9 Fast-Growing Ground Cover Flowers That Will Transform Your Yard in No Time

Moss Rose

Moss rose (Portulaca grandiflora) is a bright succulent that grows well in sunny, dry locations. These attractive annuals have blooms in shades of orange, yellow, red, pink, or white.

“Though moss roses are small annual flowering plants (only 3 to 9 inches tall), they are pretty and will make any garden look lovely,” says Anastasia Borisevich, plant expert at Plantum, an app that helps identify plants and improve plant care. “You can easily find them in the garden centers in spring—they are a popular ground cover option.”

Borisevich adds that moss rose is also a great choice for stone walls and garden boxes. Note that they thrive in full sun. “The more sunlight they get during the day, the more colorful their blooms will be,” she says. 

• Growing Zones: 2 to 11
• Light: Full sun
• Soil: Well-draining, sandy

Sweet Alyssum

Sweet alyssum, also called alyssum, is a fast-growing annual with clusters of tiny flowers that make an attractive ground cover.

“Alyssum has a fantastic full-flowering ground cover look that is available in white, pink, or purple,” says Ward Dilmore, founder and head landscape designer at Petrus Luxury Estate Landscaping Company. “This is a great plant for filling in gaps in your garden’s borders, especially for flowering gardens.”

Alyssum thrives with at least 6 hours of sun daily and regular moisture, though once established, it has some decent drought tolerance.

• Growing Zones: 5 to 9
• Light: Full or partial sun
• Soil: Well-drained, moist

Forget-Me-Nots

Forget-me-nots (Myosotis sp.) are small and cheerful flowering plants with yellow centers and signature blooms in shades of blue, but they can also be white, yellow, or pink.

“These plants are often grown as easy-to-care-for ornamental ground covers, but they can quickly get out of hand due to self-seeding,” Borisevich says. “Deadhead spent flowers before they reseed.”

Borisevich says you can plant forget-me-nots in the shade of trees or provide temporary cover to those exposed to full sun to shield them from the intense afternoon light in summer. Water them at the base during dry seasons, she adds.

• Growing Zones: 3 to 8
• Light: Full or partial sun
• Soil: Well-drained, moist

Fleabane

Erigeron, commonly called fleabane, comes in many varieties, with most having bright, daisy-shaped flowers in hues of blue, purple, pink, and white.

“This is a fantastic low-water, low-maintenance perennial for garden borders,” Dilmore says. “They offer a full, flowing look with bountiful flowers that are loved by pollinators.”

• Growing Zones: 2 to 11
• Light: Full sun
• Soil: Well-drained

Sweet Woodruff

Sweet woodruff (Galium odoratum) is a dense ground cover option with small white flowers and few maintenance requirements.

“One of my favorite fast-growing ground cover flowers is sweet woodruff,” says Steve Corcoran, CEO of Lawn Love. “It grows particularly well in shaded areas and all kinds of yards and gardens. Plus, it smells nice and attracts bees and butterflies.”

Corcoran’s biggest care tip is to only water it during periods of drought—otherwise, it can spread pretty aggressively.

• Growing Zones: 4 to 8
• Light: Partial sun, shade
• Soil: Well-drained, moist

Evergreen Candytuft

Evergreen candytuft (Iberis sempervirens) is a low-growing, hardy perennial with plentiful white flowers.

“The plant is frost-hardy and heat-loving, thriving in steppes and dry forests on well-drained soil,” Borisevich explains. “Evergreen candytuft loves basking in the sun’s glorious rays, and full sun is the key to a truly spectacular bloom show.”

The stunning flowers attract beneficial pollinators like butterflies. 

• Growing Zones: 3 to 8
• Light: Full sun
• Soil: Well-drained, moist

Catmint

Catmint (Nepeta) is a fragrant plant in the mint family with spikes of lavender, pink, or white blooms.

“A popular plant available in many varieties, Nepeta’s ground cover variety is a prolific bloomer and grows very quickly,” Dilmore explains. “It’s great for pollinators and has some light drought tolerance once established.”

Catmint can grow in full or partial sun with well-draining soil that can range from dry clay to sandy or rocky.

• Growing Zones: 4 to 8
• Light: Full to partial sun
• Soil: Well-drained

Wall Germander

Wall germander (Teucrium chamaedrys) is a resilient evergreen with pink to purple-colored tubular flowers that grow in whorls.

“This evergreen has small pink flowers with an interesting fragrance,” Dilmore says. “It’s a favorite of pollinators and honeybees and is an often overlooked plant that can even be grown as a very mini hedge along a garden border.”

• Growing Zones: 5 to 9
• Light: Full sun
• Soil: Well-draining, dry to medium moisture

Lobelia

Lobelia (Lobelia erinus) is a fast-growing plant known for its brilliant blue flowers that can also be shades of purple, pink, white, or white. Depending on the variety of lobelia, it can grow in a compact, clumping, or trailing, cascading form.

“A very fluorescent colored annual, lobelia is often grown for its flowing bright blue color,” Dilmore says. “It is a fantastic annual for borders and low-growing areas. Its blue color is very unique and draws attention wherever it is planted.”

• Growing Zones: 10 to 11
• Light: Full or partial sun
• Soil: Well-draining, moist