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ground cover clematis

If you're searching for a versatile, low-maintenance plant to fill bare patches in your garden, ground cover clematis is a stunning solution. Ideal for New Zealand gardens, ground cover clematis offers fast-growing foliage and delicate, often fragranced flowers that spill gracefully over banks, under shrubs, or through rocky landscapes. These hardy, reliable varieties thrive in our local climate, providing not only weed suppression but also a spectacular floral display from late spring through summer. With the right choice of clematis for ground cover, you can add charm and colour to shady corners, steep slopes, or even problem areas where other plants struggle.

bergenia-cordifolia-rotblum-

Bergenia Rotblum (Heart Leaf Bergenia)

Bergenia 'Rotblum' is a hardy evergreen perennial admired for its bold glossy foliage and vibrant deep pink flowers that appear in late winter and spring. This reliable plant provides strong structure and colour in New Zealand gardens throughout the year. The large leaves form dense clumps that create excellent ground cover and visual impact. Bergenia 'Rotblum' is a great choice for gardeners wanting a tough attractive perennial that delivers seasonal colour with very little maintenance.

Suited to regions: Subtropical, Temperate
Plant type: Perennials
Height: 30 cm
Spread: 50 cm
Flowering time: Spring
Tolerances: Coastal, Hardy
Garden uses: Borders, Containers, Living areas, Parks, Paths & Steps, Patios, Ponds, Pool areas, Specimen
Garden styles: Architectural, Backyard, City & Courtyard, Coastal, Frontyard, Modern, Woodland
vinca-elizabeth-cran-1

Vinca Elizabeth Cran

5 from 1 customers

Vinca Elizabeth Cran is a variety of the commonly known, Lesser Periwinkle, features small, dark green leaves which are held densely on stems that creep along the ground. Semi-double, purple flowers adorn the plant in spring as it grows to about 10 cm tall and 1 m wide. Vinca Elizabeth Cran is commonly included in cottage gardens and used where a hardy groundcover is required. It is also often grown in a container or hanging basket and allowed to cascade over the edges.

Suited to regions: Subtropical, Temperate
Plant type: Groundcover Plants
Height: 10 cm
Spread: 1.00 m
Flowering time: Spring
Tolerances: Coastal, Hardy, Shade
Garden uses: Borders, Containers, Ground covering, Living areas, Paths & Steps, Patios, Ponds, Pool areas
Garden styles: Backyard, City & Courtyard, Coastal, Cottage, Frontyard, Japanese, Modern, White
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...

From$24.23
Pimelea prostrata 'Blue Peter' plants with fine and elegant, blue foliage.

Pimelea prostrata 'Blue Peter'

Pimelea prostrata 'Blue Peter', commonly known as Pinatoro or the NZ Daphne plant, is a mat-forming, NZ native, ground cover plant. It has small...

From$24.98
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Rose Flower Carpet Scarlet

Rose Flower Carpet Scarlet is a ground cover rose that features masses of showy, scarlet red flowers. The flowers are complemented with glossy, dark...

From$33.08
rose-flower-carpet-gold--1

Rose Flower Carpet Gold

Rose Flower Carpet Gold is a popular ground cover rose that features masses of showy, yellow flowers. Flowering begins in spring and will continue...

From$33.68
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$19.58
Grevillea 'Bronze Rambler' plant with pink flowers.

Grevillea Bronze Rambler (Groundcover Grevillea)

Grevillea Bronze Rambler, commonly known as Spider Flower, is a colourful, prostrate shrub grown for its foliage and flowers. The flowers produced...

From$28.28
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$28.28
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$18.23
Hedera canariensis growing on a wall with green foliage.

Hedera canariensis

Hedera canariensis, commonly known as Canary Island Ivy, is a vigorous evergreen climber valued for its large, glossy green leaves and rapid growth...

From$21.53
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$22.88
Coprosma 'Flat Freddy' ground cover shrub with brown stems and leaves.

Coprosma 'Flat Freddy'

Coprosma 'Flat Freddy' is a unique ground covering evergreen shrub valued for its rich chocolate brown foliage and naturally spreading form. Well...

From$21.53
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$21.53
Selliera 'Sundrops' plant with variegated yellow and green, fleshy leaves.

Selliera 'Sundrops'

Selliera 'Sundrops' is a tough low growing ground cover valued for its glossy green foliage and cheerful yellow daisy flowers that appear through the...

From$19.58
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Juniperus conferta

Juniperus conferta, commonly known as the Shore Juniper plant, is an impressive, ground hugging conifer which is often used as a groundcover. It...

From$205.02
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$20.18
Ajuga 'Jungle Beauty' plants with elegant blue flowers and lush green leaves growing as a ground cover.

Ajuga 'Jungle Beauty'

Ajuga 'Jungle Beauty' (Carpet Bugle) is a vigorous evergreen groundcover valued for its large glossy green leaves flushed with bronze and its...

From$18.23
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$33.68
coprosma-repens-green-rocks-

Coprosma Green Rocks (Mirror Bush)

Coprosma Green Rocks, commonly known as Mirror Bush, is a NZ native shrub that carries glossy green leaves on spreading stems. This evergreen...

From$24.98
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$19.58
Westringia Low Horizon with lush grey foliage as a groundcover plant.

Westringia Low Horizon

Westringia 'Low Horizon' is a variety of the commonly known Coastal Rosemary, and is a fast-growing shrub. It features narrow grey-green leaves held...

From$20.18
Hedera helix 'Needlepoint' creeping stems with green foliage.

Hedera helix 'Needlepoint'

Hedera helix ‘Needlepoint’ is a refined evergreen ivy featuring small, deeply lobed leaves with a delicate, pointed shape. This compact and elegant...

From$21.53
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$25.58
Chamaemelum nobile plants with white flowers and lush, green foliage.

Chamaemelum nobile (Chamomile)

Chamaemelum nobile, known as Lawn Chamomile or Roman Chamomile, is a fragrant, low-growing perennial herb ideal for lawns, borders, and herbal...

From$22.88
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Rhaphidophora decursiva

Rhaphidophora decursiva, commonly known as the Dragon Tail Plant or Philodendron Dragon, is a climber that features lush foliage and often grown as...

From$52.58
Ophiopogon planiscapus nigrescens (Black Mondo) plants with lush, black foliage.

Ophiopogon japonicus nigrescens

Ophiopogon japonicus nigrescens, commonly known as Black Mondo Grass, is a clump-forming plant with fine, near black foliage. The foliage is...

From$8.78
Lomandra Lime Tuff in a garden showing elegant foliage.

Lomandra Lime Tuff

The optimum Lomandra Lime Tuff planting distance for the plants to merge and become an effective ground cover is 50 cm apart. However, they must be...

From$17.48
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...

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Hedera canariensis variegata green and cream foliage.

Hedera canariensis Variegata

Hedera canariensis ‘Variegata’ is a striking evergreen climber known for its large, glossy green leaves edged with creamy-white variegation. This...

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Ophiopogon 'Black Dragon' (Black Mondo) grass plant.

Ophiopogon Black Dragon

Ophiopogon planiscapus 'Black Dragon' is a variety of black Mondo Grass that is grown for its fine, near black foliage. The foliage is complemented...

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Carex solandri grass in a NZ native planting.

Carex solandri

Carex solandri is a NZ native, ornamental grass that features attractive, dark green foliage. The foliage emerges upright and develops a gentle and...

From$13.43
Bergenia Rotblum (Heart Leaf Bergenia)

Did you find what you are looking for?

You might be interested in exploring related Latin Names - Ajuga, Bergenia, Carex, Chamaemelum, Coprosma, Gardenia, Grevillea, Hedera, Helichrysum, Juniperus, Lomandra, Muehlenbeckia, Ophiopogon, Pimelea, Pratia, Rhaphidophora, Rose, Selliera, Stachys Vinca and Westringia, or related Categories - Evergreen Climbers, Grasses, Mondo Grass, Groundcover Plants, Indoor Plants Perennials and Carpet Roses.

Search ground cover clematis

Why Choose Ground Cover Clematis?

Ground cover clematis varieties are loved by gardeners for their sprawling, trailing habit. Unlike standard climbing types, these clematis plants can scramble over the soil or cascade attractively down walls and embankments, making them perfect for use as living mulch. Their dense foliage helps reduce weed growth, conserve moisture, and protect delicate soil from erosion. Many clematis also attract pollinators, supporting the biodiversity of your garden.

While there are numerous climbing options in the clematis family, some—like Clematis marmoraria—are especially valued for their ground-hugging form and subtle beauty.

Best Ground Cover Clematis Varieties in New Zealand

A few clematis species particularly excel as ground cover. For example, Clematis marmoraria is a New Zealand native, prized for its delicate, ferny foliage and masses of white, star-shaped flowers in spring. Its compact habit makes it ideal for covering rocky ground or filling spaces beneath trees and shrubs.

Other clematis, such as Clematis montana, while chiefly known as climbers, can also be encouraged to sprawl over large areas, bringing a cascade of pink or white blossoms to slopes and wild garden patches.

You might also explore favourites like Clematis jackmanii Superba and Clematis 'John Warren' for their showy flowers and vigorous growth, which can be guided along the ground or through low-lying shrubbery for a lush, layered effect.

How to Grow and Care for Ground Cover Clematis

Most ground cover clematis prefer a sunny to partially shaded position, with roots kept cool and moist. Plant them where they have space to spread or scramble, and provide a deep mulch to retain moisture and suppress weeds. Pruning requirements are minimal—just trim back dead stems in autumn and tidy as needed. Clematis appreciate good drainage and benefit from a feed with balanced fertiliser in spring.

For a mixed and textured tapestry, consider pairing ground cover clematis with reliable natives like Muehlenbeckia complexa (Pohuehue), which offers fine, wiry stems and evergreen foliage that contrast beautifully with clematis blooms.

Transform Your Garden with Ground Cover Clematis

Whether you want to cover a bank, brighten a rock garden, or create a floral carpet beneath established trees, ground cover clematis adds elegance and practicality to any space. With a little care, these versatile plants will provide years of seasonal interest and help your garden thrive.

Explore our range of Clematis marmoraria, Clematis montana, Clematis jackmanii Superba, and Clematis 'John Warren', and discover how easy it is to enhance your landscape with breathtaking ground cover clematis.


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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.

–The Plant Company

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