Low Growing Ground Cover for Full Sun: A Complete Guide

When landscaping your yard or garden, choosing the right ground cover can make a huge difference in the overall look and feel Ground covers are low-growing plants that spread to form a dense, carpet-like covering over the soil surface Using ground covers in place of turf grass or mulch offers many benefits like weed suppression, erosion control, and low maintenance.

For areas that get full sun, there are many excellent low growing ground cover options to choose from. Full sun ground covers need to be tough enough to withstand the intense sunlight and heat throughout the day. Choosing plants that are heat, drought, and pest resistant will ensure your ground cover thrives in sunny conditions.

In this complete guide we will look at some of the best low growing ground cover plants for full sun exposure.

Why Use Low Growing Ground Covers

Ground covers that grow low to the ground offer several advantages over taller plants:

• Weed suppression – Low growing ground covers spread to form a dense mat that blocks light from reaching weed seeds. This prevents germination and growth of unwanted weeds.

• Erosion control – The foliage and stems of ground covers hold soil in place on slopes, banks, and other areas prone to erosion. Their spreading habit binds the soil.

• Low maintenance – Once established, most ground covers require less care and maintenance compared to turf grass or planting beds. Their low growth habit also reduces time spent trimming or mowing.

• Visual appeal – Ground covers add greenery and interesting textures to gardens. Low growth allows them to integrate well into the landscape without blocking views.

• Adaptability – There are ground covers suited to nearly any environment – sun, shade, wet, dry, etc. This makes them very versatile in the landscape.

Best Low Growing Ground Covers for Full Sun

Here are some of the top low growing ground cover plants for full sun:

Creeping Thyme

Creeping thyme (Thymus serpyllum) is a classic sun-loving ground cover that grows just 2-4 inches tall. It produces clusters of petite pink or purple flowers from spring to early summer atop its fine, green foliage. There are also varieties with gold or white-variegated leaves. Creeping thyme spreads vigorously, up to 2 feet wide, and can withstand light foot traffic. It prefers well-drained soil and requires little watering or maintenance once established. Zones 4-9.

Creeping Phlox

Creeping phlox (Phlox subulata) is a spring blooming ground cover that grows only 4-6 inches tall. It produces an abundance of small, five-petaled flowers in pink, purple, blue, or white shades in April and May. Creeping phlox has long, sprawling stems covered in needle-shaped, semi-evergreen foliage. It spreads up to 2 feet wide and does well in average to dry soils. Evergreen in warm climates. Zones 3-9.

English Daisy

English daisy (Bellis perennis) emerges very early in spring and forms a lush green carpet of foliage just 2-4 inches high. Cheery white and pink daisy-like blooms cover the plants from late spring into summer. English daisy thrives in full sun and well-drained soil. Remove spent flowers regularly to encourage more blooms. May require replacing every 2-3 years. Zones 4-9.

Blue Fescue

Blue fescue (Festuca glauca) is a clumping ornamental grass with steely blue-gray foliage that grows 6-12 inches tall. It has an attractive spiky form with wheat-colored seed plumes that rise above the foliage in summer. Blue fescue spreads slowly to form a patch. It is drought tolerant once established and requires little care. Combines nicely with blue or silver foliage plants. Zones 4-8.

Dianthus

Dianthus are low-growing flowering perennials that reach just 6-12 inches in height. Popular varieties like maiden pinks (D. deltoides) produce abundant single or double flowers in shades of pink, red, purple, or white from late spring to summer. Foliage is slender and grass-like. Dianthus spreads via short stolons to form mats or clumps. Cut back spent blooms to encourage reblooming. Zones 3-9.

Creeping Jenny

Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia) is a fast-spreading ground cover that grows just 2-4 inches tall. Its round, green leaves spread rapidly to form a lush carpet of foliage. Creeping Jenny bears small, cup-shaped yellow flowers in summer. There is also a golden leaf variety called ‘Aurea’ that produces lime green foliage. Creeping Jenny thrives in moist soils and will spread aggressively in ideal conditions. Zones 3-9.

Snow-in-Summer

Snow-in-Summer (Cerastium tomentosum) is named for its pure white summer flowers that cover the 6-12 inch tall plants. It has mat-forming, silvery-gray foliage that provides dense ground cover as it spreads. Snow-in-summer looks best planted in mass and tolerates heat, drought, and poor soils very well. It may reseed freely, so consider planting in containers. Zones 3-7.

Sedum

Stonecrop sedums make excellent sun-loving ground covers as they require very little watering or care once established. Popular varieties like Dragon’s Blood sedum (Sedum spurium) form thick 4-6 inch tall carpets of succulent green, red, or variegated foliage. Tiny star-shaped flowers appear in summer. Sedums spread up to 2 feet wide and do very well in poor, dry soils. Evergreen in warm zones. Zones 4-9.

Rock Cress

Rock cress (Arabis caucasica) is a tidy evergreen perennial that reaches just 4-10 inches tall. It produces a dense carpet of dark green foliage and light gray-green new growth. Clusters of small, four-petaled white flowers bloom in early spring. Rock cress grows well in sandy or rocky soils with good drainage. It spreads slowly via rhizomes and combines well with bulbs and small spring bloomers. Zones 3-8.

Thrift

Thrift (Armeria maritima) is a compact, mounding plant that grows just 4-6 inches tall. It produces balls of slender grass-like leaves and clusters of pink or white flowers on tall stems in spring. Thrift does best in poor, sandy, or gravelly soils with very good drainage. It spreads slowly via rhizomes and requires little care when grown in full sun. Zones 3-7.

Veronica

Speedwell (Veronica spp.) offers very low-growing flowering ground covers that reach just 3-6 inches tall. Popular varieties like prostrate speedwell (V. prostrata) produce vivid blue flower spikes in spring and early summer. Good drainage is essential for veronica to thrive. It spreads moderately and combines well with spring bulbs and rock garden plants. Zones 4-8.

Woolly Thyme

Woolly thyme (Thymus pseudolanuginosus) is very similar to creeping thyme but forms a dense, woolly gray-green mat of foliage that grows just 2 inches tall. Tiny deep pink blooms appear in summer. Woolly thyme needs good drainage and little watering but is not as aggressive a spreader as creeping thyme. Use it as an accent or filler between pavers. Zones 4-8.

Dwarf Plumbago

Dwarf plumbago (Ceratostigma plumbaginoides) is a semi-evergreen ground cover that grows just 4-8 inches tall. It produces small rounded leaves that turn bronzy-red in fall. Clusters of trumpet-shaped blue flowers cover the plants in late summer and early fall, creating lovely color. Dwarf plumbago spreads slowly via runners and does best in regions with long hot summers. Zones 5-9.

Tips for Growing Low Ground Covers

Here are some useful tips for successfully establishing and growing low growing ground covers in sunny areas:

• Prepare the planting area well by removing any existing weeds, debris, or unhealthy vegetation. Work the soil to improve drainage in heavy clay soils.

• Select ground cover plants suited to your hardiness zone and site conditions. Make sure they can tolerate full sun exposure.

• Space plants properly so they have room to spread and develop. Follow spacing guidelines on plant tags.

• Water newly planted ground covers daily until their roots establish, then weekly during the first year. Mature plants need less watering.

• Use mulch around plants to help retain soil moisture and reduce weed growth. Replenish the mulch layer annually.

• Fertilize established ground covers lightly in spring and fall. Avoid over-fertilizing which causes excessive growth.

• Prune or cut back any diseased or frost damaged growth in spring. Remove spent flowers to encourage reblooming.

• Monitor for weeds and remove them promptly to prevent competition. Many ground covers inhibit weed growth once established.

Choosing hardy, low maintenance ground covers suited to full sun can create beautiful, lush landscapes that require less work than traditional lawns or gardens. Consider combining several types of sun-loving ground covers with trees, shrubs, and ornamental grasses to add interest. With a bit of planning, you can create stunning spaces that need little upkeep to continue looking their best.