No matter how much effort you put into making a beautiful garden, it won't look eye-catching until you cover the ground with plants or grasses. I really dislike seeing uncovered soil in my garden. In this article, you will find list of the best ground cover for South Carolina.
Note: For some specific plants, the ground should be cleared, and there should be no weeds or grasses, as they will compete for nutrients in the soil.
We are not all the same when it comes to choice. Some of us love normal grass as ground cover, while others may prefer flowering plants. Even the environment might not be the same. Some ground-covering plants perform well in shade, and some don't.
This is why I am going to divide the list into a few major categories:
- Best shade-loving ground-covering plants
- Full sun ground cover
- Grass as ground cover
- Low-height ground cover
- Low-maintenance ground-covering plants
South Carolina is not a small state, thus, I have mentioned the USDA growing zone beside each ground cover plant.
Best shade-loving ground cover plants for South Carolina
I have added a few important columns in this chart so that you can choose a ground covering plant easily based on your needs.
| Plant Name | Preferred South Carolina Zone(s) | Planting Method | Planting Time | Perennial or Annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Creeping Jenny | 7a–9b | Seed, division, or starter plants | Spring or fall | Perennial |
| Ajuga (Bugleweed) | 7a–9b | Starter plants or division | Spring or early fall | Perennial |
| Mondo Grass | 7a–9b | Division or starter plants | Spring or fall | Perennial |
| Sweet Woodruff | 7a (cooler areas only) | Seed or starter plants | Spring | Perennial |
| Wild Ginger | 7a–9b (best in shaded cooler spots) | Starter plants or division | Spring or fall | Perennial |
| Hosta (for Ground Cover Effect) | 7a–9b (best in shaded cooler spots) | Starter plants or division | Spring or early fall | Perennial |
| Allegheny Spurge | 7a–9b | Starter plants | Spring | Perennial |
Note: Coastal South Carolina (Zone 8b) may require extra shade or water for cooler-zone plants.
Creeping Jenny is really aggressive in growing. You should keep your eye on their growth and trim regularly.
Allegheny Spurge can tolerate dry soil for a long time. Try to water in hotter months. It will help them become more attractive.
Sun-Loving Ground Cover Plants for South Carolina
| Plant Name | Preferred South Carolina Zone(s) | Planting Method | Planting Time | Perennial or Annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lantana | 7b–11b | Starter plants or cuttings | Spring after last frost | Perennial in warmer areas, annual in colder spots |
| Phlox subulata (Creeping Phlox) | 3–9 | Starter plants or division | Spring or fall | Perennial |
| Ice Plant (Delosperma) | 5–9 | Starter plants or cuttings | Spring | Perennial |
| Verbena | 7a–9b | Seed or starter plants | Spring | Perennial or annual depending on variety |
| Trailing Rosemary | 7a–9b | Cuttings or starter plants | Spring | Perennial |
| Stonecrop (Sedum) | 3–9 | Division, cuttings, or starter plants | Spring or fall | Perennial |
| Blanket Flower (Gaillardia) | 3–10 | Seed or starter plants | Spring after last frost | Perennial |
In South Carolina, be aware of pests like slugs and snails. They can damage your ground covering plants. Use natural deterrents like diatomaceous earth around the plants to protect them.
I mostly use organic pest control methods. I made a complete guide on that too: Best organic pest control methods for your garden.
Grass-type ground cover for South Carolina
I have added an extra column for load capacity for these grasses.
Note: This column will indicate how well each grass type can handle foot traffic, weight, or general wear and tear.
| Plant Name | Preferred South Carolina Zone(s) | Planting Method | Planting Time | Perennial or Annual | Load Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo Grass | 7a–9b | Seed or sod | Spring or early summer | Perennial | Low to Moderate |
| Zoysia Grass | 7a–9b | Sod or plugs | Spring after last frost | Perennial | Moderate to High |
| Centipede Grass | 7a–9b | Seed, sod, or plugs | Late spring to early summer | Perennial | Moderate |
| St. Augustine Grass | 8a–9b | Sod or plugs | Late spring to early summer | Perennial | Low to Moderate |
| Bermuda Grass | 7a–9b | Seed, sod, or plugs | Late spring to early summer | Perennial | High |
| Fescue Grass | 7a–9b | Seed | Fall or early spring | Perennial | Moderate |
| Bluegrass (Kentucky Bluegrass) | 7a–9b | Seed | Fall or early spring | Perennial | Moderate to High |
In gardening communities, I have noticed that most gardeners like low-height ground covers.
The following chart is for them:
Low-Height Ground Cover Plants
| Plant Name | Preferred South Carolina Zone(s) | Planting Method | Planting Time | Perennial or Annual | Load Capacity | Height | Sunlight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Creeping Thyme | 7a–9b | Starter plants or cuttings | Spring | Perennial | Moderate | 3–6 inches | Full Sun to Partial Shade |
| Ajuga (Bugleweed) | 7a–9b | Starter plants or division | Spring or fall | Perennial | Low to Moderate | 6–12 inches | Partial Sun to Shade |
| Ground Morning Glory | 7a–9b | Seed or starter plants | Spring after last frost | Perennial | Moderate | 4–8 inches | Full Sun to Partial Shade |
| Miniature Carpet Bugle | 7a–9b | Starter plants or division | Spring or fall | Perennial | Low | 2–6 inches | Partial Sun to Shade |
| Irish Moss | 7a–9b | Starter plants or plugs | Spring | Perennial | Low | 1–3 inches | Full Sun to Partial Shade |
| Baby’s Tears | 7a–9b | Starter plants or cuttings | Spring | Perennial | Low | 2–4 inches | Shade to Partial Shade |
| Low Growing Sedum | 7a–9b | Cuttings or starter plants | Spring or fall | Perennial | Moderate | 2–4 inches | Full Sun |
Till now, I have mentioned a lot of ground-covering plants. But do you know that trimming is vital for most of these plants?
If you ask me to pick my top choice, I would go with Irish moss.
Here, the question comes: when to trim the ground-covering plants?
If the plant is a flowering plant, trim after the blooming season.
Are you a lazy gardener but still want your ground to be covered year-round?
This is for you:
Low-maintenance Ground Cover for South Carolina
| Plant Name | Preferred South Carolina Zone(s) | Planting Method | Planting Time | Perennial or Annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Creeping Thyme | 7a–9b | Seed, division, or starter plants | Spring or early fall | Perennial |
| Ajuga (Bugleweed) | 7a–9b | Starter plants or division | Spring or early fall | Perennial |
| Japanese Spurge (Pachysandra terminalis) | 7a–9b | Starter plants or division | Spring or early fall | Perennial |
| Blue Star Creeper (Isotoma fluviatilis) | 7a–9b | Starter plants | Spring or early fall | Perennial |
| Low Growing Sedum | 7a–9b | Division or starter plants | Spring or fall | Perennial |
| Snow-in-Summer (Cerastium tomentosum) | 7a–9b | Seed, division, or starter plants | Spring or fall | Perennial |
| Ground Morning Glory (Convolvulus sabatius) | 7a–9b | Seed or starter plants | Spring or early fall | Perennial |
All the mentioned plants will perform great with little or no maintenance.
If you love flowers, blue star creeper is one of the best ground covers.
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