Blue Flowering Ground Cover Plants – Create A Dreamy, Weed-Suppressing

ByRimon Chowdhury Updated on

Are you tired of staring at those stubborn bare patches in your garden? Do you spend countless hours pulling weeds from tricky spots under trees or along pathways? I know the feeling. We all dream of a lush, beautiful garden, but the constant maintenance can feel overwhelming.

I promise you, there’s a stunningly beautiful and practical solution. Imagine a living carpet of vibrant blue flowers, spilling over borders, choking out weeds, and adding a serene, calming feel to your landscape. This isn’t a far-off dream; it’s exactly what you can achieve with the right blue flowering ground cover plants.

In this complete guide, we’ll walk through everything you need to know. We’ll explore the absolute best blue-flowering varieties for every situation, give you a step-by-step planting plan for guaranteed success, and share insider tips on care and maintenance. Let’s get ready to transform those problem areas into your garden’s most beautiful features!

Why Choose Blue? The Surprising Benefits of Blue Flowering Ground Cover Plants

Blue is one of the rarest and most sought-after colors in the plant world. It brings a sense of peace, tranquility, and depth to any garden design. But the advantages of these plants go far beyond their stunning color. This section explores the many benefits of blue flowering ground cover plants.

Here’s why you should consider adding a sea of blue to your garden floor:

  • Weed Suppression: Dense ground covers form a thick mat of foliage that blocks sunlight, preventing weed seeds from germinating. This means less work for you and a cleaner, more polished look for your garden.
  • Moisture Retention: A living mulch of ground cover shades the soil, reducing water evaporation. This helps keep plant roots cool and moist, cutting down on your watering duties, making them a great choice for eco-friendly blue flowering ground cover plants.
  • Erosion Control: On slopes and hillsides, the intricate root systems of ground cover plants act like a natural net, holding soil in place and preventing it from washing away during heavy rains.
  • Pollinator Paradise: Many blue flowers are magnets for bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects. Planting them is a wonderful way to support your local ecosystem.
  • Low-Maintenance Beauty: Once established, most ground covers require very little care. They are the perfect “plant it and forget it” solution for busy gardeners who still want a gorgeous yard.

Our Top 10 Blue Flowering Ground Cover Plants for Every Garden

Ready to find your perfect match? Not all ground covers are created equal. Some love sun, others thrive in shade, and some can even handle a bit of foot traffic. Here is a curated list of my favorite, reliable, and beautiful blue flowering ground cover plants to get you started.

1. Creeping Phlox (Phlox subulata)

A classic for a reason! In spring, this plant explodes into a dense mat of vibrant blue-purple flowers that completely hide the foliage. It’s perfect for cascading over rock walls or lining sunny pathways.

  • USDA Zones: 3-9
  • Sun Exposure: Full Sun
  • Soil Needs: Well-drained, average to sandy soil. Dislikes wet feet!
  • Pro Tip: Shear it back lightly after flowering to encourage dense growth and prevent it from getting leggy.

2. Ajuga or Bugleweed (Ajuga reptans)

If you have a shady, damp spot where nothing else will grow, Ajuga is your hero. Its glossy, often dark-hued foliage is beautiful on its own, but the spikes of deep blue flowers in spring are a showstopper. It spreads reliably to form a thick, weed-proof carpet.

  • USDA Zones: 3-10
  • Sun Exposure: Part Shade to Full Shade
  • Soil Needs: Moist, well-drained soil. Tolerates a range of conditions.
  • Pro Tip: It can be an aggressive spreader, so plant it where it has room to roam or use landscape edging to keep it contained.

3. Blue Star Creeper (Isotoma fluviatilis)

This is your go-to for a “living patio.” Blue Star Creeper is a delicate-looking but surprisingly tough plant that forms a low, lush green mat dotted with tiny, star-shaped, pale blue flowers all summer long. It’s one of the few that can handle moderate foot traffic.

  • USDA Zones: 5-9
  • Sun Exposure: Full Sun to Part Shade
  • Soil Needs: Consistently moist soil. Don’t let it dry out!
  • Pro Tip: Perfect for planting between stepping stones or pavers.

4. Creeping Veronica (Veronica prostrata ‘Georgia Blue’)

For a true, electric blue, look no further than ‘Georgia Blue’ Veronica. It forms a lovely, low-growing mat of small, deep green leaves that turn a beautiful bronze in the fall. In early spring, it’s covered in a profusion of intense blue flowers.

  • USDA Zones: 4-8
  • Sun Exposure: Full Sun to Part Shade
  • Soil Needs: Average, well-drained soil. It’s quite drought-tolerant once established.
  • Pro Tip: It’s wonderfully deer and rabbit resistant!

5. Plumbago (Ceratostigma plumbaginoides)

This is a fantastic late-season bloomer. Just when other plants are starting to fade in late summer and fall, Plumbago bursts forth with stunning, gentian-blue flowers. As a bonus, its green foliage turns a brilliant reddish-bronze after the first frost.

  • USDA Zones: 5-9
  • Sun Exposure: Full Sun to Part Shade
  • Soil Needs: Well-drained soil.
  • Pro Tip: It can be slow to emerge in the spring, so be patient! Mark its location so you don’t accidentally dig it up.
READ MORE  Trader Joe'S Flowering Plants: From Grocery Cart To Gorgeous Garden

6. Periwinkle (Vinca minor)

A shade-gardening powerhouse, Periwinkle offers glossy evergreen leaves and cheerful periwinkle-blue flowers in spring. It’s incredibly tough and an excellent choice for planting under large trees where grass struggles to grow.

  • USDA Zones: 4-9
  • Sun Exposure: Part Shade to Full Shade
  • Soil Needs: Tolerates a wide range of soils but prefers moist, humus-rich soil.
  • Pro Tip: Like Ajuga, this can be an aggressive spreader. It’s best used in contained areas or large spaces where it can naturalize.

7. Lithodora ‘Grace Ward’ (Lithodora diffusa)

If you want the most intense, truest blue imaginable, Lithodora is your plant. The flowers are a breathtaking, deep gentian blue that will stop you in your tracks. It forms a low, sprawling mat of small, evergreen, slightly fuzzy leaves.

  • USDA Zones: 6-9
  • Sun Exposure: Full Sun
  • Soil Needs: Must have acidic, sharply-drained soil. It will not tolerate clay or wet conditions.
  • Pro Tip: Perfect for rock gardens or sandy slopes. Amend your soil with peat moss or soil acidifier if it’s too alkaline.

8. Serbian Bellflower (Campanula poscharskyana)

This charming and vigorous ground cover produces a flurry of star-shaped, lavender-blue flowers from late spring into summer. It’s a fast grower that will quickly fill in an area with its trailing stems and toothed green leaves.

  • USDA Zones: 3-9
  • Sun Exposure: Full Sun to Part Shade
  • Soil Needs: Average, well-drained soil. Very adaptable.
  • Pro Tip: Shear it back after the first flush of blooms to encourage a second, smaller wave of flowers.

9. Creeping Mazus (Mazus reptans)

A fantastic, low-profile ground cover that forms a tight mat of green foliage. In late spring, it’s covered in tiny, orchid-like flowers in shades of blue and purple with yellow and white markings. It tolerates moist soils and can handle light foot traffic.

  • USDA Zones: 5-8
  • Sun Exposure: Full Sun to Part Shade
  • Soil Needs: Moist to wet soil. Great for edging a pond or in a boggy area.
  • Pro Tip: It roots as it spreads, making it an excellent choice for stabilizing soil on gentle slopes.

10. Wild Blue Geranium (Geranium maculatum)

For a more natural, woodland look, this native perennial is a superb choice. It has deeply lobed leaves and forms loose clumps that spread gently. The delicate, saucer-shaped flowers are a lovely shade of lilac-blue and appear in late spring.

  • USDA Zones: 3-8
  • Sun Exposure: Part Shade
  • Soil Needs: Average to moist, well-drained soil.
  • Pro Tip: As a native plant, it’s a fantastic choice for a sustainable blue flowering ground cover plants garden, providing excellent support for local pollinators.

How to Plant Blue Flowering Ground Cover Plants for Success: A Step-by-Step Guide

You’ve picked your favorite plants—now what? Don’t worry, planting ground cover is one of the easiest and most rewarding garden projects. Following these simple steps will ensure your new plants get the best possible start.

Step 1: Choose the Right Spot

This is the most critical step! Observe the area where you want to plant. How much sun does it get throughout the day? Is the soil usually wet or dry? Match your plant’s needs (from the list above) to your site’s conditions. Planting a sun-lover in deep shade is a recipe for disappointment.

Step 2: Prepare Your Soil

A little prep work goes a long way. First, remove all weeds and grass from the area. This is crucial, as your new ground cover will struggle to compete. Next, loosen the soil with a garden fork or tiller to a depth of about 6-8 inches. Finally, amend the soil by mixing in a 2-3 inch layer of compost. This improves drainage, adds vital nutrients, and helps retain moisture.

Step 3: The Planting Process

Gently remove your plants from their nursery pots. If the roots are tightly wound (root-bound), gently tease them apart with your fingers. Dig a hole that is roughly twice as wide as the pot and just as deep. Place the plant in the hole, ensuring the top of the root ball is level with the surrounding soil.

Backfill the hole with soil, gently firming it around the plant to remove air pockets. Spacing is key! Check the plant tag for recommended spacing. Planting them too far apart means it will take years to fill in, while planting too close can lead to overcrowding.

Step 4: Watering and Mulching New Plants

Water your new plants thoroughly right after planting. For the first few weeks, keep the soil consistently moist (but not waterlogged) to help the roots get established. Applying a thin layer of mulch (like shredded bark) between the plants can help retain moisture and suppress any initial weeds while your ground cover fills in.

The Essential Blue Flowering Ground Cover Plants Care Guide

Here’s the best part: once established, these plants are incredibly low-maintenance! This simple blue flowering ground cover plants care guide outlines the few things you need to do to keep them looking their best, reflecting the very best practices for a thriving garden.

Watering Established Plants

Most ground covers are quite drought-tolerant once their roots have spread. Water them deeply but infrequently during extended dry spells. A good rule of thumb is to check the soil—if the top 2 inches are dry, it’s time to water.

READ MORE  Black Flowering Plants - Your Ultimate Guide To Creating A Stunningly

Fertilizing (Less is More!)

These are not heavy feeders. Over-fertilizing can lead to lush foliage but fewer flowers. A top-dressing of compost each spring is usually all they need to thrive. If you must use a commercial fertilizer, use a balanced, slow-release formula at half-strength in early spring.

Pruning and Maintenance

The main pruning task is to keep your ground cover in bounds. Use a spade or garden shears to trim the edges once or twice a year if it starts to creep into your lawn or onto pathways. For plants like Creeping Phlox, a light shearing after they bloom will promote bushier growth.

Solving Common Problems with Blue Flowering Ground Cover Plants

Even the toughest plants can run into issues. Don’t fret! Here’s how to troubleshoot some common problems with blue flowering ground cover plants and get them back on track.

Problem: Sparse Growth or Bare Patches

This is often caused by poor soil or incorrect sun exposure. Ensure your plant is getting the right amount of light. You can also reinvigorate a patch by working some compost into the soil in the bare areas and adding a few new plants to help fill the gaps.

Problem: Poor or No Flowering

The most common culprit is too much shade for sun-loving varieties or too much nitrogen fertilizer. Cut back on fertilizer and see if you can prune any overhanging tree branches to allow more light to reach the plants.

Problem: Invasive Spreading

Some ground covers, like Vinca minor and Ajuga, can be enthusiastic spreaders. The best defense is a good offense! Install a physical barrier, like plastic or metal landscape edging buried 6 inches deep, to contain their roots. Regularly trimming the edges also keeps them in check.

Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Blue Flowering Ground Cover Plants

Choosing ground cover over traditional turf grass is an inherently sustainable choice. A thriving bed of sustainable blue flowering ground cover plants reduces the need for water, fertilizer, and gas-powered mowers associated with a perfect lawn.

To make your garden even more eco-friendly, consider these tips:

  • Prioritize Native Species: Plants like Wild Blue Geranium are adapted to your local climate and provide essential food and habitat for native pollinators.
  • Create a “Living Mulch”: Use ground covers under taller perennials and shrubs to cool the soil, conserve water, and suppress weeds naturally.
  • Reduce Your Lawn: Gradually replace sections of your lawn with beautiful, low-maintenance ground cover to create a more diverse and ecologically valuable landscape.

Frequently Asked Questions About Blue Flowering Ground Cover Plants

What is the fastest-growing blue ground cover?

For sunny spots, Serbian Bellflower (Campanula poscharskyana) is a very vigorous grower. In shady areas, Periwinkle (Vinca minor) and Ajuga (Ajuga reptans) are known for their ability to cover ground quickly.

Can I walk on blue flowering ground cover?

Some varieties tolerate foot traffic better than others. Blue Star Creeper and Creeping Mazus are excellent choices for planting between stepping stones as they can handle moderate foot traffic. Most others, like Phlox and Plumbago, prefer not to be walked on.

Do these plants attract bees and pollinators?

Absolutely! Bees are particularly attracted to the color blue. Plants like Ajuga, Veronica, and native Geraniums are fantastic for supporting local bee and butterfly populations, making them a wonderful and responsible addition to your garden.

How do I stop ground cover from spreading where I don’t want it?

The most effective method is prevention. For aggressive spreaders, install an underground landscape barrier before planting. If the plants are already established, you can maintain a clear edge by regularly trimming the runners with a spade or weed whacker.

Your Blue Garden Awaits!

There you have it—everything you need to turn those challenging garden spots into a sea of tranquil blue. From the sun-drenched cascade of Creeping Phlox to the shady carpet of Ajuga, there is a perfect blue ground cover waiting for you.

Don’t be intimidated. Start with one small area, prepare the soil well, and choose the right plant for your conditions. You’ll be amazed at how quickly these hardworking plants can transform your landscape, reduce your workload, and bring you joy for years to come.

So go ahead, pick your favorite blue, and get planting. Happy gardening!

Rimon Chowdhury
Latest posts by Rimon Chowdhury (see all)

Similar Posts