ground cover plants for hot dry areas
Looking for ground cover plants for hot dry areas in New Zealand? You’re not alone. Exposed slopes, sun-soaked driveways, and sandy soils are common challenges for Kiwi gardeners. Luckily, the right groundcover choices can create low-maintenance, drought-tolerant carpets of green (and even silver or blue) in the toughest spots. In this guide, we’ll introduce several top-performing ground cover plants for hot dry areas, along with tips on how to establish and care for them in your garden.
Muehlenbeckia complexa (Pohuehue)
Muehlenbeckia complexa (Pohuehue) is a vigorous, hardy NZ native climber or groundcover. It features wiry, twining stems and small, glossy green leaves that create dense coverage. Growing up to 4 m wide and 2 m high, it’s perfect for fences, banks, or walls. Pohuehue tolerates wind, salt spray, and dry conditions once established.
From $20.63
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 leaves. The foliage is held densely on prostrate branches as it grows to 30 cm in height and 1.5 m in width.
