Low-Maintenance Landscaping: Groundcovers

Low-Maintenance Groundcovers

Groundcovers are low-to-the-ground plants that you can use to help fill out your landscape. Keep reading to learn about some groundcover plants that require minimal watering and care in Sarasota County. Note: The following information is adapted from the Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Plant Guide.

Legend

Apart from the information presented in the table, the following features will be highlighted under each plant’s picture.

Light

: At least 6 hours of full sun : 2-4 hours of full sun per day : Full shade

Perks

: Attracts pollinators : Attracts birds : Edible parts*

Geography

: Native : Non-native, Florida-friendly  

Groundcovers

Ice plant (Carpobrotus edulis)

Frogfruit (Phyla nodiflora)

  

Height	1 to 6 inches
Growth Rate	Moderate
Hardiness	8A to 11
Light Requirement	Full to partial sun
Salt Tolerance	Low
Drought Tolerance	Medium
Soil Preference	Tolerates wide range of soil pH (4.5-8.0), medium to well-drained
Comments	Native plant Small, purplish-white flowers Often found by ponds and other freshwater habitats Attracts butterflies and other pollinators Host plant for the white peacock butterfly

Read more here.

Sunshine mimosa (Mimosa strigillosa)

  

Height	3 to 8 inches
Growth Rate	Fast
Hardiness	8A to 11
Light Requirement	Full sun
Salt Tolerance	Medium
Drought Tolerance	Medium
Soil Preference	Acidic to slightly alkaline (4.5-7.2), well-drained
Comments	Native plant Fixes nitrogen in the soil Leaves are “sensitive” and close up when touched Deep and complex roots excel at erosion control Host to little sulphur butterfly

Read more here. Quick hits video here.

Perennial peanut (Arachis glabrata)

   

Height	3 to 8 inches
Growth Rate	Fast
Hardiness	8B to 11
Light Requirement	Full sun
Salt Tolerance	High
Drought Tolerance	High
Soil Preference	Slightly acidic to slightly alkaline (6.0-7.2), sandy clay, well-drained
Comments	Florida-friendly plant Fixes nitrogen in the soil Flowers are edible Dwarf varieties available Deep and complex roots excel at erosion control

Read more here. Quick hits video here.

Asiatic jasmine (Trachelospermum asiaticum)

 

Height	6 to 8 inches
Growth Rate	Fast
Hardiness	8A to 11
Light Requirement	Full sun to full shade
Salt Tolerance	Medium
Drought Tolerance	Medium
Soil Preference	Tolerates wide range of soil pH (4.5-8.0), medium to well-drained
Comments	Florida-friendly plant Sensitive to foot traffic Excellent shade plant Variegated cultivar exists

Read more here.

Dwarf mondo grass (Ophiopogon japonicus)

 

Height	2 to 6 inches
Growth Rate	Slow
Hardiness	7A to 11
Light Requirement	Partial sun to full shade
Salt Tolerance	Medium
Drought Tolerance	Medium
Soil Preference	Slightly acidic to slightly alkaline (6.0-7.2), well-drained
Comments	Florida-friendly plant Good groundcover choice for shaded areas Sensitive to foot traffic Best used with stepping stones

Read more here.

Bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum Flugge)

 

Height	3 to 4 inches
Growth Rate	Moderate
Hardiness	7A to 11
Light Requirement	Full sun
Salt Tolerance	Low
Drought Tolerance	High
Soil Preference	Slightly acidic (5.0-6.5), medium to well-drained
Comments	Florida-friendly plant Often found in meadows and pastures Recommended mowing height is 3 to 4 inches

Read more here.

Mixed-mowable lawn

Finally, nothing is more low-maintenance than a mixed-mowable lawn. Embracing a mixture of the above groundcovers and more that are covered in the Lawn Ornament Blog Series in the Right Places will lead to a low-maintenance, eco-friendly lawn. You will utilize less chemicals, use less irrigation, and provide for local wildlife, all while having a visually striking lawn.

If you want to learn about other low-maintenance plants for your landscape, read the rest of our Low-Maintenance Landscaping blog series. *Although we discuss edibility in this blog, UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County is not responsible for any illness or injury associated with foraging. Be aware that some plants may have been treated with pesticides and are not fit for human consumption. Always exercise caution.