Ground Cover Plants For Zone 6 (10 Plant Types To Try)

Ground cover plants can beautify your yard and prevent soil from washing away. Some ground cover plants are cold hardy and can survive in cold climates, even with subzero temperatures in winter.

So, what are some ground cover plants for Zone 6? Ground cover plants for Zone 6 include: Arizona Sage, Carolina Jessamine, Carpet Sedum, Lilyturf, Lithodora, Mondo Grass, Muscadine, Purple Verbena, Spikemoss, and Sweet Box. Some of these ground cover plants produce colorful flowers or have interesting foliage.

Of course, some of these plants will tolerate extreme cold and can survive even further north than Zone 6.

In this article, we’ll talk about 10 ground cover plants for Zone 6. We’ll also take a look at what each one needs in terms of light, water, and other important growth factors.

Let’s get going.

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10 Ground Cover Plants For Zone 6

There are lots of ground cover plants that can survive in Zone 6, but here is a list of 10 to get you started:

Arizona Sage
Carolina Jessamine
Carpet Sedum
Lilyturf
Lithodora
Mondo Grass
Muscadine
Purple Verbena
Spikemoss
Sweet Box

Let’s start off with Arizona Sage.

Arizona Sage

Arizona Sage (Salvia arizonica) is a perennial ground cover herb that produces small blue flowers from late spring to early fall.

Arizona Sage needs low to moderate moisture levels and resists drought. It needs good drainage in a container. Too much water will cause root rot and eventually kill the plant.

Arizona Sage tolerates partial or full shade. It can tolerate acidic, alkaline, or neutral soil (pH of 6.1 to 7.8).

Arizona Sage can tolerate cold. As an outdoor plant, it is hardy to Zone 6 or colder (as cold as -10 degrees Fahrenheit or –23 degrees Celsius).

This plant grows to a height of 18 to 24 inches, with a width of 24 inches.

You can learn more about Arizona Sage from the National Gardening Association’s Plant Database.

You can find Arizona Sage from High Country Gardens.

Carolina Jessamine

Carolina Jessamine (Gelsemium sempervirens) is a perennial ground cover vine that produces small (1 to 2 inches) fragrant yellow flowers from late winter to spring.

Carolina Jessamine needs moderate moisture levels, but resists both drought and humidity. It needs good drainage in a container. Too much water will cause root rot and eventually kill the plant.

Carolina Jessamine likes full sun, but tolerates partial shade. It can tolerate slightly acidic or neutral soil (pH of 6.1 to 7.3).

Carolina Jessamine can tolerate cold. As an outdoor plant, it is hardy to Zone 6 or colder (as cold as -10 degrees Fahrenheit or –23 degrees Celsius).

This plant grows to a height of 10 to 20 feet, with a width of 3 to 6 feet.

You can propagate Carolina Jessamine by layering or by stem cuttings.

You can learn more about Carolina Jessamine from the National Gardening Association’s Plant Database.

You can find Carolina Jessamine from Wilson Bros Gardens.

Carpet Sedum

Carpet Sedum (Sedum lineare) is a perennial ground cover succulent that produces tiny (less than 1 inch) yellow flowers from late spring to summer.

Carpet Sedum needs dry to moderate moisture levels, but resists drought. It needs good drainage in a container. Too much water will cause root rot and eventually kill the plant.

Carpet Sedum likes full sun, but tolerates partial shade. It can tolerate slightly acidic to slightly alkaline soil (pH of 6.0 to 8.0).

Carpet Sedum can tolerate cold. As an outdoor plant, it is hardy to Zone 6 or colder (as cold as -10 degrees Fahrenheit or –23 degrees Celsius).

This plant grows to a height of 3 to 9 inches, with a width of 6 to 12 inches.

You can propagate Carpet Sedum by layering, division, stem cuttings, or tip cuttings.

You can learn more about Carpet Sedum from the National Gardening Association’s Plant Database.

You can find Carpet Sedum from Mountain Crest Gardens.

Lilyturf

Lilyturf (Liriope) is a perennial ground cover grass that is evergreen.

Lilyturf needs dry to moderate moisture levels, but resists drought. It needs good drainage in a container. Too much water will cause root rot and eventually kill the plant.

Lilyturf likes full sun, but tolerates partial shade. It can tolerate slightly acidic to neutral soil.

Lilyturf can tolerate cold. As an outdoor plant, it is hardy to Zone 6 or colder (as cold as -10 degrees Fahrenheit or –23 degrees Celsius).

This plant grows to a height of 18 inches, with a width of 18 inches.

You can propagate Lilyturf by offsets.

You can learn more about Lilyturf from the National Gardening Association’s Plant Database.

You can find Lilyturf from Wilson Bros Gardens.

Lithodora

Lithodora is a perennial ground cover shrub that produces tiny (less than 1 inch) blue flowers in summer. It helps to prevent soil erosion.

Lithodora needs moderate moisture levels. It needs good drainage in a container. Too much water will cause root rot and eventually kill the plant.

Lithodora likes full sun, but tolerates partial shade. It can tolerate slightly acidic to neutral soil.

Lithodora can tolerate cold. As an outdoor plant, it is hardy to Zone 6 or colder (as cold as -10 degrees Fahrenheit or –23 degrees Celsius).

This plant grows to a height of 6 to 12 inches, with a width of 3 to 6 feet.

You can learn more about Lithodora from the National Gardening Association’s Plant Database.

You can find Lithodora from Bluestone Perennials.

Mondo Grass

Mondo Grass (Ophiopogon japonicas) is a perennial ground cover grass that produces tiny (less than 1 inch) lavender flowers in summer. It has interesting dark-purple to black foliage.

Mondo Grass needs moderate moisture levels, but tolerates both drought and humidity. It needs good drainage in a container. Too much water will cause root rot and eventually kill the plant.

Mondo Grass likes full sun, but tolerates partial shade. It can tolerate slightly acidic to slightly alkaline soil (pH of 6.1 to 7.8).

Mondo Grass can tolerate cold. As an outdoor plant, it is hardy to Zone 6 or colder (as cold as -10 degrees Fahrenheit or –23 degrees Celsius).

This plant grows to a height of 6 to 8 inches, with a width of 6 to 12 inches.

You can propagate Mondo Grass by division.

You can learn more about Mondo Grass from the National Gardening Association’s Plant Database.

You can find Mondo Grass from Wilson Bros Gardens.

Muscadine

Muscadine (Vitis rotundifola) is a perennial ground cover vining shrub that produces white flowers in late spring or early summer. As an added bonus, it produces edible fruit (grapes!)

Muscadine needs low to moderate moisture levels, and can be used in xeriscaping. It needs good drainage in a container. Too much water will cause root rot and eventually kill the plant.

Muscadine likes full sun, but tolerates partial shade. It can tolerate slightly acidic to neutral soil.

Muscadine can tolerate cold. As an outdoor plant, it is hardy to Zone 6 or colder (as cold as -10 degrees Fahrenheit or –23 degrees Celsius).

This plant grows to a height of 100 feet when allowed to climb trees, with a width of 20 feet or more.

You can propagate Muscadine by stem cuttings or tip cuttings. It is self-fertile, but will not grow true from seed.

You can learn more about Muscadine from the National Gardening Association’s Plant Database.

You can find Muscadine from Wilson Bros Gardens.

Purple Verbena

Purple Verbena (Glandularia canadensis) is a perennial ground cover herb that produces fragrant purple flowers from spring to fall.

Purple Verbena needs low to moderate moisture levels, and can tolerate both drought and salt. It needs good drainage in a container. Too much water will cause root rot and eventually kill the plant.

Purple Verbena likes full sun, but tolerates partial shade. It can tolerate slightly acidic to slightly alkaline soil.

Purple Verbena can tolerate cold. As an outdoor plant, it is hardy to Zone 6 or colder (as cold as -10 degrees Fahrenheit or –23 degrees Celsius).

This plant grows to a height of 6 to 12 inches, with a width of 18 to 36 inches.

You can propagate Purple Verbena by division or by stem cuttings.

You can learn more about Purple Verbena from the National Gardening Association’s Plant Database.

You can find Purple Verbena from Grimm’s Garden.

Spikemoss

Spikemoss (Selaginella) is a perennial ground cover herb with dark green leaves that are red on the underside of the leaf.

Spikemoss needs low to moderate moisture levels. It needs good drainage in a container. Too much water will cause root rot and eventually kill the plant.

Spikemoss likes partial to full shade. It can tolerate slightly acidic to neutral soil.

Spikemoss can tolerate cold. As an outdoor plant, it is hardy to Zone 6 or colder (as cold as -10 degrees Fahrenheit or –23 degrees Celsius).

This plant grows to a height of 4 to 6 inches, with a width of 12 to 18 inches.

You can propagate Spikemoss by division or by stem cuttings.

You can learn more about Spikemoss from the National Gardening Association’s Plant Database.

You can find Spikemoss from Black Jungle Terrarium Supply.

Sweet Box

Sweet Box (Sarcococca) is a perennial ground cover shrub that produces tiny (less than 1 inch) white flowers in spring.

Sweet Box needs moderate moisture levels, but tolerates both drought and humidity. It needs good drainage in a container. Too much water will cause root rot and eventually kill the plant.

Sweet Box likes full sun but tolerates partial or full shade. It can tolerate moderately acidic to slightly acidic soil (pH of 5.6 to 6.5).

Sweet Box can tolerate cold. As an outdoor plant, it is hardy to Zone 6 or colder (as cold as -10 degrees Fahrenheit or –23 degrees Celsius).

This plant grows to a height of 18 to 24 inches, with a width of 4 to 8 feet.

You can propagate Sweet Box by semi-hardwood cuttings in late summer or by seeds planted in fall or spring.

You can learn more about Sweet Box from the National Gardening Association’s Plant Database.

You can find Sweet Box from Nature Hills.

Conclusion

Now you know about 10 ground cover plants for Zone 6 and how to care for them. Hopefully they will help you to fill in the landscape in your yard and beautify your home.

Looking for exotic fruit that grows in Zone 6? Check these out!

You might also like to read my article on shade plants for Zone 6.

If some parts of your yard don’t get much sunlight, you might also want to check out my article on ground cover plants for shade or my article on flowering ground cover plants for shade.

For something a little different to plant in a sunny spot in your yard, check out my article on ferns for full sun.

I hope you found this article helpful. If so, please share it with someone who can use the information.

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