These 9 Plants Will Revamp Your UK Garden's Ground Cover

Posted on 16/05/2025

Transform Your UK Garden with These 9 Ground Cover Plants

Revamping your garden can be an exciting endeavor, especially when you focus on the ground cover. With the right plants, you can create a lush, vibrant foundation that complements the rest of your landscape. Here, we explore nine stunning plants that will not only enhance your garden's beauty but also provide practical benefits such as weed suppression and soil stabilization. Let's dive into the world of verdant tapestries and discover which ground cover plants can optimize your UK garden.

1. Creeping Thyme (Thymus serpyllum)

Creeping thyme is a beautiful and aromatic choice for any UK garden. Known for its fragrant foliage and delicate pink to lavender flowers, this plant is perfect for adding a touch of elegance to your garden pathways.

• Light Requirements: Full sun
• Soil Type: Well-drained soil
• Benefits: Attracts pollinators, drought-tolerant, low maintenance

The versatility and robust nature of creeping thyme make it an ideal ground cover plant, particularly for gardeners seeking both aesthetic and practical benefits.

2. Irish Moss (Sagina subulata)

Renowned for its lush, moss-like appearance, Irish moss provides a soft, green carpet that thrives in various garden conditions.

• Light Requirements: Partial shade to full sun
• Soil Type: Moist, well-drained soil
• Benefits: Tolerates foot traffic, evergreen, low growing

This plant is perfect for filling cracks between stepping stones or as an edge along paths due to its soft texture and bright green color.

3. Bugleweed (Ajuga reptans)

With its striking foliage and lovely blue flower spikes, bugleweed is an excellent choice for those looking to add both color and texture to their garden.

• Light Requirements: Partial shade
• Soil Type: Moist, well-drained soil
• Benefits: Attracts pollinators, fast spreading, suppresses weeds

Ajuga's stunning leaves range in color from deep purple to bronze-green, offering your garden a rich and vibrant tapestry.

4. Ground Morning Glory (Convolvulus sabatius)

If your goal is to introduce a splash of color, the vibrant ground morning glory is a fantastic option. Its bright blue, cup-shaped flowers add visual interest to any garden space.

• Light Requirements: Full sun
• Soil Type: Well-drained soil
• Benefits: Long blooming period, drought tolerant

This plant is particularly effective in rocky soils or cascading over garden walls, making it a must-have for diverse garden designs.

5. Wall Germander (Teucrium chamaedrys)

Wall germander is a classic choice for those looking to add structure and color to their garden. Its pink to purple flowers emerge summer-long, nestled against neat, evergreen foliage.

• Light Requirements: Full sun
• Soil Type: Poor to moderately fertile, well-drained soil
• Benefits: Attracts beneficial insects, drought-resistant

This plant not only offers a charming appearance but also acts as a deterrent to weeds, making it both beautiful and practical.

6. Corsican Mint (Mentha requienii)

For a unique aromatic experience, consider Corsican mint. This low-growing herb boasts a minty scent and produces small, lilac flowers, adding freshness to your garden.

• Light Requirements: Partial to full shade
• Soil Type: Moist, well-drained soil
• Benefits: Fragrant, attracts pollinators, edible

Corsican mint is perfect for areas prone to foot traffic, as walking on it releases its pleasant fragrance.

7. Sweet Woodruff (Galium odoratum)

Ideal for shaded areas, sweet woodruff offers a soft, delicate ground cover with its fragrant, star-shaped leaves and tiny white flowers.

• Light Requirements: Full to partial shade
• Soil Type: Moist, well-drained soil
• Benefits: Suppresses weeds, fragrant, shade-tolerant

This plant creates a charming, woodland-inspired look, perfect for enhancing the serene atmosphere of any shaded corner.

8. Lamium (Lamium maculatum)

With its striking, silver-variegated leaves and bright flowers, lamium adds both texture and color to shade gardens.

• Light Requirements: Partial to full shade
• Soil Type: Well-drained soil
• Benefits: Deer-resistant, shade-tolerant, suppresses weeds

The vivid foliage and adaptability of lamium make it a versatile choice for garden enthusiasts looking to fill shaded areas with life and vitality.

9. Snow-in-Summer (Cerastium tomentosum)

For a stunning ground cover that resembles freshly fallen snow in the summertime, snow-in-summer is the perfect choice. This plant features gray-green leaves contrasted with delicate, white flowers.

• Light Requirements: Full sun
• Soil Type: Well-drained, sandy soil
• Benefits: Drought-tolerant, fast-growing, visually striking

Its rapid growth and delightful appearance make it suitable for planting en masse, providing a breathtaking sea of white that envelopes your garden.

Conclusion

Transforming your landscape with the right ground cover plants can be an incredibly rewarding experience. Whether you're looking to introduce color and fragrance, prevent weed growth, or create an engaging environment for pollinators, these nine plants offer remarkable benefits for a UK garden. Take the time to evaluate your garden's needs and conditions, and choose the ground cover that will best revamp your green space into an exquisite haven.

For further inspiration, don't hesitate to explore these options for captivating garden transformations, ensuring your outdoor oasis thrives in beauty and functionality year-round.