Shrubs for ground cover
In this section, we feature the best shrubs for using as ground cover plants, perfect for filling those awkward gaps in shrub or mixed borders, covering unsightly patches of bare ground in the shaded areas below the canopies of trees, holding soil together on banks and slopes to control erosion, or simply to suppress weeds. These prostrate growers offer a mix of ornamental features including interesting foliage colours, beautiful flowers across the seasons, glossy berries and more. The collection spans a mix of evergreen and deciduous varieties – you can use the “by foliage type” and other product filters below to refine your search depending on whether you’re looking for some autumnal seasonal interest or would prefer year-round cover. Several varieties of cotoneaster are low-growing ground-huggers, well suited to ground cover to suppress weeds and producing a generous display of white or pink spring flowers followed by an abundance of showy berries. Similarly, some euonymus work well with unique, distinctive, normally evergreen leaves, which make them popular for garden designs and a must-have for any shrub border. They can be clipped to maintain a formal, structured appearance, used to edge pathways or to highlight other garden features such as sculptures.