• Ground covers can be used in several areas of the lawn to add texture and color to the landscape. Used on slopes, they can help prevent the soil from eroding while adding interest according to the University of Missouri Extension. A wide variety of ground covers will grow in shady areas where other types of plants may struggle. They also help reduce the growth of weeds around plants and shrubs, leaving you free to enjoy your garden.
  
  

Barren Strawberry

• Barren strawberry is native to Europe, China and Japan. It is named for its small, inedible strawberry-like fruit and leaves. This perennial ground cover grows in USDA Hardiness Zones 4 to 8, growing 4 to 6 inches tall and slowly spreading up to 1 foot in a thick carpet of foliage. The small open yellow flower measure up to 1/2 an inch across with five petals and bloom from April to June. Plant it in full sun to partial shade in well-drained soil. Barren strawberry ground cover plant requires little maintenance to thrive.
  
  

Iceplant

• This succulent evergreen ground cover is native to Southern Africa. The ice plant is named for the tiny transparent flakes that look like pieces of ice covering the foliage. It's grows in USDA Hardiness Zones 6 to 10 and is semi-evergreen north of Hardiness Zone 7. The ice plant is heat and drought tolerant, requiring little water even in full sun. It needs well-drained soil and has no problems growing in gravelly or sandy soil types. Clay soil will need to be amended with organic matter to grow this ground cover. The daisy-like flowers measure up to 2 inches in diameter and bloom from June to September. They are a bright purple-red surrounded by medium green, fleshy leaves. It grows up to 3 inches tall and spreads 1 to 2 feet.
  
  

Japanese Spurge

• Japanese spurge, also called Allegheny spurge, is a dense, evergreen perennial ground cover native to Japan and China. It grows 4 to 10 inches tall with stems up to 12 inches long. The 1 to 3 inch long leaves have a purple tint in spring, turn dark green in summer and yellow-green in winter. Japanese spurge can be grown in partial shade in well-drained, moist soil with a high level of organic matter. White flower spikes up to 1-½ inches long on a short stalk bloom in May.
  
  

Plumbago

• Native to Western China, the plumbago grows in USDA Hardiness Zones 5 to 9. This herbaceous perennial ground cover grows 6 to 10 inches tall and has a spread of 12 to 18 inches. Grow plumbago in full sun or partial shade in well-drained soil. This plant needs a light covering of mulch in the winter in Zone 5. The shiny green leaves can be up to 2 inches long and turn bronze-red in the fall. From July to September, clusters of small, deep blue flowers about 1/2 to 3/4 inches in diameter bloom.