Summer-Blooming Perennials for Lush, Effortless Garden Beauty: Discover 5 Low-Maintenance Options
Top 5 Long-Blooming Ground Cover Perennials for Gardens
In the quest for a beautiful, low-maintenance garden, ground cover perennials are a fantastic choice. These plants not only add ornamental value to your landscape but also suppress weeds, maintain soil moisture, and help with erosion control. Here are five long-blooming ground cover perennials that are perfect for your garden.
1. Cuphea (Mexican Heather)
Cuphea, also known as Mexican heather, is an evergreen groundcover that boasts glossy, fern-like branches and masses of petite flowers. This vibrant plant blooms all summer, attracting butterflies, hummingbirds, and beneficial insects. Cuphea is hardy in USDA Zones 9-11 and can be found in various vibrant purple varieties at Home Depot.
2. Dianthus (Dwarf Dianthus)
Dianthus is a low-growing perennial that blooms all summer, offering a wide range of colors from white, pink, red, to deep burgundy. This hardy plant is generally suitable for many garden zones but is a short-lived perennial or biennial. You can find Dianthus in three-packs at Home Depot.
3. Creeping Phlox (Phlox subulata)
Creeping Phlox is a delightful spring-flowering groundcover that blooms from spring to early summer with colorful flowers. Its foliage remains attractive all season, and it spreads nicely across the ground. Although the USDA growing zones are not specified, Creeping Phlox prefers full sun and is hardy in temperate regions. It is widely available in garden centers focusing on spring-flowering ground covers.
4. Liriope (Lilyturf) (Liriope muscari)
Liriope, or lilyturf, is a grass-like groundcover with lavender flower spikes that bloom midsummer to fall. It tolerates part sun to full shade and controls erosion well. Liriope is hardy in USDA Zones 5–10 and is commonly found in nurseries, especially for shade-tolerant ground cover.
5. Ajuga (Ajuga reptans)
Ajuga offers deep green or burgundy foliage with spikes of blue, pink, or white flowers that bloom mid-spring to early summer, with occasional reblooming. This groundcover thrives in part sun to full shade and is hardy in USDA Zones 3–10. It is readily available at most garden centers.
Other notable mentions for ground covers that bloom extensively include Dead Nettle (Lamium maculatum) for shade and periwinkle (Vinca minor), which blooms mid-spring to autumn.
Campanula Bellflowers
Campanula bellflowers are another long-blooming perennial suitable for growing zones 3-8. These plants attract bees and other pollinators and are resistant to deer and rabbits. You can find campanula bellflowers at Walmart.
Geum
Geum, specifically Geum coccineum, is a taller ground cover that serves as an excellent bedding plant. It thrives best in cooler summer temperatures and offers ornamental foliage and blooms. Geum coccineum Borisii seeds can be found in the Hazzard's Greenhouse storefront on Amazon.
In the home-and-garden landscape, ground cover perennials like Cuphea, Dianthus, Creeping Phlox, Liriope, Ajuga, Dead Nettle, and Geum contribute to a low-maintenance lifestyle, providing vibrant blooms and beneficial aspects such as weed suppression and erosion control. For example, you can find Cuphea at Home Depot, while Geum seeds can be purchased from Hazzard's Greenhouse on Amazon.
