25 flowering ground covers that don’t just fill bare spots—they serve up fresh fruit, too! These plants bring color, texture, and a little something extra to your garden. Easy to grow and low-maintenance, they’re perfect whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just testing your green thumb.
Plus, some of these you’ve probably never even heard of! Get ready to turn those empty spaces into a thriving, edible landscape.
1. Strawberry (Fragaria vesca)
With delicate white flowers, these fast-spreading plants create a lush ground cover in sunny spaces. Strawberries produce sweet, ruby-red berries that are easy to harvest and perfect for snacking or desserts.
They’re low-maintenance and even help control weeds. For the best results, plant them in well-drained soil and water regularly. A delicious harvest will be ready before you know it!
2. Cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon)
With tiny pink blossoms, this shrub adds beauty before producing tart, red berries loved in sauces and juices. Cranberries thrive in acidic, sandy soil with plenty of moisture, making them perfect for wet areas.
Their trailing vines form a dense mat, ideal for ground cover and large spaces. Native to North America, they bring both flavor and function to any garden.
3. Lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea)
This low-growing shrub features small, evergreen leaves and produces bright red berries with a tart, flavorful bite, perfect for jams and preserves. Lingonberries thrive in acidic, well-drained soil and easily withstand cold climates.
They’re a great choice for adding both color and edible appeal to shaded areas. Regular pruning helps maintain their shape and encourages better fruit production.
4. Wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens)
Nature’s charm is evident with this beautiful plant. Wintergreen features glossy leaves and bell-like white flowers.
The plant produces bright red berries with a distinctive minty flavor, often used in teas and candies. Wintergreen prefers acidic, well-drained soils and partial shade.
It spreads slowly, making it an excellent ground cover for woodland gardens. Regular mulching helps retain soil moisture and encourages more abundant fruiting.
5. Creeping Raspberry (Rubus hayata-koidzumii)
This ground cover adds a touch of wild beauty. Creeping raspberry is known for its ornamental foliage and small, sweet berries.
The plant’s white flowers add to its appeal, attracting pollinators. It’s an excellent choice for covering rocky or sloped areas, as it roots as it spreads.
Creeping raspberry thrives in sunny spots with well-drained soil. Regular pruning can help control its growth and enhance fruit production.
6. Bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi)
With leathery leaves and delicate pinkish-white flowers, this hardy ground cover adds beauty before producing edible red berries, often used in teas and herbal remedies. Bearberry thrives in sandy, well-drained soil, making it a great choice for coastal gardens.
It’s highly resilient, tolerating both cold and drought conditions. Perfect for stabilizing slopes and preventing soil erosion, this plant is as practical as it is attractive.
7. Salal (Gaultheria shallon)
An often-overlooked gem brings utility and taste to gardens. Salal is a hardy, evergreen shrub with glossy leaves.
It produces edible dark purple berries that are sweet and juicy, perfect for making jams or eating fresh. Salal thrives in shaded, forested areas with acidic soil.
8. Himalayan Honeysuckle (Leycesteria formosa)
A garden showstopper is within reach with this plant. Himalayan honeysuckle features striking white flowers.
Its purple-black berries follow, offering a sweet and juicy treat that both birds and humans enjoy. This plant thrives in well-drained soil and prefers partial shade.
9. Sea Buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides)
A versatile addition to your garden can be found in this plant. Sea buckthorn is known for its silver-green foliage and bright orange berries.
These berries are rich in vitamins and antioxidants, often used in juices and health supplements. This hardy plant tolerates poor soil and salty conditions, making it ideal for coastal gardens.
10. Cape Gooseberry (Physalis peruviana)
With its unique lantern-like husks, this plant hides juicy golden berries that offer a sweet-tart flavor, perfect for desserts and preserves.
Cape gooseberry thrives in sunny spots with well-drained soil and is easy to grow from seed. Its compact size makes it ideal for pots or garden beds, providing a steady harvest throughout the season.
11. Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata)
Bring an exotic touch to your garden with this fast-growing vine, known for its intricate purple blossoms. Passionflower produces oval orange fruits, called maypops, that are sweet and fragrant.
Thriving in warm climates with well-drained soil, its vigorous vines easily cover trellises or fences, adding vertical interest. The fruits are great for making juice or jellies, bringing a tropical flavor to your kitchen.
12. Aronia Berry (Aronia melanocarpa)
An excellent choice for health-conscious gardeners. Aronia berry is a deciduous shrub with white flowers.
Its dark purple berries are rich in antioxidants and vitamins, often used in health drinks and snack bars. The plant prefers full sun and well-drained soil.
13. Grape Hyacinth (Muscari botryoides)
Add a pop of color to your garden with this charming plant, known for its small, grape-like clusters of blue blooms. Grape hyacinth may not bear fruit, but it attracts pollinators and brightens up any space.
Thriving in sunny to partially shaded areas with well-drained soil, it requires little maintenance once established. After blooming, its foliage fades, allowing other plants to take center stage.
14. Pineapple Guava (Feijoa sellowiana)
An exotic charm can grace your garden with this plant. Pineapple guava boasts waxy green leaves and striking red-centered flowers.
The oval fruits are fragrant and sweet, often eaten fresh or made into jellies. Pineapple guava thrives in subtropical climates, preferring well-drained soil and full sun.
15. Japanese Quince (Chaenomeles japonica)
Known for its pink blossoms, this hardy shrub brings both beauty and function to any garden. Japanese quince produces small greenish-yellow fruits with a tart flavor, perfect for jams and jellies.
It thrives in sunny locations with well-drained soil and can serve as an ornamental shrub or a natural security hedge with its thorny branches. Regular pruning helps maintain its shape and boosts fruit production.
16. Creeping Thyme (Thymus serpyllum)
Aromatic beauty unfolds with this versatile plant. Creeping thyme is known for its fragrant foliage and small purple flowers.
Though primarily an herb, its leaves can be used to flavor dishes, and the flowers attract pollinators. It thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, making it perfect for borders and pathways.
17. Periwinkle (Vinca minor)
A classic choice brings elegance and ease. Periwinkle, with its glossy leaves, forms a dense mat.
Its lilac-blue flowers add a touch of color in shaded areas, making it a popular ground cover. Periwinkle is hardy and can thrive in a variety of soil types, though it prefers moist, well-drained soil.
18. Black Huckleberry (Gaylussacia baccata)
An underrated treasure awaits in your garden. Black huckleberry is known for its bell-shaped pink flowers.
The clusters of black berries that follow are sweet and juicy, often used in pies and preserves. This shrub thrives in acidic soil and shaded areas, making it perfect for woodland gardens.
19. Goji Berry (Lycium barbarum)
A powerhouse of nutrition is at your fingertips. Goji berry plants are celebrated for their slender branches and nutritious berries.
The orange-red berries are packed with vitamins and antioxidants, often consumed dried or in smoothies. Goji berries thrive in sunny locations with well-drained soil.
20. Fuchsia (Fuchsia magellanica)
With its striking red and purple, pendant-like flowers, this plant adds a bold touch to any garden. Fuchsia produces small, dark fruits that are edible with a slightly tart flavor. Thriving in cool, shaded areas with moist, well-drained soil, it’s perfect for brightening up shady spots.
Whether grown in containers or hanging baskets, regular pruning encourages more blooms and a fuller, bushier plant.
21. Sweet Woodruff (Galium odoratum)
Bring a touch of charm to your garden with this fast-spreading ground cover, known for its whorled leaves and delicate white flowers. Sweet woodruff may not produce fruit, but its fragrant foliage is perfect for potpourris and herbal uses.
Thriving in shaded areas with moist, well-drained soil, it quickly fills in spaces under trees or in woodland gardens. Its tiny blooms attract pollinators, adding beauty and life to any landscape.
22. Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana)
A striking feature is evident in this plant. Beautyberry is known for its clusters of bright purple berries.
These berries, while not particularly tasty, can be used in jellies or as decorative elements. Beautyberry prefers well-drained soil and full sun to partial shade.
This shrub is perfect for adding color and interest to your landscape. Its berries attract birds, and pruning encourages a more compact growth habit.
23. Texas Sage (Salvia texana)
Graceful resilience defines this plant. Texas sage, with its silvery leaves, is a drought-tolerant shrub.
Its lavender-purple flowers add a splash of color to dry, rocky gardens. While not a fruit producer, its flowers attract pollinators and add beauty to xeriscapes.
Texas sage thrives in well-drained soil and requires minimal care. It’s perfect for borders or as a specimen plant in water-wise gardens.
24. Pawpaw (Asimina triloba)
A tropical treat awaits those who plant this versatile tree. Pawpaw is beloved for its large, lush leaves.
The tree produces unique yellow-green fruits with a creamy, banana-like flavor. Pawpaw prefers rich, well-drained soil and can tolerate shade, making it suitable for woodland gardens.
These trees often grow in clusters and provide a bountiful harvest when mature.
25. Ground Cherry (Physalis pruinosa)
The golden berries inside are sweet and perfect for jams, pies, or fresh snacks. Ground cherries thrive in sunny locations with well-drained soil and are easy to grow from seed.
Their compact size makes them ideal for garden beds or containers. Regular harvesting encourages continuous fruiting, providing a steady supply throughout the season.
26. Blackberry (Rubus fruticosus)
Tangy and sweet, this plant is a garden staple. Blackberry brambles feature arching canes and white flowers.
The ripe black berries that follow are delicious and versatile, perfect for desserts or fresh eating. Blackberries prefer full sun and well-drained soil, thriving in rural and urban gardens alike.
These plants are vigorous growers, so regular pruning is essential to maintain their shape and productivity. Enjoy the summer bounty straight from the vine.
27. Carpet Bugle (Ajuga reptans)
With dense, colorful foliage and striking blue flower spikes, this hardy ground cover brings texture and interest to any garden. Carpet bugle may not produce fruit, but its blooms attract pollinators and add a colorful touch.
Thriving in shaded areas with moist, well-drained soil, it’s perfect for borders, under trees, or even containers. Spreading quickly with minimal care, this low-maintenance plant is an easy way to fill in spaces and enhance your garden’s beauty.
28. Elderberry (Sambucus nigra)
A classic garden favorite, this shrub offers both beauty and function with its striking white flower clusters. Elderberry produces dark purple berries that are perfect for syrups, wines, and jams.
Thriving in well-drained soil and full sun to partial shade, it’s an excellent choice for hedgerows or wildlife habitats. Regular pruning helps maintain its shape and boosts fruit production, ensuring a generous harvest season after season.