UK gardeners' guide: 9 top ground cover plants

Posted on 15/05/2025

UK Gardeners' Guide: 9 Top Ground Cover Plants

Ground cover plants are an essential element in creating lush and vibrant gardens. Whether you're a seasoned gardener or just starting out, selecting the right ground covers can help you achieve a garden that's not only beautiful but also easy to maintain. In this guide, we introduce nine outstanding ground cover plants perfect for UK gardens.

1. Creeping Thyme (Thymus serpyllum)

Creeping Thyme is a favorite choice among UK gardeners due to its aromatic foliage and resilience. Known for its low-growing habit, this plant dazzles with tiny purple flowers during summer.

• Benefits: Drought-resistant, attracts pollinators, and withstands foot traffic.
• Ideal Conditions: Full sun, well-drained soil.
• Plant Care: Minimal maintenance required, occasional pruning encourages growth.

2. Aubrieta (Aubrieta deltoidea)

Aubrieta is an excellent option for rock gardens and borders with its bright, violet-blue flowers that bloom in early spring.

• Benefits: Spreads quickly, offers colorful displays, and easy to grow.
• Ideal Conditions: Full sun to partial shade, alkaline to neutral soil.
• Plant Care: Trim back after flowering to maintain its compact form.

3. Sedum (Sedum spp.)

Offering a variety of textures and colors, sedums are versatile ground covers known for their hardiness and fleshy leaves.

• Benefits: Tolerant of poor soils, drought resistant, and attracts butterflies.
• Ideal Conditions: Full sun, well-drained soil.
• Plant Care: Little to no watering; cut back in early spring to refresh.

4. Sweet Woodruff (Galium odoratum)

Renowned for its delicate white flowers and whorled leaves, Sweet Woodruff thrives in shady areas of the garden.

• Benefits: Ideal for shady spots, releases a sweet scent when crushed.
• Ideal Conditions: Partial to full shade; moist, well-drained soil.
• Plant Care: Requires regular moisture, resilient to in-ground spreading.

5. Bugleweed (Ajuga reptans)

Bugleweed, or ajuga, is a versatile ground cover that thrives in partial shade to full sun environments, blooming with striking blue spikes.

• Benefits: Dense coverage, vibrant foliage, and suits underplanting shrubs.
• Ideal Conditions: Moist but well-drained soils, full sun to part shade.
• Plant Care: Mow or trim after flowering to encourage re-blooming.

6. Hosta (Hosta spp.)

The hosta is well-loved in UK gardens for its lush foliage and adaptability to shady areas, boasting varieties with leaves that range from green to variegated.

• Benefits: Versatile and luxurious foliage, thrives in shaded areas.
• Ideal Conditions: Partial to full shade; rich, well-drained soil.
• Plant Care: Protect from slugs and divide clumps every few years for optimum growth.

7. Japanese Spurge (Pachysandra terminalis)

This evergreen ground cover offers year-round interest with its glossy leaves and white flower spikes that appear in early spring.

• Benefits: Dense, weed-suppressing mat, low maintenance.
• Ideal Conditions: Partial to full shade; prefers acidic to neutral soils.
• Plant Care: Minimal care needed; trim back to control spread if necessary.

8. Heuchera (Heuchera spp.)

Heucheras or coral bells are admired for their vibrant, colorful foliage, adding a pop of color to your garden even in the deepest shade.

• Benefits: Colorful foliage, attracts birds and pollinators.
• Ideal Conditions: Partial shade, moist but well-drained soil.
• Plant Care: Remove dead leaves; divide every few years to maintain vigor.

9. Barrenwort (Epimedium spp.)

Barrenwort is an underutilized, tough ground cover known for its seasonal foliage changes and delicate spring flowers.

• Benefits: Great for dry shade, deer and rabbit resistant.
• Ideal Conditions: Part to full shade, well-drained soil.
• Plant Care: Cut back old foliage in early spring to allow new growth.

Benefits of Ground Cover Plants in UK Gardens

Incorporating ground cover plants into your UK garden offers numerous advantages:

• Erosion Control: They stabilize soil, preventing erosion and sediment loss.
• Weed Suppression: Dense foliage suppresses weed growth, reducing maintenance.
• Soil Health: Improve soil fertility and structure with organic matter decomposition.
• Wildlife Support: Many ground covers provide habitats and food sources for beneficial insects.

Conclusion

Choosing the right ground cover plants can transform your garden, adding beauty alongside practicality. The plants highlighted in this UK gardeners' guide offer a range of options to suit various garden styles and conditions. Whether you are seeking to add color, attract pollinators, or ease garden maintenance, these nine ground covers have much to offer.

By implementing these selections, UK gardeners can enjoy a lush and vibrant garden landscape with minimal effort. Happy gardening!