The University of Florida says that ground cover plants are usually low-growing perennials that spread beyond where they were planted. Additionally, ground cover plants are generally easy to maintain and grow. Many times, they are too easy to grow—some species can spread quickly and badly if they are not properly and regularly cared for.
There are a lot of different types of ground cover plants, and each one has its own needs. This guide breaks it all down so that even a beginner gardener can pick the right plant. Besides having beautiful yellow flowers, these plants can get rid of pests, keep weeds down, and even help protect areas that are prone to soil erosion. These very useful ground covers could be just what you need if you have trouble with stubbornly shady spots, want to add color, or don’t know what to plant in poor, rocky soil. Keep reading to learn more and find the yellow flowering plant thats perfect for you!.
The Aurinia saxatilis, or yellow alyssum, plant is very easy to care for and is a popular choice for anyone who is just starting to garden. According to The Spruce, it starts to bloom in April and soon bursts with yellow flowers that cover almost all of the sage-green leaves. Its medium size and shape make it very useful. It can be used as a border plant or along a retaining wall where it can hang down.
Angelina stonecrop (Sedum rupestre “Angelina”) is a sprawling, fast-growing succulent that does well even in rocky, infertile soil. According to Perennials, it has tall flowers that match the spiked yellow leaves that turn copper in the winter. com. Once settled into its habitat, it requires very little care other than the occasional watering. Plant angelina stonecrop in your garden for a low-effort, high-impact monochromatic effect.
The Yellow Archangel (Lamiastrum galeobdolon) has a unique look, with its silver-variegated leaves and intricate flowers that sit royally on top of their stalks. Like the related mint plant, it spreads easily and can quickly overtake available space. Some places think it’s invasive, and The Spruce says it can hurt native plants if it’s not controlled. Still, it can be okay for gardens as long as people are aware of their surroundings and don’t spread it by accident.
Groundcover plants are low-growing perennials, herbs, grasses or shrubs that spread to form a dense mat, smothering weeds and filling in empty spaces. Their spreading growth habit makes them perfect choices to plant under trees, on slopes to prevent erosion, and in troublesome areas like shady zones where grass won’t grow
When choosing groundcovers consider their ultimate size growth rate, sunlight needs and soil preferences. You’ll want to balance their spread with your available space. Fast-growing types may need frequent pruning to keep them in bounds. Slower growers are lower maintenance but take longer to fill an area.
While green foliage has its place, groundcovers with colorful flowers provide an extra visual pop in the garden. Yellow blooms attract pollinators while brightening shady corners. They complement other flowering plants and add sparkle along walkways or the front of borders. Here are 10 top options for groundcovers with cheery yellow blossoms:
Yellow Alyssum
Alyssum saxatile, commonly called golden tuft, explodes with clusters of tiny fragrant yellow flowers in spring. It forms a low, mounded mat of gray-green leaves, spreading 12 to 18 inches wide. Alyssum grows well in full sun and tolerates heat and drought once established. It needs well-drained soil and good air circulation. Short lived in zones 3-5, it self-sows readily.
Hardy Yellow Ice Plant
Delosperma nubigenum is a succulent groundcover with bright yellow daisy-like blooms. The evergreen foliage often turns garnet-red in winter. It thrives in full sun and dry, infertile soil. Rapid spreading makes it ideal for suppressing weeds between pavers or covering rocky banks and slopes. The plant creeps along the ground but doesn’t root as it spreads.
Barren Strawberry
Waldsteinia fragarioides produces a carpet of vibrant green leaves with cheerful yellow flowers in spring. It spreads slowly, topping out around 12 inches wide. The ornamental strawberry prefers part shade and moist, well-drained soil. It works well combined with ferns and hostas. The plant is deer and rabbit resistant.
Spring Cinquefoil
Potentilla neumanniana is a dainty semi-evergreen perennial that blooms abundantly in spring. The five-petaled flowers contrast nicely against the delicate foliage. It spreads moderately to form clumps 6 to 12 inches wide. Spring cinquefoil does best in average to poor soil that drains well. It tolerates some foot traffic. Periodic thinning helps keep its size in check.
Yellow Stonecrop
The easy-care succulent Sedum nuttallianum pops with golden star-shaped flowers in late summer to fall. The trailing stems form a tight mat no more than 3 inches tall, spreading up to 2 feet wide. Stonecrop thrives in full sun and dry, poor soil. Great for suppressing weeds between stepping stones or on green rooftops and walls, it tolerates some foot traffic. Plants are short-lived but self-sow readily.
Evening Primrose
Oenothera biennis illuminates the garden with yellow blooms that open in the evening. The plant reaches 1 to 3 feet tall and wide, with a bushy, upright habit. It self-seeds freely and spreads rapidly. Evening primrose does best in full sun and sandy or gravelly alkaline soil. It tolerates heat, humidity and some drought once established. The flowers close up during the day.
Creeping Jenny
Also called moneywort, Lysimachia nummularia is a fast-growing evergreen perennial noted for its bright yellow cup-shaped flowers in summer. It forms a thick mat of round leaves on long creeping stems, quickly spreading several feet wide. Creeping jenny thrives in part shade with moist soil. It can tolerate full sun with consistent watering. Use it as a lawn substitute or to cascade over walls and pots.
Woolly Yarrow
Achillea tomentosa ‘Aurea’ offers flat heads of yellow blooms on short woolly gray foliage. It forms a fast-spreading mat just 6 to 8 inches tall. The aromatic evergreen leaves spread up to 18 inches wide. Yarrow grows best in full sun and dry, infertile soil. It needs excellent drainage. The long-blooming flowers attract butterflies while resisting deer. Shear plants halfway back after flowering to encourage new growth.
Cinquefoil
Potentilla aurea is a hardy perennial that produces loose clusters of bright butter-yellow flowers all summer long. The gray-green foliage forms a dense 1-foot tall mat. It handles partial shade but does best with full sun exposure. Cinquefoil tolerates clay soil but needs good drainage. It grows moderately fast, reaching 18 to 24 inches wide when happy. Shear plants back hard after bloom to encourage bushy regrowth.
Creeping Phlox
Phlox subulata carpets the ground in a sea of spring blooms in shades of pink, purple, blue and white. ‘Yellow Delight’ offers sunshine-yellow flowers on a dome of evergreen needle-like foliage. It grows just 4 to 6 inches tall but spreads readily to 24 inches wide or more. Creeping phlox thrives in full sun to partial shade and sandy, well-drained soil. Cut back spent flower stems to promote dense growth.
With so many choices, you can mix and match yellow-flowering groundcovers to create stunning contrast and seasonal interest in your garden. Be sure to give them the right growing conditions, and regular pruning to keep faster growers in their allotted space. Then let their vibrant golden blossoms and lush foliage brighten up those bare patches while holding weeds at bay.
Hardy yellow ice plant
Hardy yellow ice plant (Delosperma nubigenum) is a low-growing perennial succulent with bright yellow flowers. Though the plant is considered evergreen, the label can be a bit confusing. According to High Country Gardens, the leaves transform from green to a vivid crimson once winter hits. This plant can handle drought and does well in cold, dry places. It is a great choice for ground cover in high-desert and alpine areas.
Bloom Season: late spring to early summer
USDA Growing Zone: 4 to 9
Growing Conditions: full sun
Soil Type: sandy, dry
Size: 2 to 24 inches tall, 24 inches wide
Creeping buttercup (Ranunculus repens) is a wide-ranging wildflower, having spread across most of the North America. In some places its considered invasive, largely due to its impressive adaptability. Creeping buttercup thrives in moist soil, and will quickly overtake the dark, damp environments it most prefers, Missouri Botanical Garden explains. Plant it at the edge of a pond or wetland and youll soon see for yourself!
Bloom Season: spring to late summer
USDA Growing Zone: 4 to 9
Growing Conditions: full sun to shade
Soil Type: rich, wet
Size: 8 to 12 inches tall, up to 36 inch spread
Sadly, the perennial peanut (Arachis glabrata) does not produce nuts, though the flowers are edible and have a similar flavor. Its instead used as hay and introduced to pastures for grazing farm animals that benefit from its rich nutrients, according to Gardening Know How. In residential settings, its commonly used as a lawn-alternative, perfect for low-traffic areas that could use some color. Remember to water frequently, and soon youll have a unique and healthy lawn.
Bloom Season: Summer
USDA Growing Zone: 8 to 11
Growing Conditions: Full sun
Soil Type: Well-drained, sandy
Size: 3 to 6 inches tall
As its name implies, evening primrose (Oenothera biennis) is nocturnal, opening its blooms as the sun recedes. It is entirely non-toxic, and some enjoy foraging its edible leaves and roots. According to Gardeners Path, this mystical plant is also believed to have medical properties that can address a wide variety of ailments. With such unique characteristics, evening primrose is perfect for gardeners planning a moonlit garden, or hoping to attract nocturnal wildlife.
Bloom Season: late spring to summer
USDA Growing Zone: 3 to 9
Growing Conditions: full sun
Soil Type: well-draining, alkaline
Size: 6 to 24 inches tall
Creeping jenny (Lysimachia nummularia) looks far lovelier than it sounds. The crawling plant spread quickly, but with regular maintenance can be kept under control. Gardeners can customize the appearance of the plant by choosing where its grown. Gardenia says that plants that get full sun will have golden leaves, while plants that get shade will have green leaves that look better with the short-lived yellow flowers.
Bloom Season: summer
USDA Growing Zone: 3 to 9
Growing Conditions: full sun to part shade
Soil Type: moist, clay, loamy
Size: 3 to 6 inches tall, 1 to 2 foot spread
Archillea tomentosa is a dwarf species of plant in the genus colloquially referred to as yarrow. Wooly yarrow grows low to the ground, while Common yarrow grows tall. Its dark, evergreen leaves spread out more than they grow tall. According to Perennials. com, Wooly yarrow prefers sandy soil and is drought-resistant, but cannot withstand excessive heat and humidity. This makes it well-suited for dry areas, such as a rock garden or along a gravel path.
Bloom Season: late-spring to mid-summer
USDA Growing Zone: 3 to 7
Growing Conditions: Full sun
Soil Type: Sandy
Size: 6 to 8 inches tall, 8 to 18 inches wide
Ladys Mantle (Alchemilla mollis) is a traditional garden perennial that remains popular today. Its clouds of tiny yellow flowers evoke a romantic feeling in any outdoor space. Johnsons Garden says it grows in neat piles of scalloped leaves, which makes it a great choice for a garden border. This plant can be used to decorate a path outside, as cut flowers inside, or to attract butterflies in the area.
Bloom Season: early summer to fall
USDA Growing Zone: 3 to 7
Growing Conditions: full sun to part shade
Soil Type: slightly acidic, moist
Size: 1 to 2 feet tall and wide
The name “barren strawberry,” which comes from the plant Waldsteinia fragarioides, comes from how much it looks like the more well-known plant that grows sweet strawberries. Though it also produces fruit after flowering, the small white berries are inedible. New Moon Nursery says that even deer don’t like them, which is good news for gardeners who want to keep local animals out of their plants.
Bloom Season: early to late spring
USDA Growing Zone: 4 to 7
Growing Conditions: full sun to part sun
Soil Type: slightly acidic, well-draining
Size: 3 to 6 inches tall, 12 inch spread
Partridge feather (Tanecetum densum) is an evergreen perennial related to but distinct from the better-known common tansy. The silver-blue leaves are its namesake, and contrast with the small golden blooms to create a striking composition. Despite minimal water needs and ease of care, partridge feather isnt widely planted, per Plant Select. Its a strong contender for any homeowner wanting an uncommon plant that will stand out from the rest.
Bloom Season: early summer
USDA Growing Zone: 4 to 9
Growing Conditions: full sun to part shade
Soil Type: very dry
Size: 3 to 5 inches tall, 15 to 24 inches wide
10 Tough Evergreen Ground Covers for Your Garden
FAQ
What is the name of the ground cover with yellow flowers?
What is a creeping plant with yellow flowers?
Is there a ground cover that blooms all summer long?
What is a yellow flowering ground cover?
The yellow-flowering ground cover plant is ideal for growing in rock gardens, ground cover in full sun, border fronts, or containers. They also make excellent hanging basket flowers where the ornamental flowering stems cascade over the side.
Are yellow flowers good for ground cover plants?
Ground cover plants with yellow flowers are perfect for adding bright golden shades of yellow to a garden landscape. Yellow-flowering, low-growing spreading plants create a brightly-colored carpet of sunshine blossoms. Flowers in vibrant yellow hues typically grow in full sun or partial shade.
What are ground cover plants with yellow blossoms used for?
Ground cover plants with yellow blossoms have many uses in a garden landscape. Apart from growing the spreading plants to cover bare ground, they can be used along borders, in between paving stones, to trail over fences or walls, or grow in hanging baskets.
Which ground cover has a heart shaped leaf & yellow flower?
One of the ground covers that has a heart-shaped leaf and yellow flower is wild ginger (Saruma henryi). It blooms in the spring and summer months. What are some of the best flowering ground covers?
