10 Best Ground Cover Plants that Thrive in Shade

When designing a landscape, most people focus their attention on trees, shrubs, and flowering plants. But the ground plane is just as important! Ground covers are low-growing plants that spread to form a dense mat, filling in empty space. They suppress weeds, prevent erosion, and add visual interest.

Many gardeners struggle to find ground covers that can tolerate shade. Dense tree canopies block sunlight from reaching the soil below, making it difficult for many plants to thrive. However, there are quite a few options that not only survive, but actually prefer shady conditions.

Here are 10 of the best ground cover plants for shade:

1. Sweet Woodruff

Sweet woodruff (Galium odoratum) is a low-growing perennial that spreads vigorously by underground rhizomes. It forms a solid mat of dark green foliage, bearing tiny white star-shaped flowers in spring. The leaves give off a sweet, hay-like fragrance when crushed.

This plant does best in medium to wet soil and flourishes in shady spots under trees or on the north side of buildings. It prefers humus-rich acidic soil but is adaptable to average conditions. Sweet woodruff spreads quickly making it a good option for covering large areas.

2. Wild Ginger

Wild ginger (Asarum canadense) is a native woodland plant with lush heart-shaped leaves. Rather than true flowers it produces curious brown, jug-like blooms near the ground in spring. The foliage emits a faint ginger aroma when crushed.

This hardy perennial thrives in moist, organic soil and deeper shade. It spreads slowly via rhizomes to form colonies. Wild ginger makes an excellent ground cover for naturalized areas and woodland gardens. Once established, it can tolerate short periods of drought.

3. Bunchberry

Bunchberry (Cornus canadensis) is a petite dogwood species that grows just 4-6 inches tall. It is native to northern forests across North America. In spring, bunchberry produces a ring of showy white bracts surrounding tiny green flowers. These give way to bright red berry clusters in summer.

This plant spreads by underground rhizomes, blanketing areas with dark green foliage that turns red in fall. It thrives in moist, acidic soil in part to full shade. Bunchberry is slower growing than some choices but well worth the wait. Plant it en masse for a lush carpet of texture and color.

4. Dwarf Solomon’s Seal

Dwarf Solomon’s seal (Polygonatum humile) is a charming rhizomatous perennial. Arching stems bear oval leaves with white undersides. Nodding, bell-shaped green flowers dangle below the foliage in late spring. Blue berries take their place in summer.

This plant spreads to form a carefree ground cover but is not overly aggressive. It flourishes in medium to wet soil and partial to full shade. Dwarf Solomon’s seal combines nicely with ferns, hostas, and other woodland plants. Show it off by planting in drifts along a shady pathway.

5. Lilyturf

Lilyturf (Liriope spicata) is an evergreen perennial with grassy, straplike foliage. Tiny lilac flowers appear on short stalks in late summer. They are a magnet for butterflies and bees.

This tough, adaptable plant thrives in full sun to deep shade and nearly any well-drained soil. It spreads via underground stolons at a moderate rate, making a nice ground cover under trees and shrubs. Lilyturf is drought and salt tolerant once established, requiring little care to look its best.

6. Creeping Jenny

Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia) is a fast-growing perennial with round, bright green leaves on long, trailing stems. It thrives in moist soil and quickly spreads to form a thick carpet of foliage. Tiny cup-shaped yellow flowers blanket the plant in summer.

Creeping Jenny excels as a ground cover in shady, damp areas like woodland gardens and along ponds or streams. It can also tolerate some sun with adequate moisture. Consider mixing in the golden leaf form (L. nummularia ‘Aurea’) for added interest.

7. Corsican Mint

Corsican mint (Mentha requienii) is a petite mint species that hugs the ground as it spreads. Tiny rounded leaves have a minty aroma when crushed. Light purple flowers occasionally appear but are not the main attraction.

This plant thrives in moist soil and partial shade, spreading vigorously to choke out weeds. Corsican mint is delightful planted between pavers or allowed to creep among other shade plants. The sparse growth habit leaves room for other plants to mingle and thrive.

8. Mother of Thousands

Mother of thousands (Saxifraga stolonifera) is a perennial grown more for its foliage than flowers. The rosette leaves are broadly kidney-shaped with purple undersides. Airy sprays of tiny white blooms appear in early summer.

As the name implies, this saxifrage spreads quickly via stolons that root wherever they touch down. It thrives in organically rich, medium moisture soil and shade provided by trees or buildings. Once established, mother of thousands requires little care or supplemental water.

9. Wild Geranium

Wild geranium (Geranium maculatum) produces delicate pink flowers in spring above deeply cut, lobed foliage. The palmate leaves turn red in fall, extending the season of interest into winter.

This hardy native spreads moderately in woodland conditions via rhizomatous roots. It flourishes in dappled sunlight and moist, humus-rich soil. Wild geranium combines beautifully with spring ephemerals and looks lovely rambling among hostas or ferns.

10. Allegheny Foamflower

Allegheny foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia) is a clumping woodland perennial with heart-shaped leaves. Fuzzy flower stalks bear foamy white blooms for weeks in spring. Foliage often takes on hues of bronze, burgundy, and purple in fall and winter.

This plant thrives in acidic soil and shade, spreading slowly outward by stolons. It grows 6-12 inches tall but remains low and spreading. Allegheny foamflower makes a fantastic ground cover around trees and shrubs or mass planted on shady banks. It mixes well with other woodland plants.

With the right selection, shade gardens can be just as beautiful and lush as sunny sites. Try combining several of these easy-care ground covers to create stunning carpets of texture and color, even in dense shade. Just be sure to choose plants suited to your specific growing conditions for the best results.