Groundcover Glory: Our Top Groundcovers for Australian Landscapes

GROUNDCOVER GLORY: Transform your next landscape project with our Top Picks from Plantmark

Groundcovers, often the unsung heroes of garden design, play an essential role in enhancing the beauty, functionality, and sustainability of outdoor spaces. These vibrant, low-growing plants aren't just visually appealing; they are nature's answer to erosion control, weed suppression, and moisture retention, ultimately reducing the need for excessive mulching.

More than just pretty additions; groundcovers are vital components of the ecosystem, offering many benefits that extend beyond their aesthetics. Ground covers contribute to soil health, prevent soil erosion, conserve water, and create microclimates that support a diverse range of wildlife. 

OUR BEST GROUNDCOVERS UNVEILED

When it comes to groundcovers, the options are endless, and our Plantmark wholesale Trade Markets are packed full of plants. Whether you're on the hunt for lush greenery to carpet the ground, seeking a native lawn alternative, or looking for pretty colour to create a cottage garden or woodland theme, groundcovers offer versatile solutions to match your landscape vision.

To make choosing the right groundcover for your project a breeze, we've asked our knowledgeable Plantmark team to unveil their top picks. These tried and tested varieties are popular for their beauty, resilience, and suitability for Australian landscapes. 

Read our Groundcovers Blog below to introduce you to these best groundcover gems, providing insights into their characteristics, landscape usage, and environmental benefits. We can't wait to share our top picks and the potential they bring to your next landscape design!

If you're eager to get started right away, why not head over to your closest wholesale Plantmark Trade Market? There you can explore our wide selection and hand-pick your stock. With landscape-quality stock available in bulk quantities, your groundcover journey begins at Plantmark.

EXPLORE OUR FAVOURITE GROUNDCOVERS

Here's our list of our top ground cover plants for Australian landscapes, including both exotic groundcovers, such as the fragrant Trachelospermum jasminoides or Asiatic Star Jasmine, and native groundcovers , such as our Viola hederacea or Native Violet and different Grevillea groundcovers. 

Succulent groundcovers and flowering groundcovers, as well as groundcovers that attract wildlife are also part of our extensive list of favourites.

Or perhaps you are looking for a groundcover for shade or full sun? Or for a groundcover that tolerates foot traffic and can be walked on, or one to control weeds? Don't worry, the below list of the best groundcovers for Australian gardens has you covered!

Viola hederacea
Native Violet

Bring a touch of enchantment to your landscape with Viola Hederacea, commonly known as the Native Violet. This Australian native groundcover is a must-have for any garden, offering both charm and versatility.

Plant Characteristics:

Viola hederacea is a low-growing perennial, boasting green heart-shaped leaves and dainty violet purple flowers that bloom from late winter to early summer. With a spreading habit, it forms a lush carpet of greenery, creating a pretty, woodland-like feel. This plant thrives in a variety of environments, from full sun to part shade, making it adaptable to diverse garden and courtyard settings.

Grows to approximately 5-15cm high and up to 1m wide.

Landscape Usage:

Native Violets make a splendid groundcover choice that looks particularly attractive when grown between pavers and stepping stones. They gracefully fill any gaps in your garden, suppressing weeds and preventing soil erosion. Plant in pots or use in rock gardens, where it will soften the rugged edges, adding a pop of colour.

Eremophila glabra Kalbarri Carpet
Tar Bush

Eremophila glabra Kalbarri Carpet, also known as Tar Bush, is an attractive native groundcover shrub, bringing colour contrast with it's silvery foliage and golden yellow flowers. 

Plant Characteristics:

Eremophila Kalbarri Carpet is a low-growing, evergreen shrub, boasting slender foliage that shimmers with silver-grey hues. It's a low-maintenance, hardy and drought-tolerant plant, ideal for low-water landscapes. Main flowering period is in spring and summer when tubular, golden flowers appear attracting native wildlife. With a compact and spreading habit, it serves as an excellent groundcover and erosion controller.

Grows to approximately 10-20cm high and 1-2m wide.

Landscape Usage:

Eremophila Kalbarri Carpet thrives in dry, water-scarce conditions, making it a perfect choice for low water usage gardens. Mass plant and use in rock gardens or growing on banks and retaining walls. It's also great for attracting wildlife. The vibrant golden yellow flowers attract pollinators, adding life and colour to your next landscape project.

Another popular variety is Eremophila glabra Blue Horizons^TM.  Check it out today at Plantmark.

Myoporum parvifolium
Creeping Boobialla

Introducing Myoporum parvifolium, commonly known as Creeping Boobialla. A popular and versatile, hard-working, low-maintenance groundcover that's native to Australia too!

Plant Characteristics:

Myoporum parvifolium is an extremely popular groundcover that ticks many green boxes with landscapers and gardeners. Low-maintenance, hardy and drought tolerant, Myoporum parvifolium is a functional plant that acts as a weed suppressant and excels in erosion control. Not only practical and reliable, it's is also attractive with its pretty, white star-shaped flowers durng warmer months.

Grows to approximately 15-30cm high and 1-2m wide.

Landscape Usage:

Myoporum parvifolium is ideal for using on slopes for bank stabilisation, Myoporum thrives in full sun to part shade in well drained soil. Or use in rock gardens or as a border plant. 

There are many varieties of Myoporum parvifolium including Myoporum Fine Leaf (pictured above), Myoporum Broad Leaf with glossy, broad foliage, Myoporum Purpurea with purple foliage and Myoporum Pink with tiny, pink flowers.

Dichondra repens
Kidney Weed

Looking for a low-maintenance, easy-to-grow, shade-tolerant groundcover that brings a lush look to your landscape? Dichondra repens, or Kidney Weed, might be the perfect addition. This versatile plant offers beauty and ease in one lush package.

Plant Characteristics:

Dichondra repens is a native, perennial ground cover named for its kidney-shaped leaves. The foliage creates a dense, emerald-green carpet that spreads across the garden. Kidney Weed is known for its hardiness, withstanding a variety of climates and soil types. Its creeping, trailing habit adds a soft, flowing texture to your landscape, ideal for softening hardscapes.

Grows to approximately 10cm high and up to 1m wide.

Landscape Usage:

Dichondra repens (Kidney Weed) looks amazing when planted between pavers or stepping stones, softening hard edges and adding lushness and texture. It's also the perfect native lawn-alternative for low foot traffic areas, creating a lush carpet effect for your project. Its trailing nature also makes it an excellent choice for spilling over the edges of pots and hanging baskets.

Another popular variety is Dichondra repens Emerald Falls. Or if you prefer a silver foliage variety please check out Dichondra argentea Silver Falls at Plantmark.

Senecio serpens
Blue Chalk Sticks 

For those seeking a colour contrast and a groundcover that ideal for low-water usage gardens, look no further than the popular Senecio serpens, more commonly known as Blue Chalk Sticks or Blue Chalksticks. 

Plant Characteristics:

Blue Chalk Sticks is a low-growing, ground-hugging succulent groundcover with slender, finger-like leaves that resemble, you guessed it, chalk sticks. Their distinctive blue-grey hue adds striking colour contrast to your landscape. Drought-resistant and easy to care for, this plant thrives in well-drained soil and full sun, making it a low-maintenance choice for low-water usage landscapes.

Grows to approximately 15-30cm high and 30-60cm wide.

Landscape Usage:

Use Blue Chalk Sticks as a unique looking, visually attracting ground cover, creating a landscape of textured silvery-blue. Also often used to complement rocky landscapes with the succulent's striking blue tones and distinctive form.

What's more, Blue Chalk Sticks make an excellent addition to pots and containers, allowing you to add a touch of the extraordinary to your courtyard or balcony.

There is also a dwarf variety available Senecio serpens Nana. Or for a slightly taller species you may prefer Senecio mandraliscae.

Rosmarinus officinalis Prostrata
Prostrate Rosemary

If you're in search of a fragrant, low-maintenance groundcover wonder to elevate your landscape, Rosmarinus officinalis Prostrata, or Prostrate Rosemary, is your answer. This pretty herb doesn't just bring flavor to your kitchen but also adds charm and versatility to your next landscape project.

Plant Characteristics:

Prostrate Rosemary is a trailing, evergreen herb that showcases aromatic needle-like leaves and delicate blue flowers, attracting bees and butterflies to gardens. Its trailing habit creates a cascading effect, making it an ideal choice for groundcover or spilling over walls and containers. Beyond its ornamental appeal, it releases a delightful fragrance when brushed against, and its leaves are a prized culinary ingredient.

Grows to approximately 20-50cm high and up to 1-2m wide.

Landscape Usage:

Prostrate Rosemary forms a graceful, low-growing carpet, ideal for covering sunny slopes, borders, and rock gardens. Looks particularly amazing cascading down retaining walls. 

Prostrate Rosemary is also a drought-tolerant beauty. Its hardiness and resistance to dry conditions makes it perfect for water-wise landscapes. Or why not plant it in pots and hanging baskets to add a touch of Mediterranean charm to your courtyard or balcony.

Carpobrotus glaucescens
Pigface

Are you seeking a vibrant and resilient native addition for your next landscape project? Don't look further than the coastal marvel, Carpobrotus glaucescens, commonly known as Pigface or Pig Face. This native coastal succulent is a treasure trove of striking colour and hardiness.

Plant Characteristics

Pigface is a low-growing, trailing succulent that thrives in coastal environments. It's characterised by its fleshy, finger-like leaves, bursting into a spectacle of hot pink daisy-like flowers during the summer. These vibrant blooms attract pollinators, adding life to your garden while its succulent leaves store water, allowing it to endure dry coastal conditions with ease.

Grows to approximately 20cm high and up to 2m wide.

Landscape usage:

Carpobrotus glaucescens is a great option for erosion control and works well planted on slopes, with its robust roots stabilising soil. Its trailing nature and vivid pink flowers are perfect for rock gardens or as a ground cover, adding a pop of vibrant colour.

Pigface is also well-suited for sandy soils, making it an ideal choice for coastal and beach-front gardens.

In addition to Carpobrotus glaucescens, there are a few other popular species of Carpobrotus including Carpobrotus rossii and Carpobrotus rossii white.

Vinca minor
Dwarf Periwinkle

With pretty, deep blue flowers, Vinca minor (Dwarf Periwinkle) adds timeless appeal to your landscape. If you're in pursuit of a classic, low-maintenance ground cover that tolerates shade, Vinca minor, often referred to as Dwarf Periwinkle, is a popular choice. 

Plant Characteristics:

Dwarf Periwinkle is a trailing, perennial groundcover that boasts glossy, oval, deep green leaves and exquisite flowers in deep shades of blue or purple. Its dense growth and creeping habit make it a perfect ground cover, adding a lush carpet of green to your garden. Vinca minor is resilient and adaptable, thriving in various conditions, from full sun to part shade, and it blooms with classically pretty flowers in spring.

Grows to approximately 10-20cm high and spreads up to 2m wide.

Landscape Usage:

Very useful as an under-story plant, Its adaptability makes Vinca minor a fantastic choice for shaded areas, bringing life to woodland gardens. 

Use Vinca minor to create a lush and uniform ground cover that keeps weeds at bay and adds a splash of colour. The dense foliage effectively stabilises slopes and prevents soil erosion too!

A hardy ground cover that continually spreads. As the arching stems make contact with the soil they set roots, so best to ensure that the plant is confined to your property and it doesn't escape. It is a vigourous spreader! 

Trachelospermum asiaticum
Asiatic Jasmine

If you're looking for fragrant, lush greenery, Trachelospermum asiaticum, or Asiatic Jasmine, is your landscaping secret. This fragrant, evergreen climber or groundcover is the epitome of elegance and fragrance.

Plant Characteristics:

Asiatic Jasmine is a vigorous and adaptable evergreen vine, known for its glossy, deep green leaves and tiny, star-shaped, fragrant white flowers. The leaves are smaller and darker than on the more common Trachelospermum jasminoides (Chinese Star Jasmine) and the flowers are slightly smaller. This robust climber releases a delightful aroma that lingers in the air, making it a sensory delight in the garden. With its trailing habit and dense growth, it can be used as ground cover, or used to climb up trellises and arbors.

Grows to approximately 20cm high and up to 2m wide.

Landscape Usage:

Plant it against walls, fences, or trellises to create a captivating vertical garden or use as a flowering ground cover, transforming your landscape design into a fragrant carpet of green. Perfect for adding next to seating areas or near windows so that the delightful fragrance can be enjoyed by all.

Have a look at another favourite variety available at Plantmark -  Trachelospermum asiaticum Flat Mat^TM. Or you might prefer the more common Trachelospermum jasminoides or Trachelospermum jasminoides Tricolour for striking varigated foliage. 

Grevillea lanigera Mt Tamboritha
Grevillea Mt Tamboritha

Grevillea Mt Tamboritha is a favourite native with vibrant red flowers in winter and spring, and it's ready to bring a pop of colour and its unique charm to your landscape design. 

Plant Characteristics:

Grevillea lanigera Mt Tamboritha is a compact, evergreen shrub with a dense foliage of lobed leaves. What truly sets it apart, however, are the striking clusters of red spider-like flowers that adorn it in winter and spring. These flowers are a magnet for pollinators, adding life to your garden design. With its compact, bushy habit, it is a fantastic groundcover choice for low-maintenance and native gardens. Drought and frost tolerant it thrives in our cooler climates, while not performing well in humid conditions. 

Grows to approximately 30-50cm high and 1-2m wide.

Landscape Usage:

An ideal choice for native gardens, the nectar-rich flowers attract birds, bees, and butterflies, creating a thriving ecosystem in your landscape. Its hardiness and resilience also makes it perfect for water-wise landscapes.

Or why not plant it in pots or use as an eye-catching border plant to showcase its bold native beauty.

Grevillea obtusifolia Gin Gin Gem
Grevillea Gin Gin Gem

Looking for a captivating and easy-to-care-for groundcover? Grevillea obtusifolia Gin Gin Gem, with its quirky charm and resilience, is the ideal groundcover choice for Australian landscapes.

Plant Characteristics:

Grevillea Gin Gin Gem is a compact, evergreen shrub known for its fine, fern-like, deep green foliage and enchanting, nectar-rich flowers. The blooms showcase a unique blend of bright pink and cream hues, enticing birds and pollinators year round. With its bushy, low-growing habit, it's an ideal groundcover for a sunny position.

Grows to approximately 30cm high and 1-3m wide.

Landscape Usage:

Its adaptability and drought tolerance make it perfect for water-wise landscapes, as well as native and coastal gardens. Plant on slopes to prevent soil erosion, in borders, rockeries or use as a weed suppressant.

It's also a wildlife magnet, ideal for attracting small birds, bees and butterflies to the garden, bringing environmental value to your landscape design. 

Pratia pedunculata 
Matted or Trailing Pratia

A resilient and hardy native with delicate star-shaped flowers in spring, Pratia pedunculata (Matted or Trailing Pratia) is a groundcover that's both easy to care for and visually appealing.

Plant Characteristics:

Pratia pedunculata is a low-spreading, perennial ground cover celebrated for its dainty green leaves and delicate star-shaped flowers in shades of blue, purple, or white. Its dense growth forms a lush, velvety carpet in your landscape design creating a soothing and welcoming atmosphere. This plant is remarkably resilient, tolerating frost and thriving in various conditions, from sun to part shade, making it a versatile choice for landscapes.

Grows to approximately 10cm high and 1-2m wide.

Landscape Usage:

Pratia pedunculata is the perfect choice to create a uniform, weed-suppressing ground cover, adding a touch of lushness to your garden. Ideal for planting between stepping stones or pavers to give walkways a touch of greenery and a cottage garden feel. Can also be used it in pots or hanging baskets to spill over the edges, bringing natural beauty to your courtyard or balcony.

Another great native choice is Alpine Pratia, Pratia puberula, again with small, star-shaped flowers in white or pale shades of blue. 

Stachys lanata
Lambs Ear

With velvety, silver foliage Stachys lanata, also known as Lamb's Ear, is a popular groundcover with a unique appearance, perfect for adding softness and texture to your landscape design.

Plant Characteristics:

Lamb's Ear is a low-growing perennial cherished for its soft, silver-grey velvety leaves, resembling the texture of a lamb's ear. These leaves create a unique and captivating visual display that's as delightful to touch as it is to admire. It's hard to resist reaching our and touching the soft foliage!

Beyond its striking foliage, it produces delicate, tall spikes of pink-purple flowers in the summer, attracting pollinators. It's a hardy plant that thrives in a variety of growing conditions.

Grows to approximately 30-40cm high and 40-60cm wide.

Landscape Usage:

Use Stachys lanata to add a soft, textural contrast to your garden, enhancing the visual and tactile experience. It works beautifully as a ground cover, creating a silvery carpet in sunny or part shaded areas.

It's also popular for using in edging and borders. Plant it along pathways, borders, and rock gardens for a distinctive, low-maintenance appeal.

Scaevola aemula
Fan Flower

If you're on the hunt for a versatile and vibrant addition to your next landscape design that's a native too, look no further than Scaevola aemula, also known as the Fan Flower. This Australian native plant originating in Western Australia, is a masterpiece of colour and adaptability, with several varieties to choose from.

Plant Characteristics:

Fan Flowers are low-spreading, evergreen plants celebrated for their masses of fan-shaped flowers. These flowers come in a spectrum of colours, including shades of blue, pink, and white. The foliage is oval or wedge shaped and sometimes toothed. Their trailing, cascading habit adds a touch of whimsy to your landscape, making them perfect for hanging baskets, containers, or as ground covers. Scaevola aemula are hardy, drought tolerant and thrive in well drained soil, establishing quickly. The abundant flowers are great for attracting pollinators.

Grows to approximately 50cm high and 1m wide, depending on variety.

Landscape Usage:

Pretty and hardy, Sceavola aemula are great groundcovers, creating a native, flowering carpet. Opt for the spreading varieties such as Scaevola Purple Fanfare with masses of purple flower, spreading to around 1m in width. Mass plant and use in cottage gardens, as underplanting or in hanging baskets. Fan Flowers are also great in rockeries, adding colour and vibrancy.

Popular varieties include Scaevola aemula Mauve Clusters, Scaevola aemula Blue Ribbon and Scaevola aemula Purple Fanfare.

Dampiera diversifolia
Blue Dampiera

Lithodora diffusa Grace Ward
Purple Gromwell

Another groundcover for adding a splash of purple to your next landscape project. Introducing Lithodora diffusa Grace Ward, also known as Purple Gromwell.

Plant Characteristics:

Purple Gromwell is a low growing perennial, celebrated for its stunning, royal-purple, funnel-shaped flowers that blanket the foliage in a sea of rich colour. The flowers serve as a magnet for pollinators and create a striking contrast against the evergreen, lance-shaped leaves. With its trailing habit and compact growth, it's a versatile plant that adds an exquisite touch to borders, rockeries, or containers.

Grows to approximately 15-30cm high and 1m wide.

Landscape Usage:

Use Grace Ward as a vivid groundcover to create a lush, colourful carpet in sunny garden areas, or plant in rock gardens to add a pop of intense colour and year-round interest.

Chrysocephalum apiculatum
Common Everlasting or Yellow Buttons

Add a burst of sunshine to your landscape design with the yellow flowers of our native Chrysocephalum apiculatum, commonly known as Yellow Buttons.

Plant Characteristics:

Yellow Buttons are evergreen perennial that boasts a profusion of bright yellow, button-like flowers that resemble miniature suns. These cheerful flowers stand out against the green foliage, creating a delightful contrast and infusing your landscape with a touch of sunshine brightness. The compact, low-growing nature make Yellow Buttons versatile plants, suitable for borders, rockeries, or as a ground cover. Cheerful and bright, the flowers are a magnet for butterflies. 

Grows to approximately 40-60cm high and 50-90cm wide.

Landscape Usage:

Use Chrysocephalum apiculatum as a groundcover to create a vibrant carpet that thrives in full sun. Or plant it in rock gardens or as a border plant for year-round colour and charm. 

These hardy beauties are great for addng colour and are a must-have for native gardens, Plus, being drought-tolerant, makes them perfect for any low-maintenance or low-water usage landscapes. Whether you're designing a vibrant border, rockery, or a sustainable garden, these native Australian wonders will steal the show.

There's plenty of varieties available. One of our favourites is Chrysocephalum Silver Sunburst, with silvery foliage and yellow button-flowers offering great colour contrast, standing out against other greenery. Other popular varieties include Chrysocephalum apiculatum Desert Orange, Chrysocephalum apiculatum Mallee Buttons, Chrysocephalum apiculatum Desert Flame and Chrysocephalum apiculatum Silver And Gold.