Best Ground Covers for Zone 6
26 varieties that thrive in USDA Hardiness Zone 6. Compare planting dates, growing difficulty, and find the best picks for your garden.
Varieties
26
for Zone 6
Beginner
19
easy to grow
Heirloom
3
heritage varieties
Container
25
pot-friendly
Zone 6 Coverage
Planting Timeline â All Varieties
Growing Ground Covers in Zone 6
Zone 6 offers an excellent sweet spot for ground cover gardening, with its 180-day growing season providing ample time for establishment while still delivering enough winter chill to satisfy cold-hardy perennials. The challenge lies in selecting varieties that can handle winter lows of -10°F to 0°F without sacrificing summer performance during hot, humid stretches. This zone's variable spring weatherâwhere warm spells can trigger early growth only to be followed by late cold snapsâdemands ground covers with flexible dormancy patterns.
The key to success in Zone 6 is choosing ground covers that establish quickly during the long growing season but possess the root hardiness to survive ice, snow load, and freeze-thaw cycles. Look for varieties with proven track records in similar climates, focusing on those that spread reliably without becoming invasive. Dense, mat-forming growth habits work particularly well here, as they create their own insulating microclimate while suppressing weeds effectively through the extended growing period.
Our top picks for Zone 6 combine rapid establishment, winter resilience, and season-long appeal. Whether you're dealing with sunny slopes, shaded woodland areas, or challenging spots where grass struggles, these varieties have proven themselves in real Zone 6 gardens, handling everything from late spring freezes to summer drought stress while providing reliable ground coverage year after year.
Variety Comparison
| Variety â | Days | Difficulty | Size | Type | Indoor | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ajuga | N/A | Easy | 4-6 inch flower spikes, 2-3 inch leaves | OP | â | â |
| Barrenwort | N/A | Easy | Spreads 12-18 inches wide | Hybrid | â | â |
| Bugleweed | N/A | Easy | Spreads 12-18 inches wide | OP | â | â |
| Creeping Jenny | â | Very easy | Spreads indefinitely if not contained | OP | â | â |
| Creeping Juniper | â | Easy | Spreads 6-8 feet wide | OP | â | â |
| Creeping Phlox | N/A | Easy | 0.75-1 inch flower diameter | OP | â | â |
| Creeping Thyme | 90-95 | Easy | Spreads 12-18 inches wide per plant | Heirloom | â | â |
| Heuchera (Coral Bells) | N/A | Easy | 8-15 inches wide clumps | Hybrid | â | â |
| Hosta | N/A | Easy | Varies by cultivar from 4 inches to 4 feet wide | Hybrid | â | â |
| Hostas | â | Easy | Varies by cultivar from 4 inches to 6+ feet wide | Hybrid | â | â |
| Irish Moss | â | Easy | Forms mats 12-18 inches wide | OP | â | â |
| Ivy (English Ivy) | N/A | Very easy | Spreads indefinitely if not contained | OP | â | â |
| Japanese Painted Fern | â | Easy to moderate | 18-24 inches wide at maturity | OP | â | â |
| Japanese Spurge | N/A | Easy to moderate | Spreads 12-24 inches wide | OP | â | â |
| Lamb's Ear | â | Easy | Spreads 12-18 inches wide per plant | OP | â | â |
| Liriope (Lilyturf) | N/A | Very easy | 12-18 inches wide clumps | OP | â | â |
| Mondo Grass | N/A | Easy | Spreads slowly to form 8-12 inch wide clumps | OP | â | â |
| Moss Phlox | â | Easy | Spreads 12-24 inches wide | Hybrid | â | â |
| Pachysandra | N/A | Easy | 2-3 inch leaves, 4-6 inch flower spikes | OP | â | â |
| Sedum 'Dragon's Blood' | N/A | Very easy | 0.25 inch star-shaped flowers in clusters, 0.5 inch succulent leaves | Hybrid | â | â |
| Spotted Deadnettle | N/A | Easy | Spreads 18-24 inches wide | Hybrid | â | â |
| Sweet Woodruff | 60-75 | Easy | Spreads 12-24 inches wide, forms colonies | Heirloom | â | â |
| Vinca Minor | N/A | Easy | 0.75-1 inch flower diameter | OP | â | â |
| Wild Ginger | â | Moderate | Spreads slowly to form colonies 2-3 feet wide | Heirloom | â | â |
| Wild Strawberry | 60-90 | Easy | Spreads 12-24 inches per plant via runners | OP | â | â |
| Wintercreeper Euonymus | â | Easy | Spreads 3-6 feet wide | Hybrid | â | â |
Variety Details
Ajuga
Known as bugleweed, this fast-spreading perennial creates stunning foliage carpets in bronze, purple, or variegated patterns topped with spikes of blue flowers in late spring. This European native thrives in shade and quickly fills in bare spots with its colorful rosettes of leaves. The dramatic flower spikes attract bees and butterflies, making it both beautiful and beneficial for pollinators.
Barrenwort
An elegant woodland ground cover prized for its heart-shaped leaves that emerge bronze, turn green in summer, and develop beautiful fall colors. Delicate sprays of yellow and red flowers dance above the foliage in spring, creating an enchanting display in shade gardens. Extremely long-lived and deer resistant.
Bugleweed
A fast-spreading evergreen ground cover that forms dense mats of glossy leaves topped with stunning spikes of blue-purple flowers in spring. Perfect for suppressing weeds in shady areas while providing reliable year-round coverage with seasonal color bursts. Extremely hardy and low-maintenance once established.
Creeping Jenny
A vigorous, fast-spreading perennial with bright chartreuse round leaves that cascade beautifully over walls and fill in large areas quickly. Golden yellow cup-shaped flowers appear in summer, adding bright color to this already eye-catching foliage plant. Though aggressive, it's perfect for problem areas where other plants struggle and creates stunning contrast in shade gardens.
Creeping Juniper
A hardy, low-maintenance evergreen ground cover that forms dense, spreading mats perfect for slopes and difficult areas. This native North American plant offers year-round color with needle-like foliage that ranges from blue-green to purplish in winter. Extremely drought tolerant once established, making it ideal for xeriscaping and low-water gardens.
Creeping Phlox
A spectacular spring bloomer that transforms landscapes into carpets of vibrant color. This hardy perennial forms dense mats of needle-like evergreen foliage topped with masses of five-petaled flowers in pink, purple, white, or red. Perfect for rock gardens, slopes, and anywhere you need reliable, low-maintenance color that returns year after year.
Creeping Thyme
Slender, creeping stems and round leaves with lavender blooms. Can withstand light foot traffic and gives off pleasant aroma when walked upon. Drought tolerant once established. Perennial in Zones 5-8.
Heuchera (Coral Bells)
Coral bells bring year-round color to the garden with stunning foliage in shades of purple, silver, lime, and coral. These compact perennials produce delicate flower spikes that dance above colorful leaves, creating perfect ground cover for borders and containers. Modern hybrids offer incredible leaf colors that rival any flower for garden impact.
Hosta
The ultimate shade garden workhorse, hostas provide lush foliage in countless colors, sizes, and patterns. From tiny miniatures to massive specimen plants, these perennials create stunning ground cover while producing fragrant spikes of white or purple flowers. Their incredible variety and reliability make them indispensable for transforming difficult shady areas into garden showcases.
Hostas
The ultimate shade garden staple, hostas are beloved for their lush foliage and incredible variety of leaf colors, sizes, and patterns. These reliable perennials form dense clumps that suppress weeds while adding elegant texture to shaded areas. With hundreds of cultivars available, from tiny miniatures to massive statement plants, there's a hosta for every garden design.
Irish Moss
Not actually a moss but a charming perennial that forms dense, carpet-like mats of tiny bright green foliage. Perfect for filling gaps between stepping stones or creating a soft, cushioned groundcover in small spaces. In late spring, it's dotted with tiny white star-shaped flowers that add delicate beauty to this tough little plant.
Ivy (English Ivy)
The classic evergreen vine that doubles as dense ground cover, English ivy creates a lush green carpet that thrives in deep shade where grass won't grow. Its glossy, lobed leaves provide year-round coverage, making it ideal for problem areas like steep slopes and dry shade under mature trees. This vigorous grower quickly establishes to suppress weeds and prevent erosion.
Japanese Painted Fern
A stunning shade perennial that brings luminous color to dark corners with its silvery-gray fronds marked with purple stems and green edges. This elegant fern creates a sophisticated groundcover that brightens shaded areas like no other plant can. Its metallic sheen and architectural form make it a designer favorite for upscale landscape projects.
Japanese Spurge
Native American alternative to traditional pachysandra, featuring attractive mottled foliage and fragrant white flower clusters in early spring. This semi-evergreen spreader thrives in deep shade where grass won't grow, creating elegant natural carpets under mature trees. More heat tolerant than its Asian cousin.
Lamb's Ear
A distinctive perennial ground cover beloved for its incredibly soft, silvery-white fuzzy leaves that children and adults can't resist touching. Dense spikes of small purple flowers rise above the foliage in summer, but many gardeners prefer to remove them to keep the focus on the stunning textural foliage. This drought-tolerant beauty creates beautiful contrast against green plants and glows in moonlight gardens.
Liriope (Lilyturf)
Tough as nails and beautiful year-round, liriope forms dense clumps of grass-like foliage topped with purple or white flower spikes in late summer. This evergreen ground cover thrives in challenging conditions where other plants fail, making it perfect for slopes, under trees, and low-maintenance landscapes. Its neat, fountain-like growth habit provides structure and texture to any garden.
Mondo Grass
This elegant, low-growing evergreen creates perfect edging and ground cover with its fine, dark green grass-like foliage. Mondo grass forms dense, weed-suppressing mats that require virtually no maintenance once established, making it ideal for busy gardeners. Its neat, uniform appearance and ability to thrive in shade make it a designer favorite for contemporary landscapes.
Moss Phlox
A spectacular spring-flowering ground cover that transforms slopes and rock gardens into sheets of vibrant color. This hardy perennial forms dense mats of needle-like evergreen foliage topped with masses of five-petaled flowers in shades of pink, purple, white, or blue. Extremely drought tolerant and deer resistant, making it perfect for low-maintenance landscapes.
Pachysandra
The gold standard for shade ground cover, beloved by gardeners for its glossy evergreen leaves and ability to thrive where grass won't grow. This Japanese native forms dense, weed-suppressing mats under trees and in deep shade areas. Once established, it requires virtually no maintenance while providing year-round green coverage with delicate white flower spikes in spring.
Sedum 'Dragon's Blood'
This stunning succulent ground cover lives up to its dramatic name with deep red foliage that intensifies in cool weather and bright star-shaped pink flowers in summer. Perfect for rock gardens, green roofs, and anywhere you need extremely low-maintenance coverage. This drought-tolerant spreader thrives in poor soils and challenging conditions where other plants fail, making it ideal for xeriscaping and sustainable landscapes.
Spotted Deadnettle
An outstanding variegated ground cover with silver-splashed leaves and cheerful pink, purple, or white flowers that bloom from spring through fall. Thrives in challenging shady spots while providing bright foliage contrast and extended flowering period. Non-invasive and easy to control.
Sweet Woodruff
A charming woodland perennial that forms dense mats of star-shaped whorled leaves topped with delicate white flowers in late spring. When dried, the leaves release a sweet vanilla-hay fragrance that has been treasured for centuries in potpourri and traditional May wine. This well-behaved spreader is perfect for naturalizing in shade gardens and won't overwhelm neighboring plants like some ground covers.
Vinca Minor
Also known as periwinkle, this European native is prized for its glossy dark green leaves and charming blue flowers that appear from spring through fall. This vigorous spreader quickly covers difficult slopes and shaded areas where other plants struggle. The trailing stems root as they grow, creating an impenetrable carpet that effectively suppresses weeds while adding elegant color to the landscape.
Wild Ginger
A native woodland perennial prized for its large, heart-shaped leaves that create an elegant carpet in deep shade where few other plants thrive. Hidden beneath the foliage, curious burgundy bell-shaped flowers bloom at ground level in spring, pollinated by crawling insects. This slow-growing but long-lived ground cover is perfect for naturalizing under trees and creating a lush, forest-like atmosphere.
Wild Strawberry
A native groundcover that offers the best of both worlds - attractive foliage, delicate white flowers, and tiny flavorful berries that wildlife and humans alike enjoy. This hardy perennial spreads by runners to form dense mats that suppress weeds while providing food for birds, butterflies, and gardeners. The leaves turn beautiful bronze-red in fall, extending the seasonal interest.
Wintercreeper Euonymus
A versatile evergreen ground cover prized for its glossy, colorful foliage and ability to thrive in challenging conditions. Available in numerous cultivars with variegated green and white or green and yellow leaves that add brightness to shaded areas. This adaptable plant can also climb walls or trees when given support, making it incredibly useful in landscape design.
Zone 6 Growing Tips
Spring planting works best in Zone 6, with the optimal window opening about two weeks after your average last frost dateâtypically early May. This timing allows soil to warm adequately while giving plants the full growing season to establish strong root systems before winter. For container-grown ground covers, you can push earlier into late April if soil isn't waterlogged, but keep row cover handy for unexpected late cold snaps that can damage tender new growth.
Fall planting is equally successful for hardy varieties like Ajuga, Vinca Minor, and Creeping Phlox, with the sweet spot being 6-8 weeks before your first hard frostâusually late August through early September. Fall-planted ground covers develop excellent root systems during cool weather and often outperform spring plantings the following year. However, avoid fall planting for marginally hardy varieties like Creeping Jenny in exposed locations, as they need the full growing season to develop cold tolerance.
Zone 6's biggest challenge is managing moisture extremesâspring can bring heavy rains that cause crown rot, while summer heat waves stress newly planted covers. Combat this with excellent drainage preparation and mulching strategies. A light organic mulch helps moderate soil temperature swings during establishment but pull it back from plant crowns before winter to prevent rodent damage and fungal issues during freeze-thaw cycles.
Season Overview
With frost dates spanning from mid-April to mid-October, Zone 6 gardeners enjoy nearly six months of active growing weatherâideal for establishing ground cover plantings. This extended season means spring-planted covers can achieve significant spread their first year, while fall-planted varieties have adequate time to root in before dormancy. Plan your planting calendar around these reliable dates: start hardening off transplants in early April, plant after May 1st for guaranteed safety, and complete fall installations by early September to ensure 6-8 weeks of root development before the October 15th frost cutoff.