Low-Maintenance Landscaping: 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

Full sun: At least 6 hours of full sun

Part sun: 2-4 hours of full sun per day

Full shade: Full shade

Perks

Pollinator-friendly: Attracts pollinators

Attracts birds: Attracts birds

Edible: Edible parts*

Geography

Native: Native

Non-native: Non-native, Florida-friendly

 

Groundcovers

Ice plant (Carpobrotus edulis)

Ice plant with pink flowers and succulent leaves
Credit: Ralph Mitchell, UF/IFAS

Full sun Pollinator-friendly Non-nativeEdible

Height 3 to 6 inches
Growth Rate Fast
Hardiness 7B to 11
Light Requirement Full sun
Salt Tolerance High
Drought Tolerance High
Soil Preference Slightly acidic to slightly alkaline (6.0-7.2), sandy, well-drained
Comments
  • Florida-friendly plant
  • Leaves and flowers are edible
  • Best grown on rocks and pebbles
  • Great groundcover to cover up “egg rock” landscape beds, which are not Florida-friendly

Read more here.

Frogfruit (Phyla nodiflora)

Frogfruit
Credit: Jackie Lebouitz, UF/IFAS

Full sun Part sunPollinator-friendly Native

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)

Atala on sunshine mimosa flower
Credit: Forest Hecker, UF/IFAS

Full sun Pollinator-friendly Native

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)

Perennial peanut patch
Credit: UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions

Full sun Pollinator-friendly Non-native Edible

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)

Asiatic jasmine
Credit: UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions

Full sunPart sunFull shade Non-native

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)

Dwarf mondo grass around tree with decorative rock
Credit: UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions

Part sunFull shade Non-native

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)

Bahiagrass
Credit: Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Program

Full sun Non-native

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.

Blog Series Headline photo
A handful of the “lawn ornaments” that will be featured in this blog series. Top row left to right: sunshine mimosa, perennial peanut, frogfruit, fleabane. Bottom row left to right: pennywort, lobelia, Florida snow, blue-eyed grass.

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.

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Forest Hecker, Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Community Educator for Sarasota County's UF/IFAS Extension and Sustainability Department.Ashley Ellis, Residential Horticulture Agent and Master Gardener Volunteer Coordinator in Sarasota County.
Posted: November 21, 2023


Category: Conservation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Lawn, Water
Tags: Alternative, Grass, Groundcovers, Landscaping, Lawn, Lml, Low, Low-maintenance Landscaping, Maintenance, Pgm_Water, Water


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