11 Full-Sun Flowering Ground Covers That Will Creep Across Your Garden

If you’re looking for a ground cover that adds color and texture to your garden while withstanding the harsh sun, look no further than these full-sun flowering ground covers.

These ground covers will creep and crawl across your garden with their delicate blooms and sturdy nature, transforming it into a haven of beauty.

---

1. Creeping Thyme (Thymus Praecox)

This hardy ground cover has lovely foliage and delicate purple flowers. When brushed, it forms a low, spreading mat of tiny leaves, releasing a pleasant fragrance.

Creeping Thyme is a low-maintenance plant that thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, so it’s great for rock gardens, stepping stones, or as a border plant.

Botanical Name:	Thymus Praecox
Growth Rate:	Slow
Native Range:	Europe, North Africa
Hardiness Zones:	4-8
Soil Needs:	Well-drained, sandy soil
Exposure:	Full sun
Blooming Period:	Late spring to early summer
Water Needs:	Drought tolerant once established, but benefits from occasional deep watering

2. Creeping Phlox (Phlox Stolonifera)

A charming and easy-to-grow ground cover, Creeping Phlox is a perennial plant that produces clusters of star-shaped flowers in shades of pink, purple, blue, and white.

It has long, trailing stems covered in dense foliage and prefers partial shade and moist, well-drained soil. You can use it to cover slopes or rock gardens.

Botanical Name:	Phlox Stolonifera
Growth Rate:	Moderate
Native Range:	Eastern North America
Hardiness Zones:	4-8
Soil Needs:	Moist, well-drained soil
Exposure:	Part shade to full shade
Blooming Period:	Late spring to early summer
Water Needs:	Consistent moisture, but can tolerate some drought once established

3. Creeping Rosemary (Rosmarinus Officinalis Prostrata)

This ornamental and practical Creeping Rosemary forms a dense, low-growing mat of fragrant spiked foliage and delicate blue flowers.

It’s a versatile ground cover that prefers full sun and well-drained soil and can be used to cover steep banks, as a border plant, or as a fragrant addition to a rock garden.

Botanical Name:	Rosmarinus Officinalis Prostrata
Growth Rate:	Slow
Native Range:	Mediterranean region
Hardiness Zones:	7-10
Soil Needs:	Well-drained, sandy soil
Exposure:	Full sun
Blooming Period:	Late spring to early summer
Water Needs:	Drought tolerant once established, but benefits from occasional deep watering

4. Candytuft (Iberis Sempervirens)

This hardy, evergreen perennial produces masses of tiny, four-petaled flowers in shades of white, pink and purple.

It’s a low-growing plant that forms a dense mat of foliage and thrives in full sun and well-drained soil. Candytuft is excellent for edging, rock gardens, or as a container plant.

Botanical Name:	Iberis sempervirens
Growth Rate:	Moderate
Native Range:	Southern Europe
Hardiness Zones:	3-9
Soil Needs:	Well-drained soil prefers alkaline pH
Blooming Period:	Late spring to early summer
Water Needs:	Consistent moisture, but can tolerate some drought once established

5. Blue Star Creeper (Isotomafluviatilis)

A charming and delicate ground cover, Blue Star Creeper produces a profusion of star-shaped blue flowers and tiny leaves that form a dense mat of greenery.

It’s ideal for planting between pavers, rock gardens, or as a border plant.

Botanical Name:	Isotomafluviatilis
Growth Rate:	Moderate
Native Range:	Australia, New Zealand
Hardiness Zones:	6-9
Soil Needs:	Well-draining soil
Exposure:	Full sun to part shade
Blooming Period:	Spring to summer
Water Needs:	Consistent moisture, but can tolerate some drought once established

6. Creeping Potentilla (Potentilla reptans)

This low-growing perennial produces bright yellow, five-petaled flowers that bloom from late spring to early summer.

It forms a dense mat of green foliage and thrives in full sun and well-drained soil.

Creeping Potentilla is perfect for rock gardens, stepping stones, or as a ground cover in sunny areas.

Botanical Name:	Potentilla reptans
Growth Rate:	Slow
Native Range:	Europe, Asia
Hardiness Zones:	4-8
Soil Needs:	Well-drained, slightly acidic soil
Exposure:	Full sun to part shade
Blooming Period:	Late spring to early summer
Water Needs:	Drought tolerant once established, but benefits from occasional deep watering

7. Creeping Speedwell (Veronica Filiformis)

This hardy and fast-growing ground cover produces tiny, sky-blue flowers. It also forms a dense mat of green foliage and thrives in full sun and well-drained soil.

Creeping Speedwell is excellent for edging, rock gardens, or as a container plant.

Botanical Name:	Veronica Filiformis
Growth Rate:	Moderate
Native Range:	Europe, Asia
Hardiness Zones:	4-8
Soil Needs:	Well-drained soil
Exposure:	Full sun to part shade
Blooming Period:	Late spring to early summer
Water Needs:	Drought tolerant once established, but benefits from occasional deep watering

8. Bellflower (Campanula Portenschlagiana)

This charming and delicate ground cover produces bell-shaped flowers in shades of blue, pink, and white.

It forms a dense mat of green foliage and thrives in full sun, partial shade, and moist, well-drained soil. Bellflower is ideal for rock gardens, edging, or as a border plant.

Botanical Name:	Campanula Portenschlagiana
Growth Rate:	Moderate
Native Range:	Southern Europe
Hardiness Zones:	4-9
Soil Needs:	Moist, well-drained soil
Exposure:	Part shade to full sun
Blooming Period:	Late spring to early summer
Water Needs:	Consistent moisture, but can tolerate some drought once established

9. Russian Stonecrop (Sedum Kamtschaticum)

This drought-tolerant and low-maintenance ground cover produces clusters of bright yellow flowers in summer, followed by red seed heads in the fall. The tiny, fleshy leaves turn red in the fall, creating a striking display.

Russian Stonecrop is perfect for rock gardens, stepping stones, or ground cover in full sun and well-drained soil.

Botanical Name:	Sedum Kamtschaticum
Growth Rate:	Fast
Native Range:	Russia, China, Japan
Hardiness Zones:	3-9
Soil Needs:	Well-drained, sandy soil
Exposure:	Full sun to part shade
Blooming Period:	Late spring to early summer
Water Needs:	Drought tolerant once established, but benefits from occasional deep watering

10. Snow-in-summer (Cerastiumtomentosum)

Snow-in-summer is a low-growing ground cover producing white, star-shaped flowers in spring and early summer.

The silvery-green foliage creates a soft and velvety carpet that spreads quickly, making it ideal for rock gardens, edging, or as a ground cover in sunny areas.

Snow-in-summer thrives in full sun and well-drained soil.

Botanical Name:	Cerastium tomentosum
Growth Rate:	Moderate
Native Range:	Europe, Asia
Hardiness Zones:	3-8
Soil Needs:	Well-draining soil, slightly alkaline pH
Exposure:	Full sun
Blooming Period:	Late spring to early summer
Water Needs:	Drought-tolerant once established but can benefit from occasional watering during dry spells

11. Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia Nummularia)

This low-growing ground cover produces bright yellow, cup-shaped flowers that bloom from late spring to early summer.

The bright green foliage forms a dense mat that spreads quickly, making it perfect for rock gardens, edging, or as a ground cover in moist, well-drained soil.

Creeping Jenny prefers partial shade but can grow in full sun with regular watering.

Botanical Name:	Lysimachia Nummularia
Growth Rate:	Fast
Native Range:	Europe, Asia
Hardiness Zones:	3-9
Soil Needs:	Moist, well-drained soil
Exposure:	Full sun to part shade
Blooming Period:	Late spring to early summer
Water Needs:	Consistent moisture, but can tolerate some drought once established

Final Thoughts

Hopefully, you have found this list of full-sun flowering ground covers helpful.

They’re all a gardener’s delight with creeping and crawling tendencies that can create a carpet of color and texture that can withstand the toughest conditions.

So, embrace the magic of these ground covers, and watch them transform your garden into a haven of beauty.