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Arkansas · Zones 6–8

Native Groundcover Plants in Arkansas

Low, spreading natives that knit together to cover bare ground, smother weeds, and replace thirsty lawn or mulch. For Arkansas, the right natives are shaped by Ozark Highlands & Mississippi Alluvial Plain and a humid subtropical climate. Every species below, from Common Yarrow and Foamflower to the rest of the list, is genuinely native to Arkansas and the wider flora of the Southeast and hardy through zones 6–8. A living native groundcover does everything mulch does and then keeps doing it for free — covering soil, blocking weeds, and feeding wildlife as it goes. Match the spreader to the site (sun or shade, wet or dry), plant on tight centers so they close ranks in a season or two, and weed faithfully that first year while they fill in.

The plants

13 native species for Arkansas

Each one native to your region and hardy in zones 6–8 · see this collection in other states.

Perennial wildflower

Common Yarrow

Achillea millefolium

In Arkansas's Ozark Highlands & Mississippi Alluvial Plain, a living mulch at 1.5–3 ft tall, fanning 1.5–2 ft wide to cover soil and block weeds, and it blooms May through Aug.

  • Full sun
  • Dry–average
  • 1.5–3 ft
  • Blooms May–Aug
Perennial wildflower

Foamflower

Tiarella cordifolia

In Arkansas's Ozark Highlands & Mississippi Alluvial Plain, a living mulch at 6–12 in tall, fanning 1–2 ft wide to cover soil and block weeds, flowering as it flowers in Apr and May.

  • Part shade
  • Average
  • 6–12 in
  • Blooms Apr–May
Perennial wildflower

Prairie Smoke

Geum triflorum

In Arkansas's Ozark Highlands & Mississippi Alluvial Plain, spreads low — 6–16 in tall, 12–18 in wide — to knit bare ground and smother weeds — it flowers in Apr and May.

  • Full–part sun
  • Dry
  • 6–16 in
  • Blooms Apr–May
Perennial wildflower

Wild Geranium

Geranium maculatum

In Arkansas's Ozark Highlands & Mississippi Alluvial Plain, a living mulch at 1.5–2 ft tall, fanning 1.5–2 ft wide to cover soil and block weeds — it blooms Apr through Jun.

  • Part shade
  • Average
  • 1.5–2 ft
  • Blooms Apr–Jun
Perennial wildflower

Woodland Phlox

Phlox divaricata

In Arkansas's Ozark Highlands & Mississippi Alluvial Plain, weaves a 10–15 in-tall mat 12–18 in across to blanket bare ground, happy in loam soil, flowering as it flowers in Apr and May.

  • Part shade
  • Average
  • 10–15 in
  • Blooms Apr–May
Shrub

Fragrant Sumac

Rhus aromatica

In Arkansas's Ozark Highlands & Mississippi Alluvial Plain, carpets bare soil 5–10 ft wide to replace thirsty lawn or mulch, cold-hardy to zone 3, flowering as it flowers in Mar and Apr.

  • Full–part sun
  • Dry
  • 2–6 ft
  • Blooms Mar–Apr
Vine

Virginia Creeper

Parthenocissus quinquefolia

In Arkansas's Ozark Highlands & Mississippi Alluvial Plain, runs 10–20 ft wide and stays ankle-low at 30–50 ft, holding soil where lawn won't, and it flowers in Jun.

  • Sun to shade
  • Dry–average
  • 30–50 ft
  • Blooms Jun
Groundcover

Creeping Phlox

Phlox subulata

In Arkansas's Ozark Highlands & Mississippi Alluvial Plain, weaves a 4–8 in-tall mat 1.5–2 ft across to blanket bare ground, for sand, rocky, and loam ground, and it flowers in Apr and May.

  • Full–part sun
  • Dry–average
  • 4–8 in
  • Blooms Apr–May
Groundcover

Wild Ginger

Asarum canadense

In Arkansas's Ozark Highlands & Mississippi Alluvial Plain, knits across the ground 12–18 in wide and just 4–8 in tall, no mowing needed; it flowers in Apr and May.

  • Part shade
  • Average
  • 4–8 in
  • Blooms Apr–May
Ornamental grass

Blue Grama

Bouteloua gracilis

In Arkansas's Ozark Highlands & Mississippi Alluvial Plain, a low 8–20 in-tall carpet that closes ranks 8–16 in wide and shades out weeds — it blooms Jun through Aug.

  • Full sun
  • Dry
  • 8–20 in
  • Blooms Jun–Aug
Fern

Christmas Fern

Polystichum acrostichoides

In Arkansas's Ozark Highlands & Mississippi Alluvial Plain, carpets bare soil 1.5–2.5 ft wide to replace thirsty lawn or mulch, for rocky and loam ground.

  • Part shade
  • Dry–average
  • 1–2 ft
  • Evergreen
Sedge

Pennsylvania Sedge

Carex pensylvanica

In Arkansas's Ozark Highlands & Mississippi Alluvial Plain, settles in as a weed-suppressing carpet 1–2 ft wide, no taller than 6–12 in.

  • Part shade
  • Dry–average
  • 6–12 in
  • Foliage
Ornamental grass

Prairie Dropseed

Sporobolus heterolepis

In Arkansas's Ozark Highlands & Mississippi Alluvial Plain, a living mulch at 2–3 ft tall, fanning 2–3 ft wide to cover soil and block weeds.

  • Full sun
  • Dry–average
  • 2–3 ft
  • Fall color
Sourcing

Where to find these in Arkansas

Seeds & live plants on Amazon

Seed packets, plugs, and starter plants for many of these species ship to your door.

Browse on Amazon

Some links here are affiliate links — we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. The surest source of locally-adapted stock is a native-plant nursery or a native plant society sale in your area.