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Ground Cover Plants For Sandy Soil

Coprosma acerosa growing on a sand dune.

Coprosma acerosa

Coprosma acerosa, also known as Sand Coprosma or Tātaraheke, is a hardy New Zealand native groundcover well-suited to exposed and coastal environments. It features dense, tangled, prostrate growth with delicate, needle-like foliage in shades of green to bronze. This tough plant is excellent for erosion control, dune stabilisation, and low-maintenance landscaping. It thrives in sandy, free-draining soils and tolerates wind, salt spray, and drought once established, making it an ideal choice for native, coastal, or dry gardens.

Suited to regions: All regions
Plant type: Groundcover Plants
Height: 30 cm
Spread: 1.50 m
Tolerances: Coastal, Hardy, Wind
Garden uses: Borders, Containers, Ground covering, Living areas, Paths & Steps, Ponds, Pool areas
Garden styles: Architectural, Backyard, City & Courtyard, Coastal, Frontyard, Modern, Native
helichrysum-petiolare--3

Helichrysum petiolare (Licorice Plant)

Helichrysum petiolare, commonly known as the Licorice plant, is a popular, evergreen shrub that is often used as a groundcover. It produces long stems that host small and rounded, grey-silver leaves. The leaves are complemented with cream-coloured flowers in summer as it grows to 50 cm tall and 1.5 m wide. Helichrysum petiolare is commonly included in rock and cottage gardens, used in border plantings, maintained in a container, planted around outdoor living areas such as pools and the like, or mass planted as a groundcover on a bank.

Suited to regions: All regions
Plant type: Groundcover Plants
Height: 50 cm
Spread: 1.50 m
Flowering time: Summer
Tolerances: Coastal, Hardy
Garden uses: Borders, Containers, Ground covering, Living areas, Paths & Steps, Pool areas
Garden styles: Backyard, City & Courtyard, Coastal, Frontyard, Japanese, Mediterranean, Modern, Rock
Coprosma kirkii 'Variegata' plants in pots.

Coprosma kirkii Variegata

Coprosma kirkii 'Variegata' is a hardy NZ native groundcover shrub admired for its trailing habit and attractive variegated foliage of green edged...

From$21.05
Cerastium 'Snow in summer' grey foliage and elegant white flowers.

Cerastium 'Snow in Summer'

Cerastium Snow in Summer is an herbaceous perennial featuring both impressive flowering and foliage. The plants are lavished with tiny, white, star...

From$20.46
bergenia-cordifolia-3

Bergenia cordifolia (Pig Squeak Plant)

Bergenia cordifolia, commonly known as Heartleaf Bergenia, is a hardy perennial that features large and glossy, green leaves that are wavy, arranged...

From$19.73
Muehlenbeckia axillaris growing as a ground cover.

Muehlenbeckia axillaris (Creeping Wire Vine)

Muehlenbeckia axillaris, commonly known as Creeping Wire Vine, is a hardy New Zealand native groundcover with wiry stems and small, dark green...

From$19.73
Disphyma australe pink flowers and fleshy, green leaves.

Disphyma australe (NZ Ice Plant)

Disphyma australe, commonly known as NZ Ice Plant, is a hardy and attractive groundcover valued for its fleshy, bright green foliage and striking...

From$19.14
helichrysum-argyrophyllum-1

Helichrysum argyrophyllum

Helichrysum argyrophyllum is a shrub grown for its attractive foliage and pretty flowers. The grey leaves have a velvet coating which give them a...

From$22.37
Muehlenbeckia complexa (Pohuehue) growing as a topiary hedge.

Muehlenbeckia complexa (Pohuehue)

Muehlenbeckia complexa (Pohuehue) is a vigorous, hardy NZ native climber or groundcover. It features wiry, twining stems and small, glossy green...

From$25.01
Juniperus procumbens 'Nana' (prostrate Juniper) growing as a tidy ground cover.

Juniperus procumbens Nana (Japanese Dwarf Juniper)

Juniperus procumbens 'Nana', commonly known as the Prostrate Juniper, is a ground-hugging conifer that forms a carpet of blue-green, needle-like...

From$32.93
Rosmarinus officinalis 'Lockwood de Forest' plants trailing over a wall.

Rosmarinus 'Lockwood de Forest' (Creeping Rosemary)

Rosemary 'Lockwood de Forest' is a creeping or prostrate variety of Rosemary that features petite, blue flowers through winter and spring. These are...

From$19.73
coprosma-acerosa-hawera-5

Coprosma Hawera (Sand Coprosma)

Coprosma Hawera, also known as Sand Coprosma or Tātaraheke, is a hardy New Zealand native groundcover shrub featuring fine, green foliage on orange...

From$19.73
leptospermum-pink-cascade--1

Leptospermum Pink Cascade

Leptospermum Pink Cascade is a low-growing, spreading New Zealand native shrub renowned for its vibrant pink flowers and arching growth habit. This...

From$26.33
Ajuga 'Catlins Giant' plants with green foliage and blue flowers growing in a garden bed.

Ajuga 'Catlins Giant'

Ajuga 'Catlins Giant', commonly known as the Bugleweed plant, forms a mat of glossy, burgundy leaves as it grows to 25 cm tall and 80 cm wide. Stems...

From$17.82
grevillea-gaudichaudii-2

Grevillea Gaudichaudii (Grevillea x gaudichaudii)

Grevillea Gaudichaudii, commonly known as Spider Flower, is a hardy and attractive groundcover plant. Attractive, dark green and purple tinted...

From$27.65
pimelea-mimosa--1

Pimelea mimosa

Pimelea mimosa is a mat forming, NZ native, ground covering plant. It has soft, blue-grey leaves which are held on stems that tend to climb over...

From$23.10
Acaena novae-zelandiae colourful foliage.

Acaena novae-zelandiae (Piripiri)

Acaena novae-zelandiae is a hardy NZ native groundcover commonly known as Bidgee Widgee. It is admired for its fine green foliage and small burr like...

From$18.41
Ajuga reptans 'Variegata' plants with variegated foliage and blue flowers.

Ajuga reptans variegata

Ajuga reptans 'Variegata' is a quick-growing, ground-covering plant that features colourful leaves that are variegated green and cream. In spring, it...

From$17.09
Convolvulus 'Two Moons' plant with masses of blue and white flowers.

Convolvulus Two Moons

Convolvulus ‘Two Moons’ is a striking groundcover plant celebrated for its soft silver-green foliage and masses of white, moon-like flowers with a...

From$21.05
vinca-gertrude-jekyll-1

Vinca minor Gertrude Jekyll

Vinca minor Gertrude Jekyll is a variety of the commonly known, Periwinkle, and is an herbaceous perennial often used as a groundcover. It features...

From$19.14
Pratia angulata (Panakenake) plants growing as a dense ground cover with lush green leaves and pretty, white flowers.

Pratia angulata

Pratia angulata, commonly known as Panakenake, is a fast-growing, NZ native ground cover plant. It has small, rounded, green leaves that are held...

From$19.14
Ajuga 'Jungle Beauty' plants with elegant blue flowers and lush green leaves growing as a ground cover.

Ajuga 'Jungle Beauty'

Ajuga 'Jungle Beauty', commonly known as Carpet Bugle, is a ground-covering plant characterised by dark green leaves with a purple tinge. It produces...

From$17.09
Isotoma fluviatilis plants grow as a ground cover, featuring lush, green foliage and attractive, blue flowers.

Isotoma fluviatilis

Isotoma fluviatilis features small, dark green leaves that give the appearance of a lush, green carpet. The foliage is adorned with masses of small...

From$19.14
vinca-elizabeth-cran-1

Vinca Elizabeth Cran

Vinca Elizabeth Cran is a variety of the commonly known, Lesser Periwinkle, features small, dark green leaves which are held densely on stems that...

From$19.14
A Scleranthus biflorus (Cushion Plant) green plant.

Scleranthus biflorous

Scleranthus biflorus, commonly known as the Cushion plant, is a New Zealand native with spreading, moss-like properties, but it is not a moss! It...

From$25.74
Chlorophytum 'Golden Glow' plant.

Chlorophytum Golden Glow (Chlorophytum comosum Spider Plant)

Chlorophytum Golden Glow, commonly known as the Spider Plant, is a tender, herbaceous perennial grown for its lush and bright foliage. It features...

From$21.05
A Gardenia radicans shrub looking amazing with lush foliage and white flowers.

Gardenia radicans

Gardenia radicans is a compact, low-growing shrub prized for its glossy green foliage and intensely fragrant white flowers. Blooming from late spring...

From$25.01
Silver leaves and pink flowers on a Stachys byzantina plants in a garden.

Stachys byzantina

Stachys byzantina, commonly known as Lambs Ear, is a low-growing, evergreen perennial valued for its soft, silvery foliage that resembles lambs’...

From$22.37
Sedum rubrotinctum (Jelly Bean Plant) bright red foliage.

Sedum rubrotinctum (Jelly Bean Plant)

Sedum rubrotinctum, commonly known as Jelly Bean Plant or Pork and Beans Plant, is a compact, low-growing succulent reaching 15–20 cm tall and...

From$22.37
Ajuga 'Port Wine' plant in a pot for sale at The Plant Company.

Ajuga 'Port Wine'

Ajuga 'Port Wine' brings deep wine coloured foliage and vivid blue flower spikes to NZ gardens, creating a rich tapestry of colour in shaded and semi...

From$17.82
Ajuga 'Pink Elf' plants for sale at The Plant Company nursery featuring with elegant spikes carrying pink flowers.

Ajuga 'Pink Elf'

Ajuga 'Pink Elf' is a charming ground cover that brings soft pink flower spikes and compact, vibrant foliage to NZ gardens. This petite and hardy...

From$17.82
Geranium 'Stephanie' two-tone blue flower.

Geranium Stephanie (Perennial Geranium Plants)

Geranium Stephanie is grown for its foliage and delicate flowers. This herbaceous perennial carries soft looking, mid-green leaves. The showy...

From$21.05
Coprosma acerosa

Did you find what you are looking for?

You might be interested in exploring related Latin Names - Acaena, Ajuga, Bergenia, Cerastium, Chlorophytum, Convolvulus, Coprosma, Disphyma, Gardenia, Geranium, Grevillea, Helichrysum, Isotoma, Juniperus, Leptospermum, Muehlenbeckia, Pimelea, Pratia, Rosmarinus, Scleranthus, Sedum Stachys and Vinca, or related Categories - Groundcover Plants, Indoor Plants Perennials and Succulents.

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