9 Perennial Groundcover Plants to Spruce Up Your Garden

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Adding plants to your garden can be a great way to bring life and beauty to your outdoor spaces. But sometimes, finding the right plants for your environment can be tricky.

Perennial groundcover plants are an excellent choice if you want something low-maintenance that will help keep weeds at bay.

This blog post will discuss nine perennial groundcover plants that you can use to spruce up your garden and give it a vibrant look.

Table of Contents

1. Lily of the Valley

Lily of the valley flowers blossoming in the forest during springtime

Lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis) is one of the most beloved perennials and makes an excellent groundcover.

Its fragrant bell-shaped flowers bloom in late spring, usually in white and pink hues. The blooms are followed by clusters of glossy, heart-shaped leaves that make a beautiful addition to any garden.

This plant is incredibly hardy and can tolerate a variety of conditions, including shade and damp soil.

Because lily of the valley spreads easily and quickly, it’s perfect for creating a low-maintenance groundcover. It also does well in rock gardens or as a border along walkways or fences.

2. Lavender

Beautiful lavender plant on blurry nature background

Not only is lavender visually appealing, but it also has many benefits.

Lavender is known for its calming properties, making it a great choice for any garden. Lavender’s scent can help reduce stress and anxiety, as well as promote relaxation and sleep.

Lavender is also an insect repellent that can help keep unwanted pests out of your garden. Finally, it is a drought-tolerant plant that can withstand long periods of dry weather without needing much watering.

If you’re looking for an easy fix to spruce up your garden, lavender is a great choice!

3. Virginia Creeper

Virgina creeper on brown wood fence with forged metal decorative grid

Virginia creeper is a fast-growing perennial vine that is native to North America. It is known for its vibrant, five-lobed leaves and clusters of blue-black berries in the late summer and fall.

Like lily of the valley and lavender, Virginia creeper is easy to grow and can thrive in various soil types. Moreover, it tolerates both sun and shade.

It is a great choice due to its rapid growth rate and ability to spread quickly, providing a lush, green groundcover in just a few months.

Additionally, Virginia creeper can protect soil from wind, erosion, and heat while reducing weeds and other undesirables in the garden.

The plant is incredibly versatile, providing beautiful foliage as well as an excellent source of food for birds and other wildlife.

4. Chamomile

Chamomile is a hardy and fragrant perennial that can add a layer of beauty to your garden. It’s easy to grow and requires little maintenance, making it perfect for those with busy lives who still want to enjoy gardening.

With its delicate white and yellow daisy-like flowers, chamomile has long been used as a natural remedy for many ailments.

In addition to its beauty and fragrant aroma, chamomile has many benefits. For one, it helps deter certain pests from invading your garden, such as aphids, spider mites, and some root-knot nematodes.

Chamomile is also a good natural fertilizer for soil, as its roots are known to “fix” nitrogen in the soil, which helps improve fertility.

Finally, chamomile tea has many health benefits, such as helping reduce stress and anxiety, aiding digestion, and even relieving symptoms of allergies and colds.

5. Creeping Thyme

Fresh blooming creeping thyme, wild Thymus serpyllum plants in field

Creeping thyme (Thymus serpyllum) is another perennial, evergreen groundcover with many benefits for gardeners.

This low-growing herb has small, fragrant leaves that add texture and color to your landscape.

The colorful blooms of creeping thyme range from pink to white, with the occasional purple burst. The blooms will attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators.

Creeping thyme is a drought-tolerant plant, making it an ideal groundcover for sunny locations.

It is also easy to maintain, as it does not require regular pruning or deadheading. The flowers and leaves are edible and can be used to flavor salads, stews, and desserts.

Creeping thyme also has antiseptic and antifungal properties, making it a great addition to herbal remedies. Additionally, its fragrance is said to help repel mosquitoes.

6. Dianthus

Dianthus caryophyllus also known as the carnation flower in the garden

Dianthus, commonly referred to as “pinks” or “carnations,” is a genus of flowering plants in the family Caryophyllaceae. It includes over 300 species of annuals, biennials, and perennials, which typically have fragrant, brightly colored flowers.

These colorful and fragrant blooms can come in shades of pink, purple, white, and red, making them perfect for adding color and fragrance to any garden.

Dianthus is an easy-to-grow perennial groundcover plant that is known for its low-maintenance needs. It is drought resistant and thrives in full sun or partial shade with well-drained soil.

Dianthus’ foliage has a long-lasting, evergreen appearance and is an excellent choice for dry spots in the garden.

Once established, Dianthus requires little maintenance and quickly fills in empty spaces between other plants.

Dianthus is also great for attracting beneficial pollinators to your garden, such as bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Its bright blooms also make it a popular choice for cut flower arrangements, adding a lovely touch to any floral display.

7. Oregano

Oregano plant and small black board written oregano

Oregano is an aromatic herb that is a popular choice for use in cooking, and it also adds texture, color, and fragrance to your garden.

Its lush foliage, delicate purple flowers, and vibrant aroma make it an attractive and desirable perennial groundcover plant.

Oregano is an incredibly versatile plant that can be used in various culinary dishes, such as soups, sauces, salads, and more. The herb also has medicinal properties and can be used to treat digestive issues, respiratory ailments, and even skin conditions.

Aside from its uses in the kitchen, oregano makes an excellent groundcover as it is fast-growing and easy to maintain.

The fragrant herb also attracts beneficial pollinators to your gardens, such as bees and butterflies. Its bright leaves and purple flowers also add to your garden’s visual appeal.

Oregano is an excellent companion plant and pairs well with other herbs such as rosemary, thyme, and lavender.

8. Ajuga

Ajuga reptans flowers in a spring garden

Ajuga, also known as bugleweed, is a low-growing perennial that is perfect for adding color and texture to your garden.

The evergreen foliage of this plant grows in a wide range of colors, from purple to yellow, and the delicate blue or white flowers provide stunning accents in the spring and summer.

Not only is it an attractive choice for landscaping, but Ajuga is also a hardy and low-maintenance plant, making it an excellent choice for gardeners who don’t want to spend too much time tending their plants.

Ajuga is not only a beautiful addition to your garden, but it also has several benefits. One of its most notable benefits is that it helps to prevent soil erosion, making it an excellent choice for slopes or areas prone to runoff.

The dense growth habit of Ajuga also makes it great for suppressing weeds, meaning you won’t have to worry about them invading your garden. Plus, it’s drought tolerant, so you don’t need to water it often.

In all, Ajuga helps to reduce water runoff and conserve soil moisture, making it a great choice for gardens with limited access to water.

9. Lemon Balm

Melissa officinalis also known as lemon balm

Lemon balm, also known as Melissa officinalis, is a fragrant, hardy perennial herb that is native to the Mediterranean and Central Asia.

This plant is prized for its lemony scent and flavor, making it a popular choice for cooking and teas. In addition to its pleasing aroma, lemon balm is an attractive, low-maintenance groundcover that can spruce up any garden.

Lemon balm’s aromatic foliage has many benefits, including providing a natural repellent to mosquitoes, fleas, and other pesky insects.

Lemon balm is also known to have calming and medicinal effects, making it an ideal herb for relieving stress and anxiety. Its leaves have antiseptic properties, which make them a valuable ingredient in natural remedies for cuts, wounds, and other skin irritations.

As a groundcover, lemon balm does well in sunny spots and can tolerate light shade. It grows rapidly and will spread quickly, making it great for covering bare patches of soil.

While it can take over quickly if left unchecked, it is easy to control by simply trimming it back once in a while.

Conclusion

No matter your gardening style, there are plenty of options for perennial groundcover plants to uplift your garden’s look.

These plants offer low-maintenance solutions to keep your garden looking lush and vibrant. Whether you’re looking for flowering groundcovers or a variety of foliage options, you’ll find something perfect for your outdoor space.

With the right care and maintenance, these perennials will thrive and create a beautiful backdrop to your outdoor living areas.