7 Best Low-Maintenance Evergreen Ground Covers for Year-Round Blooms
By Robert Chen|Published on August 30, 2022|Updated on January 23, 2025
If you’re looking to add long-lasting color to your garden without a ton of maintenance, picking the right ground covers is a total game-changer. These popular picks are not only hardy enough to survive the winter, but they also promise a beautiful, long-lasting bloom that will keep your yard looking vibrant year after year.
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++Foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia)
Foamflower is a tough-as-nails, winter-hardy ground cover that absolutely thrives in shady spots. It’s the perfect choice for those tricky areas under large trees where nothing else seems to grow. These plants spread via runners, quickly filling in gaps to create a lush carpet. In the spring, you’ll see delicate, upright clusters of white flowers that look like tiny bursts of foam—you really can’t miss them! As a bonus, the foliage turns a stunning shade of red once autumn rolls around.
++Creeping Forget-Me-Not (Omphalodes verna)
If you want a fast-growing green carpet, Creeping Forget-Me-Not is your best friend. It stays low to the ground and quickly blankets the soil with bright green leaves. In the spring, the “carpet” comes alive with tiny blue flowers that look remarkably like traditional Forget-Me-Nots (though they are actually different species). This plant is super low-maintenance and isn’t picky about where it grows. Plus, it handles the winter chill like a pro, so you don’t have to worry about it when the temperature drops.
++Chinese Astilbe (Astilbe chinensis)
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For a ground cover that saves its best show for late in the season, look no further than Chinese Astilbe. Starting in August, this plant—which grows to about 15 inches tall—produces beautiful pink or purple plumes. It spreads through runners to create a dense, weed-smothering mat. While it is very winter-hardy, if you live somewhere with long, brutal frosts, it doesn’t hurt to give it a little “blanket” of fallen leaves for extra protection during the coldest months.
++Barrenwort (Epimedium)
Barrenwort (often called Fairy Wings) has some of the most whimsical, delicate-looking flowers you’ll ever see. Don’t let the dainty looks fool you, though—this perennial is incredibly hardy and robust. Depending on the variety, you can find blooms in several different colors. It loves shady or semi-shady spots, making it a fantastic solution for those “problem areas” in your garden. It’s a reliable spreader that will fill out your flower beds beautifully.
++Bunchberry (Cornus canadensis)
Bunchberry is essentially a tiny, ground-hugging version of a Dogwood tree, topping out at only about 8 inches tall. It features lovely green leaves and elegant white flowers in the summer. Once the flowers fade, they’re replaced by bright red berries in late summer, and the foliage itself turns a brilliant red in the fall. It loves shade and gives your garden that peaceful, “woodland clearing” vibe.
++Lily of the Valley (Convallaria majalis)
Lily of the Valley is a classic favorite for a reason. It creates a thick cover of broad green leaves and produces iconic, bell-shaped white flowers that smell absolutely divine. While its leaves look a lot like wild garlic (ramps), keep in mind that this plant is toxic if ingested, so be careful if you have curious pets or kids. Aside from that, it’s a fantastic, winter-hardy ground cover that returns reliably every year.
++Sweet Violet (Viola odorata)
Violets are a charming addition to any garden, and Sweet Violets are particularly great as ground covers. They are very cold-tolerant, so you won’t have to worry about them surviving the winter. As soon as spring arrives, they’ll pop up with their signature deep purple blooms and a fragrance that is simply unbeatable.
++Caucasian Crosswort (Phuopsis stylosa)
Looking for something a little more unique? Caucasian Crosswort (sometimes called Persian Stonecrop) is a great pick. The foliage looks a bit like Woodruff, but instead of white flowers, it produces striking, globe-shaped clusters of pink blooms. It has a long flowering period and releases a pleasant scent, making it a standout choice for a hardy, eye-catching ground cover.
