Discover diverse ground covers with these 9 UK garden picks

Posted on 15/05/2025

Discover Diverse Ground Covers with These 9 UK Garden Picks

When it comes to gardening in the UK, selecting the right ground cover plants can transform your landscape from ordinary to extraordinary. Whether you're aiming to enhance the soil, prevent weed growth, or simply add a splash of color and texture, ground covers are an essential component of any garden. This article explores nine outstanding picks that thrive in UK gardens, providing both aesthetic appeal and practical benefits.

1. Creeping Thyme (Thymus serpyllum)

Creeping Thyme is a popular choice for UK gardens, renowned for its versatility and aromatic foliage. Ideal for planting between stepping stones or as a lawn alternative, this fast-spreading ground cover releases a delightful fragrance when stepped on.

• Maintenance Level: Low
• Sunlight Requirement: Full sun to partial shade
• Key Benefit: Attracts pollinators

2. Lilyturf (Liriope muscari)

Lilyturf, or Liriope muscari, provides lush, grass-like foliage that remains vibrant throughout the year. Its clumped growth habit ensures it fills in spaces quickly without becoming invasive.

• Maintenance Level: Medium
• Sunlight Requirement: Partial to full shade
• Key Benefit: Purple flowers enhance fall gardens

3. Bugleweed (Ajuga reptans)

Bugleweed is an excellent choice for areas that require a tough, durable ground cover. Its deep blue flowers and dark foliage add contrast to any landscape design. This plant is perfect for suppressing weeds and is especially effective on sloped areas.

• Maintenance Level: Low
• Sunlight Requirement: Full sun to partial shade
• Key Benefit: Erosion control

4. Golden Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia 'Aurea')

Golden Creeping Jenny lights up gardens with its vibrant yellow foliage. A favorite in rock gardens and useful for providing pops of color in shaded areas, it's a resilient choice for UK climates.

• Maintenance Level: Medium
• Sunlight Requirement: Full sun to partial shade
• Key Benefit: Tolerant of wet conditions

5. Heuchera (Heuchera spp.)

With its uniquely colorful leaves, Heuchera is well-loved in decorative gardens. This hardy perennial adds a wealth of color variety, ranging from vibrant reds to subtle silvers, making it ideal for an eye-catching border.

• Maintenance Level: Medium
• Sunlight Requirement: Partial shade
• Key Benefit: Wide color range

6. Waldsteinia (Waldsteinia ternata)

Often underutilized, Waldsteinia is exceptional for its robust and attractive ground coverage. Its small, strawberry-like leaves and bright yellow spring flowers make it a great low-maintenance choice for gardens.

• Maintenance Level: Low
• Sunlight Requirement: Full to partial shade
• Key Benefit: Drought-resistant

7. Snow-in-Summer (Cerastium tomentosum)

Snow-in-Summer is a fast-growing ground cover known for its silvery foliage and profusion of white flowers. As its name suggests, it covers the ground with a blanket of white in early summer, making it a stunning addition to rock gardens and borders.

• Maintenance Level: Low
• Sunlight Requirement: Full sun
• Key Benefit: Long blooming season

8. Pachysandra (Pachysandra terminalis)

Pachysandra provides glossy, evergreen foliage that is well-suited for shady garden areas. It is a slow grower but eventually forms a dense mat that discourages weeds, making it an ideal solution for underplanting or woodland gardens.

• Maintenance Level: Low
• Sunlight Requirement: Full to partial shade
• Key Benefit: Evergreen color

9. Sedum (Sedum spurium)

Renowned for its drought tolerance and low maintenance, Sedum offers succulent-like leaves that store water, making them perfect for sunny, well-draining areas. Available in various colors, they provide continuous interest throughout the growing seasons.

• Maintenance Level: Very low
• Sunlight Requirement: Full sun
• Key Benefit: Minimal watering needs

Conclusion: Crafting Your Ideal Ground Cover Arrangement

Choosing the right ground cover plant can make all the difference in the success and beauty of your garden. These nine options not only offer diverse aesthetic benefits but also perform essential ecological functions, like preventing erosion and providing habitats for beneficial insects. Whether you have a sunny lawn or a shaded woodland, there are ground cover species perfect for your unique needs. Dare to combine different textures and colors to create a garden that is not only visually stunning but also ecologically sound.