Fast-Growing, Evergreen Ground Cover Options

Several species of fast growing ground cover that are evergreen are widely available at most nurseries. The following list incorporates the easiest and fastest growing species available.

Trailing Periwinkle (Vinca Minor): Trailing periwinkle produces beautiful periwinkle blossoms that emit a pleasant fragrance. It is extremely fast growing and will quickly spread throughout your garden if left unkempt. It grows just as dense and strong in full sun as it does in full or partial shade. It is a good choice for planting around the base of trees or atop a rock wall where it will eventually cascade down like a waterfall. Trailing Periwinkle has small, oval, dark green leaves and blooms in early spring.

Dragon’s Blood (Red Sedum): Dragon's blood is a beautiful and bold sun-loving ground cover species. Dragon’s Blood is deep red in color and like your skin, the more sun this plant absorbs, the more brilliant its color becomes. It can grow to be 8 inches high after several years when fully matured. This plant grows surprisingly fast when compared to similar species and spreads thickly throughout the garden. In addition, Dragon’s Blood is extremely hardy and is tolerant of dry soil and temperature variations.

Pachysandra: Pachysandra is available in four varieties, all of them are adapted to grow in the worst of soil and temperature conditions. Pachysandra quickly covers the soil it is planted in with dense green vegetation. It makes an excellent substitute for lawn grass because of its hardiness and rapid growth. In just 1 year, a Pachysandra plant can spread to cover an entire 4-foot square plot. Pachysandra would be excellently placed to grow in-between rock cervices and in the shade of low-lying trees.

Creeping Phlox (Phlox Sublata): Creeping Phlox is a low-lying ground cover that produces blossoms in a variety of outstanding colors. This species of groundcover spreads faster than any other and should be regularly trimmed if it is being used as a boarder or pathway. When not in bloom Creeping Phlox shows its tiny green leaves. However, when in bloom it becomes a blanket of color lasting several weeks. This plant needs to be mulched and fertilized especially when it is young and hasn’t established itself

Fast-growing ground cover plants can be groomed into a pathway or planted around a flowerbed. Due to their ability to grow quickly and densely, these species are a great choice for an underdeveloped garden.