Achieve Gardening Success with 9 UK Ground Cover Selections

Posted on 19/08/2025

Achieve Gardening Success with 9 UK Ground Cover Selections

Creating a thriving garden is a dream for many, and an effective way to enhance your garden's aesthetic while minimizing maintenance is through the use of ground cover plants. Ground covers are versatile and come in an array of colors and textures, making them an excellent choice for adding visual interest to your outdoor space. Here, we explore nine remarkable ground cover selections that are ideal for UK gardens and provide helpful tips to ensure your gardening success.

1. Creeping Thyme (Thymus serpyllum)

Creeping Thyme, a low-growing perennial, offers beautiful purple blooms and a delightful fragrance. Perfect for sunny spots, it can withstand foot traffic, making it an excellent choice for paths and borders.

Benefits

• Attracts pollinators: Bees and butterflies are drawn to its blooms.
• Drought-tolerant: Requires minimal watering once established.
• Mentions minimal pruning: Only needs trimming to remove old blooms.

2. Bugleweed (Ajuga reptans)

Bugleweed is a hardy perennial known for its deep purple foliage and vibrant blue flowers. Suitable for shaded and semi-shaded areas, it quickly covers ground with its lush carpet.

Benefits

• Low maintenance: Thrives despite moist or dry conditions.
• Prevent soil erosion: Helps hold soil in place on slopes.
• Creates a dramatic look: Adds depth and drama with its dark foliage.

3. Bergenia (Bergenia cordifolia)

Often referred to as "Elephant's Ears" due to its large, rounded leaves, Bergenia is a striking ground cover plant perfect for adding structure. It blooms in early spring with beautiful pink flowers.

Benefits

• Winter interest: Evergreen leaves take on a reddish hue in cold months.
• Long-lasting: Hardy and durable through varying conditions.
• Minimal pest issues: Generally free from significant pests or diseases.

4. Stachys byzantina

Commonly known as Lamb's Ear, Stachys byzantina features velvety, silver-grey foliage that adds an interesting texture to borders and rock gardens.

Benefits

• Frost-resistant: Performs well even in colder climates.
• Soft texture: Adds a touch-worthy element to your garden.
• Easy propagation: Spreads easily through division or cuttings.

5. Heather (Calluna vulgaris)

An evergreen shrub, Heather offers small, needle-like foliage with vibrant flowers that enhance your garden across much of the year. It thrives especially well on acidic soils.

Benefits

• All-year appeal: Provides color and texture throughout the seasons.
• Wildlife-friendly: A favorite among bees and insects.
• Variety of colors: Available in multiple hues like pink, white, and purple.

6. Corsican Mint (Mentha requienii)

Small yet mighty, Corsican Mint releases a refreshing aroma when walked upon, and its petite leaves form a lush, green mat. Ideal for in-between paving stones and stepping paths.

Benefits

• Fragrant foliage: Releases minty aroma upon contact.
• Low-growing: Minimum height makes it unobtrusive.
• Shade tolerant: Thrives in partial to full shade.

7. Lady's Mantle (Alchemilla mollis)

Noted for its soft, velvety leaves and chartreuse flowers, Lady's Mantle is a versatile ground cover that adds a soft texture to any garden environment.

Benefits

• Resilient to poor soil: Thrives in difficult growing conditions.
• Retains dew: Leaves capture morning dew, adding to visual appeal.
• Deer and rabbit resistant: Generally not browsed upon by wildlife.

8. Sweet Woodruff (Galium odoratum)

An ideal choice for shaded areas, Sweet Woodruff forms a dense carpet with its star-shaped white flowers and rich green leaves. Known for its sweet-smelling foliage, this plant was historically used in potpourris and perfumes.

Benefits

• Sweet fragrance: Foliage releases a sweet scent.
• Amazing for shade: Perfect for woodland and shaded borders.
• Spreads easily: Readily expands to cover space.

9. Sedum (Sedum spp.)

Sedums, or stonecrops, offer a wide range of textures and colors. Their succulent leaves are drought-resistant, and many varieties produce stunning flowers in late summer.

Benefits

• Variety and choice: Available in numerous shapes and sizes.
• Low water needs: Thrives in xeriscaping and arid areas.
• Late-season flowers: Blooms late, providing nectar for pollinators.

Tips for Planting and Maintaining Ground Covers

Successfully integrating ground covers in your garden relies on a few key tips:

• Choose the right plant: Match plant needs with garden conditions (sun, shade, soil type).
• Plan for spread: Use specimens based on their growth rate and habits.
• Ensure proper spacing: Give plants room to spread for full coverage.
• Water wisely: Most ground covers need less water once established.
• Prune when necessary: Trim to control excessive spread or to maintain desired shape.

Adopting these ground cover selections not only beautifies your garden but also helps reduce the need for ongoing garden chores. By mixing different species, you can create a tapestry of color and texture that transforms your outdoor space into a lush oasis. Whether you are aiming to cover large expanses, control weeds, or add vibrant diversity, ground covers offer an ideal solution for achieving gardening success in the UK.