Revitalize UK Gardens with these 9 Excellent Ground Covers

Posted on 24/05/2025

Revitalize UK Gardens with these 9 Excellent Ground Covers

Cultivating a stunning garden isn't just about vibrant flowers and towering trees. One of the best-kept secrets to achieving a lush, healthy garden is the use of ground covers. These versatile plants offer more than just aesthetics; they help to prevent soil erosion, suppress weeds, and ensure year-round greenery. Below, we've curated a list of the nine best ground cover plants to transform your UK garden into a vibrant oasis.

1. Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia)

Creeping Jenny is a popular choice for UK gardeners. Known for its striking golden-yellow leaves, this plant adds a splash of color to your garden. It thrives in both sunny and shaded areas, making it versatile for various garden settings. Creeping Jenny is also effective at covering large areas quickly.

Benefits of Creeping Jenny

• Low maintenance and easy to establish
• Tolerates wet conditions
• Brings a vibrant pop of color to shady areas

2. Periwinkle (Vinca minor)

If you're looking for a resilient and evergreen ground cover, Periwinkle should be at the top of your list. Its blue flowers and dark green leaves make for a soothing palette. This tough plant is a favorite among landscapers for its ability to thrive under trees and in shadowed spaces.

Benefits of Periwinkle

• Excellent for areas with poor soil quality
• Resilient against environmental stressors
• Provides beautiful blooms in the spring

3. Ground Clematis (Clematis x jouiniana)

Ground Clematis is not your typical climber but a ground cover that's a feast for the eyes with its stunning white or purple blooms. Perfect for covering large areas, this plant thrives in full sun and partial shade, bringing elegance and beauty to any garden.

Ground Clematis Features

• Decorative and fragrant flowers
• Frost tolerant
• Adaptable to various soil types

4. Japanese Spurge (Pachysandra terminalis)

For shaded areas that prove difficult for other plants, Japanese Spurge is an excellent choice. Its glossy, dark green leaves produce a lush carpet that remains appealing through every season. This evergreen choice outshines the competition in shady patches.

Advantages of Japanese Spurge

• Great for dense shades
• Very low-maintenance and durable
• Remains attractive year-round

5. Sweet Woodruff (Galium odoratum)

Emitting a pleasant fragrance, Sweet Woodruff is often used as a ground cover due to its elegant white flowers and attractive leaves. Ideal for woodland gardens, this plant flourishes in shaded and damp conditions, creating a lush carpet under your trees.

Sweet Woodruff Highlights

• Highly fragrant and appealing
• Thrives in low light conditions
• Deer and rabbit resistant

6. Bugleweed (Ajuga reptans)

Bugleweed, with its rich blue flowers and dark variegated leaves, creates a striking carpet of color. Ideal for both sun and shade, Bugleweed is a versatile option that can adapt to different environments. Its low-growing nature makes it perfect for smaller spaces.

Characteristics of Bugleweed

• Fast-growing and adaptable
• Resilient to different conditions
• Offers beautiful seasonal blooms

7. Brass Buttons (Leptinella potentillina)

For a unique and textured look, consider Brass Buttons. This hardy plant is known for its feathery foliage, which resembles tiny ferns. Ideal for rock gardens and borders, its bronze and green hues provide a distinctive appeal that's hard to match.

Benefits of Brass Buttons

• Unique texture and color
• Thrives in sunny and partially shaded areas
• Highly adaptable and low-maintenance

8. Irish Moss (Sagina subulata)

Irish Moss is perfect for creating low-growing, lush green carpets that resemble a live emerald cushion. Best suited for areas with good moisture, it forms a dense mat that emits small white flowers during spring and summer. Irish Moss is often used between stepping stones for a soft, inviting touch.

Advantages of Irish Moss

• Soft, dense ground cover
• Perfect for filling gaps in pathways
• Tolerant of low foot traffic

9. Wall Germander (Teucrium chamaedrys)

With arched stems and evergreen foliage, Wall Germander is a reliably durable option for bordering pathways and flowerbeds. Its small lavender-pink flowers are an attraction for pollinators, adding a wildlife-friendly element to your garden.

Wall Germander Features

• Attracts bees and butterflies
• Excellent for creating defined edges
• Low-maintenance with lovely blooms

Conclusion

With the right choice of ground cover plants, you can transform any garden into a lush, vibrant habitat that's easy to manage and delightful year-round. These ground covers not only beautify your garden but also contribute significantly to the ecosystem's health and sustainability. Whether you're revamping a patch under a tree or looking to cover vast swathes of land, these options will help you achieve the garden of your dreams.

Embrace the diverse range of ground covers available in the UK, and watch your garden flourish with natural charm and aesthetic appeal.