9 splendid ground cover plants to perfect your UK garden

Posted on 16/05/2025

Transform Your UK Garden with These 9 Splendid Ground Cover Plants

Creating a lush and thriving garden involves more than choosing eye-catching flowers and towering trees. It's essential to consider ground cover plants that not only enhance the aesthetics but also offer practical benefits like suppressing weeds, conserving moisture, and preventing soil erosion. If you're wondering which plants are best for your UK garden, here's a comprehensive guide on nine splendid ground cover plants that can transform your garden into a dazzling landscape.

1. Creeping Thyme (Thymus serpyllum)

Creeping thyme is a versatile and fragrant ground cover plant that thrives well in the UK climate. Known for its hardiness and low-growing nature, creeping thyme is perfect for areas with full sun exposure.

• Benefits: Apart from its delightful aroma, creeping thyme attracts bees and butterflies, promoting biodiversity in your garden.
• Care Tips: This drought-tolerant plant prefers well-drained soil and requires minimal maintenance.

2. Bugleweed (Ajuga reptans)

For a splash of vibrant color, consider bugleweed -- a fast-spreading, resilient ground cover with beautiful purple and blue flowers. This plant is excellent for shady areas and enhances any garden's visual appeal.

• Benefits: Bugleweed forms a dense mat, effectively suppressing weeds and retaining moisture in the soil.
• Care Tips: It thrives in both sun and shade and requires moderate watering.

3. Sweet Woodruff (Galium odoratum)

Sweet woodruff is an enchanting ground cover, known for its whorled leaves and fragrant white blooms that appear in the spring. This shade-loving plant is perfect for covering the ground beneath trees and shrubs.

• Benefits: An excellent choice for suppressing weeds while adding a natural carpet-like texture to your garden.
• Care Tips: Prefers moist, well-drained soil and can thrive in both partial and full shade.

4. Periwinkle (Vinca minor)

The evergreen periwinkle boasts glossy leaves and charming blue, purple, or white flowers, making it a popular choice for gardeners seeking year-round interest.

• Benefits: Its dense foliage makes it an effective weed suppressant and soil stabilizer.
• Care Tips: Thrives in a variety of settings, from full sun to shade, and prefers well-drained soil.

5. Lesser Celandine (Ficaria verna)

Lesser celandine is a sight to behold in early spring with its bright yellow flowers. It's an excellent choice for naturalizing woodlands or shady banks.

• Benefits: Its early bloom provides a vital food source for pollinators emerging from hibernation.
• Care Tips: It's a low-maintenance plant that thrives in moist, shady conditions.

6. Japanese Spurge (Pachysandra terminalis)

If you're seeking an evergreen solution, look no further than Japanese spurge. This ground cover is perfect for shady areas and provides year-round texture and depth to the garden floor.

• Benefits: It suppresses weeds effectively and provides a lush, green carpet throughout the year.
• Care Tips: Prefers rich, well-drained soil and should be thinned occasionally to prevent overcrowding.

7. Lamium (Lamium maculatum)

Lamium, or deadnettle, offers a striking appearance with its variegated leaves and purple, pink, or white flowers. It's an adaptable plant ideal for adding contrast in shady garden areas.

• Benefits: Provides excellent ground cover in difficult spots where other plants may struggle.
• Care Tips: Requires minimal care once established and should be kept in check to prevent it from becoming invasive.

8. Green Carpet Rupturewort (Herniaria glabra)

The name green carpet rupturewort may not be glamorous, but this plant offers an attractive, low-growing, and durable ground cover option. Ideal for rock gardens and filling border fronts.

• Benefits: Its lush, fine-textured mat prevents soil erosion and requires little maintenance.
• Care Tips: Thrives in full sun with well-drained soil and can withstand foot traffic.

9. Lady's Mantle (Alchemilla mollis)

Rounding up our list is the charming lady's mantle. With its scalloped leaves and lime-green flowers, it provides lovely foliage and ground cover.

• Benefits: Its foliage remains attractive throughout the season and is particularly useful for borders and pathways.
• Care Tips: Prefers partial shade and moist, well-drained earth.

Choosing the Right Ground Cover for Your Garden

Selecting the best ground cover plants for your UK garden involves considering factors such as light conditions, soil type, and desired appearance. Incorporating these splendid plants will not only enhance your garden's beauty but also contribute to its ecological balance.

With thoughtful planning and selection, you can create a visually appealing and sustainable outdoor space that thrives all year round. So go ahead, select your favorites from this list, and enjoy the transformation of your garden these splendid ground cover plants offer!