Popularity, clearly labeled

The Most Popular Groundcovers for Shade in Zone 6

Among groundcovers catalog-rated for shade rather than full sun, these are the genera Sow gardeners save most. Check local invasiveness guidance before choosing a spreading plant. Every representative here is catalog-rated hardy in Zone 6, whose standard minimum-temperature band begins near -10°F. The popularity ranking is recomputed only among matching Zone 6 records; hardiness alone does not establish that a plant will thrive on a particular site.

Zone 6 hardyRanked by gardener savesOne representative per genus
  1. Phlox

    Ranked by its most-saved matching variety; the full catalog includes 132 varieties. From creeping mats to tall fragrant panicles, phlox fills several garden layers.

  2. Dead Nettle

    Dead Nettle

    Ranked by its most-saved matching variety; the full catalog includes 19 varieties. Silver-marked leaves brighten shade while low stems close gaps beneath taller plants.

  3. Bugleweed

    Bugleweed

    Ranked by its most-saved matching variety; the full catalog includes 26 varieties. Glossy rosettes knit together quickly, followed by upright blue spring flowers.

  4. Sedge

    Sedge

    Ranked by its most-saved matching variety; the full catalog includes 88 varieties. Sedges offer an exceptional range of textures for weaving through difficult sites.

  5. Green and Gold

    Green and Gold

    Ranked by its most-saved matching variety; the full catalog includes 3 varieties. Golden daisies brighten a low North American native mat from spring into summer.

  6. Wintergreen

    Wintergreen

    Ranked by its most-saved matching variety; the full catalog includes 2 varieties. Glossy evergreen leaves and bright berries bring small-scale woodland interest.

  7. Periwinkle

    Periwinkle

    Ranked by its most-saved matching variety; the full catalog includes 6 varieties. Evergreen trailing stems cover difficult shade quickly, where their spread can be bounded.

  8. Mondo Grass

    Mondo Grass

    Ranked by its most-saved matching variety; the full catalog includes 24 varieties. Dark, grassy foliage creates a compact evergreen line in sun or shade.

  9. Wild Ginger

    Wild Ginger

    Ranked by its most-saved matching variety; the full catalog includes 67 varieties. Heart-shaped leaves form a quiet woodland carpet beneath shrubs and trees.

  10. Spurge

    Spurge

    Ranked by its most-saved matching variety; the full catalog includes 9 varieties. Evergreen leaf whorls make a uniform carpet beneath dense tree canopies.

  11. Partridge Berry

    Partridge Berry

    Ranked by its most-saved matching variety; the full catalog includes 1 variety. Its representative is notable for being North American native and usually passed over by deer.

  12. Sweet Flag

    Sweet Flag

    Ranked by its most-saved matching variety; the full catalog includes 14 varieties. Its representative is notable for being usually passed over by deer and late spring flowering.

  13. Brass Buttons

    Brass Buttons

    Ranked by its most-saved matching variety; the full catalog includes 4 varieties. Fern-like miniature foliage forms an intricate mat around pavers and stones.

  14. Kenilworth Ivy

    Kenilworth Ivy

    Ranked by its most-saved matching variety; the full catalog includes 4 varieties. Its representative is notable for being usually passed over by deer and spring to fall flowering.

  15. Violet / Pansy

    Violet / Pansy

    Ranked by its most-saved matching variety; the full catalog includes 35 varieties. Small, expressive flowers bring early color and often seed into charming colonies.

  16. False Rue Anemone

    False Rue Anemone

    Ranked by its most-saved matching variety; the full catalog includes 1 variety. Its representative is notable for being usually passed over by deer and early spring flowering.

  17. Barren Strawberry

    Barren Strawberry

    Ranked by its most-saved matching variety; the full catalog includes 2 varieties. Its representative is notable for being dry-spell tolerant and usually passed over by deer.

  18. Yellow Archangel

    Yellow Archangel

    Ranked by its most-saved matching variety; the full catalog includes 4 varieties. Its representative is notable for being usually passed over by deer and mid-spring flowering.

  19. Meehan's Mint

    Meehan's Mint

    Ranked by its most-saved matching variety; the full catalog includes 2 varieties. Its representative is notable for being usually passed over by deer and late spring flowering.

  20. Spikemoss

    Spikemoss

    Ranked by its most-saved matching variety; the full catalog includes 9 varieties. Its representative is notable for being early spring flowering and easy-care.

About this list

How was this the most popular groundcovers for shade in zone 6 list ranked?

A plant must first match the catalog filters named in the title. Each genus is represented and ranked by its most-saved matching variety, so genera with many cultivars do not receive an automatic advantage.

Are all of these hardy in Zone 6?

Yes — every plant on this list is rated for Zone 6. Plants that could not survive a Zone 6 winter were excluded before ranking.

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.

Track these in your garden

Save the ones you plant and get care reminders timed to Zone 6.

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