18 Tough Groundcovers

The fragrant herb comes in a variety of cultivars that typically grow anywhere from 3 to 6 inches high with dozens and dozens of small, delicate flowers. Creeping thyme is great for dry soil and can even be tucked into rock gardens and stair crevices.

Dwarf mondo grass provides a sort of natural carpet beneath this bench. With dense dark green blades, drought-resistant and evergreen dwarf mondo grass grows only 2 to 4 inches tall, in both sun and shade.

Pachysandra flanks an irregular bluestone pathway leading to an Asian-style gate with pergola. The shade-loving evergreen never needs cutting. Hard to zone 4, it grows up to 10 inches tall and in spring blooms with white or pink spikes.