Low-Growing Ground Cover Shrubs

Ground cover shrubs are a long-term, low-maintenance solution to weed problems. Covering the soil with a blanket of stems and leaves means few weeds can sprout or survive the competition. Ground cover shrubs also provide a visual link between other plants in the landscape and can feature flowers, fruits and decorative leaves. Select shrubs hardy in your U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zone and that will thrive in the available growing conditions.

Ground cover shrubs for cold USDA zones survive snow and freezing winter temperatures.

Wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens) offers glossy, dark green evergreen leaves and waxy, bell-shaped, white early summer flowers, followed by bright red, edible berries. The berries persist through winter and attract wildlife to the garden. Growing 3 to 6 inches tall and 6 to 12 inches wide, wintergreen is hardy in USDA zones 3 through 8.

Bunchberry (Cornus canadensis) is hardy in USDA zones 2 through 6 and grows 3 to 9 inches tall and 6 to 12 inches wide. Also called dwarf cornel, this deciduous shrub produces white spring flowers that give way to bright red, berrylike fruits. In fall, the leaves turn red to purple.

Both wintergreen and bunchberry grow best in evenly moist, organically rich, acidic soil and partially shaded spots, but they also grow in full shade.

Heat and humidity are two conditions ground cover shrubs must tolerate in warm USDA zones.

Beach vitex (Vitex rotundifolia) grows 1 to 2 feet tall and 10 to 15 feet wide or wider. An evergreen shrub, beach vitex leaves are downy, fragrant and blue-green above and greenish-white or silver-gray below. Blue-purple flowers appear in late spring, followed by round, purplish-black fruits. At the cooler end of its hardiness range, beach vitex is deciduous. This shrub grows best in sandy soil and full sun. Beach vitex is hardy in USDA zones 7 through 10.

Beach vitex can be invasive in coastal zones, but inland it usually isn't so vigorous.

Germander (Teucrium aroanium) features evergreen, silvery green leaves and two-lipped, light purple flowers 3/4 inch long, which appear late spring through early summer. Germander grows 3 inches tall and 3 to 9 inches wide. Dry to medium moisture, gritty soil and sunny spots are best for growing this shrub.

Beach vitex and germander are hardy in USDA zones 7 through 10.

Ground cover shrubs that grow best in sunny spots need at least six hours of direct sun per day.

Spirea (Spiraea decumbens) forms a spreading mat 6 to 9 inches tall and 6 to 18 inches wide. Clusters of tiny white flowers appear in spring and sometimes later in the year. A deciduous shrub, spirea is hardy in USDA zones 5 through 8 and tolerates most soil types but thrives in average, medium moisture, freely draining soil.

Shrub rose 'Chewground' (Rosa 'Chewground'), which is hardy in USDA zones 5 through 9, bears yellow-centered, pink and white flowers early summer through fall, and produces dark green, glossy leaves. 'Chewground grows 1 to 2 feet tall and spreads 4 to 5 feet wide. Freely draining, medium-moisture, slightly acidic soil suits this shrub.

Shady areas for ground cover shrubs receive fewer than six hours direct light a day and sometimes no direct light at all.

Creeping saxifrage (Saxifraga stolonifera) bears white flowers 1 inch wide on tall stems late spring through early summer, and offers silver-veined leaves that are dark green above and pink-red below. Also called strawberry geranium or strawberry begonia, creeping saxifrage is hardy in USDA zones 6 through 9 and grows 1/2 to 1 1/2 feet tall and 1 to 2 feet wide. Grow creeping saxifrage in moist, light, organically rich, freely draining soil for best results.

Partridge berry (Mitchella repens) is hardy in USDA zones 3 through 8 and grows up to 3 inches tall and 6 to 12 inches wide. The leaves are dark green and white-veined, and funnel-shaped, fragrant, white blooms appear in spring. Bright red berries ripen in late summer. Patridge berry prefers freely draining, organically rich, medium-moisture soil.