When the Mississippi heat turns lawns patchy and bare, fast-growing ground covers can come to the rescue. These spreading plants don’t just fill in empty spaces—they help cool the soil, crowd out weeds, and add a lush, natural look with very little effort.
From sunny borders to shady corners, the right ground covers can transform a yard in a single season, creating a carpet of color and texture that thrives in the Southern climate.
1. Asiatic Jasmine
With glossy leaves that create a thick carpet, Asiatic jasmine thrives in Mississippi’s climate and spreads remarkably fast once established. It tolerates both sun and shade, making it incredibly versatile for different yard areas.
Drought-resistant qualities mean less watering during summer months. The plant stays green year-round in southern Mississippi, though it may turn bronze during cold snaps further north.
Mowing once or twice yearly keeps it looking tidy and encourages denser growth throughout your landscape.
2. Liriope (Monkey Grass)
Grass-like blades and beautiful purple flower spikes in late summer make liriope a favorite among Mississippi gardeners who want both function and beauty. Incredibly tough, it handles heat, humidity, and even occasional foot traffic without complaint.
Plant clumps about 12 inches apart for quick coverage that fills in beautifully within one growing season. Deer typically avoid munching on it, which makes it ideal for rural properties.
Cut back old foliage in early spring to reveal fresh, vibrant new growth underneath.
3. Confederate Jasmine
Fragrant white blooms in spring fill the air with a sweet perfume that transforms your entire yard into a sensory delight. Although often used as a climbing vine, Confederate jasmine works wonderfully as a spreading ground cover for slopes and banks.
Its evergreen foliage stays attractive all year, providing consistent visual appeal even during winter months. Growth rate is impressive once roots establish, covering large areas within two to three years.
Occasional pruning keeps it from becoming too woody and encourages fuller growth patterns.
4. Creeping Jenny
Bright chartreuse leaves catch sunlight and create a glowing carpet that looks especially stunning near water features or in shady spots. Creeping Jenny loves moisture, making it perfect for those problem areas in your yard that stay damp.
Fast-spreading stems root wherever they touch soil, creating a thick mat that chokes out weeds naturally. Small yellow flowers appear in summer, adding an extra pop of color to the already vibrant foliage.
Trim edges occasionally to prevent it from invading flower beds or sidewalks.
5. Periwinkle (Vinca Minor)
Purple-blue flowers dance above glossy foliage each spring, creating a magical carpet that brightens shady areas where grass struggles to grow. Periwinkle establishes quickly and spreads through trailing stems that root along the ground.
Shade tolerance is exceptional, though it also handles partial sun without burning or wilting in Mississippi’s heat. Evergreen leaves provide year-round coverage, keeping bare soil hidden during every season.
Water regularly during the first year, then it becomes remarkably self-sufficient and drought-tolerant afterward.
6. Mondo Grass
Deep green blades form a dense, grass-like carpet that stays neat without constant mowing or trimming maintenance. Mondo grass handles Mississippi’s humidity beautifully and actually prefers shady locations where traditional turf fails.
Extremely slow-growing at first, it eventually creates an impenetrable mat that prevents weed growth completely. Tiny purple flowers hide beneath the foliage in summer, followed by small blue berries.
Divide clumps every few years to propagate more plants and fill in additional bare spots around your property.
7. English Ivy
Classic lobed leaves create an elegant look that works beautifully in formal and casual landscapes throughout Mississippi. English ivy grows aggressively, covering ground faster than most alternatives once it gets going.
Shade-loving nature makes it ideal for those difficult spots under trees where nothing else will thrive. Evergreen foliage provides consistent coverage through all four seasons, maintaining visual interest year-round.
Watch carefully though, as it can climb trees and structures if not controlled with regular trimming and boundary maintenance.
8. Ajuga (Bugleweed)
Bronze or purple-tinted leaves add unique color variation that sets ajuga apart from typical green ground covers in your landscape. Spikes of blue or purple flowers shoot up in spring, attracting butterflies and hummingbirds to your yard.
Spreading through runners, ajuga fills in bare spots quickly and tolerates light foot traffic reasonably well. It prefers partial shade but adapts to various light conditions across Mississippi’s diverse microclimates.
Divide plants in fall or spring to create more coverage or share with neighbors and friends.
9. Dwarf Lantana
Multicolored flower clusters bloom continuously from spring through fall, providing nonstop color that brightens sunny areas of your Mississippi landscape. Heat and drought tolerance make dwarf lantana incredibly low-maintenance once established in your garden.
Butterflies absolutely adore the nectar-rich blooms, transforming your yard into a pollinator paradise throughout the growing season. Spreading growth habit covers ground quickly, though it dies back in winter in northern Mississippi.
Trim lightly after flowering to encourage bushier growth and more abundant blooms next season.
10. Phlox Subulata (Creeping Phlox)
Masses of pink, purple, or white blooms create a stunning floral carpet each spring that looks almost too beautiful to be real. Needle-like evergreen foliage forms a dense mat that suppresses weeds while adding texture to your landscape design.
Perfect for slopes and rock gardens where erosion control is needed in Mississippi’s sometimes heavy rainfall. Full sun brings out the most abundant flowering, though it tolerates partial shade reasonably well.
Shear back after blooming to maintain compact growth and encourage even thicker coverage for following years.
11. Wedelia (Trailing Daisy)
Cheerful yellow daisy-like flowers bloom nearly year-round in southern Mississippi, bringing constant sunshine to your landscape. Wedelia spreads incredibly fast through trailing stems, making it one of the quickest ground covers available.
Heat and humidity don’t faze it at all, and it actually thrives in Mississippi’s challenging summer conditions. Salt tolerance makes it useful for coastal areas where many other plants struggle to survive.
Keep it contained with edging, as its enthusiastic growth can overwhelm nearby plants if left completely unchecked.
12. Sedum (Stonecrop)
Succulent leaves store water efficiently, making sedum the ultimate choice for dry, sunny spots where other ground covers would wither and die. Varieties range from low-growing creepers to slightly taller types, all spreading steadily across bare ground.
Star-shaped flowers in summer attract bees and beneficial insects that help pollinate your entire garden. Drought tolerance is legendary, requiring almost no supplemental watering once roots establish.
Plant in well-draining soil to prevent root rot, as soggy conditions are one of the few things that harm it.