Last Updated on April 10, 2024 by Real Men Sow
Evergreen ground cover plants are low-growing plants that create attractive mounds and carpets. They quickly cover the ground, covering any bare soil. They are easy to maintain and can be evergreen. The choices are endless but I collected the top 20 evergreen ground cover plants for you to pick.
Why Should You Plant Evergreen Ground Cover Plants?
Ground cover plants can be used to fill in the gaps between a border and the base of difficult-to-plant shrubs and can be used to complement roses by covering their bare legs. Ground cover plants can also be used to cover difficult sites such as slopes. They can be grown in lieu of a lawn.
Ground Cover Plants Helps Against Weeds
Ground cover plants can be used to suppress weeds by covering the soil. Ground cover plants act as a mulch and can lock in soil nutrients and moisture. They can also help prevent soil erosion by holding the roots of the plants together during rains.
Choose evergreen ground cover plants that are suitable for your garden’s soil and area. It is important to thoroughly clean the area before planting because it will be difficult for you to remove weeds after they are established.
Top 20 Evergreen Ground Cover Plants
Bellflower, Campanula
These low-growing, clump-forming campanulas or bellflowers are good perennials to fill in the front of a sunny garden, gravel garden, rockery, or raised bed. From June through September, they produce bell-shaped blue flowers that are above the foliage. The foliage won’t turn green in winter as they aren’t evergreen. You should plant them in well-drained soil.
‘Flower Carpet’ roses
The ‘Flower Carpet’ Roses is made up of roses that are used as ground cover, creating a carpet of blooms. They are semi-double and have semi-evergreen leaves. These flowers can be used to cover a slope or as an addition to the border. They are available in many colours including red, coral, pink, and white. They require a sunny, sheltered spot and well-drained soil.
Hardy Geraniums
Hardy Geraniums can thrive in both sun and shade, hardy geraniums can be used in almost any soil type. They can be planted in any type of garden, including cottage gardens and modern ones. The Plant can be planted at the front of the garden, under roses or shrubs. They are available in many colours, including white, pink, and blue. Their leaves don’t turn green in winter so they die back in the spring. However, they can flower for several months from late spring through early fall and are very popular with bees.
Lesser periwinkle, Vinca minor
Vinca minor, a lesser periwinkle has a reputation for being quite a nuisance in borders. This plant can be useful if you have a difficult area to cover, such as dry shade. This evergreen plant is fast-growing and bears beautiful blue or purple flowers in spring, summer and fall. Periwinkle can grow in almost any soil or area.
Heuchera
Heucheras are prized for their evergreen, scalloped, and attractive foliage. They come in a variety of colours from green to pale orange to purple to almost black. They make attractive clumps, and can be used as groundcover in a shaded area. In summer, they bear tiny flowers in spikes.
Lily of the Valley
Convallaria majoralis, Lily of the Valley, makes a great ground cover plant in a woodland garden or shady border. It can also be grown in shady areas, under shrubs. In late spring, it bears white bell-shaped flowers that are scented. It spreads quickly and produces beautiful bell-shaped, white flowers in late spring. They are deliciously fragrant. It is also a beautiful cut flower. You should plant it in moist soil. The foliage of Lily-of-the Valley is not evergreen so it will die back in winter.
Aubretia
Brightly colored aubretia clumps, mostly in blue and purple but also red and pink, are a sign of spring. They love well-drained soil, but they also like alkaline soil. They can also be used in rockeries and gravel gardens. After flowering, cut back and you may get a second flush of flowers in the summer. Aubretias don’t live long so they will die back in winter.
Heather
Heathers are low-growing, evergreen shrubs that make great ground cover plants. They are native to heaths, moorlands and other areas. They thrive in acidic soil in sunny spots and come in a variety of colours, including white, pink, purple, and red. There are two types of callunas: ericas bloom from winter through summer, and callunas from spring through winter. Bees love the flowers.
Lavender
Lavender can be used as a cover for sunny areas, in a border or to line a path. Lavandula angustifolia is evergreen and more hardy and long-lived than French and Spanish lavenders – try the classic varieties ‘Hidcote’ and ‘Munstead’. They are attractive to bees. To keep your plants neat, grow them in a sunny area with well-drained soil. In spring, give them a light trim.
Wildflower Mix as Evergreen Cover Plants
A wildflower meadow is a great option if you have large areas to cover, particularly if it is difficult to plant or on poor soil. There are many varieties of seed mixes that can be used for any type of soil or aspect. Pre-sown wildflower turf can be purchased and laid over a pre-prepared area just like a carpet. As the seasons change, the palette will change and the flowers are great for wildlife. Meadows require only a few cuts per year and are very low-maintenance. A wildflower meadow could be a good alternative to your lawn. This is particularly useful for slopes or areas that are difficult to mow.
Crocosmia
Crocosmia, formerly known as montbretia, can be found on cliffs in Cornwall. It has naturalized and is now growing en masse. Crocosmia is a plant that emerges from underground corms during spring. It forms dense clumps and creates a carpet of yellows, oranges, or reds in the late summer. If you live in a cold region, plant it in a sunny and sheltered area. Mulch in winter.
Creeping herbs
Spreading herbs, which are low-growing, can be used to cover or replace lawns. They also provide delicious flavor for cooking. They are also very popular with bees. If you live in a sunny area, consider planting thyme oregano or camomile or prostrate rosemary. These are evergreen plants that bear bright blue flowers in the early spring. It can also help prevent soil erosion from a sloped site because of its deep roots. Sweet woodruff (Galiumodoratum), which can be grown in shady areas, is a good choice. It bears starry, white spring flowers and is suitable for those with inhospitable locations. Because its leaves and flowers smell like hay, it is often called the hay plant. It can also be dried to make potpourri and repel insects. You can also try wintergreen, Gaultheria Procumbens. This is a low-growing, evergreen shrub that bears minty leaves and can be dried to make a tea. It is a winter bearer of red berries and prefers acidic soil.
Rock rose, Helianthemum
Helianthemums (rockroses) are evergreen, clump-forming shrubs that bear beautiful, papery flowers in a variety of colours including yellow, orange and white in the early and middle summer. They look great in a rock garden or at the border of a sunny area. Protecting plants during harsh winters is possible.
Pachysandra terminalis
Pachysandra terminalis, also known as Japanese spurge, forms dense, evergreen, shiny, serrated foliage with small white flowers in May or June. It is useful as ground cover for shrubs and trees, and can be grown in shade. It likes acid soil, so is often grown as ground cover under rhododendrons.
Mexican daisy, Erigeron karviskianus
Erigeron karviskianus is also known as Mexican daisy or fleabane. However, it can be found in sunny UK gardens. It will grow in front of a fence, crawl down brick steps and wall crevices, and then establish itself between paving slabs. The plant spreads slowly through its roots, as well as self-seeding. It blooms from May through November and requires very little maintenance. Its daisy-like flowers can turn pink as they age. You will find different shades of flowers on the same plant.
Brunnera macrophylla ‘Jack Frost’
Brunnera macrophylla “Jack Frost” is an attractive, evergreen ground cover plant with eye-catching silver leaves and dark green veins. This plant is ideal for brightening a dark spot. It bears blue flowers in April and May that look like forget me nots. They are very attractive to bees. Shade is best for this plant.
Epimedium
The Epimedium, also called barrenwort, bishop’s hat or bishop hat, has heart-shaped evergreen leaflets and delicate, nodding spring flowers. They are great ground cover plants, especially when planted under trees or shrubs in a shaded area. They look lovely planted with hellebores and other spring-flowering plants. Grow epimediums in acid soil and dappled shade for best results.
Elephant’s ears, Bergenia
Bergenia, also known as elephant’s ears, is a tough plant that forms dense clumps quickly. Their shiny, bright green leaves are attractive and can be tinged with an attractive red in winter. They also have attractive purple or pink flowers in April and may bear a few reddish flowers in May. The Plant thrive in moist, well-drained soil and can withstand drought. They make a great alternative to hostas and are also a good ground cover for shade. Bergenias are less susceptible to slug damage.
Ferns
Ferns make a great ground cover plant because of their beautiful leaves, which unfold beautifully in spring. They come in many sizes and are either evergreen or deciduous. The Plant are a good foil for shade-loving plants. They thrive in moist, well-drained soil. The evergreen varieties can tolerate drier conditions better than the others.
Beesia Calthifolia
Beesia Calthifolia is an excellent evergreen groundcover plant that can be used in areas with partial shade. It is a heart-shaped plant with pale green veins. In late spring and early summer, it bears small starry white flowers. The pods that grow from the flowers are a bonus feature. It is great when grown with ferns or other shade-loving plants. It should be grown in well-drained, moist soil.
