Best Ground Covers for Shade

Low, spreading plants that carpet the ground where grass struggles and lawns give up.

18 plants, every one native to North America, routinely available from nurseries, and photographed. Ordered by how fast each spreads, because a ground cover that does not spread is just a small plant. Traits are quoted from USDA PLANTS, never estimated — how we source this. The Plant Finder searches the full catalogue, including plants that miss this bar.

1. 
   silverweed cinquefoil Argentina anserinaZone 4+ · shade · 0.5 ft · native
2. 
   American speedwell Veronica americanaZone 3+ · shade · 0.8 ft · native
3. 
   longbeak buttercup Ranunculus longirostrisZone 4+ · shade · 1 ft · native
4. 
   Pacific bleeding heart Dicentra formosaZone 4+ · shade · 1.5 ft · native
5. 
   pinemat manzanita Arctostaphylos nevadensisZone 5+ · shade · 2 ft · native
6. 
   primrose monkeyflower Mimulus primuloidesZone 3+ · shade · 1.5 ft · native
7. 
   prostrate ceanothus Ceanothus prostratusZone 4+ · shade · 0.5 ft · native
8. 
   red currant Ribes tristeZone 1+ · shade · 2 ft · native
9. 
   squashberry Viburnum eduleZone 1+ · shade · 2 ft · native
10. 
    woodland horsetail Equisetum sylvaticumZone 2+ · shade · 0.9 ft · native
11. 
    Jack in the pulpit Arisaema triphyllumZone 5+ · shade · 1.5 ft · native
12. 
    New York fern Thelypteris noveboracensisZone 4+ · shade · 1.5 ft · native
13. 
    spreading phlox Phlox diffusaZone 5+ · shade · 0.5 ft · native
14. 
    thinfruit sedge Carex flaccospermaZone 6+ · shade · 1 ft · native
15. 
    greater creeping spearwort Ranunculus flammulaZone 3+ · shade · 1.5 ft · native
16. 
    prairie Junegrass Koeleria macranthaZone 3+ · shade · 1.5 ft · native
17. 
    Rainier pleated gentian Gentiana calycosaZone 7+ · shade · 0.6 ft · native
18. 
    thicket sedge Carex absconditaZone 6+ · shade · 0.7 ft · native

Every plant here is drawn from the USDA PLANTS database; the traits behind this list are quoted from it, not estimated. See data & sources.

Want plants matched to your exact zone and conditions? Use the Plant Finder.