Finding the right ground cover for those scorching spots in your yard can feel like mission impossible. Too much sun burns delicate plants to a crisp, leaving bare patches where you wanted lush greenery. The good news? Nature has equipped certain plants with amazing abilities to not just survive but actually flourish in hot, sunny conditions – while others simply can’t take the heat.
1. Sedum (Stonecrop)
Tough as nails, sedum laughs in the face of drought and blazing sunshine. Its fleshy, water-storing leaves come in various shapes and colors, from lime green to deep burgundy. Low-growing varieties form tight mats that choke out weeds while taller types add dramatic texture.
Most sedums produce star-shaped flowers in late summer that attract butterflies and bees. Best of all, they need practically zero maintenance once established. Just plant them in well-draining soil and watch them spread.
2. Creeping Thyme
Walk on it, sit on it, let the kids play on it – creeping thyme can handle it all while releasing a wonderful herbal scent. This Mediterranean native forms a dense carpet just 2-4 inches tall, perfect for filling spaces between stepping stones.
In early summer, tiny purple or pink flowers cover the entire plant, creating a stunning display that pollinators adore. Choose from varieties like ‘Elfin’, ‘Coccineus’, or ‘Woolly’ thyme for different textures and growth habits.
3. Ice Plant
Don’t let the name fool you – ice plant thrives in hot, dry conditions despite its crystalline appearance. The succulent foliage looks like it’s covered in tiny ice crystals, sparkling in the sunlight. From spring through fall, daisy-like flowers in vibrant purples, pinks, and yellows open during sunny days.
Native to South Africa, ice plant has evolved to handle poor soil and coastal conditions. Just make sure your soil drains well – these plants hate wet feet, especially in winter.
4. Creeping Juniper
Practically indestructible, creeping juniper brings year-round color to challenging slopes and banks. The dense, needle-like foliage spreads horizontally, creating a thick mat that effectively prevents erosion.
Available in shades from silvery-blue to emerald green, these conifers need no trimming and stay looking good through all seasons. Some varieties like ‘Blue Rug’ can spread up to 8 feet wide while remaining just 6 inches tall. Plant them where nothing else will grow – they’ll thrive with minimal attention.
5. Lamb’s Ear
Soft, fuzzy, and irresistibly touchable, lamb’s ear adds a unique textural element to sunny gardens. The silvery-gray leaves feel like velvet and create a striking contrast against other plants. Children especially love running their hands over the woolly foliage.
This drought-resistant perennial spreads gradually to form a dense mat about 6-8 inches tall, occasionally sending up tall purple flower spikes that attract bees. The silvery color actually reflects sunlight, helping the plant stay cool in intense heat.
6. Creeping Phlox
Spring brings an explosion of color when creeping phlox blankets the ground with star-shaped blooms in pink, purple, blue, or white. This North American native forms a dense, weed-suppressing mat that cascades beautifully over walls or slopes.
After flowering, the needle-like evergreen foliage continues providing interest year-round. Butterflies and hummingbirds flock to the nectar-rich blossoms. Plant different colors side by side for a stunning patchwork effect that’s visible from blocks away during peak bloom.
7. Ornamental Oregano
Far more than just a kitchen herb, ornamental oregano varieties create stunning hanging carpets of color. Trailing stems cascade over walls or containers, displaying silvery-green leaves and showy bracts in shades of pink, purple, and chartreuse.
Varieties like ‘Hopley’s Purple’ and ‘Kent Beauty’ produce masses of paper-like flowers that last for months and dry beautifully on the plant. The aromatic foliage deters deer and rabbits while attracting beneficial insects. Give these Mediterranean natives sharp drainage and they’ll reward you with months of color.
8. Portulaca (Moss Rose)
Resembling tiny roses atop succulent stems, portulaca delivers non-stop color throughout the hottest summer days. The water-storing leaves remain plump and juicy even during drought, while the flowers open each morning in shades of orange, pink, yellow, and red.
Growing just 3-6 inches tall, this annual reseeds readily, returning year after year in hot spots. Modern varieties like the ‘Mojave’ series feature double blooms that look like miniature peonies. Plant portulaca in containers, rock gardens, or as edging where other plants struggle.
9. Prairie Dropseed
Native prairie grasses like dropseed create fountains of fine-textured foliage that dance in the slightest breeze. The arching, hair-like blades form neat mounds about 2 feet tall and wide, turning golden in fall. Delicate seed heads appear in late summer, releasing a subtle fragrance some compare to coriander or popcorn.
Unlike many ornamental grasses, prairie dropseed stays relatively compact, making it perfect for mass planting. Its deep roots need no supplemental water once established, accessing moisture far below the surface.
10. Lantana
Butterflies can’t resist lantana’s clusters of tiny tubular flowers that change color as they age, creating multi-hued displays of yellow, orange, pink, and purple on a single plant. This tropical-looking perennial laughs at heat and humidity that would wilt other plants.
Spreading varieties like ‘New Gold’ and ‘Purple Trailing’ make excellent ground covers, forming mounds 1-2 feet tall that spill over edges. The aromatic foliage deters deer and other browsers. Deadheading isn’t necessary, as new blooms continuously replace old ones until frost.
11. Creeping Rosemary
Imagine the wonderful scent of rosemary released every time you brush against this prostrate herb. Unlike its upright cousins, creeping varieties like ‘Prostratus’ and ‘Huntington Carpet’ hug the ground, cascading over walls or spreading 2-3 feet wide while staying under 6 inches tall.
The needle-like foliage remains evergreen year-round in mild climates. Pale blue flowers appear in spring, attracting bees and other pollinators. Best of all, you can snip sprigs for cooking any time – the more you harvest, the bushier it grows.
12. Artemisia ‘Silver Mound’
Looking like a pile of silver coins catching the sunlight, Artemisia ‘Silver Mound’ creates striking contrast against darker plants. The finely-cut, aromatic foliage forms perfect domes about 12 inches tall and 18 inches wide.
Unlike many silver plants that look scraggly, this artemisia maintains its neat shape all season without flopping. The fragrant leaves contain natural oils that repel insects and deer. Plant it where afternoon sun will illuminate the silvery color, making it appear to glow from within.
13. Bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi)
Native to northern regions, bearberry creates a living carpet of small, glossy evergreen leaves that turn bronzy-purple in winter. This slow-growing native spreads gradually to form dense mats 6-12 inches tall and several feet wide.
Tiny white or pink bell-shaped flowers appear in spring, followed by bright red berries that persist through winter, providing food for birds and small mammals. The name comes from bears’ fondness for the berries. Once established, bearberry requires zero irrigation, thriving in poor, sandy soils.
14. Gazania
Dazzling daisy-like flowers in gold, orange, pink, and cream open wide on sunny days, creating a riot of color just 6-8 inches tall. Many gazania varieties feature striking stripes or rings on their petals, reminiscent of African tribal art from their native South Africa.
The silvery-green foliage looks attractive even when the plants aren’t blooming. In mild climates, gazanias act as short-lived perennials, while colder regions grow them as annuals. They’re perfect for hot, dry spots where other flowers struggle.
15. Hosta Loves Shade
Despite their reputation as shade lovers, hostas quickly turn crispy when planted in direct sunlight. Their broad, thin leaves simply can’t retain enough moisture to withstand hot afternoon rays. Even varieties labeled ‘sun tolerant’ usually only handle morning sun in cooler climates.
The beautiful blue-leaved types are particularly vulnerable, losing their distinctive coloration when exposed to too much light. Save these stunning foliage plants for woodland gardens or areas that receive dappled shade throughout the day.
16. Astilbe Isn’t A Fan Of Full Sun
Those feathery plumes that look so magnificent in catalogs will never materialize if you plant astilbe in sunny spots. These woodland natives need consistent moisture and protection from harsh rays to produce their signature flowers.
When exposed to full sun, astilbe leaves brown at the edges before eventually dying back completely. Even with constant watering, they struggle to cope with heat stress. Instead, use these beauties to brighten shady corners where few other plants flower so spectacularly.
17. Heuchera Needs Protection
Those gorgeous ruffled leaves in purple, caramel, lime green or silver that make heucheras so popular quickly become scorched and tattered in full sun. While some varieties can handle morning light, afternoon sun is a death sentence, especially in hot climates.
The thin leaves lose moisture rapidly, leading to crispy edges and eventual collapse. Even the most drought-tolerant varieties prefer dappled shade or protection from intense afternoon rays. Reserve these colorful foliage plants for brightening woodland gardens instead.
18. Keep Impatiens Out Of The Sun
The classic bedding impatiens (Impatiens walleriana) simply melt away when planted in full sun. Their succulent stems and thin leaves quickly wilt and collapse when temperatures rise, no matter how much you water them.
While the newer SunPatiens hybrids can handle more light, traditional varieties need shade to survive. Their constant thirst in sunny locations makes them water hogs, demanding daily irrigation during hot weather. For colorful blooms in shady spots, few plants can match impatiens’ performance – just keep them out of the sun.
19. Ferns Need Shade
Evolved in forest understories, most ferns lack the waxy coating and specialized structures that allow other plants to conserve water in sunny conditions. Their delicate fronds quickly turn brown and crispy when exposed to direct sunlight.
The exceptions are few – perhaps only the cinnamon fern and bracken can handle some direct sun if kept constantly moist. Most decorative garden ferns like Japanese painted fern and maidenhair need cool, humid shade to look their best. Plant these ancient beauties where they’ll receive only dappled morning light.