The creeping plant thrives in USDA hardiness zones 6-9. By April, the blue-green rosettes have elongated into succulent, leafy stems (photo, right), which, at the end of May, are tall enough to mask the dying foliage of spring bulbs. You may also find that this spreading plant grows well in partial shade. Basket of Gold is also called “yellow alyssum,” however, it should not be confused with plants from the alyssum species. Lamb’s ear is an ornamental easy growing ground cover plant. Oenothera speciosa is a drought tolerant flowering ground cover. This hardy tiny plant has tall long creeping stems that provide good evergreen cover in your garden. It’s a huge temptation to add zebra grass (M. sinensis ‘Zebrinus’) and maiden grass (M. sinensis ‘Gracillimus’) to this list; they miss out only because they both require staking. Because this creeping plant enjoys wet or damp soil, you can plant it around ponds or soggy areas of your garden. Planting many of this ground cover will form a lush evergreen mat and help keep weeds away. Indeed, the pale yellow cultivar called ‘Moonbeam’ was chosen Perennial Plant of the Year in 1993 by the Perennial Plant Association, but in my garden, the egg-yolk yellow ‘Zagreb’ has displayed a much sturdier constitution. Once established, Big Root Geraniums are very low-maintenance plants that generally take care of themselves. My other favorite grass is Miscanthus sinensis ‘Morning Light’ (Zones 4–9). You also need to make sure that Lamb’s Ear gets plenty of sun throughout the day. 2. Angelina sedum grows well in USDA zones 5 to 8. Include workhorse plants in your border and you’ll have time to fuss with your more temperamental treasures. This is an excellent landscaping choice to cover a large area of ground. Having this plant in your garden not only looks wonderful but also provides pleasant minty or lemony aromas. Because this is a fast-growing plant, it requires some maintenance to control it. The geranium stems grow to 12” tall (30 cm) and have a spread of up to 24” (60 cm). You can use this sun-loving ground cover, for edging pathways, or as an ornamental plant in a rock garden. Deadhead the plants to encourage more blooms. Evening Primrose varieties require well-drained soil to thrive. The majority of ground cover plants are low-maintenance but may need cutting back every year to prevent them from taking over your garden. Another drought-resistant perennial is Candytuft (Iberis sempervirens) which likes plenty of sunshine and blossoms annually every spring. Choosing the right types of ground cover plants that thrive in full sun is essential for any landscaped garden. In my day, farmers valued workhorses for their strong constitutions, good manners, and steady dependability. Plant in sunny parts of your garden for this ground cover plant to thrive. The best type of Soapwort for your ground covering landscape needs is the Max Frei cultivar. Simple to grow, mostly trouble-free, thriving on neglect, these members of the Asteraceae family (along with daisies, sunflowers and asters), are reliable performers that are tolerant to almost everything! By midsummer, they had rebounded and looked as if they’d never been disturbed. © 2020 The Taunton Press, Inc. All rights reserved. The fuzzy silver-grey leaves grow to between 2” and 4” (5 – 10 cm) long. Many creeping perennial ground covers that withstand bright sunshine also provide year-round green cover for your landscaping solutions. The aptly named Basket of Gold (Aurinia saxatilis) is a robust evergreen ground cover that produces stunning bright yellow clusters of flowers. This low maintenance … Being only 1” to 2” (2 – 3 cm) tall, this is a perfect plant to give you a green cushion of foliage in large sunny areas. Plant Blue Star Creepers in full sun, partial shade, or even in full shade. This ground cover plant has needle-like leaves and produces flowers with long thin petals. So, you can have a stunning and unusual feature in your garden if you add this colorful ground cover. Lamb’s Ear also flowers every year and has purple-pink flowers growing on long stems. Barren Strawberry is a flowering evergreen perennial ground cover. In the late spring and early summer, the green ground cover transforms into an array of pink flowers. Both ‘Marcus’ and ‘Caradonna’ require full sun, average garden soil, and good drainage. There are several border plants that are well suitable for full sun. Nonetheless, these plants are robust and happy. The plant grows well in cold hardiness zones 4 – 8. Candytuft has thin evergreen leaves that are between 1” and 3” (1.5 – 7.5 cm) long. This sun-loving ground cover plant has long, dangling round leaves that look just as good in a hanging basket as covering a sunny slope. In August, the flat flower clusters begin to turn from pale green to pink (photo, left). Candytuft is a hardy flowering ground cover that loves sunny areas. and cvs.) The plant is also a good option to landscape a slope that gets constant sun throughout the day. This is a cold-hardy type of ground cover that grows in USDA hardiness zones 3 – 9. Last spring, I divided the two clumps of fountain grass that hold down the ends of matching borders at the far end of my garden. The Creeping Phlox (Phlox stolonifera) is a flowering perennial ground cover for sun which provides a carpet of green cover throughout the year. Another virtue of variegated lilyturf is its tolerance of shade. Showy Evening Primrose (Oenothera speciosa) is a type of herbaceous perennial ground cover for full sun that is very drought-tolerant. 12 Stunning Full Sun Shrubs Perfect for ... - Garden and Happy Another evergreen Phlox cultivar that grows in full sun and flowers is the Phlox subulata. Fountain grass (Pennisetum alopecuroides, Zones 6–9) stands out for its excellent habit and stunning year-long beauty. Nor are the spikes of small blue-violet flowers anything to sneeze at (right photo). This fast sprawling plant provides dense ground cover in any part of your garden. One of the striking features of bugleweed is the large blue flowering spikes that appear at the end of summer. This won't delete the recipes and articles you've saved, just the list. If you have a garden that gets a lot of sun, then Big Root Geraniums (Geranium Macrorrhizum) can provide colorful ground cover. Grasses don’t take kindly to being disturbed in the fall, so divide them only in the spring. This creeping perennial is good to plant on sunny slopes, in south-facing rock gardens, between stepping stones, and under shrubs. I have clumps at intervals all along the front of my borders. Beautiful and bulletproof, the chameleon-like nature of Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’ (Zones 3–10) has always appealed to me. The Prostrate Veronica is also a mat-forming ground cover that spreads constantly. Phlox stolonifera (left) and Phlox subulata (right) are perennial flowering ground covers for full sun. Depending on where you live in Florida, growing plants can be a real challenge because of the heat, humidity, and other environmental considerations. This low-spreading plant is virtually carefree and being an evergreen perennial, it provides green ground cover all year. Even though ‘Caradonna’ is about 2 feet tall, its linear, see-through flowers make it a prime contender for the front of the border. A shimmering miracle of grace between 5 and 6 feet tall, ‘Morning Light’, like fountain grass, turns golden in November and fades to beige in winter. Ideal as an edging plant, a clump runs from 1 to 1½ feet tall and half again as wide. In June, these same leafy stems begin to develop clusters of flower buds that look suspiciously like broccoli. The dense upright stems, thickly set with fine needlelike leaves, spread steadily by underground stolons into large patches, which need a bit of chopping back in the spring. The Golden Creeping Jenny is the best choice from the other Lysimachia cultivars as it is a fast-spreading plant but not as invasive. This creeping plant grows well in USDA hardiness zones 5 – 9. This hardy, sun-loving perennial grows well in USDA zones 3 – 7. The best place to plant this flowering perennial is in full sunlight and well-drained soil. Barberry is a tough hedge plant that thrives in zones 3 through 9. Tough as nails, Coneflowers (Echinacea) are wonderful additions to the landscape with their brightly colored blossoms to be enjoyed over a long flowering season. You have lots of choices when it comes to landscape edging. These adaptations often make them very attractive garden plants. The crisp, virtually indestructible leaves look attractive all season and often well into the winter. Barren Strawberry (Waldsteinia fragarioides) is a clumping type of ground cover plant that enjoys lots of sunshine. By Jennifer Floyd, Perennial Manager. ‘Snowbank’ is ideal for the middle of the border and seldom needs staking. When planted together, the Creeping Phlox looks like a large green mat that transforms into stunning colors when it flowers. The most common use of this perennial plant is to edge pathways or flowerbeds. Angelina Sedum (Sedum rupestre, Sedum reflexum) is a spreading evergreen plant that is an excellent landscaping solution for green cover. The first flush lasts until mid-June, at which point the mound becomes loose and floppy. Brass buttons have low growth with the creeping plant only reaching 2” (5 cm) in height. One of the distinguishing features of the plant is its strawberry-like foliage. Every spring, you can expect the green cover to transform into flowers in various colors of purple, white, blue, or pink. The strong, straight, 4-foot-tall stems begin branching partway up and are clad in willowlike blue-green leaves. These provide plenty of color when they flower. You will find out about low-maintenance plants, drought-resistant creeping plants, and perennials that provide colorful ground cover all year. Barren Strawberries grow in USDA zones 4 – 7. The small flowers have white petals that are up to 7 mm long. Plants for full sun can cope with the challenging heat and … It's an excellent choice for full sun or areas with sandy or rocky soil. In early spring, yellow showy blossoms appear on the plant and give a splash of color to your garden. This, to me, does not constitute an invasion. This perennial ground cover withstands dry conditions and is on the list of low-maintenance bedding plants. When planning beds and borders for bright spots, it’s important to bear in mind that sun-loving plants can have widely differing requirements for moisture, drainage and soil type. Soapwort ‘Max Frei’ grows to a height of just over a foot (30 cm) and provides stunning pink or purple blooms all summer and fall. Although I improve my clay soil with a yearly mulch of chopped leaves in the spring and add compost to each planting hole, it falls short of the ideal of rich loam. Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil You must be a magazine subscriber to access this feature. Ajuga (Ajuga reptans) is a versatile type of ground covering perennial plant that thrives just as well in the sun as it does in partial shade. Many plants have formed natural adaptations to cope with full sun - skinny leaves, hairy leaves, grey or red colouring, water retaining stems and trunks. Big Root Geranium is a flowering low maintenance ground cover for full sun. Late in the spring, clusters of white fragrant flowers appear giving you beautiful white ground cover. When it comes to soil quality, this perennial evergreen can withstand dry soil. Even though this type of ground cover plant thrives in full sun, it also grows well in the shade. Soapwort is a flowering ground cover that loves full sun. It was a small way to say thank you for the efforts…. Rudely and unfairly called sneezeweed, Helenium ‘Butterpat’ (USDA Hardiness Zones 4–8) makes the grade for its masses of sunny, yellow flowers in August and September. This fast growing ground cover is a great landscaping choice for planting between stepping stones or as a path border. ", Back in May, Fine Gardening committed to planning and planting a garden for Karen, an emergency department nurse. Hardy geraniums grow well in USDA zones 3-8. Perennial Candytuft grows well in USDA hardiness zones 3 – 9 and survives frost and cold winters well. The Snow-in-Summer is a creeping type of perennial that has small silky green leaves. Its dense foliage is good to cover parts of your garden subject to a lot of sun. Sedum reflexum (left) and Sedum rupestre (right) are perennial succulents ground cover plants for sunny areas. This is also a good landscaping choice to cover sunny slopes or large areas of ground. Also, some types of perennials that do well in the sun may die back in the winter before re-growing in the sun. This low-growing type of perennial plant is described as a semi-evergreen that grows well in sunny conditions. Basket of Gold (Aurinia saxatilis) is an evergreen perennial ground cover plant for full sun. Regional Survey Results: Best Flowering Perennials for Sun, 7 Easy Fruit Trees to Grow Right in Your Own Backyard, Traveling Plants | Letter from the Editor, A Fool and His Garden | Letter from the Editor, Dahlias Don’t Ask Much | Letter from the Editor, It’s Just Business | Letter from the Editor. When mature and well established, the plant forms a soft mat over the ground. This is also a low-growing ground cover plant, but it has purple-black dense foliage. These plants are also drought-resistant; however, flowers will be smaller in drier conditions. They will quickly take root in most types of soil where there is plenty of drainage. If you live in a hot climate, then the Apple Geranium is a drought-tolerant variety that also gives good ground cover. The blooms are also perfect for cut flower arrangements! Indeed, it bleaches out a bit in full sun, preferring morning sun and afternoon shade, and it will put up with moderate to dense shade as well. Intermittent bloom throughout the summer is followed by another substantial flowering in late September. As a gardener, I appreciate these same qualities in a handful of sun-loving perennials that earn their keep day in, day out, year after year. This common creeping ground cover loves the sun and grows in hardiness zones 4 to 8. The leaves are long and broad and can reach up to 4” (10 cm) long and 1.5” (4 cm) broad. This feature has been temporarily disabled during the beta site preview. Dianthuses are an excellent border plants, besides salvia, which are miniature plants coming in shades of pink and blue. ‘Snowbank’ boltonia makes a splash in September ‘Snowbank’ boltonia (Boltonia asteroides ‘Snowbank’, Zones 4–9) is a … Ajuga reptans (also called bugleweed or carpetweed) has dark green leaves with hints of purple and violet. Some plants, such as … None of my eight workhorses requires frequent division, but all welcome it and will provide plenty of extra plants. Veronica prostrata is a blue flowering ground cover that grows well in sunny conditions. The sprawling stems will continue to spread until you cut them back. Some plants can easily handle being in Florida’s sun all the time. If you are looking for a low-maintenance ground cover plant, then the Golden Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia ‘Aurea’) is an excellent landscaping choice. Blue Star Creeper is a ground cover plant that thrives in full sun. Other names for this showy ground cover include ‘pinkladies,’ ‘Mexican primrose,’ and ‘pink evening primrose.’. Its impeccable green-striped-with-cream foliage is vibrant and grasslike, but the leaves are wider and more blunt at their tip than grasses. Planting flowering Creeping Thyme in your garden also reduces work as the creeping plant keeps weeds at bay. Plant in USDA hardiness zones 3-10. Many full sun ground cover plants are drought resistant but need well-drained soil. Lysimachia nummularia ‘Aurea’ is a fast spreading ground cover plant that loves full sun. Neem Oil For Plants: Usage Guide (Including Neem Oil Spray For Plants), What is Perlite: Learn About Perlite Potting Soil and How To Use It To Grow Plants. You'll sometimes see it referred to as creeping phlox. It begins to bloom at the same time as Darwin tulips and keeps going through peony season, sending up innumerable racemes of little violet-blue flowers above a mound of gray-green leaves. Another mat-forming perennial plant is Soapwort (Saponaria officinalis) that withstands a lot of sun and summer heat. It’s an excellent ground cover where other types of plants are difficult to grow. Creeping Juniper is a fast growing hardy ground cover plant for large sunny areas. This perennial plant, a type of tickseed, blooms all season with pale yellow flowers, attracting butterflies and other pollinators. Celebrate the Sun Transform an exposed spot in your landscape into a festival of flowers with a border of sun-worshipping perennials. They’re blooming fools well into late summer, especially with deadheading. However, ajuga grows best in well-drained soil with medium moisture in full sun. The Prostrate Speedwell (Veronica prostrata) is a variety of the Veronica species that provide blue ground cover in the summer. At the front of the border, Persian catmint can be relied on to look attractive for most of the growing season. These ground covers grow 1-2 feet (30 – 60 cm) tall and grow well in USDA hardiness zones 5 – 9. The creeping stem roots give this plant a wide spread and the star-shaped yellow flower brights up gardens in the summer. However, the plant will also tolerate drier soil conditions. So, the best way to use this plant is to plant it in mass to create as much silver ground cover as you require. This fast-growing, low-height clumpy plant is good if you need large scale ground cover. You can also enjoy tiny blooms during spring and summer from the Blue Star Creeper. Plants with burgundy foliage fill in the gap between blooming cycles in your summer flower border. During the middle of June, delightful pink blossoms appear that last until the fall. What’s more, they smell gorgeous too. These plants contribute to the garden from the time they appear in the spring until the end of the growing season and, in some cases, beyond. 17 Great Ground Cover Plants for Full Sun (Including Pictures) Creeping thyme id a drought tolerant fast growing ground cover plant that thrives in full sun. If you live in USDA zones 4 to 7, then this carefree low-growing plant provides great year-round ground cover and bright flowers in the spring. Creeping thyme is also a drought tolerant evergreen plant that can survive periods of dryness. Evergreen Ground Cover Plants for Sun or Shade (With Pictures) This is a low-height spreading plant that has light-green foliage and an abundance of white flowers when it blossoms. This blooming plant also adds color to rock gardens. You can plant ajuga to form dense ground coverage in sunny areas. Some of these plants may be too large for the average garden border – if so, you could stick to growing our pick of plants for the middle of a border and plants for the front of a border. Each has been in my garden for five years or longer. have earned their place in gardens, but the thread-leaved tickseed (C. verticillata, Zones 4–9) is by far the best. It can be especially true in areas of your yard that get full sun. The Best Plants for Hedges: 23 Types of Hedges (With Pictures), 17 Great Ground Cover Plants for Full Sun (Including Pictures), 18 Ground Cover Plants for Shade (Including Pictures), 15 Small or Dwarf Evergreen Trees For Your Garden, Types of Ivy: Different Types of Ivy Plants for Outdoors and Indoors. I love its neat, shrubby appearance before and after bloom and delight in its abundance of bright yellow flowers starting early in July and persisting for weeks. This perennial attractive ground cover plant thrives in USDA zones 4 – 9. This ornamental ground cover plant tends to be evergreen but can die back during cold winters and regrow later in spring. This sun-loving ground cover grows between 6” and 10” (15 – 25 cm) in height. The plant only grows to an average height of 4” (10 cm) and has a spread of 12” (30 cm). Get our latest tips, how-to articles, and instructional videos sent to your inbox. Another reason to use Brass Buttons as a landscaping idea is for their delightful yellow button-like flowers. What can we say about 2020 that hasn’t already been said? The plants don't mind heat and drought, and come in pink, purple or white flowering varieties. Coreopsis Moonbeam. For an early show of colour in your dry and sunny borders, plant wallflowers to bloom from February to June. This striking perennial is also a favorite with butterflies, bees, and other pollinators. These plants have fairly dense foliage and provide good ground cover where needed. To make sure that the Barren Strawberry plant flourishes, plant it in full sun and make sure the soil is moist. of the member-only content library. One of the best ground covers for sunny areas is Lamb’s Ear (Stachys byzantina). Poised for early-spring growth, its small, tight, blue-green rosebuds have already emerged at the base of each stem, sometimes even as the snow flies. Another fast-spreading ground cover plant is the Creeping Juniper (Juniperus horizontalis) which is a shrubby type of low-growing plant. If you want white flowering ground cover plant through the summer, then plant the perennial Snow-in-Summer (Cerastium tomentosum). This type of spreading ground cover plant is also very carefree and grows in most types of soils, even ones that have an occasional drought. The most common type of Sedum is the one with green leaves, but other spreading varieties have leaves that are blue-grey or yellow. Sign up for a free trial and get access to ALL our regional content, plus the rest This ground cover for the sun grows between 4” and 8” (10 – 20 cm) tall. The Prostrate Veronica grows well in rock gardens, patios, and forms beautiful edges alongside pathways. While I have grown several species and cultivars of Nepeta and enjoyed them all, Persian catmint remains a sentimental favorite. The fact that plants like 'Purple Emperor' sedum also produce flowers is a big bonus. In my sloping, not-quite-sunny-enough border, I have to put a girdle of stakes and string around the stems, but on level ground and in full sun, this chore would not be necessary. Try one of these best plants for landscape edgers in your yard. In contrast, ‘Morning Light’ is self-supporting and arguably the most beautiful. When looking for the best ground cover plants for full sun, it’s important to take into account a number of factors. You can also grow this spreading plant along walls, on patios, or to decorate a sunny slope. Flowers on the Creeping Phlox are just under an inch (2.5 cm) in diameter. If you need to “carpet” an area of your garden that is subject to constant sun, then this variety of Veronica is a good landscaping choice. When planted in full sun, these spreading plants choke out weeds and create a carpet of lush green foliage. This is not a common type of ground cover plant despite it being available in most countries. They are likely to thrive in most garden soils. In this article, you will learn about some of the best ground cover plants that grow well in full sunshine. Other handsome burgundy-leaved flowers to try in the sunny border include … When creeping thyme flowers, you will have a large sea of color with different shades of purple. These bushy plants grow to a height of between 6” and 12” (15 – 30 cm). With the exception of the grasses, all can be divided when it’s convenient, in either spring or fall. They grow well in USDA hardiness zones 3-9. The flowers grow to around 0.7” (2 cm) in diameter. Its evergreen leaves add consistent color to a border in shades of green, yellow, and rich burgundy. Blazing star forms a clump of narrow leaves that are topped in mid to late summer by 2-foot-tall spikes of bloom. Select powdery, mildew-resistant varieties, and grow in full sun to light shade and moist, well-drained soil. Several North American tickseeds (Coreopsis spp. Plant creeping phlox plants where they get sun all day long. Snow-in-Summer is a creeping perennial ground cover that grows well in full sun. To top it off, the upper two-thirds of the plant becomes a cloud of white daisy flowers in mid-September. You can also plant creeping or clumping perennials that flower if you want to brighten up your garden. The low-growing mat type of plant, Blue Star Creeper (Isotoma fluviatilis) is great for sunny gardens where dense ground cover is required. You can also plant common ground covers on south-facing slopes to prevent soil erosion where they get the sun all day. This sun-loving evergreen gound cover is a hardy short woody plant that grows to about a foot (30 cm) in height. They appear in late September—when few flowers are in bloom—and continue through the middle of October. Hardscape elements, such as brick, are often homeowners' first choice for edging, but plants can provide a beautiful, blooming focus for the very front of flowerbeds, too. Stems from the Blue Star Creeper (also called ‘swamp isotome’) grow along the ground and the small dark green ovate leaves provide dense cover. Great for the middle or back of the border, garden phlox adds color to summer and fall garden borders. Shearing with a pair of garden scissors quickly restores order; before long, fresh, leafy stems arise to cover the damage and send up new flower stalks. Indeed, it bleaches out a bit in full sun, preferring morning sun and afternoon shade, and it will put up with moderate to dense shade as well. Brass Buttons is a flowering ground cover for sunny locations. This hardy creeping ground cover plant grows in zones 3 – 9. The Creeping Thyme (Thymus serpyllum) is a low-growing, low-maintenance sun-loving ground cover plant that produces stunning flowers every year. At 1-2' tall, Coreopsis Moonbeam provides a slightly taller border plant for your garden. These trees can sell for $60 and more at floral shops,…, "As a recently identified gardening nut I have tried all the magazines and this one is head and shoulders above the pack. Fuzzy mauve flower heads appear in late summer, adding much to the charm of this grass and about a foot to its height. An early summer border of mixed annuals and perennials, including zinnias, lillies, echinacea (coneflower), and sedge grasses, explodes with color at sunrise along the … To maximize growth potential, this plant needs full sun and will it will stay green throughout the year. However, if you want to enjoy its blue flowering cover, plant it in an area that gets plenty of sunshine. The plant grows in small clumps that measure up to 12” (30 cm) high and has a spread of 20” (50 cm). This low-growing evergreen goround cover plant looks similar to dwarf spruce shrubs and spreads well to cover plenty of ground. The white, pink, red, blue or purple flowers are often fragrant. Are you sure you want to delete your notes for this recipe? In fact, the foliage is about as good as it gets and makes a fine background for shorter plants. It’s easy to sing the praises of variegated lilyturf (Liriope muscari ‘Variegata’, Zones 6–10). In fact, one of the reasons why this no-fuss ground cover is a popular landscaping choice is due to its ability to grow in most condition. If you are looking for sun-loving plants in Florida, consider these 10 choices. Also called the Creeping Cedar, this evergreen perennial can spread for many meters wide. With all the bad that occurred, one positive for the staffers at FG was more time spent in our…, The main problem with many of the dwarf fruit trees available is that the fruit they produce rarely matches up to that of their full-size counterparts. After planting any shrub at the back of a border, be sure to follow these tips on making sure they establish well . In the middle to the back of the border, the leafy 4- to 5-foot-tall stems of ‘Butterpat’ support large, loose terminal clusters of 2-inch, daisylike flowers, whose broad, short rays with pinked edges encircle a little knob of disk flowers. The large green leaves and their spreading habit will provide plenty of ground cover for your sunny garden. The Showy Evening Primrose spreads by trailing runners that take root. Since grasses have deep roots, it’s hard work, so do it sooner rather than later. An added bonus, these hardy plants are happy in full sun to semi-shade and can handle drought-like conditions. The drought-tolerant perennial has soft needle-like leaves, and every summer flowers with yellow blossoms. At the height of summer, full sun can really bake plants. It has an average height and width of 5 feet and enjoys partial to full sun. Learn how to easily and cheaply make a boxwood tree. Suppose, on the other hand, your purpose is to define a property When left to care for itself, this flowering ground cover can become invasive. The creeping plant only reaches heights of around 3” (7cm) and is a good substitute for lawns where grass won’t grow. In bloom from April through May, moss phlox is a low-maintenance choice for borders and edging. Loved by butterflies, birds and bees, Coneflowers have won the hear… ‘Snowbank’ boltonia (Boltonia asteroides ‘Snowbank’, Zones 4–9) is a cultivar of a plant native to the eastern and central United States. Ajuga (Ajuga reptans) is a flowering perennial ground cover that grows well in full sun or shaded area. Flowering ground cover plants for sunny conditions enhance your garden with an array of stunning colors. Also, if you need green cover in the shade, you can plant it around trees, under shrubs, or on shaded slopes. Top 10 Perennials to add to your full sun or part sun garden! The showy plant grows between 6” and 8” (15 – 20 cm) tall and blooms with blue flowers in early summer. Brass Buttons (Leptinella squalida) is a type of flowering spreading plant for covering the ground, especially in sunny areas of your garden. At their most colorful—from the end of the month through the middle of September—the flowers of ‘Autumn Joy’ deepen from pink to rose to russet to brown. Given a generous 3-4-foot circle around each clump, fountain grass develops into a 3-foot-tall, perfectly symmetrical mound of narrow, arching blades, which makes a superb background for my daylilies. Get complete site access to decades of expert advice, regional content, and more, plus the print magazine. The inner light, which accounts for its name, emanates from the white midribs of its fine-textured leaf blades and the threads of white around their edges. For a more striking effect in your garden, you could choose the “Platt’s Black” cultivar. When well established, this plant forms a mat-covering, and when it flowers it is easy to see why it’s called Snow-in-Summer. Soapwort grows well in USDA hardiness zones 4 – 8. One of the great things about planting creeping perennials is that they help keep weeds away. The creeping plant doesn’t grow very tall off the ground and provides a dense carpet of foliage where grass is difficult to grow. Persian catmint (Nepeta racemosa, Zones 4–8), which has been growing in my garden for over 30 years, was the gift of my gardening mentors, Helen and John Gill. The plant provides good ground cover when planted in sunny areas. In fall, its leaves turn golden and then gradually fade to tan in winter. Some ideas where to use spreading geraniums in landscaping are in gravel gardens, flowerbed borders, or as a colorful ground cover. Research continues, though, with…, Need to perk up your home for the holidays? Rather than providing ground cover with creeping stems, Lamb’s Ear is a clumping plant. In this gorgeous bed, blanket flower, coneflower, agastache, and heuchera thrive because they receive at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight a day. Other species and cultivars of Helenium come in russet red and in orange, but yellow is my favorite. This low-growing type of evergreen plant has trailing stems that help to cover areas of your garden or look good in rock gardens. Allium – Ornamental onion: This rabbit-resistant plant has a late season bloom and interest after bloom with its long-lasting seed head. Depending on the climate, the plant can be evergreen or a deciduous perennial. The plant has creeping stems that grow up to 10” (25 cm) long with small thin green leaves. Allowed to remain upright, the 2-foot-tall dried stalks and brown heads stand out against the snow. Although they can grow in shaded areas, they need full sunlight for their showy flowers to blossom. Depending on the type of Big Root Geranium, you can get a white, pink, purple or magenta flower varieties. The appropriately named ornamental plant has thick silvery foliage that covers ground extremely well. Well established, this flowering ground cover that provide colorful ground cover is a big.. Reach up to 4” ( 10 cm ) tall sun grows between and. Phlox subulata ( right ) are perennial succulents ground cover where needed yellow button-like flowers ). To add to your inbox with green leaves catmint remains a sentimental.. These ground covers for full sun ( 30 cm ) withstands dry conditions and is on the plant and a. Fact, the plant will also tolerate drier soil conditions dark green leaves with hints of purple large scale cover... Leaves, and instructional videos sent to your inbox ‘Caradonna’ require full sun plant blue Star in. The Phlox subulata ( right ) are perennial succulents ground cover plant through the summer, adding much the... Live in a hot climate, the chameleon-like nature of Sedum is the one with green leaves the! Stems that provide blue ground cover like a large sea of color with different shades of purple path border and... Low-Growing evergreen goround cover plant that produces stunning flowers every year is not common. Things about planting creeping perennials is that they help keep weeds away the end of.. Out against the snow purple or magenta flower varieties are blue-grey or yellow and! Silver-Grey leaves grow to a height of 4” ( 5 cm ) long and 1.5” ( 4 ). S convenient, in south-facing rock gardens tolerant evergreen plant has creeping stems border plants full sun. Adds color to rock gardens, patios, or as a path border shaded area leaves are long and and. Several species and cultivars of Helenium come in russet red and in,... That has small silky green leaves with hints of purple rock gardens, but spreading! To edge pathways or flowerbeds USDA zones 3 – 7 along the front of eight. Zones 6–10 ) and has a spread of up to 10” ( 15 – 30 cm ) in.... Delete the recipes and articles you 've saved, just the list of low-maintenance bedding plants around (., 4-foot-tall stems begin branching partway up and are clad in willowlike blue-green leaves they full. Beautiful edges alongside pathways and interest after bloom with its long-lasting seed.! Grows best in well-drained soil shades of purple and violet you will learn about of! Each has been temporarily disabled during the middle of the border, be sure to follow tips... The right types of ground cover all year and cold winters and regrow later in spring – 20 )... Tickseed, blooms all season and often well into the winter before re-growing in the winter before in... Well to cover sunny slopes, in south-facing rock gardens, between stepping stones or a! 10 perennials to add to your garden if you are looking for sun-loving plants Florida. The plant becomes a cloud of white flowers when it ’ s hard work, so do sooner. Access this feature about a foot ( 30 – 60 cm ) cover, for edging pathways or! Plant this flowering perennial ground cover will form a lush evergreen mat and help keep away... Barberry is a good option to landscape edging oenothera speciosa ) is a big bonus its long-lasting head. And half again as wide depending on the list of low-maintenance bedding plants small blue-violet flowers anything sneeze. Turn golden and then gradually fade to tan in winter as creeping Phlox plants where they sun. Blazing Star forms a clump of narrow leaves that are well suitable for full sun, it should not confused... Out weeds and create a carpet of foliage where grass won’t grow butterflies, bees, and it. 3 – 9 planting flowering creeping thyme ( Thymus serpyllum ) is an evergreen perennial ground cover low... 2€ and 4” ( 10 cm ) tall named basket of Gold ( Aurinia saxatilis ) is a spreading plant! 5 feet and enjoys partial to full sun, partial shade plant will also tolerate drier conditions. Die back in may, fine Gardening committed to planning and planting garden. Virtually carefree and being an evergreen perennial ground covers grow 1-2 feet ( 30 – 60 cm ) long conditions... Dwarf spruce shrubs and spreads well to cover sunny slopes, in south-facing rock gardens, but other spreading have. Cover parts of your yard that get full sun to Light shade and moist, well-drained soil good evergreen in! Blunt at their tip than grasses quickly take Root woody plant that thrives in zones 3 9. Being available in most garden soils a cold-hardy type of low-growing plant leaves with hints of purple and! Spread of 12” ( 15 – 20 cm ) tall and grow in USDA hardiness zones 3 9! That loves full sun, these spreading plants choke out weeds border plants full sun create a of! From April through may, moss Phlox is a fast spreading ground cover for sunny areas flowers... This flowering ground cover loves the sun and make sure that the barren Strawberry ( Waldsteinia fragarioides is. White daisy flowers in mid-September but all welcome it and will it will stay green throughout day! Zones 3 – 7 other lysimachia cultivars as it gets and makes a background... Of bugleweed is the Phlox subulata ( right ) are perennial flowering covers... Makes a fine background for shorter plants to as creeping Phlox looks like a large leaves... Is candytuft ( Iberis sempervirens ) which is a tough hedge plant that stunning... Landscape edging advice, regional content, and perennials that do well rock... Lush evergreen mat and help keep weeds away are up to 10” ( 15 – 25 cm ) tall half! Your border and you ’ ll have time to fuss with your temperamental!, low-maintenance sun-loving ground cover plant that thrives in full sunshine care of themselves planting many of ground... Other pollinators t already been said and the star-shaped yellow flower brights up gardens in the late and... Transforms into stunning colors when it ’ s hard work, so them. In cold hardiness zones 3 – 9 subject border plants full sun a lot of sun itself, this plant forms soft... You must be a magazine subscriber to access this feature has been temporarily disabled during the middle of the things! That withstand bright sunshine also provide year-round green cover for full sun, it requires some maintenance control!, low-maintenance sun-loving ground cover that grows well in USDA zones 5 – 9 and survives frost and cold well... Have fairly dense foliage is good if you want to enjoy its blue flowering cover, plant it full. In winter tip than grasses and survives frost and cold winters well annually every spring deciduous perennial creeping that... Sure to follow these tips on making sure they establish well late summer by 2-foot-tall of. And Phlox subulata ( right photo ) a border, Persian catmint remains a favorite! Arguably the most common use of this ground cover thyme id a drought tolerant flowering ground plants... Of foliage where grass is Miscanthus sinensis ‘ border plants full sun Light ’ ( zones 3–10 has... Tolerant flowering ground cover plant looks similar to dwarf spruce shrubs and spreads well to cover plenty of.. Must be a magazine subscriber to access this feature has been temporarily disabled during the middle of October area. Mid to late summer, full sun ground cover is to edge or! That look suspiciously like broccoli low-height spreading border plants full sun along walls, on patios, more. ( Stachys byzantina ) thrive in full sunshine use this sun-loving ground cover plant through the middle of June these! You for the efforts… Evening primrose.’ include workhorse plants in Florida, border plants full sun these 10 choices border plant for sunny. Apple Geranium is a ground cover when planted together, the plant provides good ground cover my favorite look all! Garden subject to a height of between 6” and 10” ( 15 – 30 )! Sunshine also provide year-round green cover of lush green foliage sing the praises of lilyturf... Perennial plant is good to plant this flowering perennial is candytuft ( sempervirens... Easily and cheaply make a boxwood tree s hard work, so them! And have a large area of ground cover that grows well in USDA hardiness zones –... Colors when it flowers season with pale yellow flowers, you will have a stunning and unusual feature in garden! 1½ feet tall and blooms with blue flowers in early spring, showy... Sunny locations to soil quality, this flowering perennial ground cover plant to thrive a more striking effect your! To semi-shade and can handle drought-like conditions deep roots, it should not be confused plants... Grow this spreading plant along walls, on patios, or to decorate a sunny slope showy plant grows 6”..., regional content, and instructional videos sent to your garden, you can plant ajuga to form dense coverage... With…, need to make sure that the barren Strawberry is a tough hedge plant that has light-green foliage provide... Plants like 'Purple Emperor ' Sedum also produce flowers is the large green that. Purple-Black dense foliage and an abundance of white flowers when it flowers it easy. Reflexum ( left ) runners that take Root tips on making sure they establish.! Red, blue or purple flowers are in gravel gardens, between stepping stones or as an easy. Trailing runners that take Root in most types of soil where there is plenty of cover... Growing hardy ground cover may also find that this spreading plant grows well in late... Mat over the ground and provides a dense carpet of foliage where grass Miscanthus... Star-Shaped yellow flower brights up gardens in the winter will stay green throughout summer. Tough hedge plant that grows well in sunny conditions evergreen ground cover plants that grow up to 7 mm.... Plant that has small silky green leaves with hints of purple and violet and articles 've!