8 Fast-Growing Ground Covers That Will Keep Weeds Away, Experts Say

Bigroot Geranium

Bigroot geranium (Geranium macrorrhizum) is a quiet garden all-star. It produces subtle pink and white blooms, but it's the low-maintenance nature of this plant that really makes it shine.

Niki Jabbour, founder of Savvy Gardening, notes that you'll have to water it deeply every few weeks during its first growing season, but after that, it's very drought tolerant. You won't have to pay much attention to it at all.

"The dense foliage and root growth reduces weeds," she says. "When planted 12 to 18 inches apart, it grows into a solid carpet in just a year or two."

• Zones: 4 to 9
• Size: 12 to 15 inches high x 18 inches wide
• Care requirements: Full sun to part shade; well-draining soil

Virginia Creeper

Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) is native to North America.

This elegant vine grows very rapidly, Jabbour notes. It can grow 15 to 20 feet a year and will mature at 40 to 50 feet—so it can take up quite a bit of space in your garden. "Use it to create a 1-foot tall blanket of green, covering up stumps, large rocks, and other eyesores," she says.

• Zones: 4 to 8
• Size: 15 to 20 feet tall x 15 to 20 feet wide
• Care requirements: full sun to partial shade; moist, well-draining soil

Frogfruit

Frogfruit (Phyla) can grow 3 to 4 feet in a single growing season. An elegant ground cover, it produces beautiful, pinkish-white blooms. It's also a larval host plant for several butterfly species, says Mary Phillips, head of native plant habitat strategy at the National Wildlife Federation.

It's easy to care for and very drought tolerant once established. It will fill in gaps in your garden and prevent weeds from taking root.

• Zone: 7 to 11
• Size: 3 to 6 inches tall, 12 inch spread
• Care requirements: Full sun to partial shade; well-drained, sandy or loamy soil

Wild Strawberry

Wild strawberry (Fragaria virginiana) produces elegant white flowers in spring, says Phillips, as well as small, edible red fruits. The latter will attract birds and other wildlife.

"It spreads vigorously by runners, forming new plants and creating a dense, interconnected mat of vegetation and roots," she says. "The dense foliage shades the soil, preventing weed seeds from germinating."

It will grow very quickly, but place plugs 12 to 18 inches apart for best coverage. Wild strawberry requires very little upkeep.

• Zones: 3 to 8
• Size: 6 to 12 inches tall x 1 to 2 feet wide
• Care requirements: Full sun to partial shade; well-drained, loamy soil

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Common Blue Violet

Common blue violet's (Viola sororia) heart-shaped leaves and elegant purple blooms make this plant a real stunner in the spring. "Its dense foliage shade the soil surface and limits the light that weed seeds need to germinate," adds Phillips.

It can also thrive in clay soils and tolerates shade well—so it can flourish in areas where other plants may struggle.

• Zones: 3 to 9
• Size: 6 to 9 inches tall x 6 to 9 inches wide
• Care requirements: Full sun to partial shade; tolerates various soils

Woodlander Lilac Phlox

This phlox grows very quickly and forms a mat that's great for controlling weeds. It will establish in one growing season and will reach full coverage in one to two years, says Kelly Funk, president and CEO of Jackson & Perkins.

"Its vigorous spreading habit and thick bloom coverage make it an excellent functional and ornamental ground cover," she says.

• Zone: 3 to 8
• Size: 6 to 12 inches tall x 10 to 21 inches wide
• Growing conditions: Full to part shade; organic, well-drained soil

Black Scallop Bugleweed

Black Scallop spreads quickly and will deter weeds with dense, overlapping foliage that blocks out sunlight. It will start to expand after one season, with significant growth within one to two years.

"It thrives in part shade with moist, well-drained soil, and may need occasional thinning," says Funk.

• Zone: 3 to 9
• Size: 4 inches tall x 24 inches wide
• Care requirements: Part to full shade; moist, well-drained soil

Orchid Frost Gold Lamium

The beautiful silver foliage of orchid frost makes it a real standout in the garden, and its dense foliage will limit the light that reaches the soil, preventing weed growth. "Its ability to thrive in low-light conditions makes it especially valuable for difficult, weed-prone, shaded spots," says Funk.

• Zone: 2 to 8
• Size: 8 inches tall x 24 inches wide
• Growing conditions: full shade to part sun; dry to wet soil