LifePlanner.Club GARDEN 12 Forever Shade cover plants

12 Shade-Loving Ground Covers That Thrive With Minimal Sunlight

Many gardeners have areas of their garden where the sun just won't shine, making it hard for grass and other plants to survive. If you're tired of looking at these dark patches of dirt, consider growing these shade-loving ground covers. Ground covers have so much to offer in the garden—they choke out weeds, control soil erosion, and many varieties are fast-growing. While plenty of ground cover plants need full sun in order to thrive, our gardening experts say these thrive.

1. Sweet Woodruff

Sweet woodruff (Galium odoratum) is a beautiful ground cover that thrives in shady spots. In spring, a whorl of leaves emerges, followed by umbels of white flowers, says gardening expert Adrienne Roethling, adding that the foliage remains green through fall. Plant this drought-tolerant ground cover with care, as it spreads quickly by roots, forming a dense mass in the garden.

• Size: 6 to 12 inches tall x 12 to 24 inches wide

• Care requirements: Partial to full shade; fertile, well-draining soil

2. Green and Gold

An early spring bloomer, green and gold (Chrysogonum virginianum) boasts bright green leaves with yellow-orange, daisy-like blossoms. "It will spread by above-ground shoots, but it’s an ideal groundcover to plant among shrubs and trees," says Roethling. "This native perennial can grow in full sun and average soils but is ideal in shade and will also tolerate dry and wet soils."

• Size: 1 to 2 inches tall x 12 to 24 inches wide

• Care requirements: Partial to full shade; well-draining soil

3. Barrenwort

Barrenwort (Epimedium spp.) comes to life in late winter or early spring. Its appearance greatly depends on the variety you choose to grow. "Some of the leaves are thick and leathery, providing year-round interest, while others come to dormancy by season's end," says Roethling. The flowers are available in various shades, including white, red, orange, yellow, pink, and purple. Roethling notes that this ground cover does especially well under a canopy of trees with stubborn roots.

• Size: 8 to 10 inches tall x 12 to 18 inches wide

• Care requirements: Partial to full shade; fertile, well-draining soil

4. Creeping Thyme 'Purple Carpet'

Green Leaf

Creeping thyme 'Purple Carpet' (Thymus 'Purple Carpet') is a fragrant, low-growing perennial that forms a soft mat of small green leaves topped with purple flowers in late spring to early summer, says Kelly Funk, President & CEO, Jackson & Perkins. It's low-maintenance and drought-tolerant once established. It grows well between stepping stones or in rock gardens.

• Size: 4 inches tall x 12 inches wide

• Care requirements: Full sun to partial shade; sandy or rocky, well-draining soil

5. Canadian Wild Ginger

Canadian wild ginger (Asarum canadense) is native to the wooded areas of north central Canada down to North and South Carolina, says Roethling. This plant goes dormant in winter and will re-emerge in early to mid-spring.

• Size: 6 to 12 inches tall x 4 to 6 inches wide

• Care requirements: Partial to full shade; fertile, acidic, well-draining soil

6. Isotoma White Star Creeper

A dense, evergreen ground cover, Isotoma 'White Star Creeper' (Isotoma fluviatilis alba 'White Star Creeper'), is a charming plant with petite, star-shaped white flowers. "It creates a dense, soft, floral carpet effect, adding elegance between stepping stones," says Funk. "It tolerates light foot traffic and appreciates regular moisture to keep its delicate leaves lush. It spreads gently and benefits from division every few years to stay vigorous."

• Size: 2 inches tall x 12 inches wide

• Care requirements: Full sun to partial shade; moist, well-draining soil

7. Woodland Phlox

Woodland phlox (Phlox divaricata) forms a carpet of small green leaves that emerge in early spring and give way to stalks of blue or white flowers that pollinators love, says Roethling. This plant typically goes dormant once the heat of summer kicks in, but will return the following spring.

• Size: 6 to 12 inches tall x 12 to 20 inches wide

• Care requirements: Partial to full shade; moist, fertile, well-draining soil

8. Heucherella 'Sweet Tea'

A hybrid of Heuchera and Tiarella, two plants that thrive in shady gardens, Heuchera 'Sweet Tea' changes colors depending on weather conditions. It ranges from gold, orange, and red to brown and bronze, adding dramatic color to shady areas of the landscape. Funk says it prefers consistent moisture and benefits from mulching in hot climates. She adds that you should cut back old foliage in early spring to refresh growth.

• Size: 20 inches tall x 28 inches wide

• Care requirements: Partial to full shade; moist, well-draining soil

9. Hosta

Hosta (Hosta spp.), also known as plantain lily, is a beloved shade plant with beautiful foliage that comes in colors of green, blue, and chartreuse. "There are countless variegated forms with perfect markings to unusual streaks," says Roethling. Some hostas can grow more than 2 feet tall and 3 feet wide, so make sure you choose compact or dwarf varieties if you're growing this plant as a ground cover.

• Size: 4 to 30 inches tall x 6 to 36 inches wide

• Care requirements: Partial to full shade; moist, slightly acidic, well-draining soil

10. Strawberry Begonia

Strawberry begonia (Saxifraga stolonifera) is native to Asia, but is commonly grown in North America. It produces thick, hairy leaves that emerge in early spring. "Most leaves are green with white veins, while some have purple undersides," says Roethling "'Tricolor' is a variety with green leaves edged in creamy white and red." In mid-spring, strawberry begonia yields narrow, white, star-shaped flowers.

• Size: 6 to 18 inches tall x 12 to 24 inches wide

• Care requirements: Partial to full shade; moist, well-draining soil

11. Creeping Fig

Creeping fig (Ficus pumila) is a vigorous, evergreen vine with small, heart-shaped green leaves that spread rapidly, forming a dense ground cover or wall covering. "It thrives in humid, frost-free areas," says Funk. "Regular watering helps establish growth. Prune as needed to control the spread." Use supports if growing vertically.

• Size: 15 feet tall x 6 feet wide

• Care requirements: Full sun to partial shade; moist, well-draining soil

12. Hypericum 'Brigadoon'

Hypericum 'Brigadoon' is a new variety of St. John's wort. "This ornamental ground cover has golden-yellow to lime-green foliage that turns orange in cooler weather," says Funk. "In summer, small, fuzzy yellow flowers bloom among the foliage." This plant tolerates heat and shade well and is deer-resistant.

• Size: 12 inches tall x 24 inches wide

• Care requirements: Full sun to partial shade; well-draining soil

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