1Cranesbill geranium
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These geraniums are known for their hardiness, attractive foliage and intricately veined lilac blossoms. Their ability to thrive in poor, dry soil makes them an all-time favourite among hands-off gardeners, who are seeking maximum impact with minimum effort. Position these sun-loving flowers at the front of a sunny border.
2Erigeron
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With it’s white flowers and yellow disk, you’d be forgiven for thinking that this plant is a daisy. The pink flowers, however, let you know that it’s actually Erigeron, a low-maintenance groundcover plant that works well in sunny spots, rockeries and wall crevices. Pollinators are also a fan of this rapidly-spreading plant.
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3Campanula
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Want your garden to resemble a fairy-tale forest clearing? Campanula’s cascading blue or purple blooms are perhaps the best way to achieve that. These pretty plants work well on walls, containers and shady corners; for groundcover, plant Campanula portenschlagiana or Campanula carpatica.
4Lily of the Valley
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This enchanting plant, with its fragrant, bell-shaped flowers, is another wonderful option if you’re looking to fill in the gaps in your garden. According to British Garden Centres, lily of the valley is a classic choice for shady borders and woodland gardens. It’s also ideal for underplanting and groundcover.
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5Periwinkle
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This evergreen groundcover plant benefits from rapid growth and the ability to thrive in dry soil and shade. If you have a challenging patch in your garden that other plants simply refuse to grow in, turn to periwinkle for the win.
6Heather
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A plant so pretty, it became a popular girl’s name. Famously covering the rolling hills of many a UK national park (particularly heathland and moorland), you can also bring this evergreen shrub to your garden. Beloved by pollinators, Heather thrives in acidic soils and sunny spots.
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7Heuchera
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Heucheras are renowned for their colourful, evergreen foliage, which ranges from green to deep purple, making them a wonderful flowerbed filler. This excellent groundcover plant thrives in shady areas.
8Bergenia
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Bergenia’s complementing colours, pink and green, make it another great choice for dense (and vibrant!) groundcover in your garden. This plant is both shade- and drought-tolerant, which means you can plant it anywhere you want.
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9Aubrieta
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British Garden Centres recommends this one for beginner gardeners as it’s easy to grow, spreads rapidly and, once it’s settled, doesn’t need much attention. Plant it in a sunny spot, and Aubrieta will reward you with a beautiful purple-and-blue carpet.
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Wanda Sachs is the Daily Writer for House Beautiful and Country Living, exploring the latest in interior design, home trends, property news, wellbeing and sustainable living. With a keen eye for style and a passion for storytelling, she previously served as an Associate Editor at The Berliner in Berlin, where she launched and led the magazine’s monthly style vertical, covering emerging fashion trends. Wanda holds a combined BA in English and German from Goethe University Frankfurt.
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