Ground Cover Flowers

They vary in height, from hugging the ground to almost two feet tall, and serve different purposes.

They can fill in areas between stone paths, cover bare areas between other plantings, tie beds together, or provide cover on difficult areas like slopes or hills.

Ground cover flowers can add a splash of color to an area that would otherwise be unworkable.

While ground covers can provide lush coverage in otherwise bare spots, some varieties are invasive. Selectively choose plants that are compatible with your usage in the garden.

You don't want the ground cover to overtake your flowerbeds by smothering shorter plants or invading root systems of garden plants.

Top 10 Ground Cover Flowers

Campanula portenschlagiana, or Dalmation Bellflower, is a trailing perennial that hugs the ground, growing up to six inches in height. With heart-shaped leaves and bell-shaped lavender flowers, this plant is a favorite for rock gardens and slopes.

Alchemilla mollis, or Lady's Mantle, produces large, soft leaves and 15-inch tall greenish-yellow flowers on low mounds. It is a beautiful plant individually, and planting in multiples it creates a lush border.

Bergenia cordifolia, or Bergenia, produces heart-shaped leaves that turn a beautiful bronze in fall through winter. Tiny rose-colored flowers on 18-inch stems appear in spring. Since the plant needs some protection from wind, it works best in flowerbeds between taller plantings.

Chamaemelum nobile, or Chamomile, grows from three to six inches. It produces small, yellow button flowers and prefers a sunny location. This plant is drought tolerant and works well in areas with limited rainfall or in a dry flowerbed.

Cerastium tomentosum, or Snow-in-Summer, grows only three inches tall and produces a blanket of snow-white flowers in early summer. The plant has gray foliage and looks beautiful in beds with blue and purple flowers. It adapts easily to reflective heat from concrete, making it perfect along driveways.

Delosperma cooperi, or Hardy Iceplant, is a succulent with gray-green leaves. Daisy shaped purplish-red flowers cover the plant in summer until frost. It works well on slopes in sun, or in rock gardens.

Gazania rigens, Trailing Gazanias, are vibrant ground cover flowers available in shades of pink, cream, yellow, rose, scarlet and orange. Varieties have flowers from 1-1/2 to 3-inches, with smaller varieties best for groundcovers. Daisy-shaped flowers close at night and on shady days.

Hypericum calycinum, St. John's Wort or Aaron's Beard, grows from 12 to 18-inches tall. This vigorous plant works well on slopes and under trees. It produces 3-inch yellow flowers from spring through summer.

Soleirolia soleirolii, or Baby's Tears, is a delicate, moss-like creeper that grows to less than three inches tall. It produces tiny, round leaves and even smaller, white flowers. It works best between stepping-stones where it remains evergreen to 25 degrees.

Vinca minor, or periwinkle, are favorite ground cover flowers that can grow from six to 18-inches tall. Varieties of periwinkle are available with blue, white, pink or purple flowers that appear in spring and fall.

More Ground Covers