Name: The Plant Company
Address: 284 Meeanee Road, Meeanee, Napier, 4112, New Zealand
Telephone: 0800 843 752
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best ground cover plants to prevent weeds

Looking for the best ground cover plants to prevent weeds in your New Zealand garden? Smart gardeners know that planting dense, low-growing ground covers not only keeps your garden looking lush but also helps suppress unwanted weeds, reducing maintenance. Choosing the right ground cover plants creates a living carpet that blocks sunlight from reaching weed seeds, making it harder for them to sprout and thrive. With the right selections, your garden beds, borders, or even tricky sloped areas can stay weed-free and attractive all year round.

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 seed heads that follow clusters of inconspicuous flowers. This vigorous, evergreen groundcover forms dense mats that suppress weeds and stabilise soil. Tough and adaptable, Acaena novae-zelandiae thrives in exposed and coastal conditions, making it an excellent choice for erosion control and low maintenance gardens.

Buy Acaena novae-zelandiae (Piripiri)

From $18.83

Suited to regions: All regions

Plant type: Groundcover Plants

Height: 10 cm

Spread: 4.00 m

Flowering time: Summer

Tolerances: Coastal, Hardy, Wet, Wind

Garden uses: Borders, Ground covering, Paths & Steps, Ponds

Garden styles: Architectural, Backyard, City & Courtyard, Coastal, Frontyard, Modern, Native

Ajuga 'Catlins Giant'

Ajuga 'Catlins Giant' (Bugleweed Plant) is a vigorous evergreen groundcover valued for its large glossy dark green leaves and striking blue flower spikes in spring. This robust variety performs exceptionally well in New Zealand gardens and is ideal for fast ground coverage, borders, and underplanting. Its bold foliage and spreading habit make it an excellent choice for suppressing weeds while adding texture and seasonal colour to the landscape.

Buy Ajuga 'Catlins Giant'

From $18.23

Suited to regions: All regions

Plant type: Groundcover Plants

Height: 25 cm

Spread: 80 cm

Flowering time: Spring

Tolerances: Coastal, Hardy, Shade

Garden uses: Borders, Containers, Ground covering, Living areas, Parks, Paths & Steps, Patios, Pool areas, Specimen

Garden styles: Backyard, City & Courtyard, Coastal, Frontyard, Mediterranean, Modern

Why Ground Cover Plants Are Essential for Weed Control

Ground cover plants act as a natural barrier against weeds by shading the soil and outcompeting unwelcome growth. Unlike mulch, ground covers offer year-round appeal, prevent soil erosion, and provide habitat for pollinators. Whether you need coverage under trees, along paths, or in sunny and shaded spots, there's a ground cover suited for every situation. The best ground cover plants to prevent weeds in New Zealand should be fast-growing, dense, and hardy.

Top Ground Cover Plants to Prevent Weeds

1. Acaena novae-zelandiae (Piripiri)

Native and tough, Acaena novae-zelandiae (Piripiri) forms a thick mat of foliage that quickly blankets the ground. With its spreading habit and attractive leaf texture, Piripiri is ideal for open spaces and works wonders at keeping weeds at bay. It’s particularly well-suited to coastal and rocky areas, and requires minimal care once established.

2. Ajuga 'Catlins Giant'

The broad, glossy leaves of Ajuga 'Catlins Giant' create a dense cover, effectively stopping weeds from pushing through. Ajuga thrives in both sun and shade, and produces beautiful blue flowers in spring. It's a popular choice for underplanting and shaded borders, where weed growth can be rampant.

3. Coprosma kirkii 'variegata'

Variegated foliage brings extra visual interest, and Coprosma kirkii 'variegata' offers reliable, evergreen coverage that chokes out weeds. This low-growing shrub suits exposed locations and spreads readily, making it an excellent weed suppressor for larger areas.

4. Coprosma kirkii

For a classic, NZ-native solution, Coprosma kirkii provides excellent weed suppression through its compact habit and ability to adapt to a range of conditions. This species forms tidy mats of foliage, protecting soil and outcompeting weeds year-round.

5. Ajuga 'Port Wine'

With deep, rich foliage tones, Ajuga 'Port Wine' is not only beautiful but also a powerful ground cover for weed control. Its growth habit ensures quick coverage and its resilience means fewer weeds and less garden maintenance.

Establishing Ground Cover for Maximum Weed Prevention

To get the best from your ground cover plants, space them appropriately so they quickly join together and shade the soil completely. Ensure new plantings are well watered and mulched until established. Over time, these plants serve as both ornamentals and weed-fighters, transforming troublesome spots into vibrant, low-maintenance garden areas.

Choose the Best Ground Cover Plants for Your Garden

Investing in the best ground cover plants to prevent weeds ensures your garden thrives with less effort and looks stunning all year. Discover more options and expert advice from our range of ground covers, and enjoy weed-free gardening the natural way.

Contact us

Whether you need assistance finding the plant you’re looking for or you simply want to know more about who we are and what we do, we invite you to get in touch with us today. A member of The Plant Company team will get back in touch as soon as possible.