22 Ground Cover Plants For Shade (That Add Texture)

Ground cover refers to plants that creep or spread and create a solid section of foliage that carpets the ground.

This list highlights the top 22 ground cover plants for shade, from the classic Virginia Creeper to the lesser-known Heuchera.

Flickr photo by peganum under (CC BY 2.0)

Wild Ginger | Asarum Canadense

Common wild ginger, or Canadian wild ginger, is a deciduous plant perfect for a shaded area. It does best in rich, well-drained soil.

Sweet Woodruff | Galium Odoratum

Sweet woodruff, or bedstraw, is named for its sweet-smelling aroma and is an easy-to-grow ground cover plant.

Pachysandra or Japanese Spurge | Pachysandra terminalis

This is a creeping evergreen woodland native with small white flowers that bloom in late winter or very early spring (before new growth).

Bunchberry | Cornus Canadensis

Bunchberry is classified as a form of dogwood and is native to northern regions of North America.

Yellow Archangel | Lamium Galeobdolon

The bright yellow blooms with the angel-like “wings” give the yellow archangel its name. They bloom in spring and early summer.

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