Groundcover plants with spring flowers
Groundcover plants with spring flowers are an ideal way to prevent weeds, support soil microbes and increase biodiversity at the same time. When ground is left uncovered, nature fills the gaps with plants. We see this at disused industrial sites, abandoned areas, and even in our well-tended gardens. Nature’s groundcover comes from seeds floating in the air or those laying dormant in the soil. Or by plants growing across the ground. These are usually wildflowers and usually considered weeds.
There are two main ways to reduce the number of weed seed germination in our gardens. The first is to use a layer of organic matter, a mulch. The second and equally good for the garden is to use groundcover planting. This involves introducing spreading and ground-hugging or low-growing plants that blanket the ground with leaves and flowers. Within the soil, microbial activity increases around the roots, which in turn, enhances soil-life and the potential for nutrient exchange.
While groundcover plants with spring flowers establish, use a layer of mulch around them. This protects the soil, reduces weed growth and adds nutrients to the soil. Decomposed wood chips and used duck bedding make a good mulch.
Ground cover plants go in and out of fashion. But don’t be afraid to use classics, if you like them, regardless of current trends in the garden centre. Experiment in your garden with ground cover plants, to work out which grow best on your site and find the plants that you like the most.
Here are some spring flowering groundcover plants, listed alphabetically.
Aubretia
Aubretia used to be seen everywhere and then seemed to fall out of favour. But now they are appearing more frequently in gardens again. They are appreciated for their ability to cover soil, scramble across and down walls and help to keep weeds at bay.
Aubretia prefers a well-drained or drier situation, hence being so good to grow in walls and raised areas. Cut back after flowering to encourage a second flush of flowers later in the year.
Aubretia varieties offer a range of colours from white through pinks to purples, and even red. There is an aubretia for most gardens as long as you can provide good drainage and the soil isn’t waterlogged through the winter.
Brunnera macrophylla ‘Jack Frost’
If looking for ground cover for partial shade, try this plant, commonly known as Siberian bugloss. It has large silvery leaves that are veined and edged with green. The leaves alone make Brunnera macrophylla ‘Jack Frost’ worth growing. However, during spring tiny blue flowers appear, they are reminiscent of forget-me-not flowers, but are a deeper shade of blue.
Convallaria majalis (Lily of the Valley)
As a woodland plant, Lily of the Valley prefers partial shade or dappled shade. In fact, planting in full sun is likely to stop it flowering. Convallaria majalis forms a close, thick mat leaves in spring, providing excellent ground cover. During May, small white bell-shaped flowers open with a heady fragrance. The foliage dies back in mid to late autumn. Be careful when handling, wear gloves, all parts are toxic and can cause irritation or harm.
Cyclamen
Hardy cyclamens make great ground cover and they are very low-growing. The leaves form a mat and the colourful flowers appear before the foliage, often at a time of year when little else is flowering. If you select different cultivars, cyclamen provides a flower display over a long period.
Cyclamen generally prefer light shade, for example, shade offered by a deciduous tree. But they will also grow beneath herbaceous perennials at the front of a mixed border.
Winter and early spring flowers are provided by Cyclamen coum. A very hardy cultivar and will usually survive the harshest weather of winter.
There are cyclamen that flower at other times of the year. Cyclamen purpurascens flowers from late summer. It has very fragrant flowers and dark green and silver leaves. For flowers in autumn choose Cyclamen hederifolium, the ivy-shaped leaves provide ground cover throughout winter and spring. It self-sows and new plants grow readily from seed.
Erica (Heather)
The evergreen foliage provides dense ground cover and during spring, masses of tiny flowers appear. Try varieties like ‘March Seedling’ for rose pink to purple flowers or ‘White Glow’ for white blooms. As a general guide, heathers grow 25cm height and 70cm-150cm spread. Do not dig them up from the wild, but buy from a garden centre or reputable online retailer. During the first year after planting, water well to allow the roots to establish.m After that they shouldn’t need watering unless there is a particularly prolonged dry spell.
Galium oderatum (sweet woodruff)
Galium odoratum is prefers partial or dappled shade, it may even tolerate full shade. It has fresh green leaves and the tiny white flowers are held above the leaves. Approximate height 18cm-22cm. Sweet Woodruff is generally trouble-free. It is a shallow-rooted herbaceous perennial, which makes it easy to keep in check if it spreads further than you want. Propagation is easy by division in autumn or spring, or from seed. Ensure that you water regularly until new clumps are established.
Rosemary prostratus
Many edible herbs for groundcover are easy to grow, including rosemary. They have edible leaves and flowers. Rosemary prostatus is one that hugs the ground, forming an evergreen clump of stems with aromatic leaves and attractive pale mauve flowers. Rosemary grows readily from cuttings. It needs well-draining soil and may not survive in a cold or waterlogged environment. However, but it is hardy in the UK during most winters.
Strawberry
Strawberries make good groundcover plants with spring flowers, with the addition of edible berries from June onwards. Replenish the plants every three to four years to have the best harvests.m Simply remove the oldest plants and allow the young plants on runners to remain. You can cut the plants back hard after fruiting, it is said to encourage a fresh spurt of growth, and potentially, a second harvest of strawberries.
If you don’t have strawberry plants to propagate from, choose a selection of strawberry varieties to give you a longer harvesting season.
More groundcover plants with spring flowers
This is not an exhaustive list. Please leave a comment with your favourite plants that flower in spring that you use to suppress weeds and give a good display and I’ll add them to my list (with a mention that you suggested the plant).
Much of this article first appeared in Amateur Gardening magazine, issue dated 13th April 2024.
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