12 Evergreen Ground Covers For Stunning Color All Year Round

Let's be honest, spending hours mowing and weeding the lawn isn't usually exciting or pleasurable. Granted, weed control is necessary, as is getting a hold on stormwater and soil runoff. However, your lawn options aren't limited to typical perennial turfgrasses. You could also grow evergreen ground covers to fill your outdoor space and landscaping beds. Plenty of them withstand foot traffic, hold soil in place with their fibrous roots, and establish barriers that keep weeds at bay. Plus, a lot of them are downright stunners with colorful blooms and ornamental fruits. 

Above all, these evergreens brighten gloomy winters when everything else has gone dormant. However, given the climate variations across the U.S., certain evergreen groundcovers can be damaged by frost and extreme cold. Some also require more sunlight and water than others. So, select your ground cover based on your site's conditions and your climate zone before planting. With that established, read on to discover new evergreen ground covers for year-round color.

Bearberry or Kinnikinnick (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi) sprout ever-changing, teardrop-shaped foliage. Its 1-foot clump shines a glossy, chartreuse in spring before turning deeper green in summer. Then, it changes again in fall to a bronze or purplish-red that looks gorgeous against a snowy backdrop. Foliage aside, the plant adds extra color with its white-tinged, spring-pink blooms that plenty of butterflies and native bees delight in. 

Bearberry may be a slow grower, but it roots about 6 feet across, making it ideal for larger yards. It's also drought tolerant and has no fertilization requirements. The shrub is effective at checking erosion, making it a great option for hills that are exposed to at least two hours of direct sun. Bearberry grows well in rocky and sandy mediums, and it's one of the best plants to grow in shallow soil. However, it won't thrive in the damp and hot climates of zones 7 and higher. To expand your collection, propagate them using seeds, cuttings, or layering, as they don't take well to transplantation.

Desire a beautiful ground cover plant that deer won't touch in your yard? Look no further than creeping mahonia, as its thorns can deter nibbling pests. Also known as creeping Oregon grape, it typically sports green foliage that some may find dull. However, as the seasons change, you may be in for a surprise. During the growing season, it's often topped with clouds of aromatic yellow blooms. The leaves then exhibit muted tones of pink, purple, rust, or orange as the weather cools. Then in winter, bluish-black berries appear, arranged similarly to grapes on vines, giving the plant its fruity namesake. Pollinators and songbirds crave their flowers and fruits year-round, though some might like the idea of harboring inside their 1-foot mound for cover.

Creeping mahonia does well in partial and deep shade, and it makes an effective ground cover in dry, shadowed sites of woodland gardens. The plant also works well in low, dry landscapes where its informal look and drought tolerance can be appreciated. It's beneficial in sites that are prone to weeds, as its sprawling rhizomes can choke them out. It does need some protection during harsh weather, or its leaves will scorch during the winter's sun and wind. Acidic, nutrient-rich soils promise the best performance, and the plant thrives in USDA zones 5 through 8.

American wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens) has a myriad of benefits as a ground cover. Through the seasons, it covers the garden's dirt with leathery green leaves that change into dewy purples come fall. In the summer, it blooms with urn-shaped, pink flowers that turn to red berries as the weather cools. These stay on the tree in the winter, unless famished songbirds, deer, or squirrels pick them off.

These plants are extremely cold hardy, tolerating temperatures down to -31 degrees Fahrenheit. They can even handle deep shade, making them suitable for the trickiest portions of your garden. Wintergreen also loves regions that experience cool summers like USDA zones 3 through 8. Good drainage will be necessary to stave off powdery mildew, and acidic soil gives it the best chance to thrive. Spacing wintergreen plants 10 inches apart ensures good coverage, despite the slow growth rate.

For a fast-growing ground cover that'll attract pollinators to your yard, consider Bearberry cotoneaster or cotoneaster humifusa. Its silvery-green foliage cradles purple-anthered, white blossoms from spring through summer, reeling in butterflies with the promise of sweet nectar. The flowers are also popular with songbirds who rely on them to stay nourished during the fall and winter. And, growers appreciate its purplish-red fall colors, especially when flanking walkways and paths.

Bearberry cotoneaster plants grow no higher than a foot tall but can creep 6 feet wide thanks to their central rooting system. Essentially, they establish themselves wherever their newly sprouted stems contact the ground, ensuring a thick, dense mat. They're thrilled to be in moist, sunny sites, but will tolerate partial shade as well as clay textures. However, this ground cover does require some maintenance as it's vulnerable to several pests like lace bugs, spider mites, and scales. Regular trimming and removal of dead foliage should ensure adequate airflow, reducing the chances of blight. Although hardy in zones 5 to 8, it doesn't take well to southern summers (zone 7 and above). 

Yellow epimedium (Epimedium x perralchicum) features four-petaled, golden blooms as winter gives way to spring. Going by several other names, including bishop's hat and barrenwort, this groundcover option looks great year-round. The heart-shaped leaves stay a vibrant green through the summer, but in the spring and fall, the foliage is speckled with bronze spots. An Asian import, the plant is non-invasive and does well in USDA zones 5 through 9.

The plant adapts to most site conditions, from partial to heavy shade. It can grow on clay, shallow, or even sandy soils, but good drainage is mandatory if you'd like it to dense out. Due to its high resilience against droughts, these easy-to-grow ground cover plants thrive around tree roots, making them suitable as understory plants. They may also be planted along shaded sidewalks, away from cold winds. Yellow epimedium maxes out at about a foot in height and expands to about 1½ feet wide. 'Frohnleiten' is a popular, compact cultivar. However, it may experience winter damage unless mulched in colder regions, necessitating spring shearing.

Winter heath (Erica carnea) ground cover is perfect for a vibrant winter garden. That's because it retains its needled (much like conifers), evergreen foliage. Plus, the plant gives you a pretty flower display in early spring, especially in USDA zones 5 to 7 . This naturally makes bees ecstatic. The flower bonanza continues through the spring, sometimes longer, depending on the variety. For this reason, the plant has a few other common names, such as spring, alpine, snow, and mountain heath. As winter heath has upwards of 100 cultivars with flowers and foliage in varying colors, it's easy to find one that best fits your landscape's palette. That being said, cultivars like King George and Springwood White are known for their dense matting and rapid growth, respectively.

Winter heath extends twice as wide as it does tall, around 2 feet by maturity. Its thick matting keeps erosion in check, particularly in sloped backyards. Since it adapts well to sandy textures, it's even appropriate for rock gardens. It's best grown in full sun, though it would require some afternoon shade in particularly hot areas. It may require light spring pruning for a tidy look, but overly aggressive trimming can hurt its blooms. Straw mulching is essential in severe winters to prevent cold injury. Good drainage is a must, so avoid growing it in clay soils or stick to elevated beds with additives like peat moss. 

Himalayan sweet box or Sarcococca hookeriana var. dygyna is popular in the Pacific Northwest. However, it's a great option for other areas within zones 6 to 9. After all, deer and rabbits won't be tempted to turn this ground cover into a tasty meal. The Himalayan sweet box is a non-invasive Asian import that brightens winter landscaping with its pointed, dark green foliage. It also features pink-tinged, milky white blossoms, carrying them well into the spring before they turn into blueberry-like fruits for summer and fall.

The plant spreads via rhizomes, growing to around 6 feet wide by maturity. Unless trimmed to a low-level ground cover, it can double as a mini hedge. Since it produces fragrant flowers, it's best planted around patios, walkways, or any other wind-protected site where you can enjoy its aroma. However, you don't want to risk breaking its stems because they stink. Sarcococca hookeriana also does well in dry conditions and deep-to-partial shade, making it suitable around woodland gardens or tree roots. Prune it after flowering to maintain a formal look and provide it with acidic, well-draining soil so it can thrive.

Monkey or mondo grass (Ophiopogon japonicus) is another evergreen ground cover that'll add multi-season interest to your yard. Depending on the variety, it may come in a green, black, or streaked clump no taller than a foot. In the summer, white or white and lilac blooms appear that later turn into small blue fruits. Aside from being visually appealing, mondo grasses are extremely low maintenance. They're also pest-tolerant, drawing little interest from deer. However, as ground covers, they'll need some spring pruning, as they grow unkempt by winter's end.

As mondo grasses spread using rhizomes, they're quick to establish a thick sod. So, you can even cover ugly tree roots with this easy-to-grow landscaping stunner. Or, use them to line pathways or garden ponds, or to create a border between lawns and landscaping beds. Also known as dwarf liriope, these plants can handle a wide range of sunlight levels. Just plant them in moist soil, but watch for signs of fungal disease.

Sunrose (Helianthemum nummularium) or rock rose perennials are pretty plants that enjoy full sun. This non-invasive Mediterranean native is a highlight of the spring's passage into summer. The reason? This is when it grows its cheerful rose-esque flowers in multiple variations of pink, peach, yellow, or white. Even though the individual flowers only last a day, the plant can bloom continuously for nearly two months, to the sheer delight of butterflies. While evergreen, its foliage varies considerably across cultivars, ranging between silverish and bright green colors. They come in different textures, from fuzzy to smooth, providing ample opportunity to create contrast in the landscape. The best part, though? It's deer-resistant, drought-tolerant, and has little need for fertilization.

Sunroses are on their best behavior in well-drained soils, regardless of whether it's rocky, clay, or alkaline. But if drainage (or depth) is a concern, enrich the soil with lava rock, perlite, or any other organic amendment. This perennial is winter hardy in zones 5 to 7. However, without mulch (especially after a hard frost), it may struggle to retain its evergreen foliage. They grow over 8 inches high and should be spaced about 3 feet apart to accommodate their spread. Deadheading spent flowers can encourage even more rigorous flowering.

Three-leaved or woodland stonecrops (Sedum ternatum) are the perfect ground cover for year round color in your garden. Its fleshy foliage is highly attractive, and it's topped with a month-long display of purple-tinged, white flowers during spring. Most pollinators, particularly butterflies, bees, and songbirds, can't help stopping by for a treat. Luckily, deer don't feel the same way about these fine-textured succulents, moving elsewhere to graze.

Woodland stonecrops are native to the moist and shaded forests and riverbanks of the east U.S. They tend to creep along the ground, repeatedly establishing new plants. For this reason, they're usually propagated through offsets. However, you may save the brown seeds that appear within three weeks of flowering to make new plants. Otherwise known as mountain stonecrop, woodland sedum spreads around a foot wide and half as tall and is hardy in zones 3 to 9. Stonecrops prosper in thin, alkaline soils and have low fertilization needs. Being succulents, they rarely require watering, yet can still survive in moist soils.

Hens and chicks or houseleeks (Sempervivum tectorum) make a standout evergreen ground cover that can grow in mere gravel if needed, explaining their popularity in rock gardens. Houseleeks don't grow leaves in the typical sense. Instead, they develop purple-tipped, fleshy pads shaped like rosettes, and they flower every few years. Then, the mother plants perish after they produce the gold, lavender, or burgundy blooms. However, this doesn't indicate that hens and chicks are short-lived. On the contrary, they begin producing offsets (hence the "chicks" in their name) early on. This compels plant division every two years or so to avoid overloading the beds.

Hens and chicks stand around six inches to a foot tall and vary in width, forming thick mats that breezily subdue any weeds in small gardens. They're as little maintenance as any ground cover can get since they don't require fertilization or consistent watering (being a succulent has its advantages). So, they can be used to swank walkways, pools, or landscaping beds and are good in shade-to-full sun spots in zones 3 to 8.

Do you have a black thumb and need something maintenance-free? Then, deem pigsqueak (Bergenia crassifolia) as a worthy ground cover addition. In early spring, these perennials develop broad, heart-shaped green leaves atop red stems. These eventually turn purplish-bronze as the weather cools. However, pigsqueaks can turn scraggly and discolored in northern climates due to cold damage. That's why, despite being considered hardy in zones 3 to 8, they'll do best in zones 4 to 6. Bergenias often explode in lavender-pink blooms in the spring, though they may start the spectacle early (around December) in southern states.

Pigsqueak is highly adaptable and grows in all soil textures, including sand and clay, without a need for fertilizing. It's accepting of full sun, heavy shade, and anything in between, but requires protection against cold winds. A slow-grower, it spreads out in 2 feet wide clumps. It's also drought-tolerant, but keeping the soil dry for long is unwise for long-term performance.