9 essential ground cover plants to enrich your UK garden

Posted on 15/09/2025

9 Essential Ground Cover Plants to Enrich Your UK Garden

Ground cover plants are a fantastic addition to any UK garden, providing a lush carpet of foliage that not only beautifies your outdoor space but also serves practical functions. These plants are ideal for filling in gaps, suppressing weeds, and preventing soil erosion. In this guide, we'll explore nine essential ground cover plants to transform your garden into a stunning, low-maintenance haven.

1. Creeping Thyme (Thymus serpyllum)

Creeping Thyme is a delightful choice for gardeners seeking a fragrant and attractive ground cover. With its small, lush leaves and charming pink or purple flowers, this plant is perfect for sunny areas. Creeping Thyme thrives in well-drained soil and is hardy enough for the diverse UK climate.

Benefits of Creeping Thyme:

• Attracts pollinators like bees and butterflies
• Resistant to drought once established
• Offers a pleasant scent when walked upon

2. Bugleweed (Ajuga reptans)

Also known as Blue Bugle, Bugleweed is an excellent choice for shaded areas. Its glossy foliage and spikes of blue flowers create a stunning visual contrast in your garden from late spring to early summer. It spreads quickly but can be easily controlled.

Why Choose Bugleweed:

• Thrives in moist, shady conditions
• Provides seasonal interest with vibrant flowers
• Low-maintenance and durable

3. Periwinkle (Vinca minor)

Periwinkle, or Vinca minor, is an evergreen ground cover plant known for its beautiful, bright blue or purple flowers. It grows well in both sun and shade, making it versatile for varied garden conditions. This plant can cover large areas quickly, keeping weeds at bay.

Advantages of Periwinkle:

• Year-round greenery with minimal care
• Effective weed suppression
• Adaptable to various soil types

4. Japanese Spurge (Pachysandra terminalis)

If you're looking for a dense, green carpet in your garden, Japanese Spurge is an ideal choice. This evergreen plant is perfect for shady spots and delivers a consistent, lush appearance throughout the year. Its small white flowers add subtle elegance to your space.

Key Benefits of Japanese Spurge:

• Thrives in shaded and semi-shaded areas
• Provides excellent ground coverage
• Minimal maintenance required

5. Sweet Woodruff (Galium odoratum)

Sweet Woodruff, with its delicate white blooms and lovely fragrance, is a charming choice for shaded areas. This plant grows vigorously, creating an enchanting understory to garden trees and shrubs. Its star-shaped leaves add a unique texture to your ground cover palette.

Why Sweet Woodruff Stands Out:

• Sweet, hay-like fragrance
• Works well in shady borders
• Attractive foliage with distinct leaf patterns

6. Golden Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia 'Aurea')

The Golden Creeping Jenny is known for its bright golden-yellow foliage that adds a vibrant touch to your garden. This plant thrives in both full sun and partial shade, making it versatile and easy to care for. It's especially effective around water features or as a cascading plant.

Highlights of Golden Creeping Jenny:

• Eye-catching foliage with seasonal color changes
• Perfect for edging and rock gardens
• Requires minimal maintenance

7. Aubrieta (Aubrieta deltoidea)

Aubrieta is a marvelous choice for rock gardens and borders, with its vibrant purple and blue flowers that create a colorful ground cover. This evergreen perennial is ideal for sunny areas and well-drained soil, bringing a splash of color early in the spring season.

Perks of Planting Aubrieta:

• Early flowering for spring interest
• Perfect for borders and rockeries
• Attracts pollinators

8. Lamb's Ear (Stachys byzantina)

Lamb's Ear offers a unique texture and color with its soft, woolly silver foliage. This plant is drought-tolerant and grows well in sunny locations, making it a reliable choice for various garden settings. It adds an attractive contrast to other ground cover plants.

Benefits of Lamb's Ear:

• Low-water needs once established
• Interesting texture for garden foliage
• Complements other colorful plants beautifully

9. Wild Ginger (Asarum europaeum)

Wild Ginger is perfect if you need a ground cover plant for a shady garden area. With its glossy, heart-shaped leaves and bold appearance, Wild Ginger adds a tropical vibe to UK gardens. It's also known for its once-popular use in herbal remedies.

Advantages of Wild Ginger:

• Dense foliage perfect for suppressing weeds
• Hardy and withstands various climate conditions
• Attractive glossy leaves throughout the year

By incorporating these essential ground cover plants into your UK garden, you can create a visually appealing, eco-friendly space. Not only do these plants provide aesthetic value, but they also play a crucial role in maintaining garden health and biodiversity. Whether you prefer the vibrant blooms of Aubrieta or the lush evergreen foliage of Japanese Spurge, these ground covers are sure to enhance your gardening experience.