Options for Sun-Loving Groundcovers

Options for Sun-Loving Groundcovers

Hardy Groundcovers for Full Sun and Dry Conditions

A variety of groundcovers are well-suited for full sun and thrive in dry, poor soils. These low-maintenance plants offer a range of benefits, from attracting pollinators to providing vivid color throughout the year. Here are some of the best options:

Sedum Angelina

This succulent groundcover is a standout choice for hot, exposed areas with dry soil. It produces tiny yellow star-shaped flowers in summer and has chartreuse to golden yellow foliage that adds vibrant color year-round. Sedum Angelina is highly drought tolerant, low maintenance, slow creeping (not invasive), and easy to trim or move.

Trailing Lantana

A fast-spreading, heat-tolerant groundcover that produces lavender or purple blooms that persist through hot seasons. Trailing Lantana is suitable for full sun and drought conditions.

Kinnikinnick (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi)

This native evergreen grows 6-12 inches tall and spreads 3-6 feet. It prefers full sun to partial shade, well-drained acidic or sandy soils, and is cold hardy (zones 3-7). Kinnikinnick forms a dense mat useful for erosion control and attracts wildlife.

Sulfur Buckwheat (Eriogonum umbellatum)

This groundcover features bright yellow flowers that turn rust-colored, blooms last long. Sulfur Buckwheat thrives in well-drained, rocky soils, full sun, and dry conditions. It is cold hardy in zones 4-8 and attracts pollinators.

Pussytoes (Antennaria spp.)

A low-growing (3-9 inches) groundcover with fuzzy, paw-shaped flowers and silvery foliage. Pussytoes prefers full sun and poor, well-drained soils; it is drought- and cold-tolerant and deer-resistant.

Aubrieta

This vigorous, fast-spreading groundcover produces a carpet of purple-blue flowers. Aubrieta is easy to grow and low maintenance once established.

Rosemary (prostrate variety, Rosmarinus officinalis 'Prostratus Group')

A heat- and drought-tolerant evergreen herb that grows well in full sun and most soils, excluding waterlogged ones. Hardy in zone 8+, it has fragrant foliage that can be used in cooking and requires occasional pruning to maintain shape.

Brachyglottis 'Sunshine'

An evergreen shrub with silvery foliage and golden daisy-like blooms. Suitable for full sun and drought conditions, hardy from zone 8 on. It can grow up to about 5 feet tall with annual trimming to keep it compact.

These groundcovers generally share several characteristics and growing conditions:

• They prefer full sun, often thriving in hot, dry, or poor soils.
• They require well-drained soils, often sandy or rocky.
• They exhibit strong drought tolerance and low maintenance needs.
• They provide color or flowers, especially in summer or longer bloom periods.
• Some offer additional benefits like attracting pollinators or wildlife, erosion control, or deer resistance.

For planting, ensure the site provides plenty of direct sunlight and avoid waterlogged soil. These plants are ideal for covering slopes, dry borders, rocky areas, or spaces between pavers where other plants may struggle.

Additional groundcovers to consider include Purple Poppy Mallow, Thyme, Moneywort, Catmint, Basket-of-Gold, Rockspray Cotoneaster, Barren strawberries, Candytuft, Pinks, Creeping buttercup, Common yarrow, Fragrant Sumac ('Gro-Low'), Daylilies, Roman Chamomile, Stonecrops, White sage, Mazus, Creeping juniper, Moss Phlox, Spotted Cinquefoil, Creeping Cinquefoil, Speedwell, Cranesbill, Leadwort, Hardy geraniums, Geranium maculatum, Carpathian Bellflower, Serbian bellflower, Snow-in-Summer, and various bellflowers. Research each plant to ensure it meets your specific needs before planting.

1. Sedum Angelina, with its chartreuse to golden yellow foliage and tiny yellow flowers, is a suitable groundcover for hot, exposed areas with dry soil, offering vibrant color year-round and thriving in full sun and poor soils.
2. Kinnikinnick, an evergreen groundcover that grows 6-12 inches tall and spreads 3-6 feet, is a native plant that prefers full sun to partial shade, well-drained acidic or sandy soils, and is suitable for erosion control, attracting wildlife, and growing in zones 3-7.
3. Sulfur Buckwheat features bright yellow flowers that turn rust-colored and blooms last long, thriving in well-drained, rocky soils, full sun, and dry conditions, while attracting pollinators.
4. Pussytoes, a low-growing groundcover with fuzzy, paw-shaped flowers and silvery foliage, prefers full sun and poor, well-drained soils; it is drought- and cold-tolerant and deer-resistant.
5. Aubrieta, an easy-to-grow, fast-spreading groundcover that produces a carpet of purple-blue flowers, is ideal for full sun and low maintenance gardens.

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