The 12 Best Terrarium Plants to Grow in Your Miniature Garden
Air Plant · 'Aquamarine' Pilea · Black Mondo Grass · Dwarf Golden Sweet Flag · Golden Clubmoss · 'Moon Valley' Pilea · Mother Fern · Nerve Plant.
groundcover plant
The light green foliage of golden clubmoss has a delicate texture that contrasts beautifully against plants with bold leaves. Even though golden clubmoss stays compact in height, it likes to spread—which makes it a great shade garden <anchor>groundcover plant</anchor> in warmer zones. Trimming is necessary in an indoor mini garden to keep it from crowding other terrarium plants.
10 Easy-Care Groundcovers for Shade that Grow in Tough Spots​
10 Easy-Care Groundcovers for Shade that Grow in Tough Spots​[Skip to content](#main)

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# 10 Easy-Care Groundcovers for Shade and Tough Spots

Try some of these robust, low-growing plants to fill in dry or shady places, or wherever you need year-round coverage.

By

[Andrea Beck](https://www.bhg.com/author/andrea-beck/)

[Andrea Beck](https://www.bhg.com/author/andrea-beck/)

Andrea Beck served as garden editor at BHG and her work has appeared on Food & Wine, Martha Stewart, MyRecipes, and more.

[Learn about BHG's Editorial Process](/better-homes-and-gardens-editorial-policy-and-standards-5537160)

Updated on June 24, 2024

Reviewed by

[David McKinney](https://www.bhg.com/david-mckinney-6833785)

Reviewed by [David McKinney](https://www.bhg.com/david-mckinney-6833785)

David McKinney is an experienced plantsman sharing his expertise in horticulture. His knowledge spans landscape management, growing plants indoors and in the greenhouse, ecological plant selection, and much more. With nearly 15 years in the industry, he is well versed in both herbaceous and woody plants with additional interest in entomology.

[Learn about BHG's Gardening Review Board](/better-homes-and-gardens-garden-review-board-6833715)

When you feel like tossing a big rug over your yard and calling it a day, you probably need [the right groundcover for shade](https://www.bhg.com/gardening/flowers/perennials/easy-ground-covers/) or other tough spots where most plants won't grow. These dependable, hardworking species grow densely to carpet the ground with minimal fuss. Sure, you still need to water, weed, and feed them, but these plants can provide living solutions for many of your most frustrating landscape problems.

You can find groundcovers that control erosion, blanket a hillside, or [thrive in dry conditions](https://www.bhg.com/gardening/plans/easy/drought-tolerant-garden-plan/) while complementing your home and garden. Some are evergreen, others lose their foliage in winter, and a few tolerate light foot traffic.

[15 Types of Groundcover You Can Walk on for a Pretty Garden Path](https://www.bhg.com/gardening/flowers/perennials/walkable-groundcovers/)

## Drought-Friendly Groundcover

If you live in an area that doesn't get a lot of rain, you might be used to a brown lawn. Instead of planting turfgrass, try these hardy groundcovers that can [withstand the heat](https://www.bhg.com/gardening/landscaping-projects/landscape-basics/drought-tolerant-landscaping-ideas/).

01of 10

### Thyme

Bob Stefko

If it's dry, it's time for [thyme](https://www.bhg.com/gardening/plant-dictionary/perennial/thyme/). This aromatic groundcover for shade excels in beds, borders, and containers. It features tiny, fragrant leaves and flowers that can be used fresh or dried. [Creeping thyme](https://www.bhg.com/how-to-plant-and-grow-creeping-thyme-7973948) varieties can handle moderate foot traffic. Try tucking these plants between the stepping stones [of a garden path,](https://www.bhg.com/home-improvement/outdoor/walkways/how-to-make-a-stepping-stone-path/) where they will discourage weeds from taking over. This is a low-maintenance plant, though it will need some pruning if it becomes woody.

**Growing Conditions:** Full sun in well-drained soil

**Size:** Up to 12 inches tall

**Zones:** 5-9

**Buy It:** [Red Creeping Thyme](https://www.brecks.com/product/red-creeping-thyme) ( [Breck's](https://www.brecks.com/product/red-creeping-thyme))

[17 Drought-Tolerant Plants that Don’t Need Water Very Often](https://www.bhg.com/gardening/houseplants/projects/houseplants-for-the-forgetful-gardener/)

02of 10

### Sedum

Bob Stefko

You may already grow tall [sedums](https://www.bhg.com/gardening/plant-dictionary/perennial/sedum/). But did you know many wonderful creeping types form thick mats only 3 inches tall? With succulent leaves and stems, these sedums can thrive in low-water situations, and they bloom in shades of white, pink, red, purple, yellow, or orange, depending on the variety. Sedums are prized for use in green roofs and [living walls](https://www.bhg.com/gardening/container/plans-ideas/vertical-gardening/) because they're so adaptable. Add sedum to rock gardens, especially in places with poor soil, which they tolerate well. It will creep across the stones for lots of color.

**Growing Conditions:** Full sun or part shade in well-drained soil

**Size:** Up to 12 inches tall, depending on variety

**Zones:** 3-10

03of 10

### Hens-and-Chicks

Marty Baldwin

Another tough succulent that makes a terrific groundcover in tight spaces, [hens-and-chicks](https://www.bhg.com/gardening/plant-dictionary/perennial/hens-and-chicks/) is a small but mighty option for planting between paving stones or [in a trough garden](https://www.bhg.com/gardening/container/basics/best-plants-for-trough-gardens/). It thrives in hot, sunny, dry spots and needs almost no maintenance. Hens and chicks is xeriscape-friendly, so it's used frequently in low-water gardens instead of traditional turf.

**Growing Conditions:** Full sun in well-drained soil

**Size:** Up to 6 inches tall

**Zones:** 3-8

**Buy It:** [Hen and Chicks Collection](https://www.walmart.com/ip/Hen-and-Chicks-Collection-Sempervivum-Hen-and-Chicks/158511908) ( [Walmart](https://www.walmart.com/ip/Hen-and-Chicks-Collection-Sempervivum-Hen-and-Chicks/158511908))

[How to Water Succulents to Keep Them Healthy in Every Season](https://www.bhg.com/gardening/houseplants/care/how-to-water-succulents/)

## Groundcover for Shade

Shady areas are often too dim for many plants to grow successfully. These groundcovers for shade will thrive in these otherwise tricky areas of the garden.

04of 10

## Sweet Woodruff

Bill Stites

Flourishing even in dark corners, [sweet woodruff](https://www.bhg.com/gardening/plant-dictionary/perennial/sweet-woodruff/) works well under trees and shrubs where its [tiny white spring flowers](https://www.bhg.com/gardening/design/color/white-flower-garden-ideas/) will bloom about the same time as [crabapples](https://www.bhg.com/gardening/plant-dictionary/tree/crabapple/). Sweet woodruff usually forms well-behaved clumps of deciduous green foliage on upright stems, though it can spread aggressively in ideal conditions. This sweet-scented groundcover for shade needs moist soil to put on the best show.

**Growing Conditions:** Full to part shade in moist, well-drained soil

**Size:** Up to 12 inches tall

**Zones:** 4-8

[17 Colorful Outdoor Plants That Don’t Need Sunlight](https://www.bhg.com/gardening/flowers/perennials/shade-flowers/)

05of 10

## Ajuga

Bob Stefko

Able to withstand some foot traffic, [ajuga](https://www.bhg.com/gardening/plant-dictionary/perennial/ajuga/) makes a versatile groundcover for shade wherever grass won't grow. Flower spikes in blue, pink, lavender, or white adorn the rosettes formed from scallop-shaped leaves in spring. However, this perennial groundcover plant is mainly [grown for its pretty leaves](https://www.bhg.com/gardening/design/color/plants-with-colorful-foliage/), which come in shades of green, maroon, bronze, purple, pink, or white. It can become weedy in ideal conditions, so check to make sure it's not a [problem in your area](https://www.bhg.com/gardening/gardening-by-region/regional-gardening/invasive-plants-by-region/) before you plant it.

**Growing Conditions:** Full shade to full sun in moist, well-drained soil

**Size:** Up to 9 inches tall

**Zones:** 3-9

**Buy It:** ['Fancy Finch' Ajuga](https://www.walmart.com/ip/Ajuga-Fancy-Finch/525075012) ( [Walmart](https://www.walmart.com/ip/Ajuga-Fancy-Finch/525075012))

06of 10

## Lamium

Rich Pomerantz

[Brighten up a shady corner](https://www.bhg.com/gardening/landscaping-projects/solving-shade/shade-garden-design-ideas/) with the silvery or sometimes golden foliage of [lamium](https://www.bhg.com/gardening/plant-dictionary/perennial/deadnettle/). It also produces small clusters of purple flowers in spring. This [groundcover for shade](https://www.bhg.com/how-to-plant-and-grow-japanese-skimmia-7551399) stays under a foot tall but slowly spreads outward. Use it to highlight other plants with darker foliage, such as [boxwoods](https://www.bhg.com/gardening/plant-dictionary/shrub/boxwood/) and conifers. Place lamium where you won't be smashing it underfoot, though, because its stems are somewhat fragile. Deadnettle will attract pollinators to your garden, including bees and butterflies, but deer and rabbits will avoid it.

**Growing Conditions:** Full to part shade in moist, well-drained soil

**Size:** Up to 8 inches tall

**Zones:** 3-8

[20 Shade Garden Design Ideas for Adding Color Anywhere](https://www.bhg.com/gardening/landscaping-projects/solving-shade/shade-garden-design-ideas/)

## Evergreen Groundcover Plants

Besides staying green throughout the hot summer months, these groundcovers will add winter interest to the garden as well!

07of 10

## Brass Buttons

BHG / Evgeniya Vlasova

Brass buttons ( _Leptinella squalida '_ Platt's Black') forms dense mats of finely textured, feathery foliage in shades of bronze-black to purple-gray. In [Hardiness Zones 9-10](https://www.bhg.com/gardening/gardening-by-region/how-to-use-hardiness-zone-information/), the leaves are [evergreen](https://www.bhg.com/gardening/trees-shrubs-vines/trees/10-outstanding-evergreen-trees-for-privacy-281474979752798/), remaining through the winter. This plant will die back to the roots in colder regions and appear again in spring. Its name alludes to its small, buttonlike yellow-green blooms in summer.

**Growing Conditions:** Full sun to part shade in moist, well-drained, acidic soil

**Size:** Up to 3 inches tall

**Zones:** 4-10

**Buy It:** ['Platt's Black' Brass Buttons](https://www.walmart.com/ip/Leptinella-squalida-Platt-s-Black-Brass-Buttons/195194545) ( [Walmart](https://www.walmart.com/ip/Leptinella-squalida-Platt-s-Black-Brass-Buttons/195194545))

08of 10

## Mondo Grass

Denny Schrock

Though it isn't actually a grass, deer- and rabbit-resistant [Mondo grass](https://www.bhg.com/gardening/plant-dictionary/perennial/mondo-grass/) certainly looks like one. Its slender, strappy, sometimes variegated leaves in shades of green to almost black grow 3-24 inches tall, depending on the variety. It works well as an [edging for borders](https://www.bhg.com/gardening/design/curved-brick-garden-border/), sidewalks, or driveways and is a traditional groundcover in [Japanese-style gardens](https://www.bhg.com/gardening/design/styles/elements-of-a-japanese-garden/).

**Growing Conditions:** Full sun to part shade in moist, well-drained soil

**Size:** Up to 2 feet tall

**Zones:** 6-10

**Buy It:** [Black Mondo Grass](https://www.homedepot.com/p/Online-Orchards-1-Gal-Black-Mondo-Grass-Striking-Dark-Color-Contrasts-Beautifully-Against-Green-and-Purple-Plants-GROR010/311362050) ( [The Home Depot](https://www.homedepot.com/p/Online-Orchards-1-Gal-Black-Mondo-Grass-Striking-Dark-Color-Contrasts-Beautifully-Against-Green-and-Purple-Plants-GROR010/311362050))

Mondo grass is [considered invasive](http://www.pnwplants.wsu.edu/PlantDisplay.aspx?PlantID=479#:~:text=Mondo%20Grass%20would%20be%20a,case%20for%20the%20Pacific%20Northwest.) in Southern states. To keep it from spreading away from where it's planted as a border or in other limited space, dig a 6-12 inch trench and add a barrier.

09of 10

## Lamb's Ear

Robert Cardillo

Their fuzzy, touchable leaves give [lamb's ear](https://www.bhg.com/gardening/plant-dictionary/perennial/betony/) their common name. Flower stalks with tiny white, pink, purple, violet, or red blooms are produced in summer, but feel free to cut them off so the [silvery-green leaves](https://www.bhg.com/gardening/design/color/silver-leaf-plants-garden-ideas/) continue to be the stars of the show. In hot climates, the leaves may appear to melt away during the summer, but they'll revive with cooler weather. In regions with very cold winters, this plant may not be evergreen but will regrow from the roots in spring. Lamb's ear is perfect in [sensory garden settings](https://www.bhg.com/what-is-a-sensory-garden-7975895) since it's soft to the touch, keeping deer from chewing on its leaves.

**Growing Conditions:** Full sun to part shade in well-drained soil

**Size:** Up to 36 inches tall, depending on variety

**Zones:** 4-9

10of 10

## Pachysandra

Derek Fell

Also called Japanese spurge, [pachysandra](https://www.bhg.com/gardening/plant-dictionary/perennial/spurge1/) thrives in full shade and reliably stays evergreen through freezing winters. It forms tidy mats of green leaves that will spread to fill a [large area like a slope](https://www.bhg.com/gardening/landscaping-projects/landscape-basics/slope-solutions/) over time. If this perennial groundcover starts wandering too far, it's easy to keep it in bounds by digging it up. Pachysandra blooms in spring, and though their scent is lovely, the small white flowers are not very showy. Watch for leaf blight, a common problem for pachysandra.

**Growing Conditions:** Full to part shade in well-drained soil

**Size:** 12 inches tall

**Zones:** 5-9

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[How to Plant and Grow Perennial Peanut](https://www.bhg.com/how-to-grow-perennial-peanut-7547701) [Bishop's Weed](https://www.bhg.com/gardening/plant-dictionary/perennial/bishops-weed/) [How to Plant and Grow Ajuga](https://www.bhg.com/gardening/plant-dictionary/perennial/ajuga/) [10 Best Low-Growing Perennial Border Plants To Grow](https://www.bhg.com/best-perennial-border-plants-6826330) [How to Plant and Grow Mondo Grass](https://www.bhg.com/gardening/plant-dictionary/perennial/mondo-grass/) [19 Underused Perennials That Deserve a Spot in Your Garden](https://www.bhg.com/gardening/flowers/perennials/the-15-most-underused-perennials/) [How to Plant and Grow Bergenia](https://www.bhg.com/gardening/plant-dictionary/perennial/heart-leaf-bergenia/) [How to Plant and Grow Astilbe](https://www.bhg.com/gardening/plant-dictionary/perennial/astilbe/)

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