Elevate Your UK Garden with 9 Amazing Ground Covers

Posted on 15/05/2025

Elevate Your UK Garden with 9 Amazing Ground Covers

Creating a lush and thriving garden can sometimes feel like a daunting task. Yet, the right ground cover plants can transform any landscape into an enchanting retreat. Ground covers not only fill spaces but also prevent weeds, reduce soil erosion, and add layers of texture and color to your outdoor space. Here, we dive into nine extraordinary ground covers that are perfect for UK gardens.

1. Creeping Thyme (Thymus serpyllum)

Creeping Thyme is a versatile herb best known for its fragrant foliage and vibrant blooms. This ground cover thrives in rocky or sandy soils, making it ideal for UK environments.

Benefits of Creeping Thyme

• Low-maintenance: Requires minimal watering
• Aromatic: Releases a pleasant scent when stepped on
• Pollinator-friendly: Attracts bees and butterflies to your garden

2. Chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile)

Known for its refreshing aroma, Chamomile is another excellent choice for a UK garden ground cover. Its soft, fern-like foliage spreads gracefully and its small white flowers bloom throughout the season.

Uses of Chamomile

• Medicinal: Commonly used in teas for its calming effects
• Natural Pest Deterrent: Repels insects with its scent

3. Wild Strawberry (Fragaria vesca)

For a whimsical touch, consider Wild Strawberry. This robust plant not only provides excellent ground coverage but also yields edible, sweet strawberries.

Advantages of Wild Strawberry

• Edible Fruit: Produces small, flavorful strawberries
• Hardy: Tolerates a range of soil types
• Wildlife Magnet: Attracts birds and beneficial insects

4. Bugleweed (Ajuga reptans)

Known for its eye-catching foliage and vibrant spikes of blue flowers, Bugleweed is an excellent choice for shady areas. This ground cover spreads quickly, forming a carpet-like mat.

Features of Bugleweed

• Shade Tolerant: Thrives in low-light areas
• Color Variety: Available in different leaf colors
• Easy to Grow: Requires minimal care

5. Lilyturf (Liriope muscari)

If you're searching for something very unique, Lilyturf could be the answer. It boasts thick, grass-like leaves and charming purple flower spikes, perfect for adding vertical interest to your garden.

Why Choose Lilyturf?

• Resilient: Adapts well to a variety of soils
• Evergreen: Maintains foliage year-round
• Drought-Tolerant: Once established, withstands dry conditions

6. Siberian Cypress (Microbiota decussata)

This evergreen ground cover offers a soft, feathery texture with a stunning transformation in autumn when its leaves turn a russet-brown color.

Attributes of Siberian Cypress

• Cold-Hardy: Tolerates harsh winter conditions
• Low Maintenance: Requires little pruning or fertilizing

7. Mind-your-own-business (Soleirolia soleirolii)

Aptly named, Mind-your-own-business offers a dense mat of tiny, green leaves. Its spreading habit and cute, globe-shaped foliage make it ideal for covering large areas.

Benefits of this Plant

• Shade Loving: Performs well in damp, sheltered places
• Textural Interest: Creates an intriguing visual appeal

8. Periwinkle (Vinca minor)

Periwinkle is a popular ground cover plant due to its lush, trailing vines covered in glossy leaves and attractive blue or purple flowers.

Attributes of Periwinkle

• Versatile: Adapts to various soil types and light conditions
• Fast-Growing: Quickly covers bare ground

9. Goldmoss Stonecrop (Sedum acre)

For those seeking a ground cover with a bit of a succulent touch, the Goldmoss Stonecrop is ideal. This plant thrives under sunshine, making it perfect for rock gardens.

What Makes Goldmoss Stonecrop Special?

• Drought Resistant: Requires minimal watering
• Sand Tolerant: Prefers gritty, well-drained soil
• Pollinator Attractor: Draws bees and other beneficial insects

Factors to Consider When Choosing Ground Covers

While these ground cover plants are all excellent choices for UK gardens, it's critical to consider specific factors before making your selection:

• Environmental Conditions: Consider the amount of sunlight, temperature, and moisture in your garden.
• Soil Type: Test your soil to understand pH levels and nutritional content.
• Purpose: Define what you want your ground cover to accomplish--be it filling gaps, preventing erosion, or attracting wildlife.

Conclusion

Incorporating ground covers into your UK garden is more than a design trend--it's a practical solution to many gardening challenges. With a variety of options that add beauty and functionality, ground covers are the secret weapon to transforming any space into a lush, thriving landscape. So, dig into this veritable cornucopia of choices and watch your garden flourish with these brilliant ground cover plants.