For Zone 8, consider creeping red fescue or perennial ryegrass."
#41
Perennial Ryegrass
5.0
(1)
"For Zone 8, consider creeping red fescue or perennial ryegrass."
#42
UC Verde
5.0
(1)
"Buffalo grass is a no mow or if you want it to look tidy you can mow once a month."
#43
California Buckwheat
5.0
(1)
"Consider planting some native California buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum)."
#44
Native Sedges
5.0
(1)
"Native sedges? You have enough sun to grow almost anything."
#45
Carolina Geranium
5.0
(1)
"Would be a phenomenal ground cover for you as long as you have a warm-season grass"
#46
Arachis glabrata
5.0
(1)
"I know a lot of people who swear by perennial peanut."
#47
Thymus pseudolanuginosus
5.0
(1)
"Wooly thyme, sedum, clover all of those grow well."
#48
Prairie Moon Nursery
5.0
(1)
"Prairie Moon Nursery (prairiemoon.com) out of MN and Prairie Nursery (prairienursery.com) out of WI both have really nifty search filters to help figure out what might serve you best based on sun exposure and soil type for your yard!"
#49
Seedsavers.com
5.0
(1)
"Seedsavers.com buy the mesic grass and mesic wildflower mix."
#50
Prairie Nursery
5.0
(1)
"Prairie Nursery and Moon Prairie are good online stores for seeds and live plants."
#51
OnPlants.ca
5.0
(1)
"I have a native woodland strawberry that's filled in most of my yard very quickly."
#52
Thymus serpyllum
5.0
(1)
"Creeping Thyme can be beautiful."
#53
Creeping Sage
5.0
(1)
"Creeping sage, manzanita or ceanothus!"
#54
Perennial Geraniums
5.0
(1)
"Great ground cover and I don't think cats like them."
#55
Asarum
4.0
(1)
"Go pick up some Western Wild Ginger (Asarum caudatum)— it'll take time to grow in but it'll also take y"
#56
Bark Mulch
4.0
(1)
"The options I’m looking at are bark mulch (ones that won’t splinter)"
#57
Leslie's Pool App
4.0
(1)
"I use the Leslie’s pool app to tell me what and how much to add chemical-wise"
#58
Lilium
4.0
(1)
"For rhizomes, off the top of my head there is a native lily that may help, Lilium michauxii."
#59
Kidney Weed
4.0
(1)
"Maybe something like kidney weed. That randomly sprung up in the gap between my fence."
#60
Antennaria plantaginifolia
4.0
(1)
"A. plantaginifolia is not so picky. It does great in my VT back yard"
#61
Golden Ragwort
4.0
(1)
"If you're in the Eastern US, I like Golden Ragwort for what you're describing, assuming the area gets decent moisture."
#62
Pussytoes
4.0
(1)
"These are tough plants and put up with heat and sun without watering."
#63
White Woodland Aster
4.0
(1)
"I'm using it mixed with White Woodland Aster to fill in a shady area."
#64
Native Violets
4.0
(1)
"Native violets might tolerate the shady part well, and they cope with gentle morning sun."
#65
Strawberries
4.0
(1)
"I use strawberries for ground cover in the gardening area."
#66
Canada Anemone
4.0
(1)
"Along with the other suggestions I’d recommend Canada anemone, creeping dogwood, partridge berry, wintergreen."
#67
Dwarf Fescue
4.0
(1)
"Creeping thyme, clover, dwarf fescue, and a bunch of larger plants for more pollinator variation."
#68
Monarda Bradburiana
4.0
(1)
"Native plants to your area will do well. Missouri is the home of monarda bradburiana, one of our native bee balms."
#69
Path Rush
4.0
(1)
"Path rush (Juncus tenuis) is a compacted soil specialist that can withstand some traffic."
#70
Fragrant Sumac
4.0
(1)
"Creeping Mahonia, Fragrant Sumac, and Gambel Oak would all be perfect."
#71
Irish Moss
4.0
(1)
"Irish or Scottish moss, creeping thyme are some I'm trying to get going."
#72
Winter Rye Grass
4.0
(1)
"Winter rye grass is really great this time of year."
#73
Native Violet
4.0
(1)
"Native violet is a great ground cover that loves some shade."
#74
Hemlock
4.0
(1)
"Hemlock mulch. It’s less splintery."
#75
Pumice
4.0
(1)
"Currently leaning towards pumice for drainage."
#76
Morning Glory
4.0
(1)
"I purchased some 'blue my mind' morning glory evolvulus hybrid."
#77
Sweet Alyssum
4.0
(1)
"Sweet alyssum. A low-growing nepeta (catmint) can also serve as a drapery edging."
#78
Perennial Peanut
4.0
(1)
"Perennial peanut might be an option."
#79
Kinnikinick
4.0
(1)
"How about sulfur-flower buckwheat, kinnikinick/ bearberry and penstemon?"
#80
Penstemon
4.0
(1)
"Penstemons are often good for full sun areas. I like Hot Rock Penstemon."
#81
Festuca rubra
4.0
(1)
"Use creeping red fescue and Dutch white clover."
#82
Hot Rock Penstemon
4.0
(1)
"I like Hot Rock Penstemon, but I'm not sure it's native in your area."
#83
Goodenia ovata
4.0
(1)
"Maybe even Goodenia ovata prostrate?"
#84
Mahonia
4.0
(1)
"Seconding Mahonia repens, produces nice yellow flower clusters and grows pretty low."
#85
Juniper
4.0
(1)
"Rug Juniper"
#86
Partridgeberry
4.0
(1)
"Partridgeberry (Mitchella repens ), evergreen wood fern (Dryopteris marginalis)"
#87
Micro Clover
4.0
(1)
"I’m using micro clover."
#88
Barren Strawberries
4.0
(1)
"Try barren strawberries."
#89
Oregano
4.0
(1)
"I have been most successful with Oregano, lavender, lemon thyme, and especially strawberry."
#90
Hayscented Ferns
4.0
(1)
"Hayscented ferns. They work great for preventing erosion."
#91
Cotoneaster
4.0
(1)
"Cotoneaster makes a nice ground cover and gets nice flowers and berries."
#92
Crabgrass
4.0
(1)
"If you want green in the spring and summer crab grass is so g damn sturdy for a grass."
#93
Mimosa
1.5
(2)
"I’ve got mimosa, it will spread very aggressively."
"OP, please don’t plant mimosa. It is highly invasive."
#94
Rubber Mulch
3.0
(1)
"I can’t use mulch because my dog eats it."
#95
Antennaria solitaria
3.0
(1)
"A. solitaria is a bit picky with soil conditions."
#96
Snow on the Mountain
3.0
(1)
"Snow on the mountain. NOT as invasive as straight up regular bishops weed."
#97
Playground Mulch
3.0
(1)
"Your best bet is no plans at all in this narrow little yard and probably something like playground mulch."
#98
Monte Carlo, Pearl Weed, Dwarf Sag
3.0
(1)
"Although pearlweed is an option with frequent trimming and maintenance."
#99
Phlox subulata
3.0
(1)
"Phlox subulata, though I don’t think it’s native to SC."
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