Groundcover plants: adding beauty and function to your garden

Groundcover plants are an excellent addition to any garden, providing aesthetic appeal, environmental benefits, and a solution to common landscaping problems. These low-growing plants spread across the ground, filling in empty spaces and offering various benefits, including reducing soil erosion, attracting beneficial insects and being visually pleasing. Whether you’re looking to enhance the appearance of your garden or address specific challenges like weeds or poor soil, groundcovers can do the job efficiently. Let’s dive into the world of groundcover plants, their benefits, and some of the best options you can incorporate into your garden.

Best groundcover plants for different garden types

When choosing groundcover plants, consider factors like sunlight, soil type, and the climate in your region. As landscaping designers in Perth, we understand the importance of selecting the right plants to meet both aesthetic and functional needs. Here are some excellent options for various conditions:

Ajuga Caitlin Giant (Bugleweed): Ajuga plants have a very attractive range of foliage colours. The carpet effect of Ajuga make it an ideal weed controller as well as the perfect gap-filler in garden beds. They also assist in slowing down moisture evaporation and helps to keep soil cooler. Perfect as borders, flat groundcovers, in containers and edging. Under-planting with Ajuga will give added lushness to your formal or cottage garden.

Thymus Serpyllum (Creeping Thyme): A beautiful, low growing perennial herb with small leaved and attractive lilac flowers. it reaches a height of only 15cm and has an indefinite width due to its spreading nature. The plant is able to spread on the ground’s surface as well as in the soil, rooting at nodes when vegetative parts of the plant touch the ground. Perfect for filling spots between pathways and highly fragrant foliage when crushed. Prefers well drained soil, water as often as you would a regular lawn.

Aptenia cordifolia variegata: This is a fast growing succulent with inch-long, dark green and white fleshy foliage and bright pink-red flowers. It will suppress weeds as it grows on top of itself forming a tight surface that does not let sunshine through. It also looks great in hanging baskets. This plant is bee and butterfly attracting. Aptenia are easy-care plants that thrive in hot, dry and sunny areas. No soil amendments are needed.

Juniperus conferta (Japanese Shore Juniper): Juniperus conferta is a hardy, flat groundcover conifer, that tolerates salt-laden winds and grows well in most soil areas. Preferring full sun Juniperus conferta is extremely hardy and an ideal plant for rock gardens or as a border where a low maintenance flat groundcover may be required. Juniperus conferta is water-wise once established. If grown well Juniperus conferta will form a dense, green mat that will suppress weed growth.

Senecio mandraliscae dwarf (Blue Chalk Sticks Dwarf): White creamy yellow flowers in spring and summer, this is a great succulent for groundcover, rockeries, containers, borders, pots and smaller spaces such as apartment gardens. Best planted in full or part sun in well-drained soil. Very drought tolerant requiring little water once established but will grow quicker with regular watering.

Myoporium parvifolium (Yareena): This attractive low maintenance plant is ideal for filling gaps, under-planting, cascading down embankments or trailing over retaining walls and raised garden beds, or any situation requiring a rather lush-looking groundcover. The flower clusters are fragrantly honey-scented and made up of white tubular flowers through late Spring to early Summer. Myoporums prefer full-sun to part-shade and will grow in almost any soil including inland clays and heavy soils as long as they are well drained. Also tolerant of coastal regions and waterwise when established, they can survive high temperatures of 30 to 40 degrees and also high frost/cold tolerant to -7 degrees.

Trachelospermum jasminoides (Star Jasmine): A vigorous climber with glossy lanceolate leaves and fragrant white star-shaped flowers that bloom continuously through Summer and Autumn, it’s ideal for covering fences, walls, and pergolas, or as groundcover or a low hedge. Plant in a full sun to part shade area, with well-drained soil. Star Jasmine will tolerate most soil types, is low maintenance and is relatively drought tolerant once established. Regular pruning may be required to keep it neat and tidy.

Eremophila Blue Horizon (Emu Bush): A low growing groundcover with tidy blue-grey foliage and that produces yellow flowers in Winter. Plant in full sun to light shade in free draining soil, however it can handle heavier soils in dryer climates. Ideal groundcover for mass plantings and gardens, or as a low border.

Dymondia margaretae (Dymondia): This is a hardy, perennial plant that produces dainty, yellow, daisy-like flowers from Spring to Autumn upon rosettes of narrow, finely cut, silver edged foliage. The plant forms a dense mound and thrives in full sun and well draining soils. Tolerant of heat and ideal for growing along borders, in rockeries, on sloping sites, seaside gardens, pots and mass planting as groundcover. It is drought tolerant and prefers full sun and coast positions.

Dichondra repens (Kidney Weed): Dichondra is an excellent groundcover and will spread by putting its’ own roots where each node meets the soil, making it an ideal lawn substitute in cooler areas of Australia or in small and partly shaded gardens in other areas where lawn mowers are hard to use. Dichondra is best used between informal stepping stones and to fill small gaps in gardens.

Scaevola aemula Mauve Cluster (Fan Flower): A very popular Australian native, Scaevola put on a terrific flower show from Spring to Autumn. These fast growing varieties feature clusters of unusual fan-shaped flowers, which characterise the Scaevola family. Ideal for groundcover, it can also be used in patio pots, rockeries and garden beds or anywhere that needs a pop of colour. Plant in an area of full sun with well drained soils.

How to care for groundcovers

  • Preparation: Before planting, ensure the soil is well-drained and free of weeds. Depending on the species, you may need to amend the soil with compost or organic matter to improve fertility.
  • Planting: Most groundcovers are best planted in the Spring or Autumn. Space them accordingly to allow them room to spread. While they will fill in over time, some varieties may need to be spaced closer together for a quick cover.
  • Watering: During the establishment phase, water groundcovers regularly. Afterward, most groundcovers are drought-tolerant and will only need water during prolonged dry periods.
  • Maintenance: While groundcovers are generally low-maintenance, occasional trimming may be needed to keep them from spreading into unwanted areas. Remove any dead or damaged foliage to keep them looking neat.

Groundcover plants offer numerous benefits, from creating a beautiful and low-maintenance landscape to improving the health of your garden by controlling weeds and preventing erosion. Whether you’re looking for plants that thrive in sun, shade, or dry soil, there’s a groundcover plant that fits your needs. By carefully selecting the right groundcovers for your garden, you can enjoy a more sustainable, attractive, and functional landscape for years to come.

If you’re seeking a landscape architect or expert landscapers in Perth, we can help transform your outdoor space with planting solutions tailored to complement your overall garden design.

For gardens that need extra care, our professional garden maintenance team ensures your outdoor areas remain pristine and vibrant. Contact us today for expert landscaping, construction, and maintenance services to enhance the beauty and functionality of your outdoor areas.