Looking for plants that can handle the heat? These ground covers thrive in full sun and don’t need much water to look their best. They are the perfect solution for filling those bright, sunny spots in your yard with lush greenery.
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++Blue Spruce Stonecrop (Sedum rupestre)
Among the many varieties of Sedum, “Blue Spruce” (also known as Reflexed Stonecrop) is a real tough cookie. It naturally thrives in sunny, rocky areas and doesn’t mind dry spells one bit. It’s so hardy that it’s often used to stabilize sandy areas like dunes. It grows in thick, spreading mats that reliably cover the ground. Plus, during its bloom time from June to July, you’ll be treated to a beautiful display of yellow flowers.
++Serbian Bellflower (Campanula poscharskyana)
If you want a sun-loving ground cover that produces a ton of flowers even with very little water, the Serbian Bellflower is a fantastic choice. Starting in June, this plant gets covered in gorgeous, star-shaped bellflowers in a stunning lavender-blue. It usually reaches a height of 6 to 8 inches and creates a lush green carpet. It’s also super low-maintenance and very winter-hardy, so you won’t need to worry about any special frost protection.
++Lamb’s Ear (Stachys byzantina)
Lamb’s Ear is a fan favorite for covering dry soil with dense, silvery-green foliage. The leaves are incredibly soft and fuzzy—just like a lamb’s ear—which is exactly how it got its name! This ground cover loves the sun and stays evergreen in many climates, giving your garden a lively look all year round. It spreads via sturdy rhizomes and is very easy to propagate if you want to fill more space.
++Creeping Thyme (Thymus serpyllum)
Creeping Thyme (or Wild Thyme) is an excellent pick for those spots in the blazing sun or areas with sandy, dry soil. This plant actually prefers “lean” soil, meaning it does great even when nutrients are low. That’s good news for you because it means very little work! In the summer, it erupts in tiny pink blossoms that are a magnet for bees and other pollinators. It’s a win-win for your curb appeal and the local ecosystem.
++Goldmoss Stonecrop (Sedum acre)
Do you have a dry stone wall or a gravelly patch that needs some life? Goldmoss Stonecrop (also called Biting Stonecrop) is your go-to. This succulent is a pro at storing water in its leaves, so it can handle long heatwaves in dry soil without breaking a sweat. It stays quite low to the ground but spreads out wide, making it a perfect “filler” for sunny spots. You’ll also love the bright yellow flowers it puts on in the summer.
++Catmint (Nepeta racemosa)
Cats absolutely lose their minds over the scent of Catmint, and most gardeners find the fragrance pretty lovely, too! Interestingly, while we like it, pests like wasps and mosquitoes tend to steer clear. This plant brings a beautiful pop of purple to your garden and thrives in full sun. Since it’s very drought-tolerant, it’s a “set it and forget it” kind of plant that requires almost no maintenance.
++Rock Cress (Aubrieta)
Rock Cress forms lush, vibrant cushions of color and is easily one of the most popular ground covers for sunny gardens. It’s a great choice for slopes or rock gardens. During its bloom time, it produces a carpet of intense purple or blue flowers. It’s a hardy, evergreen perennial that spreads beautifully on its own, giving you a massive floral payoff for very little effort.
%%Bearberry Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster dammeri)
If you’re looking for a low-growing woody ground cover with dense, tiny green leaves, the Bearberry Cotoneaster is a solid choice. This plant is very resilient in dry conditions. After it finishes blooming, it produces bright red berries that add a wonderful pop of color to your landscape well into the fall.