Zone 4 · winter lows -30°F to -20°F

Groundcovers for Zone 4

193 groundcovers plants that are hardy through Zone 4, ranked by how many gardeners actually save and grow them.

193 plantsLast frost ~mid-MayFirst frost ~late September

Most-saved groundcovers plants for Zone 4

#1 most saved

Elfin Creeping Thyme

Thymus serpyllum 'Elfin'

Zones 4–9· 141 saves· from $8

#2 most saved

Emerald Blue Moss Phlox

Phlox subulata 'Emerald Blue'

Zones 4–9· 138 saves· from $8

#3 most saved

Burgundy Glow Bugleweed

Ajuga reptans 'Burgundy Glow'

Zones 4–10· 115 saves· from $6

Creeping Phlox 'Blue Carpet'

Phlox subulata 'Blue Carpet'

Zones 4–9· 105 saves

Magic Carpet Thyme

Thymus serpyllum 'Magic Carpet'

Zones 4–8· 102 saves

Emerald Blue Creeping Phlox

Phlox subulata 'Blue Emerald'

Zones 4–9· 96 saves· from $12

Emerald Blue Creeping Phlox

Phlox subulata 'Emerald Cushion Blue'

Zones 4–9· 91 saves

Scarlet Flame Creeping Phlox

Phlox subulata 'Scarlet Flame'

Zones 4–9· 91 saves· from $8

Red Wings Moss Phlox

Phlox subulata 'Red Wings'

Zones 4–9· 85 saves· from $8

Blue Zinger Sedge

Carex flacca 'Blue Zinger'

Zones 4–9· 78 saves· from $16

Dazzleberry Sedum

Sedum x rubrotinctum 'Dazzleberry'

Zones 4–9· 77 saves· from $16

Creeping Phlox Moss Phlox

Phlox subulata

Zones 4–9· 73 saves· from $9

Creeping Phlox Home Fires Phlox

Phlox stolonifera 'Home Fires'

Zones 4–8· 73 saves· from $17

Blueberry Muffin Bugleweed

Ajuga reptans 'Blueberry Muffin'

Zones 4–9· 72 saves· from $19

Creeping Phlox Eye Caramba

Phlox subulata 'Eye Caramba'

Zones 4–9· 72 saves· from $12

Groundcover Rose

Rosa x hybrida 'Ground Cover Rose Collection'

Zones 4–10· 71 saves

Spotted Dead Nettle

Lamium maculatum 'White Nancy'

Zones 4–8· 70 saves· from $7

Variegated Creeping Phlox

Phlox subulata 'Nettletons Variation'

Zones 4–9· 70 saves

Irish Moss

Sagina subulata

Zones 4–8· 69 saves· from $10

Ajuga Black Scallop

Ajuga reptans 'Black Scallop'

Zones 4–9· 68 saves· from $5

Green Carpet Rupturewort

Herniaria glabra 'Green Carpet'

Zones 4–9· 67 saves

Snow-in-Summer

Cerastium tomentosum 'Silver Carpet'

Zones 4–7· 66 saves

Wheatfen White Clover

Trifolium repens 'Wheatfen'

Zones 4–10· 65 saves

Snowflake Phlox

Phlox subulata 'Snowflake'

Zones 4–9· 63 saves· from $32

Showing the 24 most-saved of 193. See all groundcovers →

Groundcovers in Zone 4

What are the best groundcovers plants for Zone 4?

The 24 above are the most-saved groundcovers plants that are also rated hardy through Zone 4. Ranking by real gardeners — not by catalog marketing — surfaces the ones gardeners keep coming back to.

Will these survive Zone 4 winters?

Every plant listed here is rated for Zone 4, where winter lows reach -30°F to -20°F. Site conditions still matter: drainage, wind exposure, and a good layer of mulch make the difference between a rated-hardy plant and a happy one.

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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Groundcovers in other zones

Other Zone 4 collections

Design a Zone 4 bed with these

Snap a photo of your yard and Sow places these plants in it — correctly sized, matched to your zone, with care reminders that follow your real weather.