9 excellent ground covers to enrich your UK garden space

Posted on 20/05/2025

9 Excellent Ground Covers to Enrich Your UK Garden Space

If you're looking to enhance your UK garden with lush greenery, consider adding ground covers. These low-growing plants spread quickly, providing a beautiful backdrop that requires minimal maintenance. Here's a guide to nine excellent ground covers that can transform your outdoor space.

The Benefits of Ground Covers

Ground covers offer a myriad of advantages. Not only do they beautify gardens with vibrant hues and textures, but they also help prevent soil erosion, retain moisture, and reduce weed growth. Moreover, many varieties are drought-tolerant, making them ideal for creating a sustainable garden.

1. Vinca minor (Lesser Periwinkle)

• Appearance: Vivid green foliage with striking blue or purple flowers.
• Growth Conditions: Thrives in both sun and shade; prefers well-drained soil.
• Benefits: Excellent for preventing erosion on slopes.

Lesser Periwinkle is a hardy choice that requires little care once established, making it an ideal choice for UK gardens.

2. Ajuga reptans (Bugleweed)

• Appearance: Colorful foliage that can range from purple to bronze, with deep blue flowers.
• Growth Conditions: Tolerates varied light conditions from full sun to shade.
• Benefits: Ideal for filling gaps between stepping stones or in rockeries.

Bugleweed is perfect for adding a burst of color and texture, especially in damp areas where other plants may struggle.

3. Hedera helix (Common Ivy)

• Appearance: Evergreen leaves with an elegant climbing or trailing habit.
• Growth Conditions: Suits a variety of environments but prefers shaded areas.
• Benefits: Provides dense coverage and can climb walls or trellises.

Common Ivy is a versatile ground cover that helps create structure in any garden setting.

4. Thymus serpyllum (Creeping Thyme)

• Appearance: Aromatic leaves with pink or purple flowers.
• Growth Conditions: Prefers sunny spots and well-drained soil.
• Benefits: Drought-resistant and attracts pollinators.

Creeping Thyme not only looks appealing but also fills the air with a pleasant fragrance, enhancing the sensory experience of your garden.

5. Phlox subulata (Moss Phlox)

• Appearance: Mats of bright flowers in spring; available in various colors.
• Growth Conditions: Favors full sun and tolerates dry soils.
• Benefits: Ideal for bright, sandy gardens.

Moss Phlox adds a carpet of color to your garden space, creating a stunning visual display.

6. Geranium macrorrhizum (Bigroot Geranium)

• Appearance: Aromatic leaves with pink or white flowers.
• Growth Conditions: Thrives in full sun to partial shade.
• Benefits: Resilient to pests and diseases.

This geranium variety is known for its reliable nature and will thrive in a range of soil types, ensuring a plush garden bed.

7. Lamium maculatum (Spotted Deadnettle)

• Appearance: Variegated leaves with silver markings and pink, white, or purple flowers.
• Growth Conditions: Prefers partial to full shade.
• Benefits: Low maintenance and fast-growing.

Spotted Deadnettle is perfect for adding visual interest to the shadier corners of your garden.

8. Saxifraga x urbium (London Pride)

• Appearance: Rosettes of green leaves with delicate pink flowers.
• Growth Conditions: Suitable for most environments, from full sun to shade.
• Benefits: Hardy and tolerant of adverse conditions.

London Pride is a classic ground cover, famed for its ability to thrive in the UK climate.

9. Pachysandra terminalis (Japanese Spurge)

• Appearance: Glossy green leaves with white spring flowers.
• Growth Conditions: Prefers shaded areas with moist, well-drained soil.
• Benefits: Remains evergreen throughout the year.

Japanese Spurge is ideal for maintaining a lush backdrop with its evergreen nature, making it a favored choice in many gardens.

Conclusion

Incorporating ground covers into your UK garden not only enhances its aesthetic appeal but also supports the health of your landscape by maintaining soil integrity and reducing maintenance needs. Consider these nine diverse and resilient options to create a vibrant and weed-resistant garden space.