Its countless blooms make the dwarf periwinkle a true beauty 8. Dwarf periwinkle is easy to maintain and thrives in just about any location. Its leaves remain dark green throughout the year, but from April to September the plant bears small periwinkle flowers, which transform this otherwise understated plant into dazzling ground cover. Dwarf periwinkle ( Vinca minor) only grows to a height of 10 to 30cm. Woolly hedgenettle has a startlingly soft texture 7. It reacts very sensitively to waterlogging. The woolly hedgenettle is an evergreen and prefers sunny locations. The leaves look as though they are covered in light grey dust, and its delicate, subtle flowers pop with purple.

The woolly hedgenettle ( StachysВ byzantina) is famous for its woolly hair-like filaments, which have often been compared to bunny or donkey ears. Rock and creeping Speedwell work wonderfully as a ground cover 6. Rock speedwell ( Veronica prostrata) and creeping speedwell ( Veronica peduncularis) are wonderful choices. If you are making a purchase, double-check that your chosen variety is a ground cover variety. That being said, not every species of Speedwell is suitable as ground cover. Some species grow up to 2m tall, while others reach only 20cm.

More than 450 species belong to the Speedwell or Veronica genus, which is characterised by its low maintenance and deep blue flowers. The lampranthusвЂ™ flowers are so perfectly symmetrical, that they almost seem fake 5. Alternatively, save a clipping and start a new lampranthus bed in the spring. However, it doesnвЂ™t tolerate harsh winters, so you may need to move a portion of the succulent indoors during colder months. With its large flowers and bright colours, lampranthus ( Lampranthus) is a wonderful addition to any garden.В Its large blossoms open only during midday in summer, but this succulent is robust and needs little care. From spring into summer, phlox turns into a sea of flowers 4. Annual pruning will not damage this plant, although it may take some time to grow back. Though Phlox is fine in areas of partial shade, it thrives under direct sunlight. From April to July, this plant forms a carpet of countless, star-shaped flowers, which,В depending on the variety, may be white, blue, purple, or red. If you want to transform your rock garden into a sea of flowers, creeping phlox ( Phlox subulata) is the perfect choice. With its purple and yellow blooms, shrubby milkwort is a true stunner 3. Make sure that your shrubby milkwort is planted in a sunny location that does not run the risk of flooding. The only thing that bothers this otherwise easy-going perennial is waterlogging. Though shrubby milkwort only blooms in the summer, this 20cm tall shrub is an evergreen, so it will not lose its leaves in autumn and will keep your garden beds green even in winter. With bright purple and yellow flowers, shrubby milkwort ( Polygala chamaebuxus) is hard to miss. But be warned: it can spread very quickly, and will grow into areas of the garden that you may not want covered at all! The small pink blooms of the common soapwort make it an especially beautiful ground cover 2. This simple ground cover plant works in almost any garden. Soapwort is undemanding, fast-growing, and resilient. At night, soapwort, otherwise known as bouncing Bet, emits a floral scent that is bound to keep your garden buzzing with an array of insects. From May to September, this perennial blooms with delicate pink and white flower clusters. Perhaps the name вЂњsoapwortвЂќ ( Saponaria officinalis) is not the best name for this gorgeous ground cover plant. These plants are sure to enhance your garden without demanding lots of care. Ground cover plants balance beauty with simplicity.

Twenty of the best ground cover plants for your garden Twenty of the best ground cover plants for your garden.It bears red berries in winter and likes acidic soil. Or try wintergreen, Gaultheria procumbens, a low growing, evergreen shrub with minty leaves that be dried and made into a tea. It is also known as the hay plant, as its flowers and leaves smell of hay and can be dried for use in pot pourri or as an insect repellent. In a shady spot, try sweet woodruff ( Galium odoratum) which is good for growing under inhospitable spots under trees, bearing starry, white flowers in spring. It also has deep roots and can therefore help with soil erosion on a sloping site. In a sunny spot, try thyme, oregano, camomile, or prostrate rosemary, which is evergreen and has bright blue flowers in early spring. Their flowers are incredibly popular with bees, too. Low growing, spreading herbs are perfect for covering the ground or replacing an area of lawn, and have the added bonus of providing delicious flavour for cooking. 20 of the best plants for ground cover вЂ“ thyme varieties

Purple thyme ground cover