Tired of weeding every time you step outside? These native ground covers do the hard work for you—no drama, no fuss.
They spread beautifully, fill those tricky borders, and keep weeds in check without any chemicals. I’ve picked 20 favorites that know how to handle themselves and still look amazing.
Your garden’s about to get a whole lot easier (and prettier).
1. Wild Ginger
Heart-shaped leaves create a lush carpet in shady spots where other plants struggle. Native wild ginger spreads slowly but surely, forming colonies that effectively crowd out weeds without becoming invasive themselves.
Perfect for woodland gardens, this plant thrives in rich, moist soil and requires minimal maintenance once established. Its unusual flowers appear at ground level, often hidden beneath the foliage.
2. Creeping Thyme
Aromatic and tough, this sun-loving ground cover creates a carpet of tiny leaves that burst into purple flowers in summer. Walking on creeping thyme releases its delightful scent, making it perfect for pathways and between stepping stones.
Hardy in most climates, it tolerates drought once established and stands up to light foot traffic. The dense growth habit effectively smothers weeds while attracting beneficial pollinators to your garden.
3. Pennsylvania Sedge
Fine-textured and grass-like, this adaptable native forms flowing drifts in both sun and shade. Unlike many ground covers, Pennsylvania sedge thrives in dry woodland conditions where other plants struggle to establish.
The fountain-like growth habit creates a natural-looking meadow effect that’s particularly effective at suppressing weeds. Its shallow root system makes it gentle on tree roots, perfect for planting under established trees.
4. Bearberry
Tough and resilient, bearberry thrives in poor, sandy soils where little else will grow. Its leathery evergreen leaves form a dense mat that effectively prevents weed seeds from finding purchase, while bright red berries add winter interest.
Native to North America, this ground cover handles coastal conditions, slopes, and even road salt with ease. The extensive root system makes it excellent for erosion control on banks and hillsides.
5. Bunchberry
Charming woodland native that produces white dogwood-like flowers followed by bright red berries. The whorled leaves form a continuous carpet in shady areas, effectively blocking weed growth while adding four-season interest to garden borders.
Bunchberry spreads by underground runners, gradually filling in empty spaces without becoming aggressive. This low-maintenance ground cover prefers acidic soil and pairs beautifully with ferns and other woodland plants.
6. Partridgeberry
Dainty evergreen leaves form a picture-perfect mat in woodland settings, studded with twin white flowers in spring. Later, bright red berries persist through winter, providing food for wildlife when other sources are scarce.
Slow-growing but persistent, partridgeberry weaves itself between rocks and tree roots, thriving where many plants can’t. Its shallow root system makes it an ideal companion for trees and shrubs without competing for deep soil resources.
7. Prairie Dropseed
Fountain-like clumps of fine-textured grass create a billowy meadow effect that’s surprisingly effective at keeping weeds at bay. The arching leaves catch morning dew, sparkling in the early light and adding movement to garden borders.
Prairie dropseed develops deep roots that help it survive drought while preventing soil erosion. Its golden fall color and delicate seed heads extend the season of interest, making this native grass a year-round performer.
8. Pussytoes
Soft, silvery foliage forms a drought-tolerant mat that thrives in poor soils and full sun. The distinctive flower heads resemble cat’s paws, hovering above the leaves on slender stems and adding whimsical charm to rock gardens.
Spreading gradually by runners, pussytoes creates a weed-suppressing carpet without becoming invasive. Native to North America, this ground cover attracts butterflies while requiring minimal care once established.
9. Golden Groundsel
Cheerful yellow flowers appear in early spring, brightening woodland edges before trees leaf out. After blooming, the attractive heart-shaped leaves form a dense carpet that effectively blocks weed growth throughout the growing season.
Golden groundsel spreads at a manageable pace, gradually filling empty spaces without overwhelming neighbors. This adaptable native thrives in partial shade and average soil, making it easy to incorporate into existing garden borders.
10. Barren Strawberry
Despite its name, there’s nothing barren about this vigorous ground cover with strawberry-like leaves and bright yellow flowers. The semi-evergreen foliage forms a tight mat that effectively smothers weeds while looking attractive year-round.
Barren strawberry spreads by runners similar to true strawberries but without becoming invasive. Tough and adaptable, it handles dry shade conditions that challenge many other ground covers.
11. Foam Flower
Delicate spires of tiny white flowers rise above attractive maple-like foliage in spring. The leaves form a dense, weed-suppressing mat that’s especially effective in woodland gardens and shady borders.
Foam flower spreads slowly by underground rhizomes, gradually filling in bare spots. Many varieties offer decorative leaf patterns that provide interest even when the plant isn’t in bloom, making this a valuable four-season ground cover.
12. Virginia Creeper
Spectacular fall color transforms this versatile native into a blaze of crimson and purple when temperatures drop. While often grown as a climber, Virginia creeper makes an excellent ground cover for difficult slopes and areas too shady for grass.
Fast-growing and vigorous, it quickly covers large areas and prevents erosion on banks. Birds relish the dark blue berries, making this ground cover valuable for wildlife gardens.
13. Wild Stonecrop
Succulent leaves store water, helping this native sedum thrive in hot, dry conditions where other plants struggle. The star-shaped yellow flowers attract pollinators, while the spreading habit creates a living mulch that prevents weeds and conserves soil moisture.
Wild stonecrop requires almost no maintenance once established. Its shallow roots make it perfect for rock gardens, green roofs, and shallow containers where deeper-rooted plants can’t grow.
14. Green and Gold
Cheerful yellow flowers dot this semi-evergreen ground cover from spring through fall, creating months of color. The spreading habit forms a dense carpet that effectively suppresses weeds while requiring minimal maintenance.
Green and gold adapts to various light conditions, from morning sun to dappled shade. Native to eastern woodlands, it’s surprisingly drought-tolerant once established, making it perfect for borders that don’t get regular watering.
15. Allegheny Spurge
Elegant rosettes of evergreen leaves create a refined ground cover that suppresses weeds year-round. The leathery foliage develops beautiful bronze tints in winter, adding color to the garden when little else shows.
Spikes of fragrant white flowers appear in early spring, attracting early-season pollinators. This native pachysandra spreads more slowly than its Asian cousin, making it less likely to become invasive in woodland gardens.
16. Creeping Phlox
Carpets of vibrant spring flowers transform this ground cover into a sea of color for weeks each year. The needle-like evergreen foliage forms dense mats that effectively prevent weed seeds from finding soil to germinate.
Creeping phlox thrives in sunny, well-drained sites and cascades beautifully over walls and slopes. Its shallow root system makes it easy to control, and established plants tolerate drought with minimal fuss.
17. Wild Geranium
Delicate lavender-pink flowers hover above deeply cut foliage in spring, attracting bees and butterflies to the garden. The leaves form a weed-suppressing layer that’s particularly effective in woodland borders and partially shaded areas.
Wild geranium spreads slowly by rhizomes, creating colonies that fill in gaps between larger plants. Fall brings rich burgundy leaf color, extending the season of interest for this adaptable native ground cover.
18. Woodland Phlox
Fragrant blue-purple flowers carpet woodland gardens in spring, filling the air with sweet perfume. The spreading habit creates an effective weed barrier in partially shaded areas where many ground covers struggle to establish.
Woodland phlox naturalizes beautifully among spring bulbs and ferns. The semi-evergreen foliage provides year-round interest and soil protection, while the shallow root system makes it a good companion for trees and shrubs.
19. Canada Anemone
Buttercup-like white flowers dance above deeply cut foliage, brightening woodland edges and moist gardens. The spreading habit quickly fills empty spaces, creating a living mulch that effectively prevents weed establishment.
Canada anemone thrives in conditions that challenge many plants, from damp areas to clay soils. While vigorous, it’s easily controlled in garden settings and provides valuable early-season nectar for pollinators.
20. Dwarf Crested Iris
Enchanting purple flowers appear in early spring, creating a magical carpet in woodland gardens. The fan-shaped leaf clusters form an attractive ground cover that continues providing interest long after the blooms fade.
Unlike many irises, this native species spreads by rhizomes to form colonies that effectively suppress weeds. The compact size makes it perfect for edging paths and filling front-of-border spaces in partially shaded gardens.