Tough Ground Cover Plants

A good ground cover plant should spread across the ground and help choke out weeds. Many ground cover plants spread but often thin out, or are short lived and only provide a temporary solution. Ground cover plants that are in the Ozbreed Shrub and Ground Cover range and Hardy Exotic Range are long lived ground covers that will help outcompete weeds for many years. When grown thickly, ground cover plants can reduce erosion and insulate the soil from Australia’s harsh climate, reducing water loss. Ground covers will also provide the soil with organic material over time, thus improving its quality. Ones that spread well can be a good low cost planting alternative, as you need less per square metre.

Australia is a tough climate, and many pretty ground covers that are popular overseas will die quite easily when the going gets tough. Gardening shows and garden writers often show these weaker ground covers because they do look nice, but surely your garden or landscape design deserves plants that prosper long term. Our soils are tougher, we’re hotter, dryer and often more humid. Herbs or weaker perennial ground covers rarely make it a couple of years. Only tough long lived ground cover plants make our Shrub and Ground Cover and Hardy Exotic ranges.

Below you will find these tougher plants listed. Fast spreading or slow spreading types will have that noted. Fast spreading means you will get a quick ground cover, but slower spreading types will need less pruning on the edges. Slower growing types can be made into a fast covering ground cover by planting a larger number per square metre, thus giving you a quick result.

Liriopes can also be used as a different type of ground cover. It is a great alternative to turf for heavily shaded areas, often only needing one heavy pruning a year. Another option is to use a lawn mower across the ground cover Liriope to make it easier.