The 25 low-maintenance ground cover plants in this list are vigorous (some more than others) but manageable, so they will fill in empty spaces without growing out-of-control. Plus, each is interesting enough to enhance your surroundings more than an ordinary carpet of grass.

Flowering vs. Evergreen Ground Covers

Though many annual flowers can be used for ground coverings, it can be laborious to replant large swaths of coverings yearly. Low-growing, ground-hugging perennial plants are the best low-maintenance ground coverings. Most perennial ground coverings fall into these categories.

Flowering ground coverings: Brings visual interest with color to the yard in spring and summer. Some may be perennials, shrubs, or evergreens.Evergreen ground coverings: Evergreen ground covering plants—whether perennials or low-growing shrubs—offer textural visual interest in your yard year-round. Some evergreens flower, others do not, or have insignificant blooms. Evergreens are the opposite of herbaceous perennials which die back to the ground in cold weather.Shade-tolerant ground coverings: These plants thrive under a canopy of shade. They can be flowering, evergreen, or both.

The only real maintenance required is trimming it back after it has finished flowering, or whenever it becomes too scraggly for your tastes. Basket of Gold also goes by the name yellow alyssum, another reference to its adorable clusters of bright yellow flowers. When shopping for this plant, be sure to ask for Aurinia saxatilis or yellow alyssum, not sweet alyssum, which is an entirely different species.

USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 7Sun Exposure: Full sunSoil Needs: Well-drained, can be poor

In ideal sunny conditions, Amethyst in Snow will spread quite quickly, but you can control it easily by pulling out stray shoots. If you prefer a similar but less aggressive variety, consider C. montana ‘Amethyst Dream’.

USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 7Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shadeSoil Needs: Well-drained, low-fertility

Care requirements for creeping phlox are few. Water it during dry spells and give it a haircut at the end of its blossoming period. It does spread under the right conditions, but it is fairly easy to pull it out and keep it from taking over areas where it does not belong.

USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 9Sun Exposure: Full sunSoil Needs: Rich, well-drained, tolerates clay

Angelina Sedum is easy to propagate by rooting, so you can quickly fill an area with its succulent foliage. On the other hand, keeping it in check requires occasionally cutting back the stems, which can actually self-root if they fall off naturally.

USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 8Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shadeSoil Needs: Well-drained, neutral

The nepeta genus includes roughly 250 species. Many are perennials, some are annuals, and some make good ground covers, though they can be overly aggressive in favorable locations. Nepeta x faassenii is one such species that makes for a good ground cover, since it is one of the best ground coverings to stop weeds. The ‘Six Hills Giant’ cultivar is a good choice for covering large areas. While it is not a spreader, it is large enough to take up space as the spring and summer months advance. Growing as high as 36 inches, it blooms all summer long with purple flowers.

USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 8Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shadeSoil Needs: Dry to medium moisture, well-drained

Growing only about 3 inches tall, this plant spreads over time, crowding out weeds and thus reducing maintenance further. The leaves are fragrant, and deep pink flowers bloom from June through July. This is not the form of thyme used in cooking, but its fragrance will attract bees and other pollinators.

USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 8Color Varieties: White, pink, red, purpleSun Exposure: Full sunSoil Needs: Low-fertility, well-drained, alkaline

This sun-lover grows to a maximum height of about 12 inches with a 24-inch spread, and it blooms with lavender to pink flowers in July. It should be pinched back frequently to keep the plants bushy and “shrubby.”

USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 9Sun Exposure: Full sunSoil Needs: Neutral to alkaline, well-drained, tolerates poor soil

A variety of cultivars are available, including Juniperus horizontalis ‘Blue Rug.’ To plant creeping juniper on a grassy slope, get rid of the grass, then lay down landscape fabric along the slope. Poke holes in the fabric and plant the junipers, then cover the fabric with ​mulch. If the hill is big, remove the grass in stages so as not to take unnecessary chances with erosion.

USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 9Sun Exposure: Full sunSoil Needs: Medium to dry, sandy, well-drained

It grows best where it has plenty of space to spread out. Wherever its branches make contact with the soil, it will put down roots, creating new plants. Rock cotoneaster is considered a full-shun shrub but benefits from some afternoon shade. When planted in full sun it usually needs extra watering, at least until the plant is well established.

USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 9Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shadeSoil Needs: Moist, well-drained, loamy

This shrub flowers from May to July with white flowers, and grows to a maximum height of about 9 inches. It has excellent resistance to damage by deer and rabbits.

USDA Growing Zones: 2 to 6Sun Exposure: Part shadeSoil Needs: Rich, moist, well-drained, acid

Note: This plant is considered invasive across much of the northeast, some areas of the northern Midwest, and parts of the Pacific Northwest. There may be restrictions on planting it in these areas.

USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 8Color Varieties: White, pink, red-purpleSun Exposure: Full shade to part shadeSoil Needs: Well-drained, acid

However, sweet woodruff can be a good ground cover choice for dry shade, such as in areas under big trees. It can even thrive in the acidic conditions under large pine trees. It grows to a maximum height of about 12 inches with an 18-inch spread, and it flowers with white blossoms in spring. This plant thrives in wet soils, which is why planting it in dry soil and denying it water helps keep it in check. You will have to experiment to arrive at the right balance between giving it enough water to keep it alive and giving it so much that it becomes invasive. Sweet woodruff foliage can be dried and used in wreaths, potpourri, and other craft creations.

USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 8Sun Exposure: Part shade to full shadeSoil Needs: Medium to wet, well-drained, loamy, acid

Liverleaf’s spring floral display makes this small perennial special. It is perfect for a small space, like a little garden along a north-facing wall. It spreads by reseeding, but it never will spread enough to become a problem.

USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 8Color Varieties: White, pink, lavender Sun Exposure: Part shadeSoil Needs: Medium moisture, well-drained, humusy

The success of many invasive plants is due to this means of spreading. But this plant with pretty foliage—and funny name—rarely becomes a problem for those who grow it in areas where it is already native.

USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 8Sun Exposure: Part shade to full shadeSoil Needs: Rich, moist, medium to wet, acid

Plant Lenten rose ground cover in the early fall or late spring but away from the path of bitter winter winds. The only maintenance you’ll need to do is remove tattered leaves damaged from a bad winter. Divide this plant in the spring for additional and long-living ground cover that can last for a couple of decades. Note that Lenten rose is toxic to animals.

USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 8Color Varieties: White, pink, light rose-purpleSun Exposure: Partial to full shadeSoil Needs: Moist, well-drained, loamy

Ice plant is a fast and easy-growing ground covering, but pick the right species for your climate. For example, choose Delosperma brunnthaleri, a hardy ground cover that grows around 2 inches tall and 2 feet wide with yellow flowers and ideal for zones 4 to 9. Select Delosperma floribundum ‘Starburst’, a mat-forming cultivar with pink flowers and white centers for zones 6 to 8. Ice plants need plenty of sun to thrive.

USDA Growing Zones:  Varies, 4 to 11Color Varieties: Pink, red, purple, yellow, orangeSun Exposure: Full sunSoil Needs: Sandy, well-drained

Plant it in full sun during the spring in cooler climates and in shadier areas during the fall in warmer regions. This is a slow-growing and long-lasting ground cover that simply needs pruning every so often to prevent it from growing leggy.

USDA Growing Zones:  3 to 9Color Varieties: White, pink, lilac, redSun Exposure: Full and partialSoil Needs: Well-drained

USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 9Color Varieties: Blue, lavender, purple, whiteSun Exposure: Full, partial, shadeSoil Needs: Loamy, sandy, clay

USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 9Color Varieties: Blue, violetSun Exposure: Full sun to partial shadeSoil Needs: Medium-moisture, well-drained

Plant in the late spring. Avoid planting Chinese lantern in garden beds and near turf grass. If you have bare acreage behind your home that does not lead to another property, Chinese lantern can be a great ground cover and filler.

USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 9Sun Exposure:  Full, partialSoil Needs:  Moist, well-drained

Though pruning is not necessary, hostas will yellow and die back so trimming dead foliage can look better, especially in a small area. There are almost endless varieties of hostas that will fit your needs, many with variegated leaves and spikey short-lived and unremarkable flowers. Miniature hostas will grow less than 9 inches tall, small hostas grow to a foot or more, and giant hostas can grow over 30 inches tall. If you prefer a small hosta, opt for ‘Blue Mouse Ears’ that grows 6 to 12 inches high with round, heart-shaped blue-green leaves. Hostas are definitely not deer-resistant but they are toxic to other animals.

USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 9Color Varieties: White, purple, pinkSun Exposure: Shade, partialSoil Needs: Loamy, well-drained

Plant liriope any time for quick growth and spreading. Just like other plants with the word “creeping” in the name, liriope can be considered aggressive and invasive in parts of the United States, from Virginia through to Mississippi. However, creeping ground coverings tend to spread the fastest.

USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 10Color Varieties: Lavender, whiteSun Exposure: Full, partialSoil Needs: Well-draining, sandy

This is a deer- and rabbit-resistant ground cover that is ideal for large swaths of landscape. Pachysandra are aggressive and fast-spreading coverings that grow underground with runners. Though this is considered a flowering ground cover, it’s tiny white flowers are quite insignificant.

USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 8Sun Exposure: Partial, full shadeSoil Needs: Any type that’s well-draining

Plant ivy in the spring and you won’t need to maintain it at all. However, it will grow out of its boundaries so trimming it back can help if you want to keep the yard neat. Otherwise, no pruning is needed, and if you’re using it only for ground covering, watch that it does not grab hold of a tree bark or the siding of your house because its roots will dig in, making it hard to remove without damaging the surface.

USDA Growing Zones:  4 to 13Sun Exposure: Part to full shadeSoil Needs: Fertile, moist

The only issue to watch for is rotting leaves. Remove any obviously rotting plants, but it grows so fast you likely won’t even have to replace the plant. The plant dies back to the ground in the winter and comes out in the spring, but giving it a good shearing before winter will help keep the plants healthy. A favorite type is ‘Silver Carpet’ as it spreads easily, rarely flowers, and stays short at 4 to 6 inches tall.

USDA Growing Zones: 4a to 9aSun Exposure: Full to partialSoil Needs: Well-draining, evenly moist to dry soil