10 Fast-Growing Ground Covers That Thrive on Slopes

creeping mazus — Credit:
Cyndi Monaghan / Getty Images

If you have a sloped landscape, you know how difficult it can be to find suitable plants to grow on it. Because of their angle, slopes can experience a lot of water runoff, causing the plants to suffer from waterlogged soil and root rot. Luckily, many ground covers form dense mats that can prevent runoff and stabilize the soil. This not only helps your plantings thrive, but it also keeps your slope from becoming a muddy mess during inclement weather. Ahead, we're sharing the best fast-growing ground covers experts say thrive on slopes.

Adrienne Roethling, head gardener for a private estate and former curator of Juniper Level Botanic Gardens at Plant Delights Nursery
Mary Phillips, head of native plant habitat strategy and certifications at the National Wildlife Federation
Linda Vater, plant expert for Southern Living Plant Collection

01 of 10

Sweet Woodruff

When planted in the right place, such as on a shady slope with rich soil, sweet woodruff (Galium odoratum) will spread by roots, forming a dense mass. In spring, whorls of leaves give rise to umbels of white flowers, says Adrienne Roethling, head gardener for a private estate, adding that the green mass remains through fall.

Zones: 4 to 8
Size: 6 to 12 inches tall x 12 to 24 inches wide
Care requirements: Partial to full shade; loam, organic-rich soil

02 of 10

Green and Gold

Green and gold (Chrysogonum virginianum) emerges in early spring with bright green leaves quickly followed by yellow-orange, daisy-like blossoms, says Roethling. It spread by above ground shoots, but it's a great ground cover to grow on a partially shaded slope. "Green and gold is a North American native plant that will do equally well in dry and wet soils," she says. "If growing in the sun, amend the soil with compost."

Zones: 5 to 9
Size: 1 to 2 inches tall x 12 to 24 inches wide
Care requirements: Partial shade; moist, acidic, organic-rich soil

03 of 10

Frogfruit

Frogfruit (Phyla nodiflora) has a dense, fibrous root system that deeply anchors into the soil, spreading quickly to form a low-growing mat. An excellent choice for supporting biodiversity, frogfruit supports firefly species and is a larval host plant for the common buckeye butterfly and several other butterfly species, says Mary Phillips, the head of native plant habitat strategy and certifications at the National Wildlife Federation. She adds that frogfruit blooms from March to October.

Zones: 7 to 11
Size: 3 to 9 inches tall x 3 to 4 feet wide
Care requirements: Full sun to partial shade; tolerates various soils

04 of 10

Daylily

Daylilies (Hemerocallis) thrive on slopes because their dense, tuberous root systems form a thick mat that binds the soil, says Linda Vater, plant expert for Southern Living Plant Collection. "Daylilies multiply and form dense clumps relatively quickly, especially when spaced 12 to 18 inches apart," she says. "After a few years, they can be divided and used to fill in other areas of the landscape."

Zones: 4 to 10
Size: 1 to 4 feet tall x 1 to 3 feet wide
Care requirements: Full sun; tolerates a wide range of soil types, but grows best in soil amended with organic matter

05 of 10

Canadian Wild Ginger

Native to wooded areas, Canadian wild ginger (Asarum canadense) goes dormant in winter and sprouts in early to mid-spring. Shortly after emerging, this wild ginger produces maroon bell-shaped flowers, followed by green heart-shaped leaves that last all summer.

Zones: 4 to 7
Size: 6 to 12 inches tall x 4 to 6 inches wide
Care requirements: Partial to full shade; consistently moist, acidic soil

06 of 10

Foamflower

In a single growing season, foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia) produces 2-foot-long stems that root into the ground, beginning the cycle of new plants. "In less than five years, it’ll be a massive ground cover," says Roethling. It looks beautiful growing on a slope, producing maple leaf-like leaves and spikes of white, feathery flowers that last for several weeks.

Zones: 3 to 8
Size: 6 to 12 inches tall x 4 to 6 inches wide
Care requirements: Partial to full shade; consistently moist, acidic soil

07 of 10

Common Violet

Violet Rhode Island State Flower — Credit:
Cynthia Shirk/ Getty Images

Common blue violet (Viola sororia) has a fibrous root system that stabilizes the soil and prevents erosion on slopes and hillsides, says Phillips. It spreads rapidly through rhizomes and seeds, ejecting seeds as it grows to cover a larger area. "Plant plugs 6 to 8 inches apart for fastest coverage," she adds.

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

08 of 10

Creeping Mazus

Creeping mazus (Mazus reptans) is a deer-resistant ground cover that flourishes when planted on a slope. It produces vibrant green leaves that give way to white, purple, or pink tubular flowers in mid-spring, says Roethling. It can withstand full sun to partial shade and spreads quickly through rooting stems. "It’s a very dense forming mass that will reach 5 feet wide in two to three years," she adds.

Zones: 5 to 9
Size: 6 to 12 inches tall x 4 to 6 inches wide
Care requirements: Full sun to partial shade; medium to wet, acidic, well-drained soil

09 of 10

Wild Strawberry

strawberry bush — Credit:
Getty / romiri

Wild strawberry (Fragaria vesca) spreads vigorously by runners, forming new plants and creating a dense mat of vegetation and roots. "The dense foliage shades the soil, reducing evaporation and protecting the soil from the direct impact of raindrops, which can dislodge soil particles," says Phillips.

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

10 of 10

Loropetalum

Loropetalum (Loropetalum spp.) has a widespread, shallow, and fibrous root system that prevents erosion by holding the soil in place, which is especially helpful on slopes where water runoff is an issue, says Vater.