Purple Groundcovers: Easy to Plant and Maintain

Purple groundcovers are a great choice for any garden, and the best part is they're easy to plant and maintain. They're perfect for filling in gaps between pavers or stones, and can even thrive in areas with poor soil.

One of the most popular purple groundcovers is Creeping Thyme, which can spread up to 12 inches in a single season. It's drought-tolerant and requires minimal watering, making it a great option for busy gardeners.

Purple Fountain Grass is another low-maintenance option that can grow up to 3 feet tall. It's relatively easy to care for and can thrive in a variety of lighting conditions.

By choosing a purple groundcover, you can add a pop of color to your garden without breaking the bank or spending hours on upkeep.

Creeping phlox (Phlox subulate) is a great choice for hot, sunny locations where it can take in full-day sun. It's a hardy perennial that can thrive in less taxing conditions in a sunny or even part-shade area of the garden.

Purple creeping phlox is a real show-stopper in our front garden as it creeps among and weaves through the low-growing, ornamental grasses and onto the stones of the dry river bed. It has also been encouraged to grow up against large boulders that separate the raised garden from the driveway.

For a similar spreading, mat-forming phlox native to wooded areas and along stream banks in the Appalachian Mountains and other parts of North America, look for Phlox stolonifera.

These purple groundcovers are a great way to add a pop of color to your garden, and they're all relatively low-maintenance. Just remember to water them regularly, especially during their establishment period, and trim them back as needed to keep them looking their best.

Phlox Stolonifera is a hardy perennial that's perfect for adding a pop of purple to your garden. It's a low-maintenance groundcover that can thrive in partial shade and moist, well-drained acidic soil.

This beautiful evergreen is resilient enough to hold up to some extra walk-bys, making it a great option for high-traffic areas. It's also a wonderful plant for holding in soil on slopes and helping prevent erosion.

Phlox Stolonifera can become a bit weedy in the right conditions, so be sure to keep an eye on it. Slugs can also be a problem in wet areas, so consider using slug deterrents if necessary.

To keep your Phlox Stolonifera looking its best, be sure to deadhead it regularly to prevent powdery mildew disease. This will also encourage new blooms and keep your plant looking healthy.

Here are some key facts to keep in mind when growing Phlox Stolonifera:

With proper care and attention, Phlox Stolonifera can thrive in your garden and provide a beautiful display of purple flowers for years to come.

Liriope spicata is a low-maintenance ground cover that's perfect for shady spots. It's drought-tolerant and can thrive in poor soils.

This evergreen ground cover has bold, ornamental grass-like foliage and deep purple flower spikes that rise above the foliage in early summer. The blooms last until late fall.

Liriope spicata can grow up to 18 inches tall and spread quickly, making it an ideal choice for erosion control on banks or slopes. Its rhizomatous nature will help stabilize the soil.

To care for Liriope spicata, water it deeply and infrequently, fertilize in early spring with a 10-10-10 slow-release fertilizer, and trim back each year to remove old or wilted leaves. Mulching deeply will also help retain moisture and inhibit weed growth.

Here are some key facts about Liriope spicata:

Bugleweed (Ajuga reptans) is a low-maintenance groundcover that thrives in medium-moisture, well-drained soils.

It's a great choice for woodland areas, rock gardens, borders, and banks, and can tolerate partial sun with adequate moisture and humus in the soil.

Bugleweed spreads rapidly, carpeting the ground with glossy green foliage, often punctuated with scalloped leaves.

In late spring to early summer, it produces short spikes of vivid blue or violet flowers.

To control its spread, prune it twice a year.

Here are some key facts about Bugleweed:

It attracts butterflies, bees, hummingbirds, and other pollinators, making it a great choice for a wildlife-friendly garden.

Just be sure to avoid placing it in overly erosive areas, and plant it in a spot where it won't take over a lawn or other plantings.

Ice plant is a fantastic addition to any garden, especially if you're looking for a low-maintenance option that's drought-tolerant. It's an evergreen perennial groundcover that thrives in dry, sunny gardens and can even withstand colder temperatures.

Ice plant is a heat-loving plant that packs a punch with its magenta daisy-like blooms and succulent foliage. Its deep purple-pink color is a stunning sight to behold, especially when it covers a large area.

You'll want to plant multiple ice plants about one foot apart, but be prepared for them to quickly spread and fill in the empty spaces. This is a great option if you're looking for a groundcover that will grow and spread over time.

If you live in a colder climate, be sure to mulch with an organic material like straw to protect the ice plant during the winter. This will help it survive the harsh weather conditions.

Here are some key facts to keep in mind when growing ice plant:

Sweet Heidy Cranesbill is a standout choice for purple groundcovers, boasting beautiful, multicolored blooms that range from pink to purple with white centers.

This hardy perennial is full of character and practicality, with lush green foliage and bowl-shaped blooms that will brighten your landscape from early to late summer.

For optimal success, ensure that Sweet Heidy Cranesbill is planted in sunny spots (though a bit of shade is okay, too) and well-drained soils. It'll thrive in any soil type, making it a versatile choice for gardeners.

Divide and replant Sweet Heidy Cranesbill in the spring for thicker coverage. Spread an organic mulch over the plant to conserve moisture and suppress weeds.

Intriguing read: Purple Sweet Peas

Here are some key facts to keep in mind when growing Sweet Heidy Cranesbill:

Purple Carpet Creeping Thyme produces stunning purple flowers at the ends of the stems from early to mid summer.

Its attractive tiny fragrant round leaves remain dark green in color throughout the year.

Creeping phlox puts on its display in early spring with its vibrant purple/mauve flowers that cover the plant in masses.

The foliage of creeping phlox remains an attractive almost-moss-like mass of deep green throughout the summer.

Creeping phlox shines in spring but sparkles all year round with its deep green foliage.

Check this out: Ornamental Grass with Purple Flowers

Purple Carpet Creeping Thyme grows to be only 2 inches tall at maturity, making it a great option for a low-growing groundcover. It has a spread of 18 inches and should be spaced about 16 inches apart when grown in masses or used as a bedding plant.

This plant thrives in full sunlight and can tolerate some drought, making it perfect for a low-water garden or xeriscape application. It's also highly tolerant of urban pollution, so it can even do well in inner city environments.

To care for Purple Carpet Creeping Thyme, make sure to water it regularly, but don't keep the area overly wet. Once it's well established, it's considered drought-tolerant, but it may look sparse and unkempt if it doesn't receive any irrigation during dry weather.

Worth a look: Drought Tolerant Groundcovers

Purple Carpet Creeping Thyme grows to be only 2 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 18 inches. It's a fast-growing plant that can live for approximately 10 years.

To grow this plant, it's essential to provide full sunlight, as it dislikes excessive moisture and prefers to grow in average to dry locations. It's also drought-tolerant, making it an ideal choice for a low-water garden or xeriscape application.

When planting, add top soil or organic peat moss to the hole, especially if the area is very dry. Space individual plants about 16 inches apart to allow for proper growth and air circulation.

Creeping phlox can also thrive in a variety of conditions, including full sun to part shade. It's a hardy plant that can take lots of abuse, including foot traffic, and will even grow in containers or hanging baskets.

Here are some general guidelines for growing creeping phlox:

This plant is highly tolerant of urban pollution and can even thrive in inner city environments. However, it's essential to protect it from extreme cold and wet conditions by covering it with a thick layer of mulch in winter.

Creeping Phlox is not an invasive plant, despite its rapid spreading habit. Its shallow roots make it easy to pull up and transplant in another part of the garden or share with a neighbor.

This characteristic is especially useful in hot, sunny, and dry areas, where Creeping Phlox can thrive and form a beautiful backdrop for blue-green grasses that emerge through the ground cover.

Purple Trailing Verbena is a very low maintenance plant that anyone can grow.

It's a hardy plant that can take the heat, drought, and sun, and still look great.

This variety stays very low and is an ideal tender ground cover thanks to its dark green foliage accentuated by a mass of purple flowers.

The color spectacle appears with periodic blooms in spring through fall and attracts butterflies.

It's perfect for planting in rock gardens, slopes, and borders, and will fill any open space quickly.

Give this plant room to spread, and it will reward you with a magical scene that adds curb appeal and beauty.

Purple Trailing Verbena will thrive in areas with full sun exposure, making it ideal for sunny spots in your garden.

It has little to moderate watering needs once established, and applying fertilizer in the spring can do wonders.

This plant looks great in hanging baskets, cascading over a wall or spilling over from mixed containers, and combines well with other colors in the garden.