Palms are majestic and colorful cannas are cool, but sometimes you just need a great groundcover.
Groundcover plants are short, quick-spreading perennials that don’t need much care.
What are the best tropical groundcovers in Florida?
Ground Source landscape designer Eric Frisch has a few favorites. (He considers groundcovers plants that stay to 12 inches or shorter.)
His top picks include Asiatic Jasmine, Mondo Grass, Blue Daze, Liriope, Ferns and Bulbine.
Why these choices? Keep reading to learn more about these Frisch favorites, including:
First, What’s So Great About Florida Groundcovers?
The benefits of groundcovers are almost too many to count, but we'' give it a try here.
- Groudcovers are weed warriors. Groundcovers create a thick carpet on the ground, preventing pesky weed seeds from sprouting.
- They’re low-maintenance. No need to fuss. Once they’re settled in, groundcovers don’t need much attention at all.
- Groundcover plants help your soil stay put. It gets pretty rainy around here.
- Groundcover plants cover the soil and help keep it from washing away in the rain.
- They hang on to water. Groundcover plants shade the ground, keeping precious water from evaporating too quickly.
- They’re pretty. The variegated leaves of Asiatic Jasmine will wow you, with new leaves that emerge pink and then turn variegated white and emerald green. Check out the brilliant blue blooms of Blue Daze or the cheerful yellow petals of Bulbine.
- Groundcovers boost the soil. They look lazy, but they’re hard at work down there, keeping the soil aerated and adding organic matter as their leaves or blooms fall and decompose.
- They give you a lot for your money. Groundcovers spread out and fill spaces, giving you plenty of coverage without many plants.
Try These Florida Groundcovers
Want a sure thing? Choose from the Frisch top six:
1. Asiatic Jasmine
One of the prettiest Florida groundcovers, Asiatic Jasmine thrives in the shade or sun.
The variegated variety is especially stunning, with new leaves that emerge pink and then turn variegated white and emerald green. As if that’s not enough, very fragrant, tubular yellow flowers bloom prolifically in the Florida heat.
It isn’t great to walk on, Frisch notes, because it's wiry and can cause you to trip on the branches.
But it’s drought-tolerant and is generally pest- and disease-resistant.
2. Blue Daze
The abundant flowers of this tropical groundcover are brilliant blue and funnel-shaped, opening in the morning and closing up in the evening.
Heat-loving and drought-tolerant, it grows to about 12 inches and can spread up to three feet.
Blue Daze loves the heat and the sun, and it’s versatile, too. Sure, it’s a great Florida groundcover, but it also shines as a border plant in a hanging basket or mixed containers.
3. Mondo Grass
Want to replace your lawn with something less needy? Mondo grass is Frisch’s top pick.
It never needs mowing and grows well in almost any soil and light conditions.
It’s not grass, but its grass-like strappy foliage forms dense tufts that slowly spread over time.
Small lavender or white flowers appear in summer.
Once established, you can pretty much forget about this sturdy Florida groundcover.
Bonus: you can easily divide it to create a larger patch.
4. Bulbine
Bulbine has become a popular plant in Florida because it’s drought-tolerant, grows well in poor soils, and repeatedly blooms with cheerful yellow or orange flowers, depending on the variety.
It makes a great tropical groundcover because each plant grows over time to form a clump that can be up to four feet wide.
The succulent, grass-like foliage grows to about a foot tall.
Bulbine grows best in full sun and well-drained soil, though it will tolerate shade for part of the day.
5. Liriope
Also called lilyturf, it’s an easy-care vigorous grower that spreads fast into a carpet of green and is happy in almost any growing conditions.
While many varieties grow as high as 18 inches, “NoMo” grows 3 to 6 inches tall — prime groundcover height — and feels like grass underfoot.
6. Ferns
Ferns love Florida, and most varieties are great clumpers and spread by their roots, so they’re rock stars at taking over large sections of ground easily.
Pick a fern you love — Southern Maidenhair, Boston, Cinnamon, Royal.
Then, watch them spread.
Need a Great Florida Groundcover? Trust Ground Source
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Image Sources | Bulbine, Asiatic Jasmine, Liriope, Blue Daze, Mondo Grass