Want a garden that's both productive and low-maintenance? Edible ground covers are the perfect solution. These plants do more than just cover soil - they provide food, reduce weeds, and attract pollinators. From the tangy taste of French sorrel to the sweet punch of wild strawberries, here are eight options to transform your garden:
- Comfrey: Nutrient-rich leaves for salads and mulch; deep roots improve soil.
- Wild Strawberry: Sweet berries and a thick, weed-fighting mat.
- Oregano: Fragrant herb that deters pests and attracts pollinators.
- French Sorrel: Lemon-flavored leaves for salads and sauces.
- Nasturtiums: Edible flowers and leaves with a peppery kick.
- Creeping Thyme: Aromatic ground cover that doubles as a herb.
- Alpine Strawberries: Compact plants with intensely flavored berries.
- Chives: Onion-flavored leaves and flowers that repel pests.
These ground covers are easy to grow, require minimal care, and add flavor and beauty to your garden. Start with one or two and watch your garden thrive!
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1. Comfrey: A Hardy and Useful Ground Cover
Comfrey (Symphytum officinale) is a powerhouse plant that pulls double duty as both food source and garden helper. This tough perennial spreads into a thick, leafy mat that's hard to beat.
Want to spice up your kitchen? Young comfrey leaves pack a nutritional punch in salads, soups, and stews. The purple blooms aren't just pretty - they make eye-catching garnishes and brew up into flavorful teas.
Here's what makes comfrey special: its roots dig DEEP - we're talking up to 10 feet into the ground. These roots act like nutrient miners, pulling good stuff from way down below and sharing it with neighboring plants. That's why fruit trees and other garden plants LOVE having comfrey nearby.
Got a compost pile? Toss in some comfrey leaves. They break down fast and supercharge your compost. You can also lay them directly around plants as mulch. Just remember: while the leaves are edible, take it easy - and skip the roots completely since they contain higher levels of pyrrolizidine alkaloids.
Growing comfrey is straightforward:
- Pick a spot with well-draining soil (pH 6.0-7.0)
- Space plants 12-18 inches apart
- Sun or partial shade both work fine
- Keep it in check with regular pruning
Bees and butterflies flock to comfrey's flowers, and the plant basically takes care of itself - perfect if you're short on gardening time.
Think of comfrey as your garden's multitool: it feeds you, helps other plants, and keeps pollinators happy. Up next, we'll look at a sweeter option for your garden: wild strawberries.
2. Wild Strawberry: A Sweet and Productive Option
Want to turn your garden into a food-producing paradise without the hassle? Wild strawberry (Fragaria vesca) might be your answer. This easy-going plant spreads into a thick mat that does double duty - giving you tasty berries while keeping your soil in place.
These tiny berries pack WAY more flavor than their bigger grocery store relatives. Pop them into your morning yogurt, blend them in smoothies, or cook up some homemade jam. Here's a bonus: you can even brew the leaves into a vitamin C-rich tea.
Got a tricky spot under trees or along paths? Wild strawberries aren't picky - they'll grow pretty much anywhere. Plus, they're garden multitaskers: they feed you, keep your soil healthy, and crowd out weeds naturally.
Here's what you need to know about growing them:
- Soil pH: 5.5 - 6.5
- Plant them 12-18 inches apart
- They'll grow in full sun or partial shade
- Need decent drainage but average water
- Super easy to care for
Plant these berries in spring and keep the soil moist - they'll spread quickly through runners and form a thick, weed-fighting carpet. Just add a bit of balanced fertilizer when spring rolls around, but don't overdo it. Too much will give you lots of leaves but fewer berries.
"Wild strawberries are a magnet for pollinators such as bees and butterflies. Their small, white flowers are highly attractive to these beneficial insects, making them an excellent choice for pollinator gardens."
Looking for another edible ground cover option? Check out oregano next.
3. Oregano: A Flavorful and Practical Ground Cover
Think oregano's just for pizza? Think again. This tough perennial does double duty - it creates a fragrant carpet in your garden while serving up fresh herbs for your kitchen.
Plant oregano in a sunny spot or an area with light shade, and it'll spread into a thick mat that's perfect for filling gaps between stepping stones or lining garden paths. The best part? It practically takes care of itself once it's settled in.
Here's what makes oregano a garden superstar: its strong scent keeps pesky sap-sucking bugs away from your cabbage plants and other veggies. When it flowers, it brings in the good bugs - the ones that help your whole garden thrive.
Growing oregano is straightforward:
- Loves full sun but handles partial shade
- Does well in any soil that drains properly
- Needs little water
- Almost maintenance-free
Want to keep your oregano looking fresh? Just keep snipping those leaves for your cooking. The more you harvest, the bushier and more compact it grows.
For smart garden planning, oregano's a no-brainer. It spreads naturally to block out weeds, and you can use every bit of it. Pick it fresh in summer or dry it for your winter cooking - this plant keeps earning its spot in your garden.
"Oregano flowers attract beneficial insects and pollinators, contributing to the overall health and biodiversity of the garden. This makes it an excellent choice for gardens aiming to support local ecosystems."
Now, let's move on to something with a zesty kick: French sorrel.
4. True French Sorrel: A Tangy Addition to Your Garden
True French Sorrel (Rumex scutatus) is a tough perennial that pulls double duty in your garden - it's both a zesty cooking ingredient and a no-fuss ground cover. Its leaves pack a punch with vitamins A and C, potassium, and iron. Add them to salads, soups, and sauces for a bright, lemony kick. The best part? This plant practically takes care of itself in well-drained soil and partial shade.
This garden workhorse does more than just taste good. Its thick leaves keep weeds at bay and protect the soil from harsh sun, while its flowers bring in bees and other helpful garden visitors. Plant it under taller herbs and veggies to create layers in your garden - it plays well with other shade-loving ground covers to create a productive understory.
But heads up: French sorrel isn't perfect. When summer heats up, it might try to flower (or "bolt"), which makes the leaves less tasty. And if it really likes where it's growing, it might spread more than you'd like. The fix? Keep harvesting those leaves - it'll help control both issues and make the plant bushier.
Here's what French sorrel needs to thrive:
- Can handle zones 3 through 9
- Likes partial shade and soil that drains well
- Needs just basic watering and trimming
- Gets better with regular harvesting
"Groundcovers are an essential layer of the food forest. They function as living mulch, provide food and habitat for pollinators and beneficial insects, and play a role in nutrient cycling." - Nigel Kay, Groundcovers for the Food Forest
Pick leaves often to keep your plant healthy and your kitchen stocked. This simple habit helps the plant stay strong and keeps doing its job as a ground cover.
Next up: nasturtiums, a ground cover that brings both bold colors and edible flowers to your garden space.
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5. Nasturtiums: A Colorful and Edible Ground Cover
Want a ground cover that's both beautiful AND edible? Meet nasturtiums (Tropaeolum majus). These garden superstars pack a punch with their lily pad-shaped leaves and bright flowers - and yes, you can eat both!
The flowers and leaves bring a peppery kick to your salads and make eye-catching garnishes. But that's just the start of what these plants can do. They're natural multitaskers: they block weeds, protect your soil, and even help keep pesky aphids and whiteflies away from your garden.
Here's the best part: nasturtiums are practically maintenance-free. Just give them well-drained soil and they'll grow happily in full sun or partial shade. Once established, they'll self-seed and come back each year on their own.
"Nasturtiums are often grown for their large colorful flowers and lily pad-like leaves. But, these plants can also be appreciated for their peppery taste." - Madison Moulton, Epic Gardening
Pro tip: Pick the flowers and leaves often - it keeps the plants bushy and promotes more growth. These plants are also pollinator magnets, which means more bees and butterflies in your garden. They're especially good buddies for vegetables like broccoli and cabbage, protecting them while covering the ground.
Want to know about another easy-care ground cover option? Let's look at creeping thyme next.
6. Creeping Thyme: A Fragrant and Low-Growing Option
Want a garden plant that pulls double duty? Creeping thyme (Thymus serpyllum) spreads into a low carpet that's both pretty and practical. At just 3 inches tall, it's perfect between stepping stones, in rock gardens, or as a living carpet along pathways.
This tough little plant handles zones 4-9 like a champ. Give it well-drained soil and it'll grow happily in sun or shade. Once it settles in, it shrugs off drought and doesn't mind being walked on - in fact, stepping on it releases a wonderful herbal scent. The best part? You can eat both its tiny leaves and pink flowers, adding a subtle herbal kick to your cooking.
But here's what makes it extra special: while it's busy blocking out weeds, it's also throwing a party for bees and other pollinators. A quick trim now and then keeps it looking neat, growing thick, and producing plenty of leaves and flowers for your kitchen.
"Creeping thyme is highly attractive to pollinators, providing nectar-rich flowers that support beneficial insects." - Thrive Lot Landscaping Guide
Looking for something different? Consider alpine strawberries - they're just as compact but with a sweet surprise.
7. Alpine Strawberries: A Compact and Delicious Choice
Want tiny berries that pack a huge flavor punch? Alpine strawberries (Fragaria vesca) are small but mighty garden performers. At just 6-8 inches tall, these little plants spread into a thick mat that keeps weeds at bay while producing sweet, intense berries throughout the season. Plus, you can dry their leaves for tea - talk about a multi-purpose plant!
These tough little plants don't ask for much. They'll grow happily in sun or partial shade and aren't picky about their growing conditions. Space them 12 inches apart in soil with a pH between 5.5 and 6.5, and they'll do the rest. While they like regular water at first, they're pretty drought-tough once they get going. Better yet? They'll self-seed and spread on their own.
"Alpine strawberries are a fantastic choice for edible ground cover. They're compact, produce a high yield, and are incredibly easy to care for." - Madison Moulton, Gardening Expert, Epic Gardening
The white flowers aren't just pretty - they're bee and butterfly magnets that help keep your garden buzzing with life. For the best-tasting berries, pick them when they turn deep red. Unlike their bigger cousins, these berries won't get any sweeter after picking.
Here's a garden hack: Plant alpine strawberries with creeping thyme. You'll get a mix of fruits and herbs in the same space, and both plants work together to create a thick, weed-blocking carpet.
Ready to explore another edible ground cover option? Let's talk about chives next.
8. Chives: A Versatile and Hardy Ground Cover
Want a ground cover that's both beautiful AND useful? Meet chives (Allium schoenoprasum) - these tough perennials do more than just look good. They form thick clusters of slim, hollow leaves that add both visual appeal and a punch of onion flavor to your cooking. Plus, their bright purple blooms aren't just for show - they're like a magnet for bees, butterflies, and other helpful garden visitors.
These hardy plants feel right at home in USDA zones 3-9, and they're natural garden defenders. Chives help keep aphids and other pest problems away without any chemical treatments needed.
"Groundcovers are an essential layer of the food forest. They could also provide food, habitat, and nectar to pollinators and beneficial insects." - Nigel Kay, Groundcovers for the Food Forest
In the kitchen, chives are a cook's best friend. Toss the leaves and flowers into soups and salads, or use them as a fresh garnish - they'll add a mild onion kick to any dish. The best part? The more you cut them, the more they grow!
To get the most from your chives, plant them in soil that drains well and gets plenty of sun. Give them water during dry spells and a quick haircut if they start looking messy. Plant them 4-6 inches apart, and they'll grow into a thick mat that helps keep moisture in the soil. Their roots dig deep to improve the soil, while their dense growth helps prevent soil erosion and keeps the ground moist.
Chives show us how a garden plant can be both pretty and practical - they're the perfect finish to our list of edible ground covers.
Conclusion
Let's talk about what makes edible ground covers a game-changer for your garden. These plants do double duty - they're both delicious and practical, helping you create a garden that works smarter, not harder.
Think about it: Chives keep bugs away naturally while adding flavor to your meals. Wild strawberries carpet the ground with sweet treats. Each plant in our guide pulls its weight by fighting weeds and building better soil, all while cutting down on the need for chemicals in your garden.
"Edible ground covers can be harvested for tasty leaves, fruit, or flowers, plus they can help block weeds, insulate the soil, and create a complex and attractive garden design." - Bob Vila
These plants shine in spots where other plants struggle - between stepping stones, along paths, or beneath taller plants. Want to make your garden more productive? Start with edible ground covers. They're easy to care for and deliver results. Need help getting started? Thrive Lot's experts can create a plan that matches your garden's specific needs.
Pick one or two plants from our list and give them a try. You'll be amazed at how these hard-working plants can transform your garden into a space that's both beautiful and bountiful.
FAQs
Is creeping thyme ground cover edible?
Yes! You can eat every part of creeping thyme. It tastes like regular thyme, but with a gentler flavor. While it's best known as a low-growing plant that spreads into a thick mat just 2-3 inches high, it pulls double duty in your garden. Not only can you cook with its leaves, but it's also tough enough to walk on.
What is an edible purple ground cover?
Creeping thyme stands out as a top choice for edible purple ground cover. It's a workhorse in the garden - you get beautiful purple blooms, a thick mat of greenery that needs little care, and leaves you can use in cooking. Plus, bees and other pollinators love it, making it a win-win for your garden's ecosystem.
