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low maintenance ground cover plants nz

Are you searching for low maintenance ground cover plants for your garden in New Zealand? You're in the right place! Ground cover plants are a brilliant solution for those wanting to create beautiful landscapes without the fuss of high-maintenance gardening. These hardy plants not only save you time and effort but also enhance your outdoor spaces by providing color, texture, and soil stability. Whether you're looking to restrict weeds, cover bare soil, or create a tapestry of delightful greenery, low maintenance ground cover plants are the answer.

Fuchsia procumbens plant growing across the ground with green foliage and yellow-green flowers.

Fuchsia procumbens (Creeping Fuchsia)

5 from 3 customers

Fuchsia procumbens, commonly known as Creeping Fuchsia, is a low-growing, NZ native plant valued for its unique yellow-red flowers and ornamental berries. Ideal as a groundcover, it spreads gently over shaded or partially sunny spots and adds interest to garden beds, banks, or pots. This hardy and compact variety thrives in well-drained soils and is perfect for creating a natural, low-maintenance landscape. NB: In warm climates, this plant remains evergreen but will become semi-deciduous during winter in cooler regions.

Suited to regions: Subtropical, Temperate
Plant type: Groundcover Plants
Height: 5 cm
Spread: 1.00 m
Flowering time: Spring
Tolerances: Wet
Garden uses: Banks, Borders, Containers, Ground covering, Living areas, Paths & Steps, Patios, Ponds, Pool areas
Garden styles: Backyard, City & Courtyard, Frontyard, Japanese, Modern, Native
Ajuga 'Chocolate Chip' plants as an effective ground cover.

Ajuga Chocolate Chip

5 from 2 customers

Ajuga 'Chocolate Chip' is a compact groundcover prized for its narrow, glossy bronze-purple leaves and vibrant blue flower spikes in spring. Growing just 10–15 cm tall and spreading up to 60 cm wide, it’s perfect for edging, between pavers, or under shrubs. It thrives in full sun to part shade and prefers moist, well-drained soil. Hardy and low-maintenance, this variety adds bold colour and texture to garden beds, rockeries, and shaded corners in NZ gardens.

Suited to regions: All regions
Plant type: Groundcover Plants
Height: 10 cm
Spread: 20 cm
Flowering time: Spring
Garden uses: Borders, Containers, Ground covering, Living areas, Paths & Steps, Pool areas
Garden styles: Backyard, City & Courtyard, Frontyard, Mediterranean, Modern, Tropical
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$24.05
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...

From$16.84
Coprosma kirkii green foliage held on yellow stems.

Coprosma kirkii

Coprosma kirkii, commonly known as Creeping Coprosma, is a hardy NZ native groundcover shrub valued for its dense, trailing habit and small glossy...

From$19.44
Grevillea lanigera 'Mt Tamboritha' pink flowers amidst dark green foliage.

Grevillea lanigera 'Mt Tamboritha'

Grevillea lanigera 'Mt Tamboritha' is a popular evergreen groundcover shrub admired for its dense, spreading habit and masses of pink and cream...

From$27.24
Carex maorica growing in water.

Carex maorica (NZ Sedge)

Carex maorica is a hardy New Zealand native sedge that forms attractive clumps of arching, green foliage. Found naturally in wetlands and damp areas...

From$6.44
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$17.55
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$18.14
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$25.94
Coprosma Poor Knights with lush green foliage.

Coprosma Poor Knights (Taupata)

Coprosma Poor Knights (Coprosma repens ‘Poor Knights’) is a resilient New Zealand native plant ideal for coastal and low-maintenance gardens. Its...

From$20.74
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$78.12
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$27.24
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$20.74
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$19.44
Coprosma 'Black Cloud' shrub in a garden with black and green foliage.

Coprosma Black Cloud (Black Coprosma)

Coprosma Black Cloud is a compact, evergreen New Zealand native shrub renowned for its dense, dark brown to black foliage. Growing up to 70 cm tall...

From$16.84
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$22.04
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$19.44
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$15.54
Trachelospermum jasminoides (Star Jasmine) as a ground cover showing lush foliage and white flowers.

Trachelospermum jasminoides (Star Jasmine)

Star Jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides) is a versatile, evergreen climber renowned for its glossy green leaves and masses of highly fragrant white...

From$17.55
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$23.34
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$24.05
Westringia 'Mundi' with lush green-grey foliage and white flowers in a pot.

Westringia Mundi

Westringia 'Mundi' is a variety of the commonly known Coastal Rosemary, and is grown for its lovely foliage and great form. It grows as a spreading...

From$19.44
carex-everest-

Carex Everest (Japanese Sedge Plant)

Carex Everest features grass like leaves that are variegated with dark green centres and silver-white edges. It typically grows to 35 cm tall and the...

From$25.35
rubus-pentalobus-2

Rubus pentalobus (Creeping Raspberry)

Commonly known as Creeping Raspberry, this is a low-growing herbaceous perennial favoured for its foliage and form. It produces masses of richly...

From$33.74
juniperus-blue-star-

Juniperus squamata 'Blue Star' (Juniperus Blue Star)

Juniperus Blue Star, commonly known as the Flaky Juniper, is a very showy, low growing conifer which is often used as a groundcover. It has fine...

From$61.75
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$27.24
Bletilla striata pink flower.

Bletilla striata (Chinese Ground Orchid)

Bletilla striata, commonly known as the Chinese Ground Orchid, is an herbaceous perennial grown for its pretty, pink flowers which are orchid-like in...

From$18.85
White flowers on a Cistus 'Snowmound' plant with green foliage.

Cistus Snowmound (White Rock Rose Plant)

Cistus ‘Snowmound’ is a compact evergreen shrub that produces a breathtaking display of pure white flowers with golden-yellow centres from late...

From$23.34
sorbus-scarlet-king-

Sorbus aucuparia Scarlet King (Rowan Tree NZ)

Sorbus aucuparia Scarlet King is a variety of the commonly known, Mountain Ash, and is a small-sized, deciduous with impressive characteristics...

From$288.81
A lush Coprosma repens shrub growing in a shaded position.

Coprosma repens (Mirror Plant)

Coprosma repens, also known as Taupata or Mirror Plant, is a robust New Zealand native shrub featuring lush, glossy green foliage. Growing up to 3...

From$19.44
vinca-illumination-

Vinca minor Illumination

Vinca minor Illumination is a variety of the commonly known, Periwinkle, and is a popular, evergreen perennial often used as a ground cover. It...

From$22.04
Fuchsia procumbens (Creeping Fuchsia)

Did you find what you are looking for?

You might be interested in exploring related Latin Names - Acaena, Ajuga, Bletilla, Carex, Cistus, Coprosma, Fuchsia, Grevillea, Helichrysum, Juniperus, Leptospermum, Muehlenbeckia, Pimelea, Rubus, Sorbus, Stachys, Trachelospermum Vinca and Westringia, or related Categories - Evergreen Climbers, Grasses, Groundcover Plants, Perennials Evergreen Shrubs and Deciduous Trees.

Search low maintenance ground cover plants nz

Benefits of Low Maintenance Ground Cover Plants

Low maintenance ground cover plants in NZ offer many benefits that make them a favorite among gardeners. Firstly, these plants require minimal care, which means less watering, weeding, and fertilization. This quality makes them ideal for busy individuals or those new to gardening. Additionally, they help prevent soil erosion and retain moisture, allowing your garden to thrive even during drier months.

One of the great choices in this category is Pimelea mimosa, known for its attractive foliage and delicate flowers. It provides excellent coverage while being resilient and easy to grow. For a stunning blue option, consider Pimelea prostrata Misty Blue, which adds a unique touch to your garden design.

Popular Varieties of Ground Cover Plants

Exploring various options for low maintenance ground cover plants can be exciting! Here are some top picks that not only beautify your garden but are also simple to care for.

  1. Muehlenbeckia complexa: This versatile plant is perfect for weaving through rocky terrains or spilling over walls, making it an excellent choice for unique landscaping features. Check out Muehlenbeckia complexa for details on how this plant can enhance your outdoor space.

  2. Carex solandri: With its lush green blades, Carex solandri brings a soft texture that looks great in any setting. It's drought tolerant, making it a fantastic addition for low fuss gardens.

  3. Correa Limelight: With its vibrant foliage and lovely flowers, Correa Limelight is a must-have for any low maintenance garden. It’s known for its ability to thrive in various conditions, adding life and color effortlessly.

Ground Cover Plants for Specific Needs

When choosing low maintenance ground cover plants, consider your specific garden needs or the environment you’re working with. For sunny spots, options like Fuchsia procumbens are wonderful, while those seeking shade may find Pratia Country Park to be the perfect fit.

Another fantastic option is Carex comans Red, a unique grass that offers a pop of color and excellent coverage. If you're after varied textures, mix in Ajuga reptans variegata for a captivating layout.

In conclusion, opting for low maintenance ground cover plants in NZ is a smart, eco-friendly choice for both novice and experienced gardeners. With a wide selection available, from hardy native plants to stunning ornamental varieties, your dream garden is just around the corner. Dive into our collection and discover the perfect low maintenance ground cover plants to beautify your landscape today. Happy gardening!


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Our garden favourites Corokia 'Geenty's Green' and Ficus Tuffi get lots of love, but don’t miss out on a few lesser-known delights: Cherry Rainier, Apple Maypole, and Lavender Sensation Rose.
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