Ranked by real gardener saves
The Best Groundcovers for Shade
Bare soil under trees is an invitation to weeds. These groundcovers close that gap in shade — spreading, suppressing, and looking deliberate while they do it.
Liriope muscari
The most-saved pick here — saved by 151 gardeners, genuinely low-maintenance, shrugs off dry spells, deer usually pass it by, blooms late summer.
Phlox subulata 'Emerald Blue'
Saved by 138 gardeners, genuinely low-maintenance, shrugs off dry spells, deer usually pass it by, native to North America, blooms early spring.
Ajuga reptans 'Burgundy Glow'
Saved by 115 gardeners, genuinely low-maintenance, shrugs off dry spells, deer usually pass it by, blooms mid-spring.
Phlox subulata 'Blue Carpet'
Saved by 105 gardeners, genuinely low-maintenance, shrugs off dry spells, deer usually pass it by, native to North America, blooms mid-spring.
Zones 4–9Care, zones & prices →
Phlox subulata 'Blue Emerald'
Saved by 96 gardeners, genuinely low-maintenance, shrugs off dry spells, deer usually pass it by, blooms mid-spring.
Phlox subulata 'Emerald Cushion Blue'
Saved by 91 gardeners, genuinely low-maintenance, shrugs off dry spells, deer usually pass it by, native to North America, blooms mid-spring.
Zones 4–9Care, zones & prices →
Phlox subulata 'Scarlet Flame'
Saved by 91 gardeners, genuinely low-maintenance, shrugs off dry spells, deer usually pass it by, native to North America, blooms early spring.
Phlox subulata 'Red Wings'
Saved by 85 gardeners, genuinely low-maintenance, shrugs off dry spells, deer usually pass it by, native to North America, blooms early spring.
Carex flacca 'Blue Zinger'
Saved by 78 gardeners, genuinely low-maintenance, shrugs off dry spells, deer usually pass it by, blooms spring.
Sedum x rubrotinctum 'Dazzleberry'
Saved by 77 gardeners, genuinely low-maintenance, shrugs off dry spells, deer usually pass it by, blooms late summer.
Phlox subulata
Saved by 73 gardeners, genuinely low-maintenance, shrugs off dry spells, deer usually pass it by, native to North America, blooms early spring.
Phlox stolonifera 'Home Fires'
Saved by 73 gardeners, genuinely low-maintenance, deer usually pass it by, native to North America, blooms late spring.
Ajuga reptans 'Blueberry Muffin'
Saved by 72 gardeners, genuinely low-maintenance, deer usually pass it by, blooms mid-spring.
Phlox subulata 'Eye Caramba'
Saved by 72 gardeners, genuinely low-maintenance, deer usually pass it by, blooms late spring.
Rosa x hybrida 'Ground Cover Rose Collection'
Saved by 71 gardeners, genuinely low-maintenance, blooms late spring to frost.
Zones 4–10Care, zones & prices →
Lamium maculatum 'White Nancy'
Saved by 70 gardeners, genuinely low-maintenance, deer usually pass it by, blooms late spring to early summer.
Phlox subulata 'Nettletons Variation'
Saved by 70 gardeners, genuinely low-maintenance, shrugs off dry spells, deer usually pass it by, native to North America, blooms mid-spring.
Zones 4–9Care, zones & prices →
Sagina subulata
Saved by 69 gardeners, genuinely low-maintenance, deer usually pass it by, blooms mid-spring.
Ajuga reptans 'Black Scallop'
Saved by 68 gardeners, genuinely low-maintenance, deer usually pass it by, blooms late spring.
Herniaria glabra 'Green Carpet'
Saved by 67 gardeners, genuinely low-maintenance, shrugs off dry spells, deer usually pass it by, blooms summer.
Zones 4–9Care, zones & prices →
About this list
How was this the best groundcovers for shade list ranked?
By how many gardeners actually saved and planted each one in Sow — 1.7k saves across this list. Nobody paid to appear here, and no nursery sponsors the order. It is a popularity signal from real gardens, filtered to plants that genuinely meet the criteria.
How fast do groundcovers spread?
The useful ones cover in 2–3 seasons. Faster spreaders exist but read the fine print — anything described as "vigorous" in a catalog can mean "invasive" in a garden.
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See these in your own yard before you buy
Snap a photo of your space and Sow places any of these in it at true mature size — so you know it fits before the nursery run.
