Ground covers are an essential part of any garden, providing a lush, flowing carpet of greenery that suppresses weeds and ties the landscape together. While green foliage is lovely, ground covers that bloom with white flowers add an extra pop of color and visual interest. From low-growing thyme to spreading phlox, there are many options that allow you to add swathes of white blossoms to your garden.

Here are 13 of the best ground covers with white flowers:

White Flowering Candytuft

Candytuft (Iberis sempervirens) is a popular ground cover that produces masses of white flowers in spring. There are a few different varieties but the straight species has pure white blooms and deep green, narrow foliage. Candytuft grows 6-12 inches tall and spreads rapidly, making it an excellent choice for slopes and banks. It thrives in full sun and well-drained soil.

White Creeping Thyme

For a deliciously scented white ground cover, look no further than thyme. Thymus serpyllum ‘Albus’ has tiny white flowers that bloom in summer over a carpet of green, aromatic leaves. Creeping thyme grows only 2-4 inches tall but spreads quickly between pavers and in the cracks of pathways or rock gardens. It prefers full sun and average to dry soil.

White Nancy Spotted Dead Nettle

Lamium maculatum ‘White Nancy’ offers unique silver-green leaves that contrast beautifully with clusters of pure white flowers in spring This dead nettle selection grows 4-8 inches tall and spreads moderately to form a lush mat. It thrives in the shade, where the bright white blooms really stand out.

Bunchberry

Bunchberry (Cornus canadensis) is a North American native ground cover that blooms with showy white bracts surrounded by large green leaves. This plant grows 4-6 inches tall and spreads by underground rhizomes to form colonies in shady areas. The white bracts appear in spring, lasting for several weeks. Bunchberry flourishes in moist, acid soil.

‘White Nugget’ Ice Plant

For a hot, dry area, Delosperma congestum ‘White Nugget’ is the perfect choice. This ice plant selection has white daisy-like blooms over succulent green leaves It grows just 3-4 inches tall but spreads readily, making it ideal for slopes and retaining walls ‘White Nugget’ thrives in full sun and needs very little water once established. The flowers appear in late spring.

Alpine Carpet Bugleweed

Ajuga reptans ‘Alba’ offers a classic white-flowering ground cover. In spring, it produces upright spikes of white blooms over a carpet of dark green, scalloped leaves. This bugleweed grows 4-8 inches tall and spreads readily by aboveground stolons. It flourishes in partial shade to full shade and moist, well-drained soil.

Snow-in-Summer

Cerastium tomentosum is commonly known as snow-in-summer thanks to its masses of white flowers that bloom in late spring and early summer. This ground cover grows just 4-8 inches tall but spreads vigorously. It has silver-green woolly foliage that remains evergreen in mild winter areas. Snow-in-summer thrives in full sun and dry, sandy soil.

White Moss Phlox

For a white-flowering ground cover with a sweet fragrance, consider Phlox subulata ‘Snowflake.’ This moss phlox cultivar produces abundant white flowers on a 4-6 inch tall mat of needle-like foliage in spring. It spreads moderately and is adaptable to various soil types, though it prefers well-drained locations. Grow it in full sun for the best flower production.

Snow Mime Speedwell

Veronica ‘Snow Mime’ offers unique white-variegated leaves that make an attractive, low maintenance ground cover. In spring, it blooms with plentiful white flower spikes. This speedwell grows just 2-4 inches tall but spreads readily. It is easy to grow in full sun to part shade and adapts readily to various soil types.

White False Heather

Cuphea hyssopifolia ‘Alba’ provides dainty white flowers from summer to fall over small green leaves. Commonly called white false heather, this plant grows 10-18 inches tall and spreads moderately. It is adaptable to sun or part shade and needs average moisture. The abundant flowers attract hummingbirds!

Turkish Speedwell

Veronica liwanensis is a fast-spreading ground cover with excellent heat and drought tolerance. In spring, it is covered in glistening white flower spikes. Turkish speedwell grows 1-2 inches tall and spreads aggressively to form a weed-suppressing mat. Provide it with full sun and very well-drained, sandy soil.

White Violet

Sweet white violets (Viola odorata) make a lovely, carefree ground cover for shady areas. They produce white flowers over heart-shaped green leaves from spring to fall. The blooms have a light, sweet fragrance. This violet spreads vigorously by underground rhizomes and grows 4-6 inches tall. It thrives in partial to full shade.

Bishop’s Weed

Aegopodium podagraria ‘Variegatum’ offers neat variegated foliage and summertime clusters of tiny white flowers. Commonly called bishop’s weed, it grows about a foot tall and spreads aggressively. This plant can be invasive, so it’s best contained by borders or sidewalks. It grows well in sun or shade and nearly any soil.

Sweet Woodruff

Sweet woodruff (Galium odoratum) is a shade loving ground cover with fragrant white spring flowers. It has whorls of narrow green leaves that spread to form a dense carpet. The small white blooms have a sweet, hay-like scent. Sweet woodruff grows 8-10 inches tall and spreads vigorously by rhizomes and self-seeding. Contain it by edges and pathways.

Conclusion

With their carpets of green foliage and abundant white blooms, these ground covers provide low maintenance color in the garden. Choices like creeping thyme and candytuft thrive in full sun, while others like bunchberry and violets flourish in shade. Select a variety based on your growing conditions and landscape needs to enjoy their lush coverage and decorative floral displays.