Ground covers are an easy way to add beauty to parts of the garden. In this country, hardy ground covers that are long-lived are particularly recommended. There are ground covers as low and "tall" plants. In this guide, the focus is on plants that are very hardy. In addition, the growth height is set at 15 centimeters, as it should be low long-lived plants. Since many plants also have higher-growing and/or less hardy ground covers, certain varieties are discussed in some cases.
Hardy ground cover
for the sun
Ash Cranesbill "Laurence Flatman"
- botanical name: Geranium cinereum "Laurence Flatman"
- Growth: cushion-forming
- Growth width: 15 to 20 centimeters
- Growth height: 10 to 15 centimeters
- Flowers: violet-pink, bowl-shaped, small from June to August
- Foliage: grey-green, evergreen
- Hardiness Zone (WHZ): Z5 (-28.8 °C to -23.4 °C)
- Soil: permeable, low in humus, loamy-sandy
- Special features: strong growth
mountain silver coat
- botanical name: Alchemilla hoppeana
- Growth: cushion-like
- Growth width: 20 to 30 centimeters
- Growth height: 6 to 10 centimeters
- Flowers: greenish-yellow, umbellate, small from June to September
- Foliage: green, deciduous
- Hardiness Zone (WHZ): Z5 (-28.8 °C to -23.4 °C)
- Soil: well-drained, fresh, poor in nutrients, pH value: 6.0 to 8.0
- Special features: The plants originate from south-east Germany
blue pillow
- botanical name: Aubrieta x cultorum
- Varieties: "Agente", "Bressingham Red", "Blue Tit", "Winterberg"
- Growth: carpet-like to cushion-forming
- Growth width: 20 to 30 centimeters
- Growth height: 5 to 10 centimeters
- Flowers: small, racemose from April to May; Color depending on the variety (white, light violet, deep red or blue-violet)
- Foliage: grey-green, evergreen
- Hardiness Zone (WHZ): Z6 (-23.4 °C to -17.8 °C)
- Soil: permeable, fresh, partly rocky
- Special features: bee pasture
bluebell
- botanical name: Campanula
- Varieties: Dalmatian Cushion Bellflower 'Birch' (Campanula portenschlagiana 'Birch'), Hanging Cushion Bellflower 'Stella' (Campanula poscharskyana 'Stella'), Cute Bellflower 'Bavaria Blue' (Campanula cochleariifolia 'Bavaria Blu')
- Growth: carpet-like, mat-like
- Growth width: 15 to 30 centimeters, depending on the variety
- Growth height: 5 to 15 centimeters, depending on the variety
- Flowers: violet to deep blue, bell- or radial-shaped, small from June to September, depending on the variety
- Foliage: green, deciduous
- Winter hardiness zone (WHZ): Z5 (-28.8 °C to -23.4 °C) to Z4 (-34.5 °C to -28.9 °C), depending on the variety
- Soil: well-drained, fresh, poor in nutrients, pH value: 6.0 to 8.0
- Special features: bee-friendly plants
notice: There are also special bluebells for sunny to partially shaded locations.
Large-flowered spring gentian
- botanical name: Gentiana acaulis
- Growth: cushion-like
- Growth height: 5 to 10 centimeters
- Flowers: deep blue, cup-shaped, medium-sized from May to June
- Foliage: deep green, evergreen
- Hardiness Zone (WHZ): Z3 (-40.1 °C to -34.5 °C)
- Soil: well-drained, loamy-humic, fresh
- Special features: very flat growth
Mat Wool Ziest
- botanical name: Stachys byzantina
- Growth: carpet-like
- Growth width: 15 to 20 centimeters
- Growth height: 8 to 15 centimeters
- Flowers: pink-violet, in panicles, medium-sized from July to August
- Foliage: off-white, evergreen
- Hardiness Zone (WHZ): Z5 (-28.8 °C to -23.4 °C)
- Soil: sandy, poor in nutrients
- Special features: silvery leaves
stonecrop
- botanical name: Sedum album
- Varieties: White-flowering red moss stonecrop, red moss stonecrop "Coral Carpet", white stonecrop "Murale"
- Growth: carpet-like
- Growth width: 15 to 20 centimeters
- Growth height: 5 to 10 centimeters
- Flowers: white or pink, umbellate, small from June to August
- Foliage: green, red to brown-red (depending on variety), evergreen
- Hardiness Zone (WHZ): Z6 (-23.4 °C to -17.8 °C)
- Soil: dry, well drained
- Special features: low bee pasture
Spicy stonecrop
- botanical name: Sedum acre
- Varieties: "Aureum", "Aureum Gold"
- Growth: mat-like, carpet-like
- Growth width: 10 to 20 centimeters, depending on the variety
- Growth height: 5 to 10 centimeters
- Flowers: yellow, plate-shaped or umbel-shaped (depending on variety), small from June to July
- Foliage: green or greenish yellow, evergreen or semi-evergreen depending on the variety
- Hardiness Zone (WHZ): Z5 (-28.8 °C to -23.4 °C)
- Soil: well drained, dry
- Special features: insect-friendly
Sinnerman mountain avens
- botanical name: Dryas x suendermannii
- Growth: carpet-like, cushion-forming
- Growth width: 20 to 30 centimeters
- Growth height: 5 to 15 centimeters
- Flowers: white with a yellow centre, cup-shaped, small from June to July
- Foliage: medium to dark green, evergreen
- Hardiness Zone (WHZ): Z3 (-40.1 °C to -34.5 °C)
- Soil: permeable, fresh, sandy-gravelly
- Special features: long-lived bee pasture, abundant flowering
Carpet phlox (Phlox subulata)
- Varieties: Amazing Grace, Altropurpurea, Candy Stripes, Daniels Cushion, Emerald Cushion Blue, Samson, Scarlet Flame, White Delight
- Growth: cushion-forming, -like
- Growth height: 5 to 15 centimeters
- Flowers: depending on the variety: white to red, radiating, small from April to May
- Foliage: Fresh to dark green, evergreen
- Hardiness Zone (WHZ): Z3 (-40.1 °C to -34.5 °C)
- Soil: dry, well drained
- Special features: undemanding, easy to care for, extremely hardy
Carpet phlox, Phlox subulata
Carpet Gypsophila "Rosea"
- botanical name: Gysophila repens "Rosea"
- Growth: carpet-like
- Growth width: 20 to 30 centimeters
- Growth height: 10 to 15 centimeters
- Flowers: soft pink, umbel-shaped, small from May to July
- Foliage: grey-green, deciduous
- Hardiness Zone (WHZ): Z4 (-34.5 °C to -28.9 °C)
- Soil: well drained, poor in nutrients
- Special features: insect-friendly, particularly long-lived plants, very hardy
thyme
- botanical name: Thymus praecox
- Varieties: "Minor", "Albiflorus"
- Growth: carpet-like
- Growth width: 15 to 20 centimeters
- Growth height: 2 to 7 centimeters (depending on the variety)
- Flowers: white or violet-pink, umbellate, small from May to July (depending on variety)
- Foliage: green, evergreen
- Hardiness Zone (WHZ): Z5 (-28.8 °C to -23.4 °C)
- Soil: well drained, dry
- Special features: long-lived bee pasture, very hardy
thyme, thymus
notice: With a maximum growth height of 10 centimetres, varieties such as "Albus" or "Coccineus" from the species "Thymus serpyllum" are also suitable as low and hardy ground covers.
Sun to semi-shade
spring cinquefoil
- botanical name: Potentilla neumanniana
- Growth: carpet-like
- Growth width: 20 to 20 centimeters
- Growth height: 5 to 10 centimeters
- Flowers: yellow, plate-shaped, small from May to June
- Foliage: dark green, deciduous
- Hardiness Zone (WHZ): Z5 (-28.8 °C to -23.4 °C)
- Soil: loamy, sandy, humic
- Special features: long-lived and perennial plants, very hardy
bugle
- botanical name: Ajuga reptans
- Varieties: "Atropurpurea", "Burgundy Glow"
- Growth: carpet-like
- Growth height: 10 to 15 centimeters
- Flowers: violet-blue, spike-shaped, small from May to June
- Foliage: reddish brown or multicolored (depending on variety), evergreen
- Hardiness Zone (WHZ): Z5 (-28.8 °C to -23.4 °C)
- Soil: fresh to moist, permeable
- Special features: pasture for bees, very hardy
Dark Bugle
lip mouth
- botanical name: Mazus reptans
- Growth: cushion-like
- Growth width: 20 to 30 centimeters
- Growth height: 3 to 8 centimeters
- Flowers: violet, plate-shaped, small from May to July
- Foliage: green, deciduous
- Hardiness Zone (WHZ): Z5 (-28.8 °C to -23.4 °C)
- Soil: very well drained, sandy, loamy
- Special features: long-lived and perennial plants, very hardy
Lip mouths, Mazus reptans
Pennywort
- botanical name: Lysimachia nummularia
- Growth: carpet-like
- Growth width: 30 to 40 centimeters
- Growth height: 5 to 10 centimeters
- Flowers: yellow, cupped, small from May to July
- Foliage: light green, evergreen
- Hardiness Zone (WHZ): Z4 (-34.5 °C to -28.9 °C)
- Soil: fresh to moist, well-drained, normal garden soil
- Special features: bee pasture, undemanding, very hardy
Pennywort, Lysimachia nummularia
foamcress
- botanical name: Arabis procurrens
- Varieties: Carpathian foam cress, "Glacier" foam cress
- Growth: carpet-like
- Growth width: 20 to 30 centimeters
- Growth height: 5 to 15 centimeters
- Flowers: white, grape-shaped, small from April to June (depending on variety)
- Foliage: dark green, evergreen
- Hardiness Zone (WHZ): Z5 (-28.8 °C to -23.4 °C)
- Soil: well drained, fresh
- Features: bee friendly
Goose cress, Arabis procurens
Carpet Grease Sheet
- botanical name: Sedum spurium
- Varieties: "Album Superbum" (very good hardy groundcover), "Fuldagut"
- Growth: carpet-like
- Growth width: 20 to 25 centimeters
- Growth height: 10 to 15 centimeters
- Flowers: white or crimson (depending on variety), umbel-shaped, small from July to August
- Foliage: light green or brown-red (depending on variety), winter or evergreen (depending on variety)
- Hardiness Zone (WHZ): Z6 (-23.4 °C to -17.8 °C)
- Soil: well drained, fresh
- Features: bee friendly
tip: The carpet fat leaf "Coccineus" absolutely needs a sunny location.
cotoneaster
- botanical name: cotoneaster
- Varieties: Cotoneaster 'Striebs Finding' (Cotoneaster microphyllus 'Striebs Findling'), Cotoneaster 'Queen of Carpets' (Cotoneaster procumbens 'Queen of Carpet')
- Growth: creeping
- Growth width: 30 to 50 centimeters
- Growth height: 10 to 15 centimeters
- Flowers: white, small from May to June
- Foliage: green, evergreen
- Hardiness Zone (WHZ): Z5 (-28.8 °C to -23.4 °C)
- Soil: undemanding
- Special features: low, hardy ground cover, robust
sun to shade
Small-leaved periwinkle
- botanical name: Vinca minor
- Growth: carpet-like
- Growth width: 25 to 30 centimeters
- Height of growth: 10 to 15 centimeters (caution: taller varieties are commercially available!)
- Flowers: violet-blue, cupped, April to May
- Foliage: dark green, evergreen
- Hardiness Zone (WHZ): Z6 (-23.4 °C to -17.8 °C)
- Soil: well drained
- Special features: very dense growth
tip: The varieties "Aureovariegata" and "Bowles" are particularly suitable for semi-shady to shady locations
Indian mock strawberry
- botanical name: Duchesnea indica
- Growth: carpet-like
- Growth width: 20 to 30 centimeters
- Growth height: 5 to 10 centimeters
- Flowers: golden yellow, cupped, small from May to July
- Foliage: dark green, deciduous
- Hardiness Zone (WHZ): Z6 (-23.4 °C to -17.8 °C)
- Soil: well-drained, dry to fresh, acidic to moderately acidic
- Special features: fruits similar to strawberries, not suitable for consumption (bitter)
Low fat man "Compacta"
- botanical name: Pachysandra terminalis "Compacta"
- Synonyms: Low shadow green "Compacta"
- Growth: mat-like
- Growth width: 30 to 40 centimeters
- Growth height: 8 to 12 centimeters
- Flowers: white, spike-shaped, from April to May
- Foliage: dark green, evergreen
- Hardiness Zone (WHZ): Z5 (-28.8 °C to -23.4 °C)
- Soil: well-drained, fresh to moist, slightly acidic to acidic
- Special features: very low hardy ground cover
Pachysandra terminalis, fat man
Medlar "Radicans"
- botanical name: Cotoneaster dammeri "Radicans"
- Growth: dense, flat
- Growth width: 50 to 70 centimeters
- Growth height: 10 to 15 centimeters
- Flowers: white, cupped, from May to June
- Foliage: dark green, evergreen
- Hardiness Zone (WHZ): Z5 (-28.8 °C to -23.4 °C)
- Soil: permeable, rich in nutrients
- Special features: Fruits and parts of plants are slightly toxic when eaten
penumbra
wood anemone
- botanical name: Anemone nemorosa
- Growth: carpet-like
- Growth width: 20 to 25 centimeters
- Growth height: 10 to 15 centimeters
- Flowers: white, cupped, small from March to April
- Foliage: deep green, deciduous
- Hardiness Zone (WHZ): Z5 (-28.8 °C to -23.4 °C)
- Soil: fresh, loose, rich in humus and nutrients
- Special features: poisonous, bee pasture
Wood anemone, Anemone nemorosa
Spring Commemorative
- botanical name: Omphalodes verna
- Growth: carpet-like
- Growth width: 20 to 25 centimeters
- Growth height: 8 to 12 centimeters
- Flowers: sky blue, plate-shaped, small from April to May
- Foliage: green, deciduous
- Hardiness Zone (WHZ): Z6 (-23.4 °C to -17.8 °C)
- Soil: permeable, fresh, rich in humus
- Special features: many flowers (“carpet of flowers”)
Commemoration, Omphalodes verna
tip: The spring memorial "Alba" is particularly suitable for semi-shady to shady locations.
partial shade to full shade
Real partridge berry
- botanical name: Mitchella repens
- Growth: mat-forming
- Growth width: 20 to 50 centimeters
- Growth height: 5 to 10 centimeters
- Flowers: white from May to June
- Foliage: dark green, evergreen
- Hardiness Zone (WHZ): Z4 (-34.5 °C to -28.9 °C)
- Soil: well drained, fresh, neutral to acidic
- Special features: fruits are edible, very hardy
Waldsteinia (Trefoil Goldberry)
- botanical name: Waldsteinia ternata
- Growth: carpet-like
- Growth width: 30 to 60 centimeters
- Growth height: 10 to 15 centimeters
- Flowers: golden yellow, cupped from April to May
- Foliage: green, evergreen
- Hardiness Zone (WHZ): Z3 (-40.1 °C to -34.5 °C)
- Soil: well drained, fresh, moist, humic
- Special features: glossy leaves, very hardy
Golden strawberry, Waldsteinia, Waldsteinia ternata