15 Ground Cover Plants to Grow in North Carolina

People often focus on the look of their lawn or some other aspect of their property. They go to great lengths to achieve the perfect look and feel. However, when it comes down to it, that means little if the ground underfoot isn’t properly cared for. That’s where ground cover plants come in. These low-maintenance plants can create a lush, green surface that looks attractive and increases the value of your property without detracting from its functionality and aesthetic appeal.

1. Galium Triflorum

Galium triflorum is a very beautiful plant that grows in clusters of three. It is also called horse radish and has a spicy smell. Galium triflorum can grow up to 3 feet high and can be planted in full sun or partial shade, but the best way to grow it is in full sun. This plant will grow well in any soil type, but it does prefer moist soil and needs to be watered regularly.

Galium triflorum prefers sandy loam soil with good drainage, but it will grow well in clay soils as well if they are amended with compost or manure. The plant should be fertilized once a month during the growing season with composted bark or compost tea made from organic matter such as leaves or grass clippings.

2. Allegheny Spurge

Allegheny spurge is a perennial that grows to be about 3 feet tall. It has bright yellow flowers and can be found in the North Carolina mountains and valleys. Allegheny spurge grows best in full sun. It will tolerate partial shade and moist soil but prefers well-drained soil, especially in the summer.

Allegheny spurge also likes acidic soil with a pH of 6.5 to 7.5. The plant’s root system is small and fibrous, so it does not have extensive taproots like other plants do. This makes it easier for Allegheny spurge to spread through your landscape without taking over the entire area it’s planted in.

Allegheny spurge prefers full sun and dry conditions but can tolerate some shade if planted near a tree or shrub with similar needs as Allegheny spurge has for water, fertilizer, and warmth during winter months from December to March.

3. Creeping Phlox

Creeping phlox (Phlox subulata) is a perennial that grows to about 2 feet tall and spreads to about 3 feet. It has bright yellow flowers that bloom from June through August. Creeping phlox is native to the United States, but it is widely cultivated as an ornamental plant.

Creeping phlox can be grown as a ground cover in North Carolina, although it requires partial shade during the hottest part of the day. The plant spreads by creeping rhizomes and can be trained into an attractive ground cover under trees or bushes.

4. Texas Frogfruit

Texas frogfruit, which is also called Phylla nodiflora, is a member of the lily family. It is a perennial plant that grows up to two feet tall in wet areas. The leaves are palmately divided into five lobes with sharp edges and small white hairs on the underside. The flowers are also white, with five petals that form a bell shape.

Texas frogfruit grows in moist areas at elevations from sea level to 1,500 feet above sea level. It can be found growing in swampy areas or other wetlands throughout the state. Texas frogfruit requires full sun for best growth and prefers soil that drains well but does not dry out quickly once planted. It does well in containers or planters because it is drought tolerant and does not need much water when established. Texas frogfruit is used as an ornamental plant in gardens because of its attractive shape and tropical-looking foliage.

5. Chrysogonum Virginianum

Chrysogonum virginianum is a plant that grows in North Carolina. The plant has yellow flowers on top and small leaves on the bottom. Chrysogonum virginianum can grow to be about 4 feet tall and 6 feet wide. The plant is known for its beautiful yellow flower that blooms in the springtime. Chrysogonum virginianum is a perennial plant, meaning it will live for many years.

Chrysogonum virginianum grows best in full sun to partial shade areas with well-drained soil. The soil should be moist at all times but not too wet or dry. Chrysogonum virginianum needs little care other than regular watering during dry weather and fertilizer every two weeks during growing season (April through September). Chrysogonum virginianum can withstand temperatures as low as 30 degrees Fahrenheit but will grow better with warmer temperatures around 60 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and 40 degrees Fahrenheit at night.

6. Antennaria Plantaginifolia (pussy toes)

Antennaria Plantaginifolia (pussy toes) is a plant that grows in North Carolina and other parts of the world. It is a perennial that has red or purple flowers, which bloom from May to June. The leaves are narrow with long petioles and are light green in color. The flowers can grow up to 3 inches wide, but they will only bloom for one week.

Antennaria Plantaginifolia (pussy toes) plants grow well in full sun, but they also tolerate partial shade conditions. The soil should be well-drained and fertile, so it can support the root system of this plant. This plant grows best when it is planted directly into the ground, although you can also transplant them if you want to move them around your yard or garden space.

7. Asarum Canadense (Canada wild Ginger)

Asarum Canadense (Canada wild Ginger) is a perennial evergreen plant that grows to be about 6–12 inches tall and spreads to about 12–18 inches. It is native to North America, with the exception of Hawaii and parts of Mexico. The plant has divided leaves that grow in opposite pairs, which are oval-shaped and stalkless. The leaf stem is erect and mainly green in color but may be variegated with reddish-purple or yellow. The flowers are bell-shaped with five white petals and yellow stamens. They bloom from spring until fall, with fruits appearing later in summer or early fall.

Asarum Canadense (Canada wild Ginger) can be used as an ornamental plant for gardens or landscape design projects because of its long bloom period, which lasts from late spring through early fall. This makes it ideal for use as a ground cover since it doesn’t require much maintenance other than occasional trimming or deadheading if desired.

8. Chrysogonum Virginianum( Green and Gold)

Chrysogonum Virginianum( Green and Gold) is native to the mountains of Virginia. It grows to be about 2 feet tall, with a spread of about 4 feet. The leaves are green on top and gold on the underside. The flowers are small, yellowish-green, with five petals.

Chrysogonum Virginianum( Green and Gold) grows from rhizomes (rootlike structures). It has two types of rhizomes: those that grow underground and those that grow above ground. The above-ground rhizomes are long and slender, while the underground rhizomes are short and rounder. Chrysogonum Virginianum( Green and Gold) is also known as Mountain Goldenrod because of its yellowish-green coloration; however, this plant does not always have a golden hue due to weathering or other factors (such as shade).

9. Coreopsis Auriculata( Lobed Tickseeds)

Coreopsis Auriculata( Lobed Tickseeds) is a popular annual ground cover that can be planted in the spring or fall. The leaves have distinct lobes and are often used to create a hummingbird garden. It grows best in full sun and does well in part shade. This plant is also known as tickseeds, tickseed, tickseed cotton, and tickseed sunflower.

The plant has a height of up to 4 inches (10 cm), though it tends to grow taller on its own. The flowers range from yellow to orange and hang from top to bottom on tall stems. The seeds are small and hard-backed, making them easy for birds to eat if left out for too long.

10. Fragaria Virginiana( Scarlet Strawberries)

Scarlet strawberries are not a true strawberry but rather a type of raspberry. They are grown for their beautiful red flowers, which produce red and white berries that are usually larger than the more common varieties. The plant is easy to grow and can be planted in spring or fall.

Fragaria Virginiana( Scarlet Strawberries) grow from tubers planted in the ground after being split in half lengthwise. The tubers will form roots over time. If you want to purchase plants, they are available at nurseries and garden centers or can be ordered through some mail-order companies.

11. Galax Urceolata (Beetle Weed)

Galax urceolata is a perennial herbaceous plant that can grow up to a few feet tall. It has bright white flowers which bloom in the summer months. Galax urceolata is known as the beetle weed because of its resemblance to the beetle’s wing covers. This plant grows best in full sun, but it will tolerate partial shade and even some shade. It prefers moist soil but does well in dry soil conditions.

Galax Urceolata Beetle Weed requires minimal care and should be treated as an annual. It does not need supplemental water or fertilizer, but it does appreciate regular deadheading so that it will continue to flower and produce seed pods for future years.

12. Gaultheria Procumbens ( Winter Green)

Gaultheria procumbens is a native perennial shrub that grows 3 to 6 feet tall and up to 4 feet wide. The shrub has dark green foliage and small white pom-poms on the ends of its branches. It produces small white flowers in the spring, followed by purplish-red berries in late summer. Wintergreen leaves have a distinctive scent that many people find pleasant. Therefore, the plant is also called wintergreen, wintergreen leaf, or wintergreen tree because of its leaves’ distinctive fragrance.

The wintergreen plant can be found growing wild throughout North America, but it’s most common in damp areas such as swamps and bogs or along streams where there is little competition for nutrients from nearby plants.

13. Geranium Maculatum(Spotted Cranesbill)

Geranium Maculatum is a perennial that grows in wildflower gardens, natural areas, and even in shade gardens. It is a small plant with a few leaves and small white, pink, or purple flowers. The plant is easy to grow and will produce more blooms as the weather warms up. It typically grows in full sun to part shade and can be planted anywhere in your garden that gets at least 6 hours of direct sunlight each day.

The most attractive feature of this plant is its spotted foliage which makes it easy to identify from other geraniums. The stems have reddish brown spots on them, which give this plant its name. It also has beautiful purple flowers that bloom from June through October, depending on where you live in North Carolina. Geranium Maculatum (Spotted Cranesbill) makes an excellent choice for houseplants because it does not require much maintenance or care.

14. Iris Cristata(Dwarf Crested Iris)

Iris Cristata (Dwarf Crested Iris), a perennial, is an ideal choice for gardeners with limited space or who want to use the soil less. The foliage is dense and attractive, and the flowers are large, fragrant, and long-lasting.

This iris is a beautiful plant that grows from 10 to 18 inches tall and wide. It has very dark green leaves growing up to 3 inches. The flowers come in shades of blue with white veins running through them.

The dwarf iris plant can be grown in any sunny location but will do best in full sun to partial shade areas. It also prefers moist soil but will tolerate dry conditions as well.

15. Itea Virginica( Virginia Sweetspire)

Itea Virginica (Virginia Sweetspire) is a beautiful shrub that grows to be about four feet tall and has glossy green leaves. It has a delicate aroma, and the flowers are white with pinkish-red tips. They are produced in clusters in late summer and early fall. The seeds mature within the pods, which turn black when ripe.

Itea Virginica (Virginia Sweetspire) is native to North America and can be found growing in dry areas throughout much of the country. The plant prefers full sun or partial shade and can thrive in clay soil with poor drainage conditions. However, it will grow well in any soil type as long as it is moderately fertile and well-drained.

Ground cover plants in your garden are a great way to add an all-year-round look with minimal upkeep. The ground cover plants you choose from will depend on many factors; however, the climate in North Carolina can make it more difficult for you to grow specific ground cover plants because of the need for these plants to be cold and hardy. If you live in North Carolina, there are a variety of options that you can choose from when looking for ground cover plants.