23 Fast-Growing Ground Covers For Sloping Gardens
Enjoy a lush hillside that naturally prevents erosion while enhancing biodiversity and color.
23 Fast Growing Ground Covers For Sloping Gardens
Sloped garden areas present unique challenges, from soil erosion to difficulties maintaining an attractive landscape. The right ground cover can quickly establish strong roots, prevent soil from washing away, and bring both beauty and biodiversity to these tricky spaces. Below, we offer a comprehensive guide to 23 fast-growing ground covers ideally suited for hillsides and slopes, with tips on selection, planting, and care to ensure a vibrant, erosion-resistant garden.
Why Ground Covers Are Essential for Slopes
Establishing ground covers on slopes not only curbs erosion caused by rainfall and wind but also reduces maintenance, suppresses weeds, and adds year-round interest to your landscape. Fast-growing varieties can stabilize soil quickly and, if chosen well, thrive in the rigorous conditions that steep grades often present.
- Soil stabilization: Deep, spreading root systems hold soil in place.
- Erosion control: Dense foliage absorbs rainfall and slows runoff.
- Low maintenance: These plants typically require minimal mowing, weeding, or watering once established.
- Visual appeal: Wide variety of colors, forms, and textures available.
How to Choose Ground Cover Plants for Slopes
When selecting ground covers for your hillside, consider factors such as sun exposure, soil type, hardiness zone, and foot traffic. Ideally, opt for species that are:
- Drought-tolerant or adapted to your rainfall patterns
- Capable of rapid establishment
- Known for extensive or dense root systems
- Suitable for the specific light and soil conditions of your slope
Native ground covers are often the most reliable choices, as they are already adapted to local conditions and promote habitat for pollinators.
- Creeping Juniper (Juniperus horizontalis)
With needle-like foliage and a robust spreading habit, creeping juniper thrives on rocky, well-drained slopes, forming a dense mat that suppresses weeds and staves off erosion. Its foliage varies from silvery blue to deep green, offering year-round color.
- Creeping Phlox (Phlox subulata)
This perennial spreads rapidly, producing masses of starry pink, purple, or white flowers in spring. It thrives in full sun and well-drained soils, effectively blanketing sloped areas with dense foliage and roots that help lock soil in place.
- Ice Plant (Delosperma cooperi)
Ideal for hot, sunny slopes, ice plant features succulent foliage and dazzling magenta or yellow blossoms. It’s drought-tolerant and forms a low, sprawling carpet that aids in erosion control.
- Golden Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia ‘Aurea’)
Known for its vivid, chartreuse leaves, creeping jenny quickly covers large areas with trailing stems. It thrives in moist soils but can adapt to partial shade, making it versatile for many slope conditions.
- Ladyâs Mantle (Alchemilla mollis)
This hardy perennial is prized for its velvety, scalloped leaves and chartreuse summer blossoms. Its mounded habit helps it grip slopes and shade out competitors.
- Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster dammeri)
A low-growing shrub, cotoneaster offers evergreen foliage, masses of tiny white flowers, and attractive red berries. Its arching branches form a tight mat ideal for erosion control on hillsides with little foot traffic.
- Vinca Minor (Periwinkle)
This tough, evergreen ground cover forms a lush, trailing mat of dark green leaves and violet-blue blooms. Vinca minor is shade-tolerant and good for filling in under trees or along banks.
- Irish Moss (Sagina subulata)
Resembling a velvety green carpet, Irish moss stays short and dense, thriving in moist, well-drained soils and offering tiny white flowers in spring.
- Ajuga (Bugleweed)
Ajuga forms attractive rosettes of purple-tinged foliage and sends up blue flower spikes in spring. It’s excellent for shade or part-shade slopes and is tolerant of a range of soils.
- Creeping Thyme (Thymus serpyllum)
Suited to sunny, dry slopes, creeping thyme offers lush mats of fragrant foliage dotted with purple or pink flowers, and tolerates occasional light foot traffic.
- Prostrate Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis ‘Prostratus’)
This aromatic herb spreads horizontally, providing needle-like leaves and blue flowers. It’s an excellent choice for Mediterranean climates and well-drained hillsides.
- Woolly Thyme (Thymus pseudolanuginosus)
Fine, fuzzy foliage covers ground densely and is adorned with pinkish flowers. Woolly thyme excels in dry, sunny spots and is surprisingly resilient.
- Forsythia (Forsythia x intermedia – as low ground cover form)
Many dwarf or spreading forms of forsythia can act as aggressive soil stabilizers, offering vivid spring flowers and a lush leaf cover the rest of the year.
- Japanese Spurge (Pachysandra terminalis)
This evergreen ground cover thrives in shade, sending up fresh, bright green leaves and small white blossoms. Pachysandra forms a dense carpet the weeds canât penetrate.
- Sweet Woodruff (Galium odoratum)
Thriving in dappled light, sweet woodruff quickly forms mats of fragrant, whorled leaves and white spring flowersâgreat for shady, moist slopes.
- Creeping Raspberry (Rubus calycinoides)
Particularly effective on banks, this low-growing bramble features attractive foliage, white flowers, and edible berries, rooting as it spreads to secure soil.
- Sedum (Stonecrop)
Sedums are low-maintenance succulents that handle full sun and dry slopes exceedingly well. Varieties like âAngelinaâ or âAutumn Joyâ develop thick mats and seasonal flower displays.
- Bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi)
This native evergreen forms a dense, ground-hugging mat with leathery leaves, pink spring flowers, and red berries in the fall. It excels on sandy, poor slopes with plenty of sun.
- Wintercreeper (Euonymus fortunei)
With glossy variegated foliage, wintercreeper spreads aggressively via rooting stems and is quite effective at erosion control on tricky slopes.
- Mahonia Creeping Oregon Grape (Mahonia repens)
This tough, spreading native provides evergreen foliage, clusters of yellow flowers, and blue-black fall berries, flourishing even on dry, lean soils.
- Golden Pacific Juniper (Juniperus conferta ‘Golden Pacific’)
Valued for striking golden foliage and adaptability to poor soils, this juniper offers year-round visual interest and low maintenance once established.
- Blue Fescue (Festuca glauca)
This ornamental grass forms neat, blue-gray tufts that hold soil with fibrous roots and add cool-toned color to slope plantings.
- Liriope (Liriope muscari)
An evergreen grass-like perennial with arching, strappy leaves and summer spikes of purple flowers. Excellent for slopes in sun or shade and especially for southern gardens.
- Bearâs Breeches (Acanthus mollis)
Large, architectural foliage and tall flower spikes make this perennial useful for covering large areas on mild slopes, especially in semi-shade.
Table: Comparison of Key Ground Covers for Slopes
| Plant | Sun/Shade | Soil Moisture | Growth Rate | Special Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Creeping Juniper | Full Sun | Dry | Fast | Evergreen mat, erosion control |
| Creeping Phlox | Full Sun | Normal | Fast | Abundant spring blooms |
| Vinca Minor | Shade/Part Shade | Medium | Rapid | Evergreen, tolerates poor soils |
| Golden Creeping Jenny | Sun to Part Shade | Moist | Very fast | Bright foliage, adapts to shade |
| Sedum | Full Sun | Dry | Medium-Fast | Drought-tolerant, succulent |
| Bearberry | Full Sun | Dry, Sandy | Medium | Native, wildlife habitat |
Tips for Planting and Maintaining Ground Covers on Slopes
- Soil preparation: Amend soil with compost and loosen it to encourage rapid root establishment.
- Planting technique: Use staggered spacing to maximize coverage and soil holding. For steep slopes, planting through biodegradable netting can provide extra soil stability during establishment.
- Mulching: Apply an organic mulch to retain moisture and suppress weed growth until plants fill in.
- Watering: Water deeply but infrequently to promote deep rooting. Reduce irrigation once plants are established.
- Weed management: Vigilant early weeding prevents invasive competition and helps ground covers spread.
What others are reading
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Ground Covers for Slopes
Q: How quickly will ground covers stabilize my slope?
A: Most fast-growing ground covers begin stabilizing soil within their first season. Complete coverage that offers full erosion control typically takes one to three years, depending on species and growing conditions.
Q: Can I use native ground covers instead of ornamentals?
A: Native ground covers are highly recommended for slopes, as they are adapted to local climates, promote pollinators, and often require less water and maintenance. Examples include bearberry, wild strawberry, and some sedums.
Q: Should I add landscape fabric beneath ground covers?
A: While landscape fabric can help prevent initial weed growth, it can also impede root penetration and water movement over time. Biodegradable netting or jute erosion blankets are better choices for very steep or erosion-prone slopes.
Q: What is the best way to plant ground covers on a very steep slope?
A: For steep slopes, use small plants rather than seeds. Plant through a layer of biodegradable netting for stability, water them in thoroughly, and apply mulch around each plant for moisture retention and additional soil protection.
Q: Are there edible ground cover options for slopes?
A: Yes, certain edible plants such as alpine strawberries or thyme can be used as ground covers. Planting a blend of ornamental and edible varieties can yield visual, ecological, and culinary benefits.
Conclusion
Sloping gardens can be both a challenge and an opportunity. By selecting the right fast-growing ground covers, you can transform an erosion-prone hillside into a lush, stable, and low-maintenance landscape. Carefully match plants to your microclimate, soil, and aesthetic preferences, and enjoy years of resilience and beauty on your garden slopes.
References
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIOWKK-Jh2o
- https://www.epicgardening.com/ground-covers-for-slopes/
- https://www.thrivelot.com/resources/8-edible-ground-covers-for-gardens
- https://extension.psu.edu/native-groundcovers-can-solve-tough-challenges-in-the-landscape/
- https://www.pinterest.com/pin/324681454385854436/
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