Ground cover shrubs blooming in summer are a fantastic way to add charm and practicality to your yard. These plants do more than just fill in the gaps with lush greenery; they bring vibrant colors throughout the warmer months, making any garden more delightful. Incorporating these flowering shrubs into your garden allows you to create a picturesque, lush space that doesn’t require too much upkeep.
Choosing the right ground cover shrubs means you’ll have a steady stream of blooms, keeping your garden lively and captivating. These versatile plants prevent soil erosion, suppress weeds, and promote a more sustainable landscape. With the right selections, you can enjoy a thriving garden that requires little effort but delivers stunning visual appeal all summer long.
Here’s a list of 12 beautiful ground cover shrubs to enhance your garden for every summer, along with some handy planting and care tips.
1: Rhododendron ‘Golden Torch’
Rhododendron ‘Golden Torch’ is a striking ground cover shrub that blooms in summer. It is known for its vibrant display of flowers and hardy nature.
This shrub grows to a height of about 3 to 5 feet. Its compact size makes it perfect for smaller gardens. It also works well when planted in groups for a more dramatic effect.
The ‘Golden Torch’ begins with salmon-pink buds in spring. These buds slowly unfold to reveal pale pink blooms. As the flowers mature, they transition to a buttery yellow, eventually becoming creamy white.
The foliage of the ‘Golden Torch’ is evergreen, providing year-round interest. Its leaves are neat and well-formed, adding to its overall visual appeal. It is a great choice for garden borders and underplanting taller shrubs and trees.
Planting ‘Golden Torch’ requires partial shade to full sun. It thrives best in well-drained soil. Space each plant about 48 inches apart to allow room for growth. This spacing helps the shrub maintain its shape and prevents overcrowding.
Regular watering is essential, especially in the first few years. Established shrubs are more drought-resistant but still benefit from occasional deep watering. The flower is attractive and beneficial for wildlife. Its flowers attract bees, making it an excellent choice for a pollinator-friendly garden.
2: Clethra alnifolia ‘Ruby Spice’
Clethra alnifolia ‘Ruby Spice’, commonly known as summersweet, is a deciduous shrub with fragrant flowers. It grows 4 to 6 feet tall and 3 to 5 feet wide and flourishes in part shade to full shade, making it suitable for various garden spots.
Summersweet is especially appreciated for its beautiful rose-pink blooms. These flowers appear in summer and provide a lovely scent. The plant’s glossy green foliage adds to its appeal, turning bright yellow in autumn.
This shrub is also resilient to insects and diseases, reducing maintenance needs. It prefers acidic, sandy soils and can thrive in wet areas where other plants may not. Clethra alnifolia ‘Ruby Spice’ is native to regions stretching from Maine to Florida and west to Texas.
Planting it near walkways or patios can enhance outdoor spaces with its delightful fragrance. It attracts bees, benefiting local ecosystems. Its compact growth habit makes it an excellent choice for small gardens. This shrub not only contributes to an attractive garden but also supports biodiversity.
3: Buddleia davidii ‘Empire Blue’
Buddleia davidii ‘Empire Blue’ is an appealing deciduous shrub known for its vibrant violet-blue flowers. These blooms appear in elongated clusters, providing a striking visual from summer into early fall. The shrub’s arching branches and green, lance-shaped leaves add to its ornamental value.
This plant is highly attractive to bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, making it a great choice for pollinator gardens. The flowers are fragrant and rich in nectar, which helps support these beneficial insects during the warmer months.
‘Empire Blue’ thrives in full sun and well-drained soil. It’s adaptable to various soil conditions, making it a versatile option for different garden settings. Regular watering is necessary, but once established, it can tolerate occasional drought periods.
One of the key features of Buddleia davidii ‘Empire Blue’ is its hardiness. It can withstand cold temperatures down to -20°C (USDA zones 5-9), ensuring it will survive harsh winters without much difficulty.
Gardeners often enjoy the ease of care with this plant. It can be pruned back to the ground in early spring, encouraging vigorous new growth and abundant blooms on new wood. The shrub typically reaches heights of 5-6 feet and a spread of 3-5 feet, creating a significant presence in any garden.
4: Potentilla fruticosa ‘Goldfinger’
Potentilla fruticosa ‘Goldfinger’ is a standout among ground cover shrubs. This deciduous shrub is praised for its vibrant yellow flowers that bloom from late spring through fall. The flowers, which are about 1.5 inches in diameter, provide a lovely contrast to the dark green foliage.
The shrub is compact and mounded, growing to about 3 feet tall and 4 feet wide. This makes it excellent for planting in small gardens or as a bright addition to larger landscapes. It is well-suited for full sun and can tolerate a range of soil types, including poor soils.
In terms of care, ‘Goldfinger’ is relatively low-maintenance. It requires thorough watering but not too frequently—soaking the ground up to 8 inches deep every few days is recommended. This helps prevent the foliage from becoming too moist, which could lead to disease.
Notably, this variety of Potentilla fruticosa is hardy in zones 2 through 7, making it adaptable to various climates. Its long blooming period and robust nature make it a popular choice for gardeners looking to add color and reliability to their summer landscape.
5: Spiraea japonica ‘Magic Carpet’
Spiraea japonica ‘Magic Carpet’ is a compact, mounded shrub with a vibrant mix of colors. This plant produces new red leaves that mature to rich gold, creating a striking visual contrast. It typically grows to a height and width of 1-2 feet, making it well-suited for ground cover or borders.
The shrub blooms in late spring to mid-summer, producing clusters of tiny pink flowers that create a stunning display. These blooms attract butterflies and other pollinators, helping to support local ecosystems. The shrub is deciduous, losing its leaves in winter, but its vibrant summer and fall colors more than makeup for this seasonal change.
Magic Carpet Spirea thrives in USDA zones 4-9, showing its versatility across various climates. It prefers a spot with full sun to partial shade and does well in moist, well-draining soil. While it can tolerate a range of soil types, from loamy to sandy, maintaining a pH level of 6.5 to 7.5 will yield the best results.
This shrub is often used in landscaping for low-growing hedges, borders, or as a colorful ground cover. Its neat and compact growth habit makes it easy to maintain, requiring minimal pruning. This quality, combined with its resilience and stunning display, makes Magic Carpet Spirea a favorite among gardeners.
6: Hypericum calycinum
Hypericum calycinum, also known as St. John’s Wort or Aaron’s Beard, is a small, semi-evergreen shrub. It is recognized for its bright yellow flowers that bloom from mid-summer to mid-fall. Each flower measures about 3 inches across and has five petals surrounding bushy stamens and reddish anthers.
This shrub thrives in various conditions, making it an excellent ground cover, especially in sandy soils or on slopes. Ideal for plant hardiness zones 5 through 9, Hypericum calycinum adapts well to different garden settings. Dense foliage helps prevent soil erosion and provides a lush green backdrop throughout the growing season.
The vibrant yellow flowers are not just visually appealing. They attract bees and other pollinators, supporting local ecosystems. Planting Hypericum calycinum involves digging a hole double the size of the root ball or a container at least 1 foot in diameter, ensuring ample space for growth.
Hypericum calycinum also requires regular watering, particularly during dry spells, to maintain healthy foliage and avoid diseases. Pruning helps shape the shrub and encourages more robust flowering. This low-maintenance plant is both practical and ornamental, fulfilling multiple roles in garden landscapes.
7: Summer Heather – Calluna vulgaris ‘Marlies’
Calluna vulgaris ‘Marlies’ is a low-growing summer heather known for its ruby-red flowers that bloom from August to September. This plant remains vibrant in winter, adding color when other plants are dormant.
Originating from European heathlands, ‘Marlies’ can grow to a height of around 30 cm and span 40 to 60 cm in width. Its small, scale-like leaves, arranged oppositely, complement the reddish flowers and add to the plant’s decorative appeal.
For gardeners, ‘Marlies’ offers beauty and practicality. It thrives in light, humus-rich soil with a slightly acidic pH. This heather prefers sunny or semi-shaded spots and can withstand temperatures below -15°C.
In beekeeping, ‘Marlies’ is notable for its nectar, which contains about 25% sugar. This feature makes it an excellent choice for attracting pollinators. Using it as a ground cover creates a lively garden landscape throughout the year.
8: Japanese Spirea ‘Little Princess’ – Spiraea japonica
‘Little Princess’ from Spiraea japonica is a compact shrub that forms a lush dome of green with soft pink flowers that grace your garden all summer. This shrub, native to China and Japan, grows to 40 cm in height while spreading 70 cm in width and belongs to the Rosaceae family.
Its flowering begins in June, attracting pollinators like bees and butterflies, and often sees a rerun in September. ‘Little Princess’ prefers well-drained, fertilized soil and part shade. It doesn’t like harsh sun or dry conditions, but once established, it’s moderately water-thrifty. Regular pruning around February-March and light pruning in summer promote abundant blooms. Ideal for borders, beds, and layered plantings.
9: Buddleia alternifolia ‘Unique’ – Dwarf Butterfly Bush
Buddleia alternifolia ‘Unique’ is ideal for small gardens and terraces. This compact shrub grows about 1.20 meters high and wide, making it perfect for limited spaces.
Its weeping branches and small gray-green leaves create a bushy appearance. The lilac flowers bloom from June to October, forming small bouquets along the branches. These fragrant flowers attract butterflies, adding vibrant life to any garden.
Buddleia alternifolia ‘Unique’ adapts to various soil types but prefers light, fertile soil that drains well. It’s straightforward to grow and can withstand temperatures as low as -23°C. Full sun exposure encourages vigorous growth and abundant blossoms.
The upper side of the leaves is light green, while the underside is nearly white, displaying a silvery effect that adds beauty to the plant. This shrub thrives both as a standalone plant, showcasing its weeping shape, or within a mixed hedge.
Pair it with old roses or dwarf remontant lilacs for a charming garden display. The nectar-rich flowers ensure a steady stream of butterflies throughout the summer.
Named after the English botanist Adam Buddle, this bush not only enhances garden aesthetics but also supports local pollinators. A garden featuring Buddleia alternifolia ‘Unique’ promises seasonal color and ecological benefits.
10: Ceanothus ‘Blue Sapphire’
Ceanothus ‘Blue Sapphire’ is an appealing shrub known for its stunning dark green-purple foliage and vibrant sapphire blue flowers. This plant has a bushy, creeping growth habit, making it an excellent choice for low hedges, garden beds, containers, and ground cover.
The flowers of ‘Blue Sapphire’ bloom from April to July, forming small bouquets that can reach 5 to 8 cm in length. Its evergreen foliage remains attractive year-round. At maturity, this ceanothus typically grows up to 1 meter in height and spreads about 1.5 meters in width.
A noteworthy feature of this plant is its adaptability. Ceanothus ‘Blue Sapphire’ thrives in poor soils and is drought-tolerant. It can also handle sea spray, making it a great option for seaside and urban gardens. The plant prefers a warm, sunny location and does best in soils low in limestone and water.
Native to North America and Mexico, this variety can withstand temperatures as low as -10°C. The shrubs also produce seeds that are released explosively once they are ripe.
Maintaining ‘Blue Sapphire’ involves light pruning to remove faded flowers and unwanted branches. With a lifespan of about ten years, this ceanothus pairs well in beds with plants such as Buddleia, Fremontodendron californicum, and shrubby cistus.
This compact shrub is not only beautiful but also resilient, fitting well in diverse landscapes while adding a splash of color during its blooming season.
