Wild Geranium
Geranium maculatum
A low 1.5–2 ft-tall carpet that closes ranks 1.5–2 ft wide and shades out weeds, flowering as it blooms Apr through Jun.
- Part shade
- Average
- 1.5–2 ft
- Blooms Apr–Jun
Louisiana · Zones 8–9
Native Groundcover Plants in Louisiana
Low, spreading natives that knit together to cover bare ground, smother weeds, and replace thirsty lawn or mulch. For Louisiana, the right natives are shaped by Mississippi Delta & Gulf Coast Prairie and a hot, humid subtropical climate. Every species below, from Wild Geranium and Common Yarrow to the rest of the list, is genuinely native to Louisiana and the wider flora of the Southeast and hardy through zones 8–9. 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
11 native species for Louisiana
Each one native to your region and hardy in zones 8–9 · see this collection in other states.
Common Yarrow
Achillea millefolium
A low 1.5–3 ft-tall carpet that closes ranks 1.5–2 ft wide and shades out weeds, and it blooms May through Aug.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 1.5–3 ft
- Blooms May–Aug
Foamflower
Tiarella cordifolia
Knits across the ground 1–2 ft wide and just 6–12 in tall, no mowing needed, and it flowers in Apr and May.
- Part shade
- Average
- 6–12 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Woodland Phlox
Phlox divaricata
A low 10–15 in-tall carpet that closes ranks 12–18 in wide and shades out weeds — it flowers in Apr and May.
- Part shade
- Average
- 10–15 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Virginia Creeper
Parthenocissus quinquefolia
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
Fragrant Sumac
Rhus aromatica
Runs 5–10 ft wide and stays ankle-low at 2–6 ft, holding soil where lawn won't; it flowers in Mar and Apr.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 2–6 ft
- Blooms Mar–Apr
Creeping Phlox
Phlox subulata
A low 4–8 in-tall carpet that closes ranks 1.5–2 ft wide and shades out weeds, flowering as it flowers in Apr and May.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 4–8 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Blue Grama
Bouteloua gracilis
A mat-forming native, 8–20 in tall and 8–16 in wide, that fills in and crowds out weeds; it blooms Jun through Aug.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 8–20 in
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Christmas Fern
Polystichum acrostichoides
Settles in as a weed-suppressing carpet 1.5–2.5 ft wide, no taller than 1–2 ft.
- Part shade
- Dry–average
- 1–2 ft
- Evergreen
Prairie Dropseed
Sporobolus heterolepis
Knits across the ground 2–3 ft wide and just 2–3 ft tall, no mowing needed.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 2–3 ft
- Fall color
Pennsylvania Sedge
Carex pensylvanica
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
Sourcing
Where to find these in Louisiana
Seeds & live plants on Amazon
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.