15 Spreading Ground Covers That Suppress Weeds

Ground covers solve gardening issues in many ways. In a flower bed, they serve as green mulch, shading plant roots and retaining soil moisture. In an area with tough growing conditions, their spreading habit enables them to thrive where other plants don’t. As a lawn replacement, they are often less maintenance than traditional turf. Many ground cover plants also bloom, which helps to support local pollinator populations.

One of the more desirable advantages of ground cover plants is their ability to suppress the growth of weeds. They do this in a few different ways. First, they compete for resources, making weeds have to work harder to gather what they need to thrive. Their often extensive root systems also crowd the roots of smaller, undesirable plants, often referred to as ‘choking’ them out. 

Dense ground cover plants can create too much shade for weeds to grow. If you prefer to forgo herbicides and spend less time weeding, consider one of these weed-suppressing plants. They grow low to the ground and spread out into a thick mat to create a lovely covering for your yard.

Creeping Thyme ‘Magic Carpet’

	common name Creeping Thyme ‘Magic Carpet’
	botanical name Thymus serpyllum ‘Magic Carpet’
	sun requirements Creeping Thyme ‘Magic Carpet’
	height 2”-3”
	hardiness zones 4-9

Creeping thyme is a wonderful little herb if you’re looking for an aromatic plant that will spread nicely and attract pollinators. It doesn’t usually find much use in the kitchen, but creeping thyme has many of the same characteristics as culinary thyme. This herb prefers a sunny location and moderately fertile soil. 

Creeping thyme is evergreen and drought and salt-resistant, making this a great option for coastal areas. It grows well in sandy soil and is virtually pest and disease-proof. This one makes a nice cover for higher-traffic areas, releasing a pleasing scent when stepped on. ‘Magic Carpet’ produces a mass of magenta flowers during the summer, which are very attractive to butterflies. 

Creeping Speedwell ‘Georgia Blue’

	common name Creeping Speedwell ‘Georgia Blue’
	botanical name Veronica umbrosa  ‘Georgia Blue’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 4”-6”
	hardiness zones 5-8

Creeping speedwell is neither invasive nor aggressive, but it does a great job of suppressing weeds. It looks great doing the job. This tough little semi-evergreen stays low to the ground and forms a mat of pretty, lanceolate foliage. Full sun is best, but it will tolerate some shade, it just won’t bloom as well. 

‘Georgia Blue’ produces brilliant blue flowers from spring through summer. This winner of the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit is native to Russia. It is pest and disease-resistant and attracts pollinators while in bloom. After blooming, mow creeping speedwell to maintain a thick, lush carpet of green. 

Sweet Woodruff 

	common name Sweet Woodruff
	botanical name Galium odoratum
	sun requirements Partial to full shade
	height 6”
	hardiness zones 4-8

Low-maintenance and highly aromatic, sweet woodruff makes an excellent choice for lawn replacement and weed suppression. Low-growing mounds of whirling, lance-shaped leaves form a dense mat. The foliage has a wonderful scent which intensifies when dried. In spring and summer, it produces small, delicate, sweetly-scented white flowers. 

You’ll have no pest or disease issues with this partial to full shade lover. It likes moisture and requires little else of the gardener. Under ideal circumstances, sweet woodruff can be aggressive. It is less so in cooler climates where it dies back in winter but reappears reliably in spring. 

Bugleweed ‘Chocolate Chip’

	common name Bugleweed ‘Chocolate Chip’
	botanical name Ajuga reptans ‘Valfredda’ Chocolate Chip
	sun requirements Partial to full shade
	height 3”
	hardiness zones 4-9

Bugleweed, and specifically, ‘Chocolate Chip’ makes a great lawn alternative. This dwarf variety rarely grows taller than three inches and spreads, forming a dense mat of foliage. The leaves are chocolate with burgundy accents, so they provide extra color year-round. This plant is a member of the mint family, so once you plant it, prepare for it to spread out. 

Bugleweed is happiest in at least partial shade. It adapts well to most soil types but prefers rich, moist soil with lots of organic material. It rarely encounters issues with pests, but crown rot can be a problem if it doesn’t have adequate air circulation. The pretty purple flowers bloom in spring, after which they can be mowed to maintain a neat appearance. Check to make sure this one isn’t invasive in your area before planting. 

Creeping Phlox ‘Candy Stripe’

	common name Creeping Phlox ‘Candy Stripe’
	botanical name Phlox subdulata ‘Candy Stripe’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 4”-6”
	hardiness zones 2-9

If you love flowers, creeping phlox is a perfect ground cover for replacing your lawn! The wonderfully dense and cushy foliage is deep green and glossy. In spring, masses of flowers cover the ground and have a sweet, spicy fragrance. ‘Candy Stripe’ looks exactly as it sounds. Small, star-shaped flowers are pink with white stripes flanking each petal. 

Creeping phlox is great for preventing erosion and planting on slopes or in a rock garden. It is drought tolerant and adaptable, with each plant spreading up to two feet but remaining close to the ground. After it flowers, mow your phlox to promote new growth and more blooms the following year. 

Creeping Juniper ‘Blue Rug’

	common name Creeping Juniper ‘Blue Rug’
	botanical name Juniper horizontalis ‘Wiltonii’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 3”-6”
	hardiness zones 3-9

Creeping juniper is a great evergreen that grows low to the ground and requires little to no maintenance. The evergreen foliage is lightly aromatic and very tough. This one will stand up to more traffic than most. Great for growing on hills and covering large areas, one plant can spread up to eight feet!

Also known as ‘Blue Rug’, this plant likes plenty of sunlight and prefers rocky or sandy soil types. It’s exceptionally low maintenance and doesn’t require mowing or pruning. It’s not considered invasive or aggressive, although some varieties can grow very large over time. Pruning will cause creeping juniper to spread farther, and faster. 

Wild Ginger

	common name Wild Ginger
	botanical name Asarum canadense
	sun requirements Partial to full shade
	height 6”
	hardiness zones 4-8

Wild ginger is another fabulous ground cover for shaded areas where traditional lawns don’t work. It likes moist, rich soil and forms colonies by spreading underground rhizomes. It doesn’t show up on invasive lists and is native to much of the eastern half of the United States. This low-care plant forms dense mats of glossy, heart-shaped leaves.

Wild ginger seeds require cold stratification, which is not an issue in its native range. It will multiply by seed and rhizome and spreads quickly under ideal conditions. It does flower, but the flowers are inconspicuous and grow close to the ground, so it’s not common to grow it for that reason. 

Coral Bells ‘Black Taffeta’

	common name Coral Bells ‘Black Taffeta’
	botanical name Heuchera sanguinea ‘Black Taffeta’
	sun requirements Partial shade
	height 10”-1’
	hardiness zones 4-9

Looking for a ground cover for your goth garden? ‘Black Taffeta’ coral bells is a stunner. Gorgeous ruffled leaves in the deepest shade of purple make this striking plant a standout on our list. It’s a bloomer as well, producing spikes of pale pink flowers that tower over the evergreen foliage. This plant brings major drama. 

Coral bells is pest and disease-free, and very low-maintenance. It likes partial shade, or dappled sunlight, and rich, moist soil. It is a bit taller than some of our other options, but it is a wonderful option for the shaded, low-traffic areas of the yard. 

Ice Plant ‘Fire Spinner’

	common name Ice Plant ‘Fire Spinner’
	botanical name Delosperma hybrida ‘P0001S’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 2”-3”
	hardiness zones 6-10

Drought-tolerant and stunning, ice plant does the job that grass simply can’t in dry, hot climates. You can’t beat it for drought and heat tolerance, and it has very few issues with pests or diseases. The only concern with soil is excellent drainage. Otherwise, it is very adaptable and even grows in poor, sandy, or rocky types. 

‘Fire Spinner’ is famous for its flowers. Bright pink and orange blooms are white in the center and very appealing to butterflies. It is evergreen in tropical climates and blooms for a long period in spring and early summer. It serves both a practical and ornamental purpose in the landscape. 

Dead Nettle ‘Beacon Silver’

	common name Dead Nettle ‘Beacon Silver’
	botanical name Lamium maculatum ‘Beacon Silver’
	sun requirements Partial to full shade
	height 6”-8”
	hardiness zones 4-8

Dead nettle is a mat-forming ground cover that does a great job of crowding out weeds. It grows wonderfully in semi-shaded areas and is evergreen in climates with mild winters. It is best known for its attractive, heart-shaped, toothy foliage. ‘Beacon Silver’ has pale green leaves with just a thin band of dark green running around the edges. 

Small purple flowers begin showing up in late spring and bloom sporadically through summer and into fall. Dead nettle prefers moist soil, but it’s drought tolerant once established. It has no major issues with diseases or pests. Mow this one in late summer to encourage fresh foliage. It is listed as invasive in some parts of the Northeastern United States.

Creeping Mazus

	common name Creeping Mazus
	botanical name Mazus reptans
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 1”-2”
	hardiness zones 5-8

Creeping mazus is a great ground cover for areas that get some foot traffic. It’s sturdy, resilient, and easy to grow. It prefers fertile soil and grows well in full or partial sun exposure. It stays low to the ground but dense, making it great for keeping weeds to a minimum. 

The foliage is bright green, small, and dense. It forms a nice carpet that is not susceptible to pests or diseases. In late spring and early summer, creeping mazus blooms. The flowers are bluish-purple and attractive to bees. It’s surprisingly cold tolerant, and resilient. 

Sea Thrift ‘Victor Reiter’

	common name Sea Thrift ‘Victor Reiter’
	botanical name Armeria maritima ‘Victor Reiter’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 3”-6”
	hardiness zones 4-8

Sea thrift is a fantastic little plant for covering smaller areas and has big blooming potential. This grassy evergreen is a slow spreader so there is little concern for invasiveness. It’s tolerant of a wide range of conditions and makes a great ground cover in coastal areas with high salinity. Its excellent drought tolerance makes it suitable for xeriscaping and rocky areas. 

In late spring and early summer, ‘Victor Reiter’ sea thrift sends up tall, slender stems. Spherical clusters of bubble gum pink blooms make nice cut flowers. Deadhead freely for a second flush of flowers in summer. 

Irish Moss

	common name Irish Moss
	botanical name Sagina subulata
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 1”-2”
	hardiness zones 4-8

Most people think of the moist understory of a forest when you bring up moss. Irish moss is a little different, and in some very good ways. It makes a wonderful, low, mat-forming ground cover, and can replace your lawn in low to moderate foot traffic areas. Barely reaching two inches tall, Irish moss has a carpetlike appearance. 

Irish moss blooms sporadically throughout the growing season. To keep this evergreen ground cover looking lush and beautiful, mow it once or twice a year to scatter the seeds left behind by the small, white flowers. Otherwise, this plant requires little maintenance and has few issues. It is dense and crowds out any potential weeds that might try to creep in. 

Mondo Grass ‘Nigrescens’

	common name Mondo Grass ‘Nigrescens’
	botanical name Ophiopogon planiscapus ‘Nigrescens’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 6”-8”
	hardiness zones 6-11

Drama is the name of the game with ‘Nigrescens’ mondo grass. Plant these compact plants a foot apart for a dense, weed-proof mat of gorgeous, grassy leaves. Mondo grass forms clumps of grass-like leaves. This variety has leaves in a deep purple that appears black, another great choice for the goth garden. It is, unsurprisingly, a winner of the Award of Garden Merit from the RHS. 

Rich, well-drained soil will make this plant very low-maintenance. Once established, mondo grass is drought tolerant. It has no major pest issues, although slugs may visit. It is highly disease-resistant, as well. Mondo grass can be invasive in some Southern states, but in general, is not difficult to control. 

Lungwort ‘Shrimps on the Barbie’

	common name Lungwort ‘Shrimps on the Barbie’
	botanical name Pulmonaria ‘Shrimps on the Barbie’
	sun requirements Partial to full shade
	height 10”
	hardiness zones 4-9

If you want a ground cover with serious flowering potential, lungwort will live up to the challenge. The semi-evergreen produces tons of flowers in early spring, and pollinators love them. ‘Shrimp on the Barbie’ has color-colored clusters of blooms. The foliage is dense, made up of ovate, green leaves that have lots of silver splotches. It’s a stunning plant that truly deserves more attention than it gets. 

Lungwort prefers light shade, but will also grow in nearly full shade. it likes rich, moist, well-drained soil. In dry soil, this plant won’t be happy, and it will lose its low-maintenance charm. This is a slow spreader with no indications of invasiveness. Cut it back after it flowers to keep it thick and healthy.