9 top selections of ground covers for your UK landscapes

Posted on 15/05/2025

Enhance Your UK Landscapes with These 9 Top Ground Covers

Creating beautiful and low-maintenance landscapes in the UK is as much about selecting the right ground covers as it is about choosing show-stopping shrubs or perennials. The right ground cover plants can fill in gaps, suppress weeds, and add texture and color to your garden. This guide will explore the 9 top selections that thrive in UK climates.

1. Creeping Thyme (Thymus serpyllum)

Creeping Thyme is an excellent choice for those looking to cover large areas with minimal upkeep. This evergreen plant boasts lovely purple flowers in the summer and thrives in sunny locations with well-drained soil. Not only does it provide lush ground cover, but it also releases a pleasant fragrance when walked on.

• Benefits: Easy maintenance, aromatic, attracts pollinators
• Climate: Best suited for sunny areas in the UK

2. Sedum (Sedum spp.)

Sedum, also known as stonecrop, is perfect for rock gardens and areas with poor soil. Known for its fleshy, water-retentive leaves, Sedum is drought-resistant and comes in a variety of colors and heights, offering great diversity for ground coverage.

• Benefits: Low water requirement, versatile color options
• Climate: Thrives in sunny, rocky areas

3. Bugleweed (Ajuga reptans)

Bugleweed is a robust ground cover plant ideal for shady areas. With its attractive dark foliage and spikes of blue flowers, it creates stunning carpets in partially shaded garden corners. It's an excellent option for inhibiting weed growth.

• Benefits: Ground-hugging, suppresses weeds
• Climate: Prefers shady or semi-shady spots

4. English Ivy (Hedera helix)

English Ivy is a classic choice for both vertical and ground cover. This vine-like ground cover is very adaptable, thriving in shaded areas and offering year-round greenery. However, it's important to control its growth to prevent it from overtaking other plants.

• Benefits: Evergreen, covers quickly
• Climate: Grows well in shaded conditions

5. Japanese Spurge (Pachysandra terminalis)

For a dense, evergreen cover, Japanese Spurge offers a lush, glossy leaf appearance perfect for shaded and wooded areas. It's an impeccable choice for those looking to maintain a green landscape throughout the year.

• Benefits: Dense and lush coverage, evergreen
• Climate: Ideal for shaded landscapes

6. Moss Phlox (Phlox subulata)

Moss Phlox offers a burst of colors ranging from pink, purple to white in early spring. This sun-loving cover forms dense mats, making it perfect for edging or cascading over walls and is particularly appealing for creating vibrant borders.

• Benefits: Vivid blooms, creates dense mats
• Climate: Prefers full sun

7. Corsican Mint (Mentha requienii)

A favourite for aromatic gardens, Corsican Mint offers a low-growing, luscious green spread that releases a minty aroma. It's a perfect addition to areas where you want guests to enjoy the scent as they wander through pathways.

• Benefits: Aromatic, suitable for pathways
• Climate: Likes partial shade and moist soil

8. Wintercreeper (Euonymus fortunei)

The Wintercreeper is a versatile ground cover that provides year-round foliage, perfect for areas requiring a tough and adaptable plant. It supports various planting designs, from ground cover to climbing features, providing a beautiful backdrop.

• Benefits: Evergreen, adaptable to climbing
• Climate: Hardy and versatile in different conditions

9. Woolly Thyme (Thymus pseudolanuginosus)

If you're looking for a soft, woolly texture to cover garden ground, Woolly Thyme is perfect. This drought-resistant cover is ideal for between stepping stones or rock gardens, adding a soft grey-green sheet to any landscape.

• Benefits: Drought-resistant, unique texture
• Climate: Prefers well-drained, sunny areas

Choosing the Right Ground Cover for Your UK Landscape

When selecting ground covers for your landscape, consider factors like sunlight availability, soil type, and intended garden design. The diverse UK climate means you can find ground covers that are either shade-loving or sun-seeking, functional or purely decorative.

The Role of Ground Covers in Garden Design

Ground covers do more than serve as fillers. They bring warmth and character, control soil erosion, improve biodiversity by attracting pollinators, and contribute to an aesthetically pleasing garden floor. Whether you're opting for bold colors with Moss Phlox or keeping it subtle and lush with Japanese Spurge, choosing the right ground cover influences your entire garden's atmosphere.

Incorporate these top selections of ground covers to create a stunning tapestry in your UK garden landscape, transforming ordinary spaces into vibrant and sustainable environments.