Evergreen ground cover plants are low-growing perennials, shrubs, or subshrubs that spread out to form a dense mat over the ground. They provide year-round greenery and color to gardens and landscapes. Many evergreen ground covers are also drought tolerant, require minimal care once established, and help prevent soil erosion on slopes and hillsides.

Below are 15 of the best evergreen ground cover plants to consider for your garden:

Creeping Phlox

Creeping phlox (Phlox subulata) is a popular low-growing species that produces a carpet of needle-like leaves. In spring, it bearsclusters of fragrant flowers in shades of pink, purple, blue, and white. There are many cultivars to choose from in a range of heights, from 2-6 inches tall. Creeping phlox thrives in full sun and well-drained soil. It spreads rapidly to cover wide areas.

Ajuga

Commonly called bugleweed, ajuga (Ajuga species) offers unique multi-colored foliage that provides year-round interest. The rosettes of dark green, bronze, or variegated leaves spread by underground rhizomes to form a dense ground cover. Ajuga produces upright spikes of blue, purple, or white flowers in spring and early summer. There are many ajuga species and cultivars to choose from, growing 4-12 inches tall. Ajuga grows best in partial shade and moist soil.

Sedum

Succulent sedum (Sedum species) is highly drought tolerant and grows well in poor, dry soil. Stonecrop sedum forms a carpet of colorful succulent foliage in shades of green, red, purple, and gray. It produces clusters of star-shaped flowers in summer. Popular sedum ground cover choices include dragon’s blood stonecrop (Sedum spurium) and creeping sedum (Sedum acre). Sedum grows best in full sun and requires little water or maintenance once established.

Snow-in-Summer

Cerastium tomentosum, also known as snow-in-summer, is a fast spreading evergreen perennial that produces a mat of silvery green woolly leaves. It bears masses of white flowers in late spring and early summer. Snow-in-summer thrives in full sun and dry, well-drained soil. It can handle some foot traffic and grows 3-6 inches tall. This tough ground cover spreads fast and requires minimal care.

Creeping Juniper

With its sprawling horizontally branching stems, creeping juniper (Juniperus horizontalis) forms an attractive flat evergreen ground cover. Its soft needle-like foliage comes in various shades of green as well as blue-green. Creeping junipers spread 1-3 feet wide but only grow 4-6 inches tall. They produce blue juniper berries. Creeping juniper adapts well to various soil types and requires little water once established. It thrives in full sun.

Dwarf Periwinkle

An excellent shade-loving option, dwarf periwinkle (Vinca minor) forms a fast-growing evergreen carpet in shady gardens and woodlands. Its dark green glossy leaves spread by underground stems to cover ground densely and prevent weeds. Dwarf periwinkle bears blue flowers in spring. There are variegated and purple-leaved cultivars too. It thrives in partial to full shade and moist well-drained soil.

Creeping Cotoneaster

The creeping cotoneaster (Cotoneaster dammeri) is a prostate evergreen shrub that forms a dense 1-2 foot tall ground cover. It has a spreading habit with arching branches that take root where they touch the ground. The small oval green leaves turn red in fall and winter. Creeping cotoneaster produces tiny white flowers followed by red berries. It thrives in full sun or partial shade in most soil types.

Creeping Thyme

For a delicate looking ground cover, opt for creeping thyme (Thymus serpyllum). This herbaceous perennial forms a tightly woven 3-4 inch tall mat covered in tiny aromatic leaves and purple flowers loved by bees. Creeping thyme grows well in full sun and dry, poor soil. The leaves release a pleasant scent when stepped on. Varieties include ‘Pink Chintz’ creeping thyme with pink flowers and golden lemon thyme.

Wintercreeper Euonymus

An evergreen shrub that forms a dense ground cover, wintercreeper euonymus (Euonymus fortunei) has dark green leaves that often turn purple or red in winter. It bears inconspicuous flowers and fruits. Wintercreeper euonymus grows 6-12 inches tall but spreads by creeping stems to cover several feet. It thrives in various soil types and light conditions. The ‘Emerald Gaiety’ cultivar has green leaves edged in white.

Creeping Raspberry

For edible ground cover, opt for creeping raspberry (Rubus pentalobus). Also called creeping bramble, this hardy evergreen plant produces a thorny mat of bright green leaves that spreads by rooting stems along the ground. The white flowers give way to flavorful red raspberries in summer. Creeping raspberry grows 4-6 inches tall and adapts to various soils. It thrives in partial shade to full sun.

Golden Creeping Jenny

With its chartreuse foliage, golden creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia ‘Aurea’) brightens up shady areas. This spreading perennial has round golden leaves on long creeping stems that root at the nodes as they spread over the ground. It bears small cup-shaped yellow flowers in summer. Golden creeping Jenny thrives in shade and moist soils. It grows 2-4 inches tall and spreads rapidly.

Purple Dragon Lamium

Lamium maculatum ‘Purple Dragon’ is a popular ornamental perennial ground cover with attractive silver-marked leaves. The foliage is green with dramatic silver streaks and a dark purple underside. Clusters of hooded tubular purple flowers bloom in late spring and early summer. Purple dragon lamium spreads via underground rhizomes to form a dense 6-12 inch tall mat. It thrives in partial shade and moist soil.

Woolly Thyme

With its soft mat forming gray-green leaves covered in tiny hairs, woolly thyme (Thymus pseudolanuginosus) makes an excellent drought tolerant ground cover. This petite thyme species grows only 2-3 inches tall but spreads up to 2 feet wide. It produces light pink flowers on short spikes in summer. Woolly thyme is easily grown in full sun and dry, sandy or gravelly soil with good drainage.

Irish Moss

Also called Scotch moss, Irish moss (Sagina subulata) forms a dense evergreen carpet of tiny linear green leaves on creeping stems. It bears small white flowers in summer. Irish moss grows 1-2 inches tall but spreads up to 18 inches wide. It tolerates some foot traffic and adapts to various soil types and pH levels. Irish moss thrives in full sun to partial shade. ‘Aurea’ is a golden leaf cultivar.

Creeping Lilyturf

With its graceful green strap-like foliage, creeping lilyturf (Liriope spicata) provides year-round color and texture. This spreading evergreen perennial grows 6-12 inches tall and spreads via underground rhizomes to cover wide areas and prevent weed growth. Creeping lilyturf produces spikes of lavender flowers in late summer followed by blue-black berries. It grows well in shade and well-drained soil.

Conclusion

Evergreen ground covers provide the perfect lush green carpet to landscape beds, borders, open areas, slopes, and shady spots year-round. They require minimal care compared to lawns. Many types like creeping phlox, sedum, ajuga, and juniper are tough, drought tolerant choices that thrive in full sun and poor soils. For shade, opt for dwarf periwinkle, creeping Jenny or lamium. Consider mixing several types of evergreen ground covers together for diversity and seasonal interest through flowers and fall foliage. Always choose species suitable for your growing zone and site conditions.

Frequently Asked Questions About Evergreen Ground Cover Plants

What are the benefits of using evergreen ground covers?

Some key benefits of evergreen ground covers include:

• Provide year-round green coverage and color
• Help control erosion on slopes and hillsides
• Require less maintenance than lawns – no mowing needed
• Many types are drought tolerant and thrive in poor soils
• Spread to form a dense mat that crowds out weeds
• Provide texture and visual interest to garden beds and borders
• Many species bloom flowers or produce fall color
• Provide habitat, shelter and food sources for pollinators and wildlife

How do you choose the right evergreen ground cover?

When selecting an evergreen ground cover, consider:

• Your USDA Hardiness Zone – choose perennials suited for your zone
• Site conditions – sunlight, soil type, drainage, etc.
• Maintenance needs – some spread faster and require more pruning
• Growth height and spread width – choose the right size plant
• Aesthetics – foliage color and texture, flowers, fall color
• Function – erosion control, weed suppression, foot traffic tolerance

Opt for low-maintenance, drought tolerant ground covers if planting in dry, sunny slopes. Shade-lovers like vinca minor work well under trees or the north side foundations. Visit the planting site at various times to assess conditions.

What is the best way to plant evergreen ground covers?

Here are some tips for planting evergreen ground covers:

• Prepare the planting bed by removing weeds, loosening soil, and working in compost
• Space plants 12-18 inches apart to allow room for growth and spreading
• Dig holes the same depth as the root ball and 2-3 times wider
• Carefully remove plants from containers, loosen roots, and place in holes
• Backfill holes with surrounding soil, pack gently, and water thoroughly
• Mulch around new plantings to retain moisture and suppress weeds
• Water consistently for the first season to establish deep roots
• Follow specific planting instructions for the ground cover species

How do you care for evergreen ground covers?

Caring for established evergreen ground covers involves:

• Watering during droughts or dry periods – about 1 inch of water per week
• Light annual fertilizing in spring with a balanced organic fertilizer
• Pruning or shearing overgrown plants after flowering to contain spread
• Weeding around ground covers while young to prevent weed competition
• Avoiding excessive foot traffic over creeping plants like phlox
• Cutting back any winter damage on cold sensitive ground covers in spring
• Dividing overcrowded plants to rejuvenate growth
• Mulching around plants to conserve moisture and suppress weeds

What are some good evergreen ground covers for shade?

Some excellent evergreen ground cover options for shady areas include:

• Dwarf periwinkle (Vinca minor)
• Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia)
• Dead nettle (Lamium maculatum)
• Sweet woodruff (Galium odoratum)
• Creeping raspberry (Rubus pentalobus)
• Japanese pachysandra (Pachysandra terminalis)
• Creeping Mahonia (Mahonia repens)
• Glossy-leaved paperplant (Fatsia japonica)

What are the best evergreen ground covers for erosion control?

Some of the top evergreen ground cover plants for controlling erosion on slopes and hillsides include:

• Creeping juniper (Juniperus horizontalis)
• Periwinkle (Vinca minor)
• Ice plant (Delosperma)
• Creeping cotoneaster (Cotoneaster dammeri)
• Creeping phlox (Phlox subulata)
• Ajuga species
• Dymondia (Dymondia margaretae)
• Woolly thyme (Thymus pseudolanuginosus)
• Sea thrift (Armeria maritima)

These low-growing, spreading plants form dense mats with strong roots that stabilize soil and prevent water runoff and erosion.

What are the lowest maintenance evergreen ground covers?

Some evergreen ground cover options that require minimal upkeep include:

• Sedum (Sedum species)
• Creeping juniper (Juniperus horizontalis)
• Ice plant (Delosperma)
• Golden creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia ‘Aurea’)
• Thyme (Thymus species)
• Irish moss (Sagina subulata)
• Snow-in-summer (Cerastium tomentosum)
• Creeping raspberry (Rubus pentalobus)

These tough drought and heat tolerant plants need little watering, pruning, or dividing once established. Their dense spreading habit also crowds out weeds.

What evergreen ground covers are deer resistant?

Some evergreen ground covers that deer and rabbits tend to avoid include:

• Barren strawberry (Waldsteinia fragarioides)
• Periwinkle (Vinca minor)
• Hardy geraniums (Geranium cinereum)
• Lavender cotton (Santolina chamaecyparissus)
• Catmint (Nepeta)
• Japanese pachysandra (Pachysandra terminalis)
• Snow-in-summer (Cerastium tomentosum)
• St. Johnswort (Hypericum calycinum)

The fuzzy, fuzzy, stiff, toxic or unpalatable leaves and oils of these plants help deter deer and rabbits. Avoid fragrant, tasty plants like phlox.