28 Best Ground Cover Plants and Flowers - Easiest Ground Covers

Ground cover plants are incredibly versatile and easy to maintain — whether used to decorate gaps between stepping stones, fill in shady spots (like in between tree roots) or replace grass (especially for slopes and hills that are difficult to mow). Not only does the low-growing foliage look beautiful, ground cover plants provide a myriad of benefits: They suppress weed growth, control erosion, protect surrounding plants from harsh winters and attract pollinators like bees and butterflies. From colorful blooms and succulents to evergreens, we've rounded up the best ground cover plants to spruce up your backyard.

No matter if you have a small garden or large landscaped grounds, these ground cover plants will boost your home's curb appeal. We've included drought-tolerant plants like ice plants, sempervivum and creeping thyme, as well as beautiful blooms that thrive in shade like lily of the valley and dead nettle. Picks like the creeping phlox or creepy jenny are even sturdy enough to walk on.

As you scroll, you'll find that we've included ideal sun conditions and zone requirements for each plant. FYI: Full sun means an area gets 6+ hours of direct sunlight per day, part sun is anywhere from 3 to 6 hours of direct sunlight and full shade is up to 3 hours of sun. If you're planting a shrub or perennial flower that you want to last from one year to the next, make sure it's suited according to your USDA Hardiness Zone (find yours here).

Clusters of yellow-green flowers will pop up on this mounding perennial during late spring to early summer. Since the flowers grow long stems, they're great for making bouquets. Lady's Mantle, also known as Alchemilla, grows best in full sun or part shade, and prefers medium moisture.

Zones