Low, spreading natives that knit together to cover bare ground, smother weeds, and replace thirsty lawn or mulch. Every species here is genuinely native to New Hampshire and the wider flora of the Northeast and hardy through zones 3–6 — proven performers for New Hampshire's cool, humid continental climate across White Mountains & northern hardwoods, not a generic list. Local standouts include Foamflower and Woodland Phlox. 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 3–6 · see this collection in other states.
Tiarella cordifolia
For New Hampshire gardens in the White Mountains & northern hardwoods, carpets bare soil 1–2 ft wide to replace thirsty lawn or mulch, for loam ground; it flowers in Apr and May.
Phlox divaricata
For New Hampshire gardens in the White Mountains & northern hardwoods, a low 10–15 in-tall carpet that closes ranks 12–18 in wide and shades out weeds — it flowers in Apr and May.
Achillea millefolium
For New Hampshire gardens in the White Mountains & northern hardwoods, a mat-forming native, 1.5–3 ft tall and 1.5–2 ft wide, that fills in and crowds out weeds, and it blooms May through Aug.
Geranium maculatum
For New Hampshire gardens in the White Mountains & northern hardwoods, spreads low — 1.5–2 ft tall, 1.5–2 ft wide — to knit bare ground and smother weeds; it blooms Apr through Jun.
Parthenocissus quinquefolia
For New Hampshire gardens in the White Mountains & northern hardwoods, a living mulch at 30–50 ft tall, fanning 10–20 ft wide to cover soil and block weeds; it flowers in Jun.
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
For New Hampshire gardens in the White Mountains & northern hardwoods, a low 4–8 in-tall carpet that closes ranks 3–6 ft wide and shades out weeds, and it flowers in Apr and May.
Rhus aromatica
For New Hampshire gardens in the White Mountains & northern hardwoods, runs 5–10 ft wide and stays ankle-low at 2–6 ft, holding soil where lawn won't, flowering as it flowers in Mar and Apr.
Asarum canadense
For New Hampshire gardens in the White Mountains & northern hardwoods, a mat-forming native, 4–8 in tall and 12–18 in wide, that fills in and crowds out weeds, and it flowers in Apr and May.
Phlox subulata
For New Hampshire gardens in the White Mountains & northern hardwoods, knits across the ground 1.5–2 ft wide and just 4–8 in tall, no mowing needed; it flowers in Apr and May.
Polystichum acrostichoides
For New Hampshire gardens in the White Mountains & northern hardwoods, knits across the ground 1.5–2.5 ft wide and just 1–2 ft tall, no mowing needed.
Sporobolus heterolepis
For New Hampshire gardens in the White Mountains & northern hardwoods, a low 2–3 ft-tall carpet that closes ranks 2–3 ft wide and shades out weeds.
Carex pensylvanica
For New Hampshire gardens in the White Mountains & northern hardwoods, settles in as a weed-suppressing carpet 1–2 ft wide, no taller than 6–12 in.
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.