9 Ground Covers to Enrich Your UK Garden Landscape

Posted on 15/05/2025

9 Ground Covers to Enrich Your UK Garden Landscape

Transforming your garden into a vibrant oasis is all about choosing the right plants to fit your landscape. Ground covers present an excellent way to enrich your garden, providing texture, color, and functionality. Particularly in the UK, with its diverse climate and soil types, selecting appropriate ground covers is crucial for a thriving garden. Here, we explore nine outstanding ground covers that can elevate your UK garden landscape.

1. Creeping Thyme (Thymus serpyllum)

If you're looking for a hardy ground cover with aromatic charm, creeping thyme could be your go-to choice. Native to the UK, this delightful plant grows low and spreads quickly, providing a lush carpet that enhances pathways and rock gardens. Creeping thyme thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, making it perfect for sunny spots in your garden. Its tiny purple flowers add a pop of color during the summer months, attracting bees and other pollinators.

2. Woolly Speedwell (Veronica pectinata)

Woolly speedwell is an excellent option for those seeking a soft-textured ground cover. With its silvery foliage and vibrant blue flowers, this plant offers a cool hue that complements other garden colors. It is drought-tolerant and suits various soil types, making it versatile for UK climates. Plant woolly speedwell in full sun or partial shade to achieve the best results.

3. Bugleweed (Ajuga reptans)

Perfect for shady areas, bugleweed offers a lush, deep green carpet that flourishes even in difficult conditions. Known for its ability to suppress weeds, Ajuga reptans produces beautiful spikes of blue flowers in spring. Its adaptability makes it a reliable choice for areas under trees or along borders where it's hard for other plants to thrive. Ensure it has moist, well-drained soil to maintain its vigor.

4. Wild Ginger (Asarum europaeum)

Native to Europe, wild ginger provides evergreen foliage that stays vibrant throughout the year. Ideal for shaded areas, it adds texture and depth with its heart-shaped, glossy leaves. This ground cover is low-growing and can spread to form a dense mat over time. The rich, earthy scent of its leaves is an added bonus, and it thrives in moist, humus-rich soil conditions.

5. Barren Strawberry (Waldsteinia ternata)

For a cheerful splash of color, consider barren strawberry. This robust ground cover features bright yellow flowers amidst lush green leaves from spring to summer. Despite its name, it doesn't produce fruits but is valued for its ornamental appeal. Waldsteinia ternata grows well in both sun and shade, making it versatile for your garden's layout. It prefers well-drained soil and can handle moderately dry conditions.

6. Moss Phlox (Phlox subulata)

Bring a touch of vibrant beauty to your garden with moss phlox. Known for its dense mats of needle-like foliage, it bursts into a brilliant show of pink, purple, or white flowers in spring. This ground cover thrives in sunny locations and is particularly suited for rock gardens or as a cascading edge to pathways. Well-drained soil is essential for moss phlox, as it doesn't tolerate waterlogged conditions.

7. Bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi)

Bearberry is an excellent evergreen ground cover, known for its resilience and low-maintenance requirements. Its small, leathery leaves maintain a rich green color all year round, turning a reddish hue in the fall. This plant does well in sandy or rocky soils, making it a great choice for challenging spots in your garden. It produces small white flowers in spring, followed by red berries, which add visual interest.

8. Corsican Mint (Mentha requienii)

For a fragrant carpet of greenery, choose corsican mint. This tiny-leaved ground cover releases a delightful minty scent when walked upon. Ideal for filling in crevices or between stepping stones, Mentha requienii prefers moist, well-drained soil and partial shade to thrive. Keep an eye on its water needs during dry spells to prevent it from wilting.

9. Lilyturf (Liriope muscari)

Lilyturf is an excellent option when looking for a structurally distinctive ground cover. Its grass-like leaves form dense clumps, while its purple flower spikes add vertical interest in late summer. Liriope muscari is incredibly adaptable, doing well in both sunny and shaded locations. It tolerates a wide range of soil conditions, making it an asset to any garden landscape.

Tips for Choosing the Right Ground Cover

• Assess your garden's climate and soil: Match the ground cover to your garden's specific conditions--whether it be sun, shade, dry, or moist soil.
• Consider maintenance: Choose a ground cover that matches your availability for gardening; some require more attention than others.
• Think about aesthetics: The color and texture of your ground cover should complement the overall design of your garden.
• Plan for growth: Ensure you have enough space for the ground cover to spread without overcrowding other plants.

Integrating ground covers into your UK garden landscape not only beautifies your outdoor space but also enhances its ecological function, attracting beneficial insects and providing shelter for garden wildlife. Whether you prefer the vibrant blooms of moss phlox or the understated elegance of wild ginger, there's a ground cover out there to meet your gardening needs. Start incorporating these lush options and watch as they breathe new life into your garden.