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.
Each one native to your region and hardy in zones 6–8 · see this collection in other states.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Seed packets, plugs, and starter plants for many of these species ship to your door.
Browse on AmazonSome 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.