17 Native Ground Cover Plants For Low Growing Spaces

From grass alternatives to soil-nurturing companions, low growing native ground cover plants have many uses in gardening and landscaping. They are proven to reduce water evaporation from the soil and create a cooler microclimate.

You can use ground cover plants to replace part of your lawn, or fill areas around borders, edges, and pathways. These low-growing plants include vines, densely growing clusters, or plants with spreading stems. Over time, they spread outwards from a central point, filling in available space as they expand.

The following is a list of 17 native perennial ground cover plants that you can easily grow in your home garden.

Allegheny Spurge

	botanical name Pachysandra procumbens
	plant type Herbaceous perennial
	sun requirements Part shade to full shade
	height 0.5 to 1 foot
	hardiness zones 5 to 9

Allegheny spurge is grown primarily for its unique foliage. Leaves can be solid green but often develop a blue-green color with silvery-white flecks throughout. In the springtime, this spurge produces somewhat inconspicuous spiked clusters of small, fragrant, white flowers throughout its native range in the southern US. 

Allegheny spurge is low-maintenance and very easy to grow in a shade garden. This plant is low-growing and tolerant of both drought and heavy shade. It can be grown along walkways, under trees, or in shaded areas alongside buildings. Plants will readily naturalize and spread over time to form loose clusters of attractive vegetation.

Christmas Fern

	botanical name Polystichum acrostichoides
	plant type Fern
	sun requirements Part shade to full shade
	height 1 to 2 feet
	hardiness zones 3 to 9

Ferns are beautiful and elegant plants for a shade garden or areas under tree cover. They may not be a “traditional” creeping ground cover, but ferns can fill an area with greenery if you don’t mind their vertical height.

Christmas fern is native throughout eastern North America and loves a shaded location with well-drained dry to medium-moisture soil. Christmas fern will grow into a dense cluster but doesn’t spread quickly or aggressively. Deer and rabbits do not bother these hardy ferns.

Christmas fern develops fresh fiddleheads and new fronds each spring. The vegetation stays green throughout the summer and fall and well into winter. By the end of the winter, the previous year’s growth droops and turns brown just in time for fresh green regrowth. Because they are green throughout the year, they provide winter interest in the garden. 

Dwarf Crested Iris

	botanical name Iris cristata
	plant type Herbaceous perennial
	sun requirements Full sun to part shade
	height 0.5 to 0.75 feet
	hardiness zones 3 to 9

Dwarf crested iris is a small iris plant native to the southeastern United States. It will form dense colonies within a year of planting and spread by underground rhizomes. The upright, rigid, sword-like leaves stay green throughout the growing season.

In the springtime, large, pale lavender flowers bloom. An established colony of this iris in full bloom is a spectacular and welcome burst of color. 

Dwarf crested iris does best in a location with dappled sunlight. Plants grown in shadier areas may not flower as well as those grown in sunnier locations. Soil should be consistently moist, although, once established, this iris will tolerate occasional drought. Iris is not bothered by deer or rabbits, making this showy plant a welcome addition to a woodland garden or along borders and edges.

Foamflower

	botanical name Tiarella cordifolia
	plant type Herbaceous perennial
	sun requirements Part shade to full shade
	height 0.5 to 1 foot
	hardiness zones 4 to 9

The foamflower, or heartleaf foamflower, is a low-growing, clump-forming perennial wildflower. It is native to much of eastern North America, from Canada to the southeastern United States.

This plant prefers shaded woodland settings with well-drained medium-moisture soil; it does not tolerate full sun or drought conditions. Foamflower is easy to grow and not bothered by browsing deer or rabbits. 

Foamflower has attractive foliage that stays green from spring through fall. Plants form clusters that spread slowly by runners but won’t overtake your garden. Depending on the location, individual plants may cluster closely together or spread apart. Loose spikes of small, delicate-looking white flowers bloom in the early spring. The flowers are showy and attract early-season pollinators.

Golden Ragwort

	botanical name Packera aurea
	plant type Herbaceous perennial
	sun requirements Full sun to part shade
	height 0.5 to 2.5 feet
	hardiness zones 3 to 8

Golden ragwort should not be confused with ragweed. Ragwort does not contribute to pollen allergies and is a welcome plant in the home garden. This beautiful native Missouri wildflower is low-growing and forms clumps of leafy green vegetation.

The foliage may stay green in locations with mild winters, but the leaves will die back completely in colder climates. Plants are easily grown from seed and will spread and naturalize readily by self-seeding.

In the springtime, tall flower stalks form, blooming with loose clusters of golden daisy-like flowers. Large clusters of golden ragwort can become very showy and also attract an abundance of butterflies and bees. This is an excellent plant to naturalize in a partly-shaded woodland garden. Golden ragwort prefers rich, moist soil and a bit of shade. 

Green and Gold

	botanical name Chrysogonum virginianum
	plant type Herbaceous perennial
	sun requirements Part shade to full shade
	height 0.25 to 0.75 feet
	hardiness zones 5 to 9

Green and gold, also called golden knee or goldenstar, is a low-growing plant that makes an excellent low-growing cover plant. It is native to much of the eastern woodlands of the United States, where it grows in forested areas with dappled sunlight. This plant can be started from seed and spreads slowly by rhizomes. It is not an aggressive spreader and is a nice shade garden addition.

Green and gold typically blooms profusely in the springtime but may continue to bloom periodically during the cooler summer months and again in the fall.

The leaves and stems are covered with short hairs, giving them a slightly fuzzy appearance. The flowers are bright yellow with 5 petals and attract butterflies and other pollinators. This would be an excellent plant to add to your shade garden along a walkway or edge where it can be seen and appreciated.

Hairy Alumroot

	botanical name Heuchera villosa
	plant type Herbaceous perennial
	sun requirements Full sun to part shade
	height 1 to 2 feet
	hardiness zones 3 to 8

There are many showy Heuchera cultivars, commonly known as coral bells. If you are looking for a native Heuchera, the hairy alumroot is native to many central and eastern states, where it can be found growing in moist woodlands. While hairy alumroot will tolerate full sun, especially in cooler climates, it appreciates some shade for the best growth. Plants do best in well-drained medium-moisture soil.

The hairy alumroot grows clumping clusters of attractive green foliage resembling maple leaves. In springtime, hairy alumroot blooms with several thin flower stalks topped with spikes of tiny white flowers.

It may stay evergreen in mild climates, but in cooler climates, leaves will die back in the winter and regrow in early spring. Plant it along borders and edges or in attractive clusters amidst other shade garden plants. 

Hay-Scented Fern

	botanical name Dennstaedtia punctilobula
	plant type Fern
	sun requirements Part shade to full shade
	height 1.5 to 2 feet
	hardiness zones 3 to 8

You may not think of ferns as typical ground cover species, but ferns can make an excellent filler plant. The hay-scented fern is a medium-sized fern that will spread to form colonies. This is an excellent fern to naturalize in a shade garden.

The beautiful fronds will stay green throughout most of the year, regrowing with full vigor each spring. A native to eastern North America, it can be found through much of the northeast and along the Applachians.

Try the hay-scented fern if you have a shaded area that could use larger bunches of greenery. Ferns are typically low-maintenance plants and are not bothered by browsing deer or rabbits. If the hay-scented fern spreads more than you’d like, it is easily controlled by thinning extra plants every few years. But thinning is not necessary as long as you have the space for them to grow.

Jacob’s Ladder

	botanical name Polemonium reptans
	plant type Herbaceous perennial
	sun requirements Full sun to part shade
	height 1 to 1.5 feet
	hardiness zones 3 to 8

Jacob’s ladder, or Greek valerian, is a very attractive wildflower native throughout eastern and part of central North America. Find it growing wild in rich, moist woodlands. This plant makes a good ground cover and will naturalize to form larger clusters over time. Large colonies will form and spread by seeds and vegetative growth if left undisturbed. 

Jacob’s ladder has somewhat fern-like leaves that are attractive on their own. Very showy, pale purple, bell-like flowers bloom during the spring months. The flowers attract an assortment of pollinators. This would be an excellent plant for a naturalized shade garden with moist, well-drained soil.

Moss Phlox

	botanical name Phlox subulata
	plant type Herbaceous perennial
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 0.25 to 0.5 feet
	hardiness zones 3 to 9

This beautiful plant forms a dense mat of vegetation to cover the soil. Moss phlox, also called creeping phlox, is native throughout most of the eastern United States. It prefers a sunny location with very well-drained soil.

Once established, these plants are drought-tolerant and make excellent additions to a rock garden or any sunny edge or border.

Moss phlox grows densely, with sprawling stems lined with thin, rigid leaves. In the spring, plants burst into bloom, covered with 5-petaled pale purple, pink, or white flowers.

Many cultivars of this plant are available with an assortment of flower colors. A larger cluster of moss phlox in full bloom is a carpet of bright color, well deserving of a place in the landscape. 

Partridge Berry

	botanical name Mitchella repens
	plant type Broadleaf evergreen
	sun requirements Part shade to full shade
	height 0.25 feet
	hardiness zones 3 to 8

Partridge berry is an extremely low-growing native plant. Its stems slowly creep along the ground, rarely reaching more than a few inches tall. Getting partridge berry established can be a little tricky, but if you are successful, this little plant is a welcome member of any shady woodland garden.

Partridge berry has small, leathery leaves growing along the stems. In late spring, you will see star-shaped white flowers. After blooming, plants form small, round, red berries that birds and small mammals eat. Plants grow rather slowly and do not spread aggressively, so they are best grown in small patches rather than as a ground cover for a large area.

Passionflower

	botanical name Passiflora incarnata
	plant type Vine
	sun requirements Full sun to part shade
	height 6 to 8 feet
	hardiness zones 5 to 9

Passionflower, also called purple passionflower or maypop, is a trailing vine native to the southeastern United States. This vine can grow 6 to 8 feet long, but as a ground cover sprawling along the ground, it will typically stay only about 6 inches tall. It grows well in medium-moisture, well-drained soil in full sun to partial shade.

The purple passionflower is a beautiful vine, especially during flowering. Large, showy, purple-and-white flowers attract pollinators.

It is the host plant for several species of butterflies. In ideal conditions, vines can grow aggressively, and if planted near a trellis or fence, they will climb and grow up off the ground. By late summer, plants produce large round fruits, which birds and other wildlife eat but which are also edible for humans as wild passion fruit.

Three-Leaved Stonecrop

	botanical name Sedum ternatum
	plant type Herbaceous perennial
	sun requirements Full sun to part shade
	height 0.25 to 0.5 feet
	hardiness zones 4 to 8

The three-leaved stonecrop is an excellent choice if you want a versatile succulent ground cover. This plant stays very low to the ground and spreads by creeping stems.

When the stems touch the ground, they root easily, making this plant very easy to divide and propagate. Three-leaved stonecrop is a welcome addition to a rock garden, or grow it along borders, edges, and walkways. 

Three-leaved stonecrop has fleshy, pale green leaves growing along thickened creeping stems. White, four-petaled, star-like flowers bloom in the spring. The loose flower clusters are showy and attract early-season pollinators. Plants are hardy, easy to grow, and generally not bothered by deer or rabbits.

White Wood Aster

	botanical name Eurybia divaricata
	plant type Herbaceous perennial
	sun requirements Part shade to full shade
	height 0.75 to 2 feet
	hardiness zones 3 to 8

The white wood aster is native to the eastern United States and can be found in localized open woodland areas. This plant prefers a shaded environment with well-drained, dry to medium moisture soil. Once established, it tolerates some drought and is generally not bothered by browsing deer and rabbits.

White wood aster develops heart-shaped leaves that grow along somewhat sprawling stems. Plants may start with a more upright growth form but then lean over, making an effective ground cover. In mid to late summer, a dense profusion of white flowers blooms. The flowers are moderately showy and attract butterflies and other pollinators.

Wild Ginger

	botanical name Asarum canadense
	plant type Herbaceous perennial
	sun requirements Part shade to full shade
	height 0.5 to 1 foot
	hardiness zones 4 to 7

Wild ginger is easy to grow and makes a tremendous low-growing ground cover. This plant is native to eastern North America. Wild ginger is best grown in a shaded location, although it can tolerate some bright sunlight. Give it rich, moist, well-drained soil. This is an excellent plant for a shade garden or woodland display garden. 

Wild ginger grows from rhizomes, spreading slowly over time to form dense colonies. The rounded, heart-shaped leaves stay green throughout the growing season. Flowers appear in early spring, but you may have to look hard to find them. Flowers are an earthy-purple color and grow from the base of the stem, staying right at ground level. If you want to see the flowers, carefully move aside some leaves.

Wild Pink

	botanical name Silene caroliniana
	plant type Herbaceous perennial
	sun requirements Full sun to part shade
	height 0.75 to 1 foot
	hardiness zones 5 to 8

Wild pink, also called sticky catchfly, is a beautiful ground cover native to the eastern United States. This plant thrives in full sun or light shade. Plant it in average-quality, well-drained soil with dry to medium moisture.

Once established, it tolerates some drought but dislikes excessively wet soil. Wild pink is an excellent addition to a rock garden or perennial border. 

Wild pink is a low-growing clumping plant. The leaves are long and narrow, growing in a leafy rosette. The flowers bloom during the spring months and resemble phlox flowers. The blossoms are pink with 5 petals. They are bright and showy, attracting butterflies and other insect pollinators. 

Wild Strawberry

	botanical name Fragaria virginiana
	plant type Herbaceous perennial
	sun requirements Full sun to part shade
	height 0.25 to 0.75 feet
	hardiness zones 5 to 9

If you would like to grow an edible landscape, wild strawberry is a great native plant to try. Those giant strawberries at the grocery store are no comparison to the sweetness packed into a tiny wild strawberry fruit. Wild strawberry thrives in full sun to partial shade with well-drained, medium-moisture soil, and it is found in the wild in all 50 states.

Wild strawberry is a low-growing perennial plant. It spreads slowly by runners and can be easily divided by propagating new plants that appear at the ends of the runners. Three leaflets grow on stems that emerge from each plant.

Wild strawberries bloom in the spring with showy white flowers. By late spring or early summer, sweet red fruits appear. In the mid-summer heat, many strawberry leaves will wither and fade, but generally, they regrow in the fall with the return of cooler weather.