It FTh bright, low-growing mat-forming creeping plants, ground cover plants with purple flowers transform garden landscapes. Ground cover plants may be perennial or evergreen spreading plants, and they may grow as perennials. Purple-flowering ground cover plants may be grown for shade or full sun depending on your garden. All seasons will be bright, healthy, and full of life thanks to the green leafy foliage and purple flowers.
Hardy, evergreen perennials with purple flowers are the best ground cover plants for year-round beauty. In early spring, you can have fun with hues of purples and blues by selecting early-flowering creeping plants. Other full-sun ground cover plants bloom from late spring through summer and into the autumn, continuing to bloom.
If you want to enjoy the purple, lilac, and blue flowers of groundcover plants, there are endless options. Creeping purple blooms may appear in between stepping stones, along borders, and in mixed beds. You may even cultivate full-shade purple spreading plants in your yard’s shaded areas or on shrubs.
The greatest purple ground cover plants for sunny or shady gardens are covered in this article. Using descriptions and images of purple flower ground cover plants, you’ll be able to pick the right kind for your garden landscape.
Why Plant Ground Cover Plants with Purple Flowers
Low-growing, spreading, trailing, or creeping plants are examples of ground cover plants. These mat-forming plants are frequently fast to spread, transforming drab environments into vibrant colors. Weed suppression, soil preservation, and soil covering are all benefits of ground cover plants. In addition, low-maintenance ground cover plants are often the best.
Ground cover plants also retain moisture and protect the soil from becoming too hot by providing an insulating layer. Since the low-growing plants eliminate the necessity for mulch, the flowering carpet of leaves and blooms helps to minimize upkeep in gardens. Low-growing plants that are hardy enough to be walked on are suitable substitutes for grass.
Evergreen Ground Cover Plants with Purple Flowers
Let’s take a closer look at some of the greatest purple-flowering, evergreen ground cover plants for your garden design.
Creeping Thyme (Thymus serpyllum)
Creeping thyme is a low-growing shrub-like evergreen plant that thrives in full sun and produces tiny purple flowers. A cushion of blue-green foliage and purple hues is created by the sun-loving showy plant. Creeping thyme is best for growing along garden borders, between paving, in rock gardens, or as full-sun ground cover because it does not grow taller than 3″ (7.5 cm).
USDA zones 4 through 9 are ideal for growing creeping thyme. The stunning blooming mat-forming plant flourished in fertile, well-draining soil during the summer. Drought, pests, diseases, and rabbit and deer resistance are all traits of this easy-care ground cover. thyme develops vivid autumn colors in the fall as its blue-green leaves change to warm brown.
Creeping phlox (Phlox subulata)
Creeping phlox is a fast-growing evergreen ground cover plant that thrives in full sun and some shade. It has purple blooms. In mid to late spring, this carpet-forming plant yields lavender-blue blooms. The trailing stems of creeping phlox will cascade over a container, making it ideal for covering ground along edges or borders.
Creeping phlox thrives in USDA zones 2 through 9 and is a cold-hardy, easy-care plant. The fertile blooming plant is drought tolerant and grows best in sandy, well-draining soil. For developing a mat of black green foliage and purple spring flowers, Phlox subulata is an excellent ground cover selection.
Bugleweed (Ajuga reptans)
Bugleweed is a simple to grow perennial ground cover plant with purple-blue flower spikes that can be grown in shade or sun. This spreading plant, which can be used for ground cover in full shade or full sun, is also known as a carpet bugle. It’s ideal for weeding because of its thick foliage. The obovate leaves of bugleweed are glossy green, and clusters of tiny purple flowers dot the plant’s horizontal spread.
USDA zones 3 – 10 allow you to grow bugleweed. The fast-expanding spreading plant thrives on sandy, well-draining soil, growing from 6 to 12 inches (15 to 30 cm) tall. Carpet bugle is a popular substitute for grass on shaded banks, hills, and beneath shrubs in garden settings. In patio pots, rock gardens, and tiny areas, it’s a terrific plant option.
Spotted Deadnettle (Lamium maculatum)
Spotted deadnettle is a perennial ground cover with trailing stems and heart-shaped leaves that blooms in rich colors such as magenta or pink. hrives best as ground cover in full shade, and it is an easy-care spreading plant. The small-growing plant grows to a height of 4 to 8 inches (10 to 20 cm) in just a few days.
Under shrubs or trees, shade gardens, and edging plants, spotted deadnettle is an ideal perennial. Spotted deadnettle blooms throughout the summer, and the blooms last until fall, despite its growing in the shade. It’s drought tolerant, pest resistant, disease resistant, and rabbit and deer resistant. In USDA zones 3 – 8, grow spotted deadnettle as a maintenance-free spreading plant.
Lithodora (Lithodora diffusa)
In landscaping rock gardens or borders, purple Lithodora ‘Grace Ward’ (Gromwell) is a spreading ground cover that performs well. Lithodora diffusa is a low-maintenance plant that thrives in full sun as a carpet-forming evergreen shrub. This is an excellent hanging basket plant because of the trailing stems with dark green fuzzy leaves and purple-blue flowers.
In USDA zones 6 – 8, Lithodora diffusa grows best as a short evergreen shrub. From late spring until the end of summer, the long-blooming blooms produce gorgeous colorful displays. Purple Gromwell is versatile for rock gardens, patio plants, borders, and establishing on banks to check weeds and soil erosion. It may also develop as a ground cover.
Common Periwinkle (Vinca minor)
Periwinkle plants have lustrous, leathery leaves and 5-petalled lilac-blue or lavender flowers that bloom in full sun or partial shade. The little oval leaves contrast with the purple tubular flowers. In the spring and summer, the colorful living mat blooms many times. To cover ground easily, grow purple periwinkle in a mass planting on poor soil.
In USDA zones 4–9, periwinkle plants appreciate full sun or partial shade. The vining plant only grows to be 3 to 6 inches (7.5 to 15 cm) tall and is hardy and low-growing. It’s drought-tolerant, deer resistant, rabbit resistant, and salt tolerant. The Vinca minor ‘Variegata’ cultivar has white and green leaves with violet-blue flowers growing in a low mat of leathery foliage if you’re looking for a purple ground cover plant with variegated leaves.
Vinca minor variegata is a variegated periwinkle.
Perennial Ground Cover Plants with Purple Flowers
Low-growing creeping or spreading plants make up perennial ground cover. Purple ground cover perennials return year after year, carpeting the earth in green foliage and gorgeous lilac, violet, blue, or lavender blossoms. These plants are cold-hardy. Purple flowers are among the greatest ground cover perennials.
Horned Violet (Viola cornuta)
The horned violet has lovely purple and yellow blooms and is a full-sun perennial ground cover plant. Ovate broadleaves with serrated margins are green. The spreading horizontal or upward spread of the horned violet variety is fast. Growing as a bedding plant, decorating pathways, or full-sun ground cover, this violet plant is ideal for covering hillsides.
Depending on the climate, horned violets have deciduous or evergreen foliage. In USDA zones 6 through 11, you may grow it as a perennial. Horned violet thrives as an annual ground cover in sunny areas around your garden in colder areas.
Wild Violet (Viola sororia)
Wild violet (Viola sororia) is a low-growing, cold-hardy perennial with lovely bluish-purple blooms and heart-shaped glossy green leaves. It thrives in full sun or light shade. Wild violet plants spread quickly and create a stunning carpet of green and purple hues, making them an appealing ground cover. In partial shade, this violet grows to 6–10 inches (15–25 cm). This versatile violet variety is ideal for bedding, rock gardens, containers, and planting in coastal gardens. Apart from growing as a perennial ground cover, it’s also ideal.
USDA zones 3 – 7 are ideal for wild violet, which thrives in moderate shade. If you water it frequently, this gorgeous spreading plant may be grown in full sun. This violet plant thrives in an environment with consistent moisture in the soil.
Creeping Liriope (Liriope spicata)
Creeping liriope is a spreading variety of sun-loving, clumping grass-like plants that are ideal for ground cover. Liriope spicata (left) and Liriope spicata ‘Variegata’ (right) are two common varieties. Long, linear, pointed leaves with clusters of light purple flower spikes characterize Liriope. Lilyturf spreads quickly to create a thick carpet of cushiony leaves as an easy-care ground cover plant.
The height and breadth of creeping liriope are 9 to 12 inches (22 to 30 cm) tall and 24 to 30 inches (60 cm) broad. In fertile soil with excellent drainage, the spiky ground cover plant thrives. Liriope is resistant to foot traffic, heat, shade, deer, and rabbits as a low-maintenance landscaping plant for ground cover. USDA zones 4 to 10 are ideal for growing creeping liriope.
Spike Speedwell (Veronica spicata)
Spike speedwell is a clump-forming perennial with bushy mounds of lanceolate leaves and purple flowering spikes that is easy to care for and hardy. Vivid-blue flowers bloom all summer long on spike speedwell. The plant thrives in full sun and grows between 12″ to 24″ (30 to 60 cm) tall.
Borders, containers, edging, and foundation plantings all benefit from spike speedwell as a landscaping plant. USDA zones 3 to 8 are ideal for Spike Speedwell. Mounding ground cover thrives in well-drained soil that is constantly moist. Spike speedwell is immune to pests, diseases, rabbits, and deer as a low-care landscaping perennial.
Nepeta Catmint (Nepeta x faassenii)
Nepeta catmint is a perennial ground cover plant that bears clusters of long-lasting purple blooms on long stems in full sun to partial shade. fast-growing ground cover that thrives in poor soil and smothers weeds, which makes it an excellent option for covering bare ground. The height and broadness of the Faassen’s Catmint are up to 20″ (45 cm) and 36″ (90 cm).
Catmint, sometimes known as ‘Cats Meow,’ makes an excellent landscaping underplant for shrubs and roses. As an edging plant or perennial border, the ground cover plant is also excellent for growing along pathways. In USDA zones 3 – 8, grow nepeta catmint as a tough perennial ground cover.
Wall Germander (Teucrium chamaedrys)
Wall germander is a low-growing evergreen perennial with rosy-purple summer blooms and aromatic oval dark green leaves that is drought tolerant and suitable for short hedge, flowering border, or edging. compact ground cover that grows no higher than 12 inches (30 cm) tall. Since it doesn’t spread, growing it as a tiny-scale purple ground cover is ideal.
Wall germander grows in USDA zones 5–9 and is also known as Horse Chive. It’s a low-maintenance plant that’s drought tolerant and requires little attention. Cover exposed ground in full sun with grow wall germander to keep it well-watered and encourage it to thrive in the summer heat.
Creeping Mazus (Mazus reptans)
Creeping mazus is a low-growing perennial that produces a thick mat of purple tubular flowers and vibrant green leaves throughout the season. has thrived, making it a ground cover that you can stroll on. It’s also a fantastic replacement for grass. Through its rooting stems, creeping mazus spreads quickly on the ground.
Mazus creeping grows only 2 inches (5 cm) tall and spreads out to 12 inches (30 cm). It’s a fantastic ground cover blooming plant for tight spaces. It can withstand a lot of foot traffic and grows between stepping stones. In mild winters, creeping mazus is an evergreen perennial. In zones 5 through 8, it’s cold hardy.
Cranesbill (Geranium)
Cranesbill (hardy geranium) is a popular ground cover plant with papery pink, magenta, purple, blue, and lilac flowers that tolerate some shade and are easy care. Due to its lovely foliage and abundance of tiny blooms that bloom from spring till fall, Hardy geraniums are simple to cultivate and transform landscapes.
Cranesbill plants, which grow no more than 12 inches (30 cm) tall, are ground cover plants. Underplanting shrubs, ground cover in full or partial sun, and small gardens with the compact, low mounds of purple blossoms and green foliage are ideal. The plants are good for weed suppression due to their dense foliage. USDA zones 3 – 9 are suitable for growing cranesbill perennial ground cover plants. Plant the easy-care plants in a spot that gets plenty of sun.
Blue Star Creeper (Isotoma fluviatilis)
Blue star creeper is a spreading ground cover that is ideal for rock gardens or between pavement stones. It has pale blue flowers and grows slowly. In the spring, you may see light-blue star-shaped blooms. Blue star creeper grows up to 3 inches (7.5 cm) high and 24 inches (60 cm) wide as a low-growing medium-fast creeping plant. Partial shade is ideal for the prostrate spreading landscape plant.
Blue star creeper thrives in USDA zones 6 – 8 and prefers shade to sunlight. It’s also known as Laurentia or swamp isotome. This spreading plant can be used as a landscape border, under shrubs, or in shade gardens. This ground cover plant stands up to pedestrian traffic and prevents weeds because of its thick growth. Blue star creeper thrives in wet or damp soil, which is a advantage. Around streams, ponds, or in poorly drained soil, you may place this ground cover.
Dalmatian Bellflower (Campanula portenschlagiana)
Dalmatian bellflower is a quick-growing perennial ground cover plant with bell-shaped, lavender-colored blooms that may be used to create rock gardens in front and backyards. The purple campanula blooms stand out against the mounds of evergreen foliage that spread over bare ground like wildfire. Dalmatian bellflower plants may be grown as container plants, hanging basket trailing plants, or rock garden plants because of their trailing, creeping stems.
Dalmatian bellflower thrives in full sun to partial shade, well-draining soil, and USDA zones 3 through 9. Up to 12 inches (30 cm) tall and 36 inches (90 cm) broad, this vigorous ground cover plant thrives. It’s important to keep in mind that it may become invasive because of its quick growth and spreading.
Society Garlic (Tulbaghia violacea)
Society garlic is a fragrant, purple-flowered perennial that thrives in full sun and enjoys the heat. It has long stems with star-shaped, tubular flowers. The clumps of gray-green garlic aromatic leaves contrast with the aromatic lilac-pink summer blooms, which are 1 inch (2.5 cm) in diameter. Society garlic is a easygoing plant that spreads slowly without becoming invasive.
In full sun, garlic grows best in USDA zones 7–10. Between 12 inches and 20 inches (30 cm) tall and 12 inches (30 cm) broad, the mound-forming perennial thrives. At the apex of tall stems, clusters of purple lilac blooms bloom. Containers, rock gardens, mixed beds, borders, and herb gardens are all good places to grow this stunning tender perennial.
Hosta (Hosta sieboldiana)
The attractive leaves of hosta plants are most often grown in the shade, although several hosta types develop flowers on lengthy stems. The ground-covering foliage of hosta plants is the most common cultivar. Weeds are crowded out by the plant’s deep roots, making gardening less effortful. In the spring and summer, mound-forming plants produce clusters of lilac blooms on 27-inch (67-cm) stems.
USDA zones 3 through 9 are suitable for grow hosta perennials. Between 2 and 3 feet (0.6 and 1 m) tall and 4 feet (1.2 m) broad, easy-care ground cover plants grow. Hosta is suitable for use as a foundation plant, in pots, or as ground cover and is tolerant of both sun and some shade.