7 fast-growing groundcover perennials

Fragaria rubicolia 'Mont Omei' – apricot strawberry

Why not try a quick-growing strawberry as a groundcover that is both decorative and tasty for a garden? The Apricot strawberry – Fragaria rubicolia ‘Mont Omei’ is a small herbaceous perennial with evergreen foliage, attractive for an ornamental garden. It grows quickly, reaching 15 to 20 cm high and spreading to 40 cm wide. The leaves are trifoliate and dentate, grouped in dark green rosettes. It is covered with small white to pink-tinged flowers with a golden centre from June to September. Flowering is followed by the appearance of small wild strawberries with a surprisingly apricot flavour. Hardiness to -23.5°C, this plant is easy to grow. It will grow in any soil type, including calcareous soil, preferably in full sun but adaptable to partial shade.

In a garden, plant this small groundcover with multiple attractions to quickly cover sunny areas. You can pair it with asters and phlox, playing on colour contrasts for an even more attractive garden.

Chrysosplenium davidianum – Dorine

Chrysosplenium davidianum – Dorine is a small perennial that makes an effective groundcover for damp, shaded soil. It grows to 10 cm tall and 50 cm wide at maturity, spreading in small tufts of small, round, villous and dentate leaves, bright green with brown veins. Its evergreen foliage is complemented by small flowers in a bright yellow, from April to June. Hardy to -15°C, native to southern China and found in woodlands, ravines and on damp rocks. Once established, it is easy to grow.

Dorine is an original and bright groundcover for dark, damp corners. It is ideal for edging a pond, a stream or a small waterfall. It can be paired with other shade-tolerant perennials such as creeping bugle, pink astilbe or meadow cress.

The Asarum caudatum – Asaret

Asarum caudatum – Asaret is a small evergreen perennial groundcover with running rootstocks, adorned with heart-shaped leaves. It is perfect for deep shade or partial shade. It grows quickly up to 15 cm tall and 50 cm wide. Its evergreen foliage is soft green and can reach up to 8 cm in diameter. In May and June, small burgundy-red flowers maculate with white appear on the foliage. Easy to grow, it prefers a cool, moist soil that is very rich in humus and very well-drained. This plant is hardy to -29°C. In a garden, plant this small groundcover on the woodland edge or in a cool rock garden, and pair it with epimediums – barrenworts or with hostas.

The Geranium vivace 'Ann Folkard'

Hardy geranium ‘Ann Folkard’ is a vigorous perennial that spreads via creeping stems and can be semi-climbing. It spreads by long creeping stems that climb when obstacles are encountered. It can reach a height of 40 cm to 2 m, with a width of 60 cm. Leaves are palmately lobed and dentate, ranging from pale green to golden. They are covered with small magenta-red flowers veined with black and with a black centre from June to October. Foliage dies back in autumn and is deciduous. This hardy geranium thrives in sun or partial shade in cool, well-drained soil. It is hardy to -29 °C.

Plant this hybrid in a border or bed with campanulas, Nigella damascena, or shrubby salvias.

It can also be planted at the base of shrub roses to cover bare soil.

Erigeron karvinskianus – fleabane

Erigeron karvinskianus – Karvinskian fleabane is sometimes nicknamed ‘wall daisy’. It has very rapid growth and also enjoys a long flowering period. This compact perennial grows to 20 cm tall and spreads to 50 cm wide. It forms a dense, low mound. Its flexible, ramified stems bear small dark-green leaves, arranged in clusters, oval and pointed. They are covered with a myriad of small flowers resembling daisies in shades from dark pink to white with a yellow centre, from May to October. It can be planted in full sun or partial shade in dry soil. It particularly thrives in calcareous rockeries placed in full sun and self-seeds spontaneously in very dry areas in summer. It is hardy to -10 to -12 °C and its foliage remains evergreen down to -5 °C.

Plant this Erigeron in arid places, in full sun, along a border, in rockeries or on a low wall. You can pair it with other plants that enjoy the same growing conditions and tolerate drought, such as Nepeta racemosa, Stipa pennata or Thymus capitatus.

Delosperma 'Wheels of Wonder Golden'

The Delosperma ‘Wheels of Wonder Golden’ is a small creeping, fleshy perennial groundcover that grows quickly in dry soil and a sunny region. Its tender-green succulent leaves are semi-evergreen and are covered with star-shaped flowers in bright golden-yellow from June to September. Its creeping stems root deeply. It reaches 15 cm in height and 70 cm in width when mature. It loves sun, rockeries and low walls. It is hardy to -8°C.

This groundcover provides vibrant colours in neglected spots. Pair it with other Delosperma in different colours to form a cheerful carpet in dry areas.

Achillea crithmifolia - Yarrow

In dry soil, discover the yarrow – Achillea crithmifolia. This vigorous little perennial groundcover plant shoots quickly, forming dense evergreen carpet. The fine, dissected foliage is grey-green and is covered with white umbels from June to August. It grows to 20 cm high and 75 cm wide. It tolerates full sun or partial shade. It tolerates summer drought and is hardy to -20.5°C.

It can be paired with other groundcover plants such as Phyla nodiflora or Geranium sanguineum. It can also be used as an alternative to lawn.

Further reading

Many other groundcover perennials rapidly dress up your garden like the Vinca minor ‘Atropurpurea’ – small-flowered periwinkle, the Campanula poscharskyana or the Verbena tenuisecta – moss verbena. Draw inspiration from our full range of rapidly growing groundcover perennials.