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6 Low-Maintenance Groundcover Plants for North Texas

November 6, 2024
, Plants

Many people can see groundcovers as invasive species of plants that reap no benefit for their landscaping. This is not true; groundcover plants are beneficial, visually appealing with their bright and vivid colors, and can fulfill so many needs in your landscape. Some of these needs include providing continuity to your landscape, offering an efficient grass alternative, and helping maintain areas that turf grass could not. In this article, we’ll discuss six low-maintenance groundcover plants for North Texas homeowners that are beneficial, especially for our area, as they minimize erosion and dust, are tolerant to the harsh weather, help prevent grass from invading plant beds, and even provide shade and cooling effects during summer heat.

Asian Jasmine

Asian Jasmine, also known as “Trachelospermum asiatcium”, is an evergreen perennial plant that can reach anywhere from 6 inches to 12 inches in height and 24 inches in width, staying low to the ground. Asian Jasmine has small glossy green foliage. For Asian Jasmine to thrive, it should be planted in areas of partial shade to full sun with well-drained, moist soil.

Botanical Name: Trachelospermum asiatcium
Plant Type: evergreen, perennial ground cover plant
Growth Habit: Spreading groundcover plant that stays low to the ground and reaches 6 inches to 12 inches tall and 24 inches wide.
Foliage: small glossy green leaves
Light Needs: partial shade, full sun
Soil Needs: well-drained, moist soil

Asian Jasmine Pros:
-drought-tolerant
-low-maintenance
-fast-growing

Asian Jasmine Cons:
-non-walkable groundcover
-can be invasive

English Ivy

English Ivy, also known as “Hedera helix”, is an evergreen perennial plant that can reach almost any height and width because it grows as a vine would. English Ivy has small to medium-sized, dark green, waxy foliage. It should be planted in areas of shade to moderate light with well-draining, loamy, and fertile soil.

Botanical Name: Hedera helix
Plant Type: evergreen, Perennial ground cover plant
Growth Habit: Can reach almost any height and width because it grows as an ivy or vine would.
Foliage: small to medium dark green waxy leaves
Light Needs: shade, moderate light
Soil Needs: well-draining, loamy, and fertile

English Ivy Pros:
-air purification
-low-maintenance
-reducing coughs and sickness

English Ivy Cons:
-invasive
-tree damage (due to excessive weight in some cases)
-can irritate the skin

Purple Wintercreeper

Purple Wintercreeper, also known as “Euonymus fortunei”, is an evergreen perennial plant that can reach anywhere from 12 inches to 15 inches in height and 36 inches in width. Purple Wintercreeper has small maroon foliage in the winter, which transitions to dark green in other seasons. For Purple Wintercreeper to thrive, it should be planted in areas of partial sun to full sun with clay, loamy, or sandy soil.

Botanical Name: Euonymus fortunei
Plant Type: evergreen and perennial
Growth Habit: Spreading ground cover plant that reaches 12 inches to 15 inches tall and 36 inches wide.
Foliage: small maroon foliage (in winter) and dark green in other seasons
Light Needs: partial and full sun
Soil Needs: clay, loamy, or sandy soils

Purple Wintercreeper Pros:
-durable
-low maintenance
-appealing foliage
-erosion control

Purple Wintercreeper Cons:
-often invasive
-can hurt the integrity of other plant structures
-toxic and poisonous parts for humans and animals

Creeping Jenny

Creeping Jenny, also known as “Lysimachia nummularia”, is a semi-evergreen perennial plant that can reach anywhere from 2 inches to 4 inches in height and 14 inches in width. Creeping Jenny has small greenish-yellow rounded foliage. For Creeping Jenny to thrive, it should be planted in areas of partial sun to full sun with well-drained sandy or loamy soil.

Botanical Name: Lysimachia nummularia
Plant Type: semi-evergreen (depending on weather conditions) and perennial
Growth Habit: 2 to 4 inches tall and about 14 inches wide
Foliage: small greenish-yellow rounded leaves
Light Needs: partial and full sun
Soil Needs: well-drained, sandy, or loamy soil

Creeping Jenny Pros:
-Easy to grow and low-maintenance
-non-toxic
-adaptive to most any condition

Creeping Jenny Cons:
-prone to fungal diseases
-invasive

Creeping Juniper

Creeping juniper, also known as “Juniperus horizontalis”, is an evergreen perennial plant that can reach anywhere from 12 inches to 36 inches in height and 8 feet to 10 feet in width. Creeping Juniper has small green or blue scale-like foliage. For the Creeping Juniper to thrive, it should be planted in areas of partial sun to full sun with well-drained soil and organic matter such as sand. Creeping Juniper is often used in conjunction with decorative rock landscaping projects.

Botanical Name: Juniperus horizontalis
Plant Type: evergreen and perennial
Growth Habit: (depending on the variety) reaches 12 inches to 36 inches tall and 8 to 10 feet wide
Foliage: small green or blue scale-like foliage
Light Needs: partial and full sun
Soil Needs: well-drained with organic matter like sand or rock

Creeping Juniper Pros:
-helps stabilize soil
-not invasive
-non-toxic to humans

Creeping Juniper Cons:
-susceptible to pest infestation
-can become waterlogged

Lamium

Lammium, also known as “Lamium maculatum”, is an evergreen perennial plant that can reach anywhere from 5 inches to 8 inches in height and 18 inches in width. Lamium is quite visually appealing with its silver and blue-green foliage that complements many evergreen bushes and trees. For Lamium to thrive, it should be planted in areas of shade to partial sun with moist, well-drained soil.

Botanical Name: Lamium maculatum
Plant Type: evergreen and perennial
Growth Habit: reaches 5 inches to 8 inches tall and 18 inches wide
Foliage: medium-sized silver and blue-green foliage
Light Needs: shade and partial sun
Soil Needs: moist, well-drained

Lamium Pros:
-deer resistant
-tolerant to shade
-non-toxic to humans and pets
-low maintenance

Lamium Cons:
-can develop fungal problems if planted too close together
-can become waterlogged if not well drained
-can attract pests