10 Ground Covers That Stay Green Even in Cold Weather

Bare dirt in winter makes a yard look tired fast. The nice thing is, you don’t have to plant a forest of shrubs to keep things looking alive. Evergreen and semi-evergreen ground covers can keep some color going, cover mud, and even help with weeds while everything else is sleeping.

Here are options that stay green (or close to it) when the temperature drops, so your beds don’t look completely wiped out.

1. Creeping thyme for sunny, dry spots

Creeping thyme is great if you’ve got full sun and soil that drains well. It stays low, hugs the ground, and a lot of varieties stay green or gray-green through winter in many zones. In summer, it gives you tiny blooms that pollinators love, but the real win is how it fills in between stepping stones or along borders.

It doesn’t like wet, heavy soil, so it’s better on the edges of walkways, rock gardens, or raised areas than in soggy beds. Once it’s established, it handles neglect pretty well and smells good when you brush against it.

2. Vinca minor (periwinkle) for shady coverage

If you’ve got those shady areas under trees or along the side of the house where grass refuses to grow, vinca minor is a strong option. It’s an evergreen vine-like ground cover with glossy leaves that stay green year-round in many climates. In spring, it throws out little blue, purple, or white flowers.

It spreads steadily, so it’s great when you want a real “carpet” instead of patchy coverage. Just don’t tuck it right up against delicate plants you don’t want it creeping into. It’s best used in areas where you are happy for it to dominate, like under trees or in tough corners you’re tired of fighting.

3. Creeping phlox for bank edges and front borders

Creeping phlox is the one you see draped over rock walls or banks in spring, covered in flowers. What people forget is that it also gives you a mat of green foliage the rest of the year, which helps keep beds from looking bare.

It likes sun and good drainage, so it does well in rock gardens, along front borders, or on slopes. Once established, it doesn’t need much from you. You get that big spring color show, then a neat carpet instead of bare dirt once the blooms fade. It’s a good “edge” plant where you want something low that still pulls its weight.

4. Mondo grass (and dwarf mondo) for neat, low clumps

Mondo grass looks like a little tufted grass, but it’s actually a strappy evergreen that holds up well through winter in milder zones. Dwarf mondo stays very low and makes a nice border along paths, stepping stones, or around trees.

It’s slow to spread, which can be a plus if you want control. You can plant small plugs in a grid and let them slowly knit together over time. It handles partial shade, works well under trees, and gives you that “finished” look without needing mowing. If you’re tired of mulch washing away from certain edges, mondo is a good way to lock them in visually.

5. Ajuga (bugleweed) for color and coverage

Ajuga is one of those plants that quietly does a lot. It has glossy foliage that can be green, bronze, or even purple, and it sends up short flower spikes in spring. The foliage often stays attractive deep into winter, especially in milder areas.

It spreads by runners and fills in between larger perennials or shrubs, which makes it handy in spots where you want something low to tie things together. It likes part sun to part shade and can deal with some foot traffic at the edges. Just keep an eye on it and don’t let it wander into areas where you want bare soil or more delicate plants.

6. Sedum “Angelina” and other low stonecrops

Some sedums are tender, but many of the low-growing types are tough and stay colorful year-round. ‘Angelina’ is a popular one—it forms a mat of golden, needle-like foliage that can turn more orange or bronze in cold weather instead of disappearing.

These stonecrops love sun and well-drained soil. They’re great along rock edges, walls, or in dry spots where most plants sulk. They don’t want rich, soggy soil, so think of them for problem areas where you’re tired of babysitting other ground covers. They give you texture and color when the rest of the bed has checked out for the season.

7. Creeping Jenny (in the right spot)

Creeping Jenny gives you bright chartreuse or green trailing foliage that can be semi-evergreen in many climates. It looks great spilling over the edge of pots, walls, or raised beds. In winter, it often holds on to some color, which keeps things from feeling totally dead.

The tradeoff: it can spread fast in the ground. It’s best used in containers, between stones, or in contained beds where you can keep an eye on it. If you’re okay with it filling in heavily and you’re willing to pull it back when needed, it can make a dull area look lively year-round.8. Pachysandra for deep shade (with a caveat)

8. Pachysandra for deep shade (with a caveat)

Pachysandra is a classic evergreen ground cover for shade. It forms a low mat of glossy leaves and does well under trees where grass won’t grow. It’s particularly handy for big, hard-to-plant shady areas.

The caveat: some types, especially Japanese pachysandra, can be invasive in certain regions. Before you plant it, it’s worth checking your local extension or a trusted nursery to make sure it’s recommended where you live. If it gets the green light in your area, it’s a solid way to keep shade beds looking green in winter without much effort.

9. Liriope (monkey grass) as a border workhorse

Liriope looks like a chunkier grass clump and works well as a border or filler. It usually stays green through winter in milder climates and can handle sun to part shade, depending on the variety.

You’ll often see it used to edge walkways, driveways, or bed lines. It sends up little flower spikes and then dark berries later on, but even when it’s not blooming, the foliage carries the look. It’s easy to divide and move around, so once you have a few clumps established, you can stretch them into other spots over time at no extra cost.

10. Sweet woodruff for soft, shady carpets

Sweet woodruff is a low, fine-textured ground cover that does well in part to full shade and often stays at least partly green through winter. It has small whorled leaves and tiny white flowers in spring, giving beds a soft, woodland feel.

It’s a good choice under trees, along shaded paths, or in spots where you’d like coverage but don’t want anything too tall or bold. It spreads, but usually not aggressively if conditions are average. As with any spreader, it’s smart to give it a defined area and keep an eye on it. In return, you get a neat, green carpet instead of bare soil.