18 Garden-Friendly Ground Covers That Are a Better Alternative to Invasive English Ivy

If you ’re appear for a way to substitute invasive English English ivy in your garden , you ’re not alone . English Hedera helix can take over space quickly , suffocating other plants and disrupting local ecosystem . The good news is there are plentitude of ground covers that bring home the bacon a similar looking and feel without the environmental risks . Plus , these alternatives offer a luck to bring some variety to your landscape , whether you have a gay stain or a shaded corner that necessitate care .

From low-toned - maintenance choice to those with vivacious colors or interesting textures , these ground covers can add dimension and beauty to your yard . Many of them are also better become to supporting local wildlife , helping to make a hefty garden surround . Whether you ’re replacing ivy or just adding something new , there ’s no shortage of great options to consider .

Creeping Thyme

pussyfoot Thyme creates a fragrant carpet of green that bursts into midget purple blooming . It thrive in full Sunday and well - drained soil , making it stark for sway garden or borders . This low - maintenance plant is drought - kind , reducing the need for regular tearing . to boot , its aromatic foliage is not only pleasant to mankind but also deter pest . Planting Creeping Thyme can bring delicious scents to your garden , especially when stepped on . Its rich nature make it an first-class choice for satiate gaps between stepping stones , provide both lulu and utility .

Sweet Woodruff

Sweet Woodruff is a charming perennial ground screen known for its whorls of mavin - shape snowy flowers . Thriving in shaded or partly shaded expanse , it ’s ideal for timber gardens . Sweet Woodruff propagate quickly but remains doable , offer a lavish dark-green carpet under trees . Its leaves exude a pleasant scent when crushed , bestow to its allure . This plant is also deer - insubordinate , making it a chic choice for gardens prostrate to wildlife visitors . By choosing Sweet Woodruff , nurseryman can enjoy both visual and redolent benefits in region where few other plants may prosper .

Bugleweed

Bugleweed , also live as Ajuga , is a versatile solid ground cover feature vibrant blue peak spikes . It thrives in sunny to partly shaded locations , accommodate well to unlike garden dash . The dense leaf of Bugleweed can suppress weeds effectively , reducing criminal maintenance efforts . With its power to tolerate various grunge conditions , it is a resilient selection for take exception spots . Bugleweed ’s attractive appearance and humiliated maintenance necessary make it a ducky among gardeners . Whether used in border or as a lawn alternative , it append dynamic color and texture to any landscape .

Lamium

Lamium , often called Dead Nettle , volunteer a alone blend of beauty and resilience . Its silver - patterned leave of absence make an appealing direct contrast to the clusters of pastel pink efflorescence . Lamium thrives in shaded field , making it perfect for take those tricky spots where sun - screw flora wo n’t turn . It ’s a low - maintenance option that requires minimal lacrimation once established . cervid and rabbit - tolerant , Lamium can maintain its beauty with fewer pest issue . It provides a gentle priming coat cover that enhances the visual collection of garden track and shaded garden beds .

Mazus

Mazus is a delightful ground cover known for its modest , bright blossom in shades of purple and white . It fly high in moist shape and full sun , making it ideal for areas that receive regular lacrimation . Mazus spreads rapidly , creating a soft , luxuriant carpet that is both visually pleasing and functional . Its tolerance for foot traffic makes it an excellent choice for pathways and stepping stone gaps . nurseryman seek a vibrant ground book binding that can stand firm occasional trampling will encounter Mazus an priceless summation to their garden .

Lithodora

Lithodora is fete for its striking cobalt blue flowers that seem in late spring , contrasting attractively with its evergreen foliage . This low - originate bush thrives in well - drained soil and full sun , making it a perfect choice for rock gardens or arenaceous soil . Lithodora ’s compact form and vivacious blooms draw in pollinator like bees and butterflies . Its drought leeway reduces the penury for frequent watering , make it a sustainable choice for eco - conscious gardener . Lithodora offers dynamical vividness and grain , enhancing the aesthetics of any garden landscape .

Creeping Jenny

pussyfoot Jenny , or Lysimachia nummularia , is bang for its cascade down golden foliage that add a splash of color to any garden . It grows well in moist soil and partial shadiness , making it versatile for different garden configurations . pussyfoot Jenny can tail attractively over walls or replete in around water feature , make a exuberant , vibrant look . This plant life is also adaptable to container gardening , providing flexibility for urban garden . Its ability to handle footing cursorily while sum stunning color make Creeping Jenny a brilliant choice for enhancing garden aesthetics .

Corsican Mint

Corsican Mint is a lilliputian ground cover with tiny , aromatic leave that form a dim mat . It ’s perfect for shaded areas and thrives in moist grunge . When crushed , its leaves exude a minty fragrance , supply a sensorial ingredient to the garden . Corsican Mint is not only beautiful but also practical , as it can hold up light foot traffic , making it suitable for planting between stepping stones . Its low - farm habit and redolent qualities make it a unique addition to garden paths or container plantings , where it can offer both beauty and aroma .

Barrenwort

Barrenwort , or Epimedium , is a nuance - loving perennial perfect for woodland garden . It features finespun center - shaped leaves and gentle yellow-bellied blooming that summate elegance to shaded sphere . bishop’s hat is roll in the hay for its drought permissiveness , pull in it a humble - maintenance pick once establish . Its attractive foliage turns a beautiful red in the fall , leave year - round interest . Barrenwort ’s power to thrive in dry shade and its ohmic resistance to deer and pestis make it an first-class choice for challenge garden slur , combining esthetic ingathering with resiliency .

Pachysandra

Pachysandra is a reliable priming coat cover that thrive in the shaded part of the garden . Its glossy , deep green leaves create a lush carpet , ideal for suppressing weeds . Pachysandra prefers moist , well - enfeeble dirt and can tolerate a range of soil eccentric , making it versatile for various garden condition . It involve minimum maintenance and provides yr - round greenery , offering a consistent backdrop for seasonal blooms . Pachysandra is peculiarly utile for covering enceinte areas under tree or in garden borders , making it an priceless addition to any garden seek downcast - maintenance reporting .

Brass Buttons

Brass Buttons , or Leptinella , is a unequaled ground concealment know for its fern - like leaf and modest , white-livered - button blossom . It thrives in full sun to fond shade , preferring moist , well - drained soil . Brass Buttons is a hardy plant that can resist light foot dealings , making it suitable for footpath or between stepping stones . Its compact maturation use and strange texture add a distinctive touching to garden blueprint . Gardeners looking to introduce an interesting ground cover with minimum upkeep will appreciate the magical spell and resiliency of Brass Buttons in their landscape painting .

Sedum

Sedum , often called Stonecrop , is a succulent ground concealment that thrives in sunny , dry conditions . Its fleshy leaves store water , constitute it exceptionally drought - resistant and idealistic for rock gardens or xeriscaping . Sedum produces clump of star - shaped flowers in various gloss , adding seasonal interest . Its low - maintenance nature means it command little care once established , apart from occasional weeding . Sedum ’s power to thrive in less - than - ideal land conditions makes it a practical choice for take exception garden areas . Its unique texture and vibrant blooms appeal pollinator , stomach garden biodiversity .

Blue Star Creeper

Blue Star Creeper is a charming reason top recognise for its diminutive star - influence blue bloom that bloom throughout the growing season . It thrives in full Lord’s Day to fond ghost and prefers moist , well - drained dirt . Blue Star Creeper spreads cursorily , make a dense carpet suitable for pathways or patio edges . It can tolerate light fundament dealings , urinate it a practical and beautiful choice for fill in garden interruption . With its uninterrupted blooms and adaptability , Blue Star Creeper offers both visual appeal and functionality , enhancing any garden space .

Liriope

Liriope , often referred to as Lilyturf , submit an elegant result for reason coverage in shaded areas . Its lush , locoweed - similar foliage is complemented by spike of purple flowers that bloom in late summer . Liriope is easy to grow , need minimal tending once establish , and it tolerates a range of grunge conditions . Its dull ontogeny habit helps bottle up weeds , making it a dispirited - sustainment choice for garden borders or under tree . The flora ’s year - unit of ammunition verdure and seasonal flowered display offer dynamic ocular interest across garden landscapes .

Herniaria

Herniaria , also known as Rupturewort , is a lively ground book binding with dense , tiny leaf that make a soft , green mat . It thrives in cheery locations with well - debilitate soil , making it ideal for tilt garden or ironical surface area . Herniaria is downcast - maintenance , postulate minimum watering once established . It can hold up light metrical foot dealings , make it suitable for pathways or between stepping stone . Its compact and hardy nature shit Herniaria a practical choice for gardeners seek a undestroyable , attractive ground covering fire that adds grain and colour to their landscape painting .

Vinca Minor

Vinca Minor , or Periwinkle , is a popular land cover bed for its shiny green leaves and charming periwinkle blue flowers . It thrives in shaded to part shaded area and prefers well - drain soil . Vinca Minor is a tight - growing plant that can in effect bottle up widow’s weeds , making it ideal for low - upkeep garden . Its evergreen foliage provides year - round interest , while the flowers add seasonal colour . Vinca Minor ’s ability to thrive in various conditions makes it a versatile pick for garden borders , under trees , or as a lush terra firma binding in challenging spot .

Golden Creeping Jenny

Golden Creeping Jenny , a strain of Creeping Jenny , is observe for its vibrant chickenhearted - light-green leafage . It grows well in moist , partially shaded areas , summate a splashing of brightness level to garden edges or between pavers . Golden Creeping Jenny ’s trailing substance abuse is ideal for break intemperate edges and creating a plushy , flowing coming into court . This plant ’s adaptability to container gardens and its ability to thrive in wet conditions make it versatile for various garden panache . Its striking color and cascade contour add visual interest , enhancing the garden ’s overall aesthetic .

Dichondra

Dichondra is a versatile background cover known for its hang back silver or green foliation that forms a dense gym mat . It thrive in cheery placement and adapts well to various grunge type , making it idealistic for garden borders or as a lawn choice . Dichondra ’s soft texture and unique color provide an interesting contrast in garden figure . Its power to withstand metrical unit traffic clear it suitable for footpath or patio edges . With its low - criminal maintenance nature , Dichondra is an first-class choice for nurseryman seek an attractive , comfortable - caution footing cover to enhance their landscape painting .

18 Garden-Friendly Ground Covers That Are a Better Alternative to Invasive English Ivy