Discover 9 Wonderful Ground Cover Plants Perfect for Your UK Garden

Posted on 07/09/2025

Discover 9 Wonderful Ground Cover Plants Perfect for Your UK Garden

Ground cover plants are a fantastic solution for transforming your garden into a lush, vibrant paradise while minimizing maintenance. They help control weeds, retain soil moisture, and add visual interest to any landscape. Whether you have a shady corner or a sun-drenched border, there's a ground cover plant perfect for your UK garden. Below, we explore nine amazing ground cover plants that can enhance the beauty of your outdoor space.

1. Ajuga Reptans (Bugle)

Ajuga Reptans, commonly known as Bugle, is a hardy perennial that thrives in both sunny and shady areas. It forms a dense carpet of glossy, dark green leaves with striking purple or blue flower spikes that appear in late spring. Bugle is an excellent choice for filling gaps between shrubs or other plants and is ideal for woodland gardens.

• Soil Type: Moist, well-drained soil
• Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade
• Maintenance: Low-maintenance, drought-tolerant once established

2. Cotoneaster Horizontalis

This low-growing, spreading shrub is perfect for creating a decorative ground cover. Known for its hardiness, Cotoneaster Horizontalis displays a tapestry of small, rounded leaves that turn fiery red in autumn. Its tiny white flowers in spring give way to vibrant red berries, attracting birds to your garden.

• Soil Type: Any well-drained soil
• Light Requirements: Full sun
• Maintenance: Minimal, prune to maintain shape

3. Vinca Minor (Lesser Periwinkle)

The Vinca Minor is a classic choice for ground cover. This evergreen perennial is renowned for its toughness and adaptability. Sporting glossy, dark green leaves and bright blue or purple flowers, it is perfect for stabilizing slopes and covering shady areas of your garden.

• Soil Type: Moist, well-drained soil
• Light Requirements: Partial to full shade
• Maintenance: Low, very hardy

4. Sedum Acre (Goldmoss Stonecrop)

Sedum Acre, or Goldmoss Stonecrop, is a low-growing succulent that forms a dense mat of tiny, needle-like leaves. Its bright yellow flowers appear in summer, creating a striking contrast against its green foliage. Ideal for rock gardens or dry slopes, this drought-resistant plant adds a splash of color to any sunny garden area.

• Soil Type: Poor, well-drained soil
• Light Requirements: Full sun
• Maintenance: Very low, drought-tolerant

5. Lysimachia Nummularia (Creeping Jenny)

If you're looking for a vigorous ground cover plant, Creeping Jenny is an excellent choice. Its trailing stems covered in golden-yellow leaves provide an attractive cascade of color. In summer, small yellow flowers appear, adding to its charm. It thrives in moist areas and is ideal for growing in containers or hanging baskets, as well as ground cover.

• Soil Type: Moist, well-drained soil
• Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade
• Maintenance: Requires regular trimming to control spread

6. Hedera Helix (English Ivy)

Hedera Helix, widely known as English Ivy, is an evergreen climber that doubles as an effective ground cover plant. It's perfect for covering unsightly areas and creating lush green mats, even in shady, difficult spots.

• Soil Type: Accommodates various soil types
• Light Requirements: Full shade to full sun
• Maintenance: Prune regularly to prevent invasiveness

7. Thymus Serpyllum (Wild Thyme)

Wild Thyme is a delightful low-growing herb, perfect for gardens where you wish to entice pollinators. It produces aromatic foliage and clusters of purple-pink flowers in mid-summer that attract bees and butterflies. This plant is well-suited to rock gardens, borders, and pathways.

• Soil Type: Well-drained, light soil
• Light Requirements: Full sun
• Maintenance: Low, drought-tolerant

8. Galium Odoratum (Sweet Woodruff)

For shaded areas, consider Sweet Woodruff. This perennial herb is known for its attractive whorls of green leaves and tiny star-shaped white flowers that exude a pleasant fragrance. It's perfect for woodland gardens or as a border under trees and shrubs.

• Soil Type: Moist, well-drained soil
• Light Requirements: Partial to full shade
• Maintenance: Low, may spread prolifically

9. Erigeron Karvinskianus (Mexican Fleabane)

Mexican Fleabane is a delightful perennial daisy, perfect for filling cracks in walls or paving where it adds a soft, romantic touch. Its small daisy-like flowers change from white to pink and are produced in masses throughout the summer.

• Soil Type: Well-drained, poor soil
• Light Requirements: Full sun
• Maintenance: Low, self-seeding annual behavior

Conclusion

Choosing the right ground cover plants can add beauty, control weeds, and reduce garden maintenance. Each plant listed offers unique benefits and characteristics that can enhance any outdoor space in the UK. Whether you want a carpet of color or a lush green backdrop, the perfect ground covering solution awaits in this diverse selection. Start your gardening journey today and watch your landscape transform with these wonderful ground cover plants.