9 Ground Cover Plants to Enliven Your UK Garden

Posted on 15/05/2025

9 Ground Cover Plants to Enliven Your UK Garden

If you're looking to add a touch of natural beauty to your UK garden, incorporating ground cover plants can not only add aesthetic value but also offer functional benefits. Ground covers are versatile plants that can suppress weeds, retain soil moisture, and even provide habitats for local wildlife. Let's explore nine ideal options for UK gardens.

1. Creeping Thyme (Thymus serpyllum)

Creeping Thyme is a low-growing evergreen that thrives in sunny spots. With its aromatic foliage and charming purple blossoms, it creates a fragrant carpet that's both beautiful and edible. Creeping Thyme is drought-resistant and can withstand some foot traffic, making it perfect for planting between stepping stones.

Benefits

• Low maintenance
• Attracts pollinators
• Supplements culinary dishes

2. Ground Ivy (Glechoma hederacea)

The Ground Ivy is an effective plant for shady areas. With its glossy green leaves and violet flower clusters, it spreads quickly, offering excellent soil coverage. In addition to its visual appeal, it is known for its pleasant scent, enhancing any garden space.

Benefits

• Suppresses weed growth
• Excellent erosion control
• Attracts pollinators

3. Chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile)

Chamomile is famed for its apple-scented aroma and daisy-like flowers. It thrives in sunny areas and well-drained soils. This plant creates a lush, green mat and can even be utilized as a lawn alternative.

Benefits

• Provides medicinal properties
• Attractive to beneficial insects
• Stress-reducing fragrance

4. Moss Phlox (Phlox subulata)

Moss Phlox boasts mass blooms in a variety of colours including pink, purple, and white. This dense and low-growing plant is perfect for rock gardens or draping over walls. It makes a stunning addition to any spring landscape.

Benefits

• Blooms profusely in spring
• Low water requirements
• Resistant to deer and rabbits

5. Bugleweed (Ajuga reptans)

Bugleweed, also known as Ajuga, thrives in both shady and sunny conditions. Its lustrous leaves and cobalt-blue flowers make it a popular choice for ground coverage. It's particularly useful for filling difficult-to-mow areas.

Benefits

• Fast-growing and easy to establish
• Robust, often forming dense mats
• Ideal for erosion control

6. Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster horizontalis)

The Wall Cotoneaster features visually appealing herringbone-like foliage and tiny red berries. It is a hardy plant that effectively covers large areas with minimal care. Its berry-laden appearance is particularly attractive to birds.

Benefits

• Year-round interest
• Attracts wildlife
• Easy to shape and manage

7. Lilyturf (Liriope muscari)

Lilyturf is a grass-like perennial that produces vibrant purple spikes within lush green foliage. It's ideal for shaded gardens and can withstand variable weather. The plant is both versatile and resilient, perfect for UK gardens.

Benefits

• Deer-resistant
• Effective in erosion control
• Requires low maintenance

8. Sweet Woodruff (Galium odoratum)

The fragrant Sweet Woodruff comes alive in spring with tiny, bright-white flowers. Preferring shaded, moist areas, it provides excellent ground cover and has historical use in herbal medicine.

Benefits

• Perennial herb with sweet aroma
• Dense mat formation
• Bees and butterflies friendly

9. Sedum (Sedum spp.)

Sedums, also known as stonecrops, are drought-tolerant and versatile, coming in a variety of textures and colours. These succulents are great for sunny spots, rock gardens, and containers, forming beautiful mats.

Benefits

• Minimal watering needs
• Ideal for rock and gravel gardens
• Attracts pollinators

Conclusion

The integration of ground cover plants can significantly transform your garden landscape. These versatile plants not only enhance the visual appeal of your space but also contribute positively to the ecosystem. Whether you have sunny spots, shady areas, or rocky terrain, there's a perfect ground cover waiting for you. Embrace the beauty and functionality these remarkable plants have to offer and enkindle a vibrant and thriving garden all year round.