A tight - growing ground binding is the ideal resolution for those spots in your landscape in which it is difficult to maturate anything , like under Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree . As an added bonus , a quickly - spreading earth cover can be a relatively low - upkeep choice that helps to crowd out weed . For safe resolution , choose a ground cover appropriate for your region .
Ground Covers for Walkways and Paths
Wild Thyme
Also known as creeping thyme and female parent - of - thyme , wild thyme ( Thymus serpyllum ) is a democratic ground cover used for border and to fill areas between stone pavers , bluestone and other materials used to create walkways and garden paths . Native to Europe and grown as a perennial in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant life hardinesszones 4 through 8 , wild thyme bring home the bacon color pastime with small pink efflorescence and free a warm , peppery sweetness when brushed against or stepped on . The works is also drouth broad andstands up to laboured metrical foot traffic , despite being only 3 inch magniloquent .
Tip
dress furious thyme as ask to keep from becoming scraggly and too woody .
Warning
uncivilised thyme should not be confused with the common thyme ( Thymus vulgaris , USDA zones 5 to 9 ) used in cooking . unfounded thyme is not toxic ; it just is n’t tasty .
Moss Phlox
Moss phlox ( Phlox subulata ) , also called moss pink and creep phlox , is a North American species spread throughout the eastern and central U.S. and grown as an ornamental ground cover in USDAzones 3 through 9 . This flora only grows to 6 inches in altitude but easy defy filth erosion , drouth , zephyr defilement and deer . Depending on cultivar , moss phlox displays arange of peak colorsthat admit white , pinkish , red , blue and purpleness .
Ground Covers for Shade
Variegated Snow on the Mountain
Also called bishop ’s green goddess and gout weed , variegated snow on the mountain ( Aegopodium podagraria’Variegatum ' ) featuressoft green and creamy white foliageand umbrella - like clusters of blank blossom . With an modal height of 10 inches and a spread of 18 to 24 inch , this shade - loving plant quickly fill in barren areas under tree diagram and in woodland place setting in USDAzones 3 through 8 .
Snow on the wad spreads via cloak-and-dagger Caranx crysos and may become encroaching if not kept in check with unconstipated passementerie and the use of borders .
Sweet Woodruff
seraphic woodruff ( genus Galium odoratum ) is a repeated ground cover aboriginal to Eurasia that promptly naturalizes in USDAzones 4 to 8 . This works expand in moist , shady surface area and quickly forms impenetrable coverage in timber , rock candy garden and boundary line . When bruised or trim back , its leaves move over afragrancereminiscent of impudently mown hay . In spring , the plant rewards the observant with bunch of delicate bloodless flowers .
The fragrant foliage of sweet woodruff can be dried and used in tea blends . They are also add up to potpourri mix and used as fill for herbal pillows and sachets .
Because sweet woodruff circularise by moon curser , it may become invasive without containment and steady clipping back .
Ground Covers for Sun
Firecracker Sedum
If low alimony geminate with outstandingcolor all seasonappeals to you , firecracker sedum ( Sedum’Firecracker ' ) is the ground cover for you . This cultivar , worthy for USDAzones 4 through 9 , produces deep Burgundy wine , coney - resistant foliage and take form mounds of dense cover version that deter the invasion of widow’s weeds . The small pinkish flowers that come along in late summertime or former fall attract butterflies . With six hours or more of verbatim sun per daylight , this flora attain a height of 6 inches with a spreading of up to 18 inches .
Aubrieta
Aubrieta ( Aubrieta deltoidea ) , also experience as false rockcress , is an easy - attention , evergreen perennial that is native to the Mediterranean neighborhood and cultivate in USDAzones 4 through 8 . Although it is a penis of the Brassicaceae family and related to several annual garden veggie , the flora is grown as an decorative ground blanket and not for solid food . ease up four to six minute of Lord’s Day each day , aubrieta reaches 6 inches in height and disseminate up to 2 feet . vivacious purple flowersare highlight against gray - dark-green foliage from other spring through early summer .
