Purple Flowering Ground Cover Plants: Your Guide To A Low-Maintenance

ByRimon Chowdhury Updated on

Are you tired of staring at those bare, tricky spots in your garden? You know the ones—the awkward slope, the dry patch under a big tree, or the gaps between paving stones where weeds seem to thrive no matter what you do.

I promise you, there’s a beautiful, living solution that’s far better than endless weeding or mulching. Imagine transforming those problem areas into a lush, vibrant carpet of gorgeous purple blooms that chokes out weeds, supports pollinators, and asks for very little in return.

In this complete guide, we’ll walk through everything you need to know about choosing, planting, and caring for the best purple flowering ground cover plants. We’ll explore my top picks for every garden situation, share insider tips for success, and show you how to create a stunning, low-maintenance landscape you’ll love.

Why Choose Purple Flowering Ground Cover Plants? The Surprising Benefits

Before we dive into my favorite varieties, let’s talk about why these plants are such a game-changer. They’re more than just a pretty face! The benefits of purple flowering ground cover plants go far beyond their stunning color.

As a gardener, I rely on them to do some heavy lifting in my landscape design. Here’s what they can do for you:

  • Natural Weed Control: Dense ground covers form a living mat that shades the soil, preventing weed seeds from germinating. This means less time on your knees pulling pesky invaders!
  • Moisture Retention: A carpet of foliage reduces water evaporation from the soil, which means you’ll need to water less often, saving you time and conserving a precious resource.
  • Erosion Control: On slopes and hillsides, the interlocking root systems of these plants are fantastic at holding soil in place, preventing it from washing away during heavy rain.
  • Pollinator Paradise: Those beautiful purple flowers are a magnet for bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects, turning your garden into a lively, eco-friendly habitat.
  • Low-Maintenance Beauty: Once established, most ground covers are incredibly self-sufficient. They thrive on a “less is more” approach, making them perfect for both new and experienced gardeners.

Our Top 10 Purple Flowering Ground Cover Plants: A Complete Guide

Ready to find the perfect plant for your space? This isn’t just a list; it’s a curated collection from years of trial and error in my own garden. This purple flowering ground cover plants guide will help you match the right plant to the right place for guaranteed success.

1. Creeping Thyme (Thymus serpyllum)

This is my absolute go-to for sunny, dry spots. Not only does it produce a carpet of tiny lavender-purple flowers, but it releases a wonderful fragrance when you walk on it. Don’t worry—it’s tough enough to handle light foot traffic!

  • Best For: Full sun, rock gardens, pathways, drought-tolerant areas.
  • USDA Zones: 4-9
  • Bloom Time: Early to mid-summer.
  • Pro Tip: Plant Creeping Thyme between flagstones or pavers. As it grows, it will soften the hard edges and release its lovely scent with every step.

2. Creeping Phlox (Phlox subulata)

If you want a show-stopping river of color in the spring, this is your plant. Creeping Phlox blankets the ground with such a dense layer of flowers that you can barely see the foliage. It’s a classic for a reason.

  • Best For: Slopes, retaining walls, full sun, well-drained soil.
  • USDA Zones: 3-9
  • Bloom Time: Mid to late spring.
  • Pro Tip: After the blooms fade, give Creeping Phlox a light shearing. This encourages dense, tidy growth and prevents it from getting “leggy.”

3. Bugleweed (Ajuga reptans)

For those challenging shady areas where grass won’t grow, Bugleweed is a lifesaver. It sends up beautiful spikes of blue-purple flowers in spring and often features stunning dark-purple or bronze foliage year-round.

  • Best For: Shade to part-shade, under trees, moist soil.
  • USDA Zones: 4-9
  • Bloom Time: Mid to late spring.
  • Pro Tip: Bugleweed can be an aggressive spreader. This is great for filling large areas, but be sure to install a border if you want to keep it contained.

4. Creeping Veronica (Veronica ‘Georgia Blue’)

One of the earliest bloomers, Creeping Veronica will surprise you with a sea of sky-blue to violet flowers when you need color the most. Its foliage turns a lovely bronze-purple in the fall, providing multi-season interest.

  • Best For: Full sun to part-shade, borders, cascading over walls.
  • USDA Zones: 4-9
  • Bloom Time: Early spring.
  • Pro Tip: This plant is incredibly low-maintenance. It rarely needs dividing and is quite resistant to deer and rabbits, making it one of the easiest purple flowering ground cover plants to grow.
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5. Mazus (Mazus reptans)

Mazus is a fantastic, fast-growing ground cover that forms a tight, green mat dotted with charming, orchid-like purple flowers. It thrives in consistently moist soil, making it perfect for areas near a downspout or a low-lying spot in the yard.

  • Best For: Part-shade, moist to wet soil, pathways (it tolerates foot traffic!).
  • USDA Zones: 5-8
  • Bloom Time: Late spring to early summer.
  • Pro Tip: Because it stays so low to the ground (about 2 inches), Mazus is an excellent “living mulch” around taller perennials like Hostas or Ferns.

6. Periwinkle (Vinca minor)

When you need a tough-as-nails solution for deep shade, Periwinkle is your answer. Its glossy, evergreen leaves provide year-round coverage, highlighted by cheerful lavender-blue flowers in spring. It’s a true problem-solver.

  • Best For: Deep shade, erosion control on hillsides, low-maintenance areas.
  • USDA Zones: 4-9
  • Bloom Time: Spring.
  • Pro Tip: A word of caution: Vinca minor can be invasive in some regions. Check with your local extension office before planting and never plant it near natural woodlands. It’s best used in contained areas.

7. Spotted Dead Nettle (Lamium maculatum)

Don’t let the name fool you—this plant is gorgeous! Lamium brightens up shady corners with its silvery, variegated leaves and delicate clusters of purple, pink, or white flowers. It’s a superstar for dry shade.

  • Best For: Dry shade, woodland gardens, under shrubs.
  • USDA Zones: 3-8
  • Bloom Time: Late spring to early summer.
  • Pro Tip: Lamium is very drought-tolerant once established but looks its best with occasional water during long dry spells. It’s also deer and rabbit resistant!

8. Dalmatian Bellflower (Campanula portenschlagiana)

Perfect for tucking into the crevices of a rock wall or spilling over the edge of a container, this Campanula variety forms a neat mound of foliage that gets covered in vibrant violet-blue, bell-shaped flowers.

  • Best For: Full sun to part-shade, rock gardens, containers, well-drained soil.
  • USDA Zones: 4-8
  • Bloom Time: Late spring through summer.
  • Pro Tip: Dalmatian Bellflower loves good drainage. If you have heavy clay soil, amend it with compost and grit before planting to ensure this little gem thrives.

9. Dwarf Plumbago (Ceratostigma plumbaginoides)

If you’re looking for late-season color, this is your plant. Dwarf Plumbago produces brilliant true-blue flowers from late summer until the first frost. As a bonus, its green leaves turn a stunning mahogany-red in the fall.

  • Best For: Full sun to part-shade, late-season color, fall interest.
  • USDA Zones: 5-9
  • Bloom Time: Late summer to fall.
  • Pro Tip: This plant is slow to emerge in the spring, so don’t panic if you don’t see it right away! Mark its location so you don’t accidentally dig it up.

10. Wild Ginger (Asarum canadense)

A beautiful, eco-friendly choice for shady, moist areas. This North American native forms a lush carpet of large, heart-shaped leaves. Its unique, bell-shaped purplish-brown flowers are hidden beneath the foliage at ground level, pollinated by ants and beetles.

  • Best For: Full shade, woodland gardens, native plant landscapes.
  • USDA Zones: 3-7
  • Bloom Time: Spring.
  • Pro Tip: Wild Ginger is a cornerstone of a sustainable garden. It provides shelter for small ground creatures and supports a healthy, local ecosystem. A top choice for eco-friendly purple flowering ground cover plants.

How to Plant Your Purple Flowering Ground Cover for Success

You’ve picked your perfect plant—now what? Following these simple steps will get your ground cover established quickly and ensure it thrives for years to come. This is a crucial part of our how to purple flowering ground cover plants guide.

  1. Prepare the Area: This is the most important step! Remove all weeds, grass, and roots from the planting area. For large areas, you can smother the existing vegetation with cardboard and compost for a few months beforehand (a technique called sheet mulching).
  2. Amend the Soil: Most ground covers aren’t fussy, but they all appreciate good soil. Work a 2-3 inch layer of compost into the top 6 inches of your soil. This improves drainage in clay soil and helps retain moisture in sandy soil.
  3. Plan Your Spacing: Check the plant tag for recommended spacing. It might look sparse at first, but giving them enough room to grow is key. Planting too close can lead to poor air circulation and disease.
  4. Planting Day: Dig holes just as deep as the plant’s root ball and about twice as wide. Gently tease the roots at the bottom of the pot to encourage them to spread out. Place the plant in the hole so the top of the root ball is level with the surrounding soil.
  5. Water Thoroughly: Backfill the hole with soil, gently firming it around the plant. Water deeply right after planting to settle the soil and eliminate air pockets.
  6. Mulch Lightly: Apply a thin layer (about 1 inch) of mulch, like shredded bark or leaf mold, between the plants. This helps retain moisture and suppress any initial weeds while your ground cover fills in.

The Ultimate Purple Flowering Ground Cover Plants Care Guide

Here’s the best part: once established, these plants are incredibly low-maintenance. This simple purple flowering ground cover plants care guide covers the few things you need to do to keep them looking their best.

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Watering Best Practices

For the first year, water your new plants regularly (about once a week unless it rains) to help them establish a strong root system. After that, most are quite drought-tolerant. Water deeply but infrequently, only when the top few inches of soil feel dry.

Fertilizing Needs

Less is more! A top dressing of compost each spring is usually all the fertilizer your ground cover will ever need. Chemical fertilizers can encourage weak, leggy growth, so it’s best to avoid them.

Pruning and Maintenance

Maintenance is minimal. Some plants, like Creeping Phlox, benefit from a light shearing after they bloom to keep them compact. For others, like Bugleweed or Periwinkle, your main job will be to simply trim the edges once a year to keep them from spreading where you don’t want them.

Solving Common Problems with Purple Flowering Ground Cover Plants

Even the toughest plants can have an off day. Don’t worry—most issues are easy to fix. Here are some common problems with purple flowering ground cover plants and how to solve them.

  • Problem: Plants aren’t spreading.
    Solution: This is usually due to poor soil or lack of water in the first year. Make sure the soil is loose and rich, not compacted clay. Give them consistent water during their first growing season to encourage root growth.
  • Problem: Poor or no flowering.
    Solution: The number one cause is not enough sun. If a sun-loving plant like Creeping Thyme is in too much shade, it won’t bloom well. The second cause is too much nitrogen fertilizer, which promotes leaf growth at the expense of flowers. Stick to compost.
  • Problem: Browning or dying patches in the center.
    Solution: This can happen with older, dense mats of ground cover. It’s a sign the plant needs to be divided. In the spring or fall, simply dig up the entire clump, remove the dead center, and replant the healthy outer sections.

Sustainable & Eco-Friendly Ground Cover Tips

Using ground covers is inherently sustainable, but you can take it a step further. Choosing sustainable purple flowering ground cover plants, especially native varieties like Wild Ginger, provides food and habitat for local wildlife. By eliminating the need for a lawn in certain areas, you also reduce your use of water, fertilizer, and fossil fuels for mowing. It’s a win for you and a win for the planet!

Frequently Asked Questions About Purple Flowering Ground Cover Plants

What is the fastest-growing purple ground cover?

For sunny spots, Creeping Thyme and Mazus spread very quickly. For shady areas, Bugleweed (Ajuga) and Periwinkle (Vinca minor) are notoriously fast spreaders, so be sure you have room for them!

Can I walk on purple flowering ground cover?

Some varieties are tougher than others. Creeping Thyme and Mazus are excellent choices for planting between pavers and can handle regular, light foot traffic. Most others, like Creeping Phlox or Lamium, prefer not to be trod upon.

How do I stop ground cover from spreading into my lawn?

The best defense is a good offense! Installing a physical barrier like a plastic or metal garden edge that is at least 4-6 inches deep will stop the roots and runners in their tracks. A simple spade edge, redefined once or twice a year, also works well.

Your Garden, Transformed

There you have it—everything you need to turn those challenging garden spots into a sea of purple. By choosing the right plant for your conditions and giving it a little care to get started, you’ll be rewarded with a beautiful, weed-suppressing, and low-maintenance carpet of color.

Forget the endless battle with weeds and bare patches. It’s time to embrace the power of these incredible plants. Go ahead, pick a favorite, and get planting. You’ll be amazed at the transformation!

Rimon Chowdhury
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