Bare patches in your yard can be frustrating, especially in Utah’s unique climate with hot summers and cold winters. Ground covers offer a smart solution by spreading quickly to fill empty spaces while requiring less water than traditional grass.
Whether you’re dealing with shady areas, slopes, or spots where grass just won’t grow, the right ground cover can transform your landscape into a beautiful, low-maintenance space that thrives in Utah’s conditions.
1. Creeping Thyme
Walking across a carpet of fragrant thyme feels like stepping into a Mediterranean garden right in your backyard. This low-growing herb spreads rapidly, forming a dense mat that tolerates foot traffic surprisingly well.
Creeping thyme blooms with tiny purple or pink flowers in summer, attracting bees and butterflies to your yard. It thrives in Utah’s full sun and handles drought conditions once established, making it perfect for water-wise landscaping.
Plant it between stepping stones or along pathways where its pleasant scent releases with every step.
2. Blue Fescue
Imagine silvery-blue tufts swaying gently in the breeze, adding texture and color where nothing else would grow. Blue fescue forms compact clumps that spread moderately to fill spaces without becoming invasive.
This ornamental grass loves Utah’s dry climate and requires minimal watering once its roots take hold. The blue-gray foliage provides year-round interest, even during winter months when many plants look dormant.
Space plants about twelve inches apart for quicker coverage, and watch them create a stunning sea of blue throughout your landscape.
3. Sedum Spurium (Dragon’s Blood)
Dragon’s Blood sedum earns its dramatic name from the deep red color its leaves turn during cooler months. This succulent ground cover spreads quickly across bare ground, forming a thick mat that chokes out weeds naturally.
Pink star-shaped flowers appear in late summer, creating a stunning contrast against the fleshy foliage. It handles Utah’s temperature extremes beautifully and needs very little water, making it ideal for neglected areas.
Plant it on slopes or rocky areas where other plants struggle to establish themselves successfully.
4. Snow-In-Summer
Bright white blooms blanket this silvery-leafed plant in late spring, creating the illusion of fresh snowfall even during warm weather. Snow-in-summer spreads vigorously through underground stems, quickly covering bare patches with its cheerful presence.
The gray-green foliage provides excellent contrast in garden beds and looks attractive even after flowering finishes. This hardy perennial tolerates Utah’s alkaline soils and drought conditions better than most ground covers.
Use it along borders or cascading over retaining walls where its sprawling habit creates beautiful visual interest.
5. Kinnikinnick (Bearberry)
Native Americans once used this plant’s leaves for smoking ceremonies, giving it the unique name kinnikinnick. This evergreen ground cover stays green year-round and produces small pink flowers followed by bright red berries that wildlife absolutely love.
Kinnikinnick spreads slowly but steadily, eventually forming a dense carpet that prevents erosion on slopes. It grows naturally in Utah’s mountains, making it perfectly adapted to local conditions including cold winters.
Plant it in acidic to neutral soil with good drainage for best results in your landscape.
6. Woolly Thyme
Running your fingers through woolly thyme feels like touching the softest carpet nature ever created. Unlike its flowering cousin, this variety focuses on foliage, creating a dense, fuzzy mat that fills spaces between pavers beautifully.
The gray-green leaves stay low to the ground and spread quickly to cover bare spots in sunny areas. It handles light foot traffic and releases a subtle herbal scent when brushed against or stepped on.
Woolly thyme needs excellent drainage and thrives in Utah’s dry climate with occasional deep watering during establishment.
7. Pussytoes
Soft, fuzzy white flower clusters give this charming native plant its adorable name that always makes gardeners smile. Pussytoes forms a low, spreading mat of silvery-green leaves that stays attractive throughout the growing season.
This tough little plant grows naturally in Utah’s foothills and mountains, proving it can handle whatever weather comes its way. It spreads by underground runners, gradually filling bare spots without overwhelming nearby plants.
Pollinators visit the unusual flowers in spring, adding ecological value beyond just covering empty ground in your yard.
8. Turkish Veronica
Bright blue flower spikes rise above dark green foliage in spring, creating a stunning display that rivals any traditional garden flower. Turkish veronica spreads quickly through creeping stems, filling bare areas faster than many other ground covers.
This low-maintenance plant tolerates Utah’s clay soils and alkaline conditions that challenge many other species. Once established, it handles drought well and requires minimal care beyond occasional watering during extreme heat.
Plant it in full sun to partial shade for best blooming performance and rapid spread throughout your landscape.
9. Creeping Phlox
Come spring, entire hillsides can disappear under blankets of pink, purple, white, or blue flowers that take your breath away. Creeping phlox spreads quickly to form a dense mat that prevents weeds while creating spectacular seasonal color.
The needle-like evergreen foliage stays attractive year-round, even after the impressive flower show ends. This ground cover handles Utah’s temperature swings well and grows best in well-drained soil with moderate water.
Plant different color varieties together for a stunning patchwork effect that transforms boring bare spots into garden focal points.
10. Silver Carpet
Imagine covering bare ground with what looks like a sheet of shimmering silver fabric that never fades or tears. Silver carpet earns its name from intensely white, woolly leaves that reflect sunlight and create stunning visual contrast in garden beds.
This drought-tolerant ground cover spreads moderately fast and thrives in Utah’s hot, dry summers with minimal supplemental watering. The dense foliage suppresses weeds effectively while adding unique texture to rock gardens and borders.
Plant it where its light color can brighten dark corners or provide contrast against darker plants and mulches.