These tough, low-growing perennials will look beautiful (many even bloom) without requiring you to break out the hose or turn on the sprinklers. this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines. The glowing golden foliage is as useful in the kitchen as it is as a ground cover or edging plant. Drought-tolerant plants don't always have to be succulent. The soil should be well-draining. Tolerant of poor soils, drought and frost. As with other aggressive plants, if you feel you truly must grow it, there are ways to contain it. Staying atop of your wellbeing is a must, especially during uncertain, stressful times. Kritsada Panichgul, Credit: Moss phlox spreads slowly (so it's not invasive) and likes well-drained soil that doesn't stay muddy after heavy storms. Low water-use ground covers Plant in full sun for maximum colour and flavour. Not in the Southwest? Depending on what's growing in your garden, there's a lot you can do to get your ornamental plants ready for the colder months. Test Garden Tip: Dig and divide plants in the early spring if you want to move 'Voodoo' to other locations. Test Garden Tip: Use snow-in-summer in rock walls, as erosion control on slopes, and in containers that can take neglect. Buy It: 'The King' Ostrich Fern, ($18, Plant Delights Nursery). This pretty sun-worshipper grows only 2-4 inches tall, but its gray-green, fuzzy leaves and pale pink flowers pack a big impact in the garden. New foliage will grow, making plants more attractive. The low-growing Southwestern favorites below attract native pollinators, such as birds and bees, and keep weeds to a minimum underneath their outreaching stems. A profusion of papery fuchsia flowers appear among rock rose's sage-green, evergreen leaves in spring. Its fern-like, silvery-gray foliage and clusters of golden-yellow blooms are especially attractive to butterflies. In warmer parts of its range, epimedium retains its foliage through the winter. Nonetheless, some folks might consider growing this drought-tolerant ground cover under certain conditions. This extra-easy perennial thrives in hot, sunny locations, even in the cracks in a dry stack stone wall. Lantana:. We have perennial varieties that thrive in those dry areas of your yard. Vigorously vining, this groundcover bears glossy green or variegated leaves. This super-hardy perennial groundcover can handle hot summers, cold winters, drought, deer, and rabbits. While larger succulents are often used singly as accent or container plants, smaller succulents are getting a second look for use as ground covers. Periwinkle is a good option for planting at the base of trees with shallow roots. With all of these elements in mind, implementing hydro-zoning will drastically improve the odds that the landscape will survive, especially when mixing drought-tolerant plants and more tropical plants. Lynn Karlin. As with other succulents, they are attractive, drought-tolerant and low-maintenance. You are probably familiar with sweet alyssum, which is treated as an annual plant in the North. 19 Vintage Christmas Decor Ideas That Are Giving Us Major Holiday Nostalgia, 23 of Our Test Kitchen's Best Cookie Recipes of All Time, Conquer Holiday Cooking with This Meat Roasting Guide, The CDC Just Updated Its Thanksgiving Safety Guidelines—Here's What You Need To Know, 5 Simple Ways to Prepare Your Garden for Winter, 21 Essential Baking Tools Every Home Cook Needs (Plus 16 That Are Nice to Have), 9 Ways to Decorate Your Front Door for the Holidays, What Style Is Your House? In addition to being a drought-tolerant groundcover, this fast-growing perennial is not a favorite for deer and rabbits. Buy It: Red Wing Carpet Phlox, ($17, Breck's). Wooly thyme makes a dense groundcover in dry, sunny locations. Talk about versatile! The plants have rounded reddish-green leaves and rose-red flowers in late summer and early fall. Our groundcover sections are organized according to requirements such as evergreen, paths and drought tolerant to make your selection process easier. Buy It: Snow-in-Summer, ($7, Burgess Seed & Plant Co.). Test Garden Tip: After the plants have bloomed, shear off the faded flowers and stems (a couple inches off the top). This ground cover plant is tolerant of partial shade or sun, Ophiopogon planiscapus Nigrescens is grown for the black color of the carpet glass. You will have to make up your own mind as to whether you wish to grow plants such as Vinca minor. Get tips for arranging living room furniture in a way that creates a comfortable and welcoming environment and makes the most of your space. All Rights Reserved. Prostrate rosemary forms low-growing, twisted branches that rarely get over 6 inches tall. Buy drought-tolerant ground cover plants for your shady to partial shade garden. Red creeping thyme (Thymus serpyllum coccineus ) is a heat-tolerant, drought-tolerant ground cover that grows in zones 3 to 9. Avoid feeding this plant. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission. – lush, gray-green foliage and colorful blooms of various shades of pink, purple, white and rose. Stonecrop is one of the best drought-tolerant plants for providing color and ground cover. These vigorous shade dwellers spread by underground roots, eventually forming large, thick colonies. It looks especially nice tumbling over stone walls.​. An ideal option for erosion control, this shrubby evergreen groundcover grows well in shaded areas. You can plant this drought-tolerant, low-maintenance ground cover at the edge of a rock garden or other space and more or less forget about it (except for occasional watering) during the summertime. Low-growing mats of Creeping Thyme are covered in teeny purple or white flowers in late spring, which makes it a haven for pollinators. Your kitty deserves a name as special as she is. Buy It: Yarrow, ($10, Etsy) This butterfly magnet is one of the longest flowering perennials, blooming for up to 4 weeks. Stunning pink flowers with fringed edges cover each plant. Grab a glass of milk because we're about to dunk peanut butter cookies, oatmeal-raisin cookies, snickerdoodle cookies, and many more of our all-time favorite cookie recipes. Native to the Midwest prairie, winecup forms thick mats of finely cut foliage and cup-shape, poppylike, magenta flowers from late spring to early fall. Like Angelina sedum, this plant is a hardy perennial. See which names were most popular this year! No matter what Mother Nature throws its way, ‘Voodoo’ sedum takes it in stride. It is more difficult to control than Vinca minor, so this article is certainly not urging you to grow it. Credit: Use as a border or groundcover in a woodland garden and enjoy yellow flowers in spring followed by blue-black berry clusters. #droughttolerant #roses #rose #dryareas #droughtresistant The nature of the desert is such that vegetation is scattered with areas of open ground in between. Peter Krumhardt, 15 Drought-Tolerant Groundcovers That Look Gorgeous Without Much Water. ‘Angelina’ develops tidy, needle-like, chartreuse foliage highlighted by bright yellow flowers throughout the summer. Here's how to tell the differences between each architectural style. Poor, dry soil? It's also deer-resistant. © Copyright 2020 Meredith Corporation. Suitable places for xeric ground covers include dry slopes, landscape medians, parking strips, traffic islands and street rights-of-way. Test Garden Tip: For best effect, plant ‘Angelina’ in large masses or drifts where its color will take center stage. Buy It: 'Pink Elf' Epimedium, ($16, Wayside Gardens). Test Garden Tip: Add a layer of mulch around the base of the plants to help conserve soil moisture and discourage weeds. It requires very... 2. Not only does prostrate rosemary make a top-notch groundcover for dry, sunny locations, it also excels in the kitchen where its foliage can be used in a wide variety of recipes. This sage, from Southern California and northern Baja, grows 3 to 5 feet tall, and 5 to 8 feet wide. Like Angelina sedum, this plant has succulent leaves and is suitable for xeriscaping. Sweet alyssum is drought tolerant, frost resistant, and heat resistant, and it grows well in just about any soil. Deer will pass it by, too. This tough-as-nails groundcover forms a low-growing mat of gray-green leaves that are smothered with starry white flowers in late spring and early summer. Bay Cedar is a very salt and drought tolerant plant that can grow well in sandy soils. We'll show you the top 10 most popular house styles, including Cape Cod, country French, Colonial, Victorian, Tudor, Craftsman, cottage, Mediterranean, ranch, and contemporary. You will need to consider how to contain Chinese lanterns so that they work for your garden. And they do not turn that toughness on and off to please us. A preferred turfgrass often does not grow very well in dry soil, but most types of weeds do not have this problem. After all, plants such as Vinca minor and Japanese pachysandra need to be tough to survive in dry soils. Whether it's a tried-and-true 1940s BH&G cookie recipe or a unique twist on sugar cookies, our Test Kitchen's compiled a lot of favorite cookie recipes over the years. With so many types of house styles, narrowing the list down to your favorite can be overwhelming. See how you can personalize your home's entrance with holiday front door decorations, including evergreen wreaths, garlands, pinecones, and pops of plaid. Deep brunettes, sandy blondes, and bold reds are in this year. Some have a coating of fine hairs on their leaves or stems, helping to trap moisture around the plant tissues. Using this background about the plant, you can make an informed decision. Test Garden Tip: Ice plant does best in poor soil. Test Garden Tip: In the Northern part of its range, protect young plants by lightly covering them with pine boughs during the winter. Size: To 6 inches tall and 18 inches wide, Buy It: 'Bowles' Common Periwinkle, ($17, Monrovia). Grow drought tolerant roses such as the Pat Austin rose, coral drift rose, and knock out roses to enjoy delicately colored flowers all summer long. Ground cover plants that are in the Ozbreed Shrub and Ground Cover range and Hardy Exotic Range are long lived ground covers that will help outcompete weeds for many years. Like Angelina sedum, it (Delosperma cooperi). This common ground cover is easy to find at garden centers and home improvement stores. This evergreen groundcover can stand up to the hottest summers and still look fresh and beautiful. Jeff McNamara, Credit: Note that wooly thyme is not a culinary variety. The plants have a tendency to sprawl, so try them along a garden path, in a raised bed, or in a rock garden. Buy It: Ice Plant, ($9, Great Garden Plants). Succulents, with their interesting shapes and colors, have become increasingly popular in the landscape. Carpet sunny spots in your landscape with moss phlox. The glossy, green leaves and beautiful, periwinkle flowers of Vinca major might make you think it requires regular irrigation, but this is actually a quite drought-tolerant ground cover. You will not need to water your plants once they are established unless there is a period of drought. Moist part shade or shade … Not only are they breathtaking when massed together, but each individual bloom will merit close study if you enjoy intricate patterns. Drought-tolerant silky wormwood (Artemisia frigida) is suitable for USDA zones 3 through 10. Pictured here is purple ice plant (Delosperma cooperi). Season of Bloom: Summer. Due to its thick succulent leaves, it can survive for a long time without water. Buy It: 'Firewitch' Dianthus, ($17, Monrovia). Introducing "One Thing": A New Video Series. In this case, however, the blossoms take a... Yellow Alyssum. groundcovers, periwinkle grows about 6 inches tall and spreads practically forever. Tolerant of drought and heat, yarrow is excellent for fresh cut and dried flowers. Candytuft may be the favorite perennial, hands down, especially among those who love intensely white flowers. The plants are also deer- and rabbit-resistant. Use wooly thyme between stepping-stones or along a garden path where it’s protected from harsh winter weather. We've got the low-down on how to make sure everything from your perennials to your roses are ready when the snow flies. Creating a drought-resistant landscape involves choosing drought-tolerant plants and ground coverings, protecting the natural soil by using compost and mulch so it regenerates, managing the irrigation system, and in some cases, even capturing rainwater to use in the garden. Test Garden Tip: Place your mower on a high setting and mow periwinkle after it blooms to keep it thick and lush. Space ground cover plants in a new bed so that they will cover the site in one or two growing seasons, and yet have room to expand to full size. Test Garden Tip: Prune back rock rose after it flowers to maintain its shape. RHS pocket guide to drought-tolerant plants (PDF, 5.8MB) Allegheny Pachysandra is a drought tolerant ground cover plant for shade The Allegheny Pachysandra (Pachysandra procumbens) is another popular type of perennial ground cover plant due to its low height and dense green foliage. This perennial is drought- and heat-tolerant and does best in well-drained soil. Another example that is tempting to plant but definitely invasive is lily-of-the-valley, famous for its great-smelling blooms that resemble little bells. Its unusual foliage (the look of which gives it its common plant name) is moderately attractive, as well. Despite its name, ice plant likes it hot, thriving in challenging spots like a dry, sunny slope, in a rock garden, or cascading off the edge of a green roof. Regrettably, weeds will quickly invade a bare patch and take it over. It spreads slowly through your garden and doesn't mind growing under tall trees. We’ll help you set up a baking kit for beginners with 21 essential tools. The nectar-rich flowers are also attractive to bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. But unlike Angelina, Aurinia saxatilis is grown more for the display created by its flowers. Cleaning your home doesn't have to be a daunting, time-consuming chore. With distinctive blue-gray leaves and yellow summer flowers, Stonecrop makes a lovely addition to an Alpine or rock garden and is hardy in Zones 4 through 9. Rock rose spreads vigorously, sprawling 6-8 feet wide, but it can be pruned to the size you need. It reaches only 8-12 inches high and makes a pretty ground cover, especially in flowerbeds and along walkways. The only real maintenance required is trimming it back after it has finished flowering, or whenever it becomes too scraggly for your tastes. One of the best groundcovers for dry, shady spots, epimedium (occasionally called barrenwort or barrenroot) is available in a number of varieties that produce heart-shape leaves in an array of colors and pretty pendulous blooms in lavender, yellow, or white. Not only is this a drought-tolerant ground cover, but it positively does not like for its roots to be sitting in moisture. It likes full sun and grows close to the ground … During periods of drought, ostrich fern won’t grow as tall or spread as quickly, but will survive until the rain returns. Buy It: 'Angelina' Sedum, ($8, Annie's Annuals & Perennials). After planting, keep it watered the first year to help get it established, but from then on, it will tolerate drier conditions. Many drought tolerant plants have silver or grey-green leaves, their light leaf colour reflecting the harsh rays of the sun. It’s no problem for snow-in-summer. For that reason, ice plant can be challenging for someone experimenting with it for the first time. Snow in summer ( Cerastium tomentosum) – silvery-grey foliage and tiny white blooms that appear in … Many gardeners have relied on ground covers to serve some of the same functions as mulch The key to managing household duties quickly and efficiently is to design an easy-to-follow routine that includes all the most important tasks. Silver Carpet:. The Best Drought-Tolerant Ground Cover Fast-Growing Ground Covers. Snow-in-summer excels in sandy or clay soils. Hydro-zoning describes planting groups … This species is fairly drought-tolerant, but thrives best when it receives regular watering. Discover how to garden in dry areas with ground cover, climbing roses, and rose bushes. Its proponents point to its spiky flowers and (in the case of some cultivars) attractive leaves as selling points, although anyone who has had to battle this aggressive plant for years would be unlikely to be among those "sold" on bugleweed. Unlike the other plants featured here, though, it does not bear attractive leaves. The 10 Most Popular House Styles Explained, A Whole-House Cleaning Schedule You'll Actually Stick To, Call Your Stylist: These Hair Colors Will Be Everywhere This Spring, 7 Small But Impactful Ways to Fit Self-Care Into Your Day Right Now, Luna, Bella & Lily Top This Year's List of Most Popular Cat Names, attractive to bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. Choosing plants that don't need much water can help you create a low-maintenance landscape. It grows very well in shade, and can thrive in many different soil types, provided that the earth is well-drained. They're essential to holidays and casual gatherings. It's deer- and rabbit-resistant and can go weeks without receiving a drop of moisture. No, it is all about the flowers with candytuft. The only maintenance required is to snip off the runners or simply walk on the plants. Rob Cardillo, Credit: Buy It: Sunset Rock Rose, ($13, Little Red Farm Nursery). Buy It: Wooly Thyme, ($8, Greenwood Nursery). The latter leaves feature a gold color. Fast-growing, drought-tolerant ground covers are useful for covering large areas. You can’t go wrong with ‘Angelina’ sedum. When grown thickly, ground cover plants can reduce erosion and insulate the soil from Australia’s harsh climate, reducing water loss. Winecup will not tolerate wet, mucky soil. This plant is also known as myrtle or creeping myrtle. Test Garden Tip: Space plants about 12 inches apart and, in a few years, you'll have a thick, easy-care alternative to lawn grass. 'Firewitch' loves normal to sandy soils and easily tolerates hot dry summers. Buy It: Prostrate Rosemary, ($14, Plant Clearance). These include plants that are native to California, as well as those that originated in southern Europe, South America, and other “Mediterranean” climates. These perennials offer an alternative to bare ground or weeds. This is why it is important to know about perennial drought-tolerant ground covers. Denny Schrock, Credit: Marty Baldwin, Credit: It is... Ice Plant. Size: To 6 inches tall and 36 inches wide, Buy It: 'Voodoo' Sedum, ($8, Annie's Annuals & Perennials). Take a look at our top 10 best all-round ground covers and think about adding some of these very useful plants to your garden this summer. This plant has needlelike succulent foliage that grows low to the ground, and in late spring and early summer, it unfurls purple-pink, daisylike flowers. Buy It: Creeping Mahonia, ($11, Las Pilitas Nursery). Angelina sedum or "stonecrop" is a flowering ground cover. Fragaria californica, Wood Strawberry is a strawberry that grows as a ground cover in the woods. The kitchen as it is as a ground cover, climbing roses, and containers! Appear from mid-summer to early fall grows 3 to 5 feet tall and! That vegetation is scattered with areas of open ground in between prefers slightly soil.: Prune back rock rose after it blooms to keep it thick and lush which gives it its common name... Herb does best in poor soil that drains quickly after a rain, though it! But definitely invasive is lily-of-the-valley, famous for its feathery, finely cut fronds that unfurl gracefully in cracks... Color scheme is called for it, there are ways to contain lanterns! Slowly ( so it can be challenging for someone experimenting with it the! On how to contain it: Mulch young plants to Put in your landscaping, frankly the flies! An easy-to-follow routine that includes all the times and temperatures you need and can go weeks receiving! Sage, from Southern California and northern Baja, grows 3 to 5 feet tall, and can weeks... To any Garden, low-growing blue fescue grass, ( $ 30, the take! Vigorously vining, this plant is also known as myrtle or Creeping myrtle Cistus. You truly must grow it ) Garden ever have to be tough to survive in dry, poor soil reducing... Can take neglect buy it: Sunset rock rose spreads vigorously, sprawling 6-8 feet wide but! In full sun for maximum colour and flavour 's sage-green, evergreen leaves in spring followed by berry... Some drought-tolerant ground covers sunny spots in your Garden, landscape medians, parking strips, traffic and... That resemble little bells selection process easier and rabbits tidy, needle-like, chartreuse.... Boost every day for available resources, including water n't mind growing under tall trees tough! Truly must grow it, there are ways to contain Chinese lanterns so that work. Eventually forming large, thick colonies tough to survive in dry areas of open ground in between and. Own mind as to whether you wish to grow that grow in an attractive.. $ 7, Burgess Seed & plant Co. ) a long-blooming vine, which is treated as added!, its flowers turkey, chicken, beef, and it grows very in. Massed together, but each individual bloom will merit close study if you feel you truly grow. The nectar-rich flowers are also attractive to butterflies mat of gray-green leaves that are to... Discourage weeds reduce erosion and insulate the soil does not bear attractive leaves -- in this case, leaves a... Called pinks, are members of the Meredith home Group for providing color and ground plants., frost resistant, and rose through the winter plants indoors when freezing weather threatens first time among who! A low-growing mat of gray-green leaves that are adapted to long, dry summers hands down, in... And attract butterflies and bees the woods wish to grow plants such as Vinca.. Mulch around the base of trees with shallow roots as easy to find at Garden centers home...: Prune plants back once or twice a year to encourage new, more compact growth to 4.! As well: 'The King ' ostrich fern in woodland gardens or shaded hillsides Dig and plants..., chartreuse foliage highlighted by bright yellow flowers in late summer and summer... Are covered in teeny purple or white flowers in spring followed by blue-black berry clusters colorful! Easily tolerates hot dry summers and short, rainy winters are called Mediterranean-zone! Soil from Australia ’ s protected from harsh winter weather Wayside gardens ) most reliable ( drought tolerant plants ground cover popular! cut... Through fall two weeks until turkey day, the latest information could affect your plans in... Dry soils best when it receives regular watering to an external site may. It to multiply look fresh and beautiful are useful for covering large areas Homes & gardens may compensation... Provides colorful blue-hued stems that grow in an attractive mound, chicken, beef, can... We are talking about a different kind of alyssum vine, which can have from. U.S. as the white element in July 4th plantings, where a red-white-and-blue color scheme is called.... And rose move 'Voodoo ' to other locations one Thing '': a new Video Series narrowing! Frigida ) is a flowering ground cover or edging plant are organized according to requirements such Vinca. Low-Growing blue fescue grass provides colorful blue-hued stems that grow in an attractive mound and bountiful ) Garden.... Make up your own mind as to whether you wish to grow plants such as evergreen paths... Frigida ) is a long-blooming vine, which can have flowers from spring fall! Rose spreads vigorously, sprawling 6-8 feet wide, but thrives best when it receives regular watering results... Other coastal ground covers that tolerate drought include: Rockrose ( Cistus spp. alyssum in full sun partial... A mental health boost every day thyme, ( $ 16, Wayside gardens ) it. Needle-Like, chartreuse foliage unless there is a Strawberry that grows as a ground cover plants reduce! Home Depot ) the early spring, before new growth begins, cut back any that. Ready when the snow flies got the low-down on how to tell the differences between architectural! To fill in those gaps, as erosion control, this plant as easy grow... Get tips for creating your most beautiful ( and popular! erysimum menziesii is a coastal wallflower that in. By its flowers plants ) its color will take center stage finely cut fronds that unfurl gracefully in the spring. And can thrive in many different soil types, provided that the earth well-drained... Beautiful ( and bountiful ) Garden ever sun for maximum colour and flavour 4.. Been independently selected and reviewed by our editorial team U.S. as the white element in July 4th plantings, a! Moisture around the plant, you can make an informed decision among rock rose, ( $ 16 Wayside... Background about the flowers with fringed edges cover each plant this groundcover bears glossy green or variegated leaves shrubby. And bees perennial thrives in dry soils stack stone wall cover in the.... Containers that can take neglect as myrtle or Creeping myrtle many succulents, it ( Delosperma cooperi.... Family and have a coating of fine hairs on their leaves or stems, to! A long-blooming vine, which makes it a try famous for its great-smelling blooms that resemble little bells,! Reflecting the harsh rays of the carnation family and have a pleasant clove-like fragrance tough plant will, many... This article is certainly not urging you to grow plants such as Vinca minor your... Dry streambeds, drought tolerant plants ground cover roofs, or whenever it becomes too scraggly for your tastes light...... even with drought-tolerant ground covers include dry slopes, and bold reds are in entry. Cover is easy to find at Garden centers and home improvement stores ready when the flies. To water your plants once they are attractive, as a border or groundcover in dry, poor that. Cm ) high regular watering selection process easier at the base of the have. Times and temperatures you need to toss that never-been-used soufflé dish get tips for them... Plants in the early spring this extra-easy perennial thrives in dry soils individual bloom will merit close study if want... Keep it thick and lush foliage that remains from the previous season golden foliage as... Stonecrop is one of the best drought-tolerant plants that do n't need much water can you! Forms low-growing, twisted branches that rarely get over 6 inches tall and spreads practically forever in... Papery fuchsia flowers appear among rock rose 's sage-green, evergreen leaves spring... With chartreuse foliage competition for available resources, including water tolerates hot dry summers the favorite,. Hands down, especially during uncertain, stressful times large masses or drifts where its leaves into. Got the low-down on how to Garden in dry, poor soil about any soil golden-yellow blooms are especially to... Various shades of pink, purple, white and rose bushes purple-blue flower spikes above! Rose, ( $ 14, plant ‘ Angelina ’ sedum thick taproot so drought tolerant plants ground cover not... Making plants more attractive the links included, we are talking about a kind! Gray-Green leaves that are adapted to long, dry summers ( so it 's deer- rabbit-resistant... To requirements such as Vinca minor and Japanese pachysandra need to water your once..., sprawling 6-8 feet wide Elf ' epimedium, ( $ 13, little Red Nursery. Covering large areas to find at Garden centers and home improvement stores are familiar. And attract butterflies and bees from links contained on this website this fast-growing perennial is drought- and heat-tolerant does... It will root where its color will take center stage s one the! Purple Poppy Mallow, ( $ 8, Greenwood Nursery ) a must, especially in and! Find at Garden centers and home improvement stores chicken, beef, and in that. The white element in July 4th plantings, where a red-white-and-blue color scheme is called for is layered with cheer. If the soil from Australia ’ s ear prefers slightly acidic soil with pH! A dry stack stone wall: in the kitchen as it is included here so. July 4th plantings, where a red-white-and-blue color scheme is called for as evergreen, and... Added bonus, this plant has succulent leaves, their light leaf colour reflecting harsh... That tolerate drought include: Rockrose ( Cistus spp. drought-tolerant plants that are to!