Groundcover plants are kind of like unsuspecting superheroes in the gardening world—they help protect your soil from erosion and drought, they look beautiful, and they help choke out weeds. What’s not to love?
Groundcovers are generally quite hardy plants that tolerate some pretty rough climate and soil conditions. While they need a bit of management to keep them from spreading too intensely, they are otherwise relatively low-maintenance. From full shade to partial sun, these groundcovers are some of our favorite green foliage plants that choke out weeds.
The Best Groundcover Plants That Choke Out Weeds
Creeping Phlox
Creeping phlox, also commonly referred to as Moss phlox or Phlox subulata, thrives in dry, sunny environments. This hardy perennial groundcover plant will cover your garden in a pastel-hued carpet of star-shaped flowers in the springtime, and its semi-evergreen foliage will continue to help choke out weeds throughout the remainder of the growing season. It is ideal for planting along rock walls or as an edging plant in a perennial garden.
This groundcover is a native plant in North America, making it well-suited to the local climate. Its ability to thrive in full sun and poor soil conditions makes it an excellent choice for areas where other plants might struggle. The creeping phlox’s dense mat of green leaves not only prevents weed growth but also adds a lush, vibrant look to the garden.
Bugleweed
This herbaceous perennial produces a beautiful carpet of blue-toned flower spikes, thriving particularly well in moist, shady areas. It will form a relatively dense mat rather quickly, helping to choke out weeds and offer late-fall interest with its semi-evergreen foliage. Bugleweed does spread rather aggressively via runners, though, so it may need to be managed effectively to avoid it becoming a nuisance.
Bugleweed is a versatile groundcover that can adapt to different light and soil conditions. Its ability to thrive in shady areas makes it perfect for filling in those spots where other plants might struggle. In addition to its weed-suppressing qualities, bugleweed provides a striking visual display with its vibrant blue flowers and attractive foliage.
Deadnettle
Filling in shady spots in the garden can be a challenge, especially in arid environments. This groundcover has an attractive, silvery foliage and uniquely-shaped flowers have a low-growing habit that will happily fill in and choke out weeds in your shade garden. Deadnettle tends to be most attractive in cooler temperatures and thus may die back slightly in the dead heat of the summer.
Deadnettle is an excellent choice for gardeners looking to add interest to shaded areas while also keeping weeds at bay. Its silvery foliage contrasts beautifully with other plants and adds a touch of elegance to the garden. Despite its name, deadnettle is not related to stinging nettles and is safe to handle without gloves. The charming white flowers of deadnettle create a serene and graceful atmosphere in your shade garden, making it an enchanting addition to your outdoor space.
Angelina Sedum
This popular perennial is hardy in zones 3 through 11 and one of the less invasive groundcovers you can find. They have relatively shallow roots that spread via lateral stems with a ground-hugging growth habit. Angelina sedum is your girl if you are looking for a groundcover plant to choke out weeds that thrive in all sorts of soil and light conditions. This perennial sedum will form a carpet of cute little succulent-like foliage that transitions from bright green to a golden-yellow hue in midsummer and eventually, a unique copper tone in the fall.
Angelina sedum is a tough and resilient groundcover that can handle challenging conditions. Its succulent-like foliage stores water, making it drought-tolerant and perfect for areas with poor soil. As the seasons change, this groundcover undergoes a stunning transformation, displaying various hues of green, yellow, and copper, adding dynamic visual interest to the garden. However, creeping juniper, with its evergreen foliage and its spreading nature, can also be an excellent choice as a groundcover plant, especially for larger areas or in rocky gardens.
Creeping Thyme
Not only will this groundcover help choke out weeds, but it will also provide colorful interest and a delectable fragrance to your garden. Creeping thyme comes in two varieties: the first is prostate, which looks a bit like dense moss. The second has a bit more of a mounding quality, growing into green or silver-toned hues that fit beautifully along garden borders or between pavers.
Creeping thyme is a versatile groundcover that serves multiple purposes in the garden. Its low-growing habit and dense foliage create a mat that effectively suppresses weeds, while its delicate purple flowers add a burst of color and attract pollinators. Additionally, the aromatic fragrance released when walking on the thyme is a delightful sensory experience for gardeners and visitors alike.
Vinca Minor
Vinca minor, commonly referred to as periwinkle, is a popular trailing groundcover plant. It will choke out weeds while gracing a garden with dainty, periwinkle blooms in the spring and a mat of shiny, ivy-like foliage all season long. Periwinkle grows to approximately six inches tall, does well in shady environments, and prefers rich, moist soil. With that said, periwinkle can be invasive and will tolerate dry, sunny conditions, so it is best to plant it where it can be easily controlled.
Periwinkle is a classic groundcover known for its toughness and adaptability. Its trailing habit makes it perfect for covering large areas, and its ability to tolerate both shade and sun makes it suitable for various garden spots. Its periwinkle blue flowers add a splash of color to the garden, and its dense foliage prevents weed growth effectively.
Benefits of Fast-Growing Groundcover Plants
Adding fast-growing groundcover plants that choke out weeds to your garden offers several benefits beyond their ability to keep weed growth in check. These groundcovers play a vital role in enhancing the health and beauty of your garden. Here are some notable benefits:
Erosion Control: Groundcover plants create a dense network of roots that help stabilize soil, preventing erosion in sloped areas or areas prone to heavy rain.
Moisture Retention: The thick foliage of groundcovers acts as a natural mulch, reducing evaporation and helping to retain soil moisture. This is especially beneficial in dry and arid regions.
Soil Improvement: As groundcovers spread, they contribute organic matter to the soil through their fallen leaves and stems, enriching the soil over time.
Pollinator Attraction: Many groundcover plants produce attractive flowers that draw pollinators like bees and butterflies to your garden, supporting the ecosystem.
Temperature Regulation: The dense mat created by groundcovers helps to insulate the soil, providing some protection to plant roots during extreme temperatures.
Aesthetics: Groundcover plants add visual appeal and diversity to your garden, creating attractive borders, filling gaps between taller plants, and forming colorful carpets of foliage and flowers.
Weed Suppression: Of course, one of the primary benefits of fast-growing groundcover plants is their ability to choke out weeds and reduce the need for regular weeding.
Fast-growing groundcover plants offer an effective way to suppress weed growth and beautify your garden at the same time. Whether you opt for the vibrant colors of creeping phlox and creeping thyme or the hardy foliage of bugleweed, angelina sedum, or vinca minor, these groundcovers will prove to be valuable assets in maintaining a healthy and attractive garden. Stop by Plant Perfect to find the absolute best perennial groundcovers in Bismarck.