Groundcover That Grows From Seed

Creeping Zinnia

• Creeping zinnia (Sanvitalia procumbens) is a native plant of Guatemala and Mexico, but it grows in the United States as an annual. Used for ground cover and for containers and hanging baskets, creeping zinnia produces yellow blooms and it remains under a foot in height. It is not difficult to grow this plant as long as the soil drains and has adequate moisture. Plant creeping zinnia seeds from one to two weeks before the last frost date in your region, or begin the seeds inside in containers as early as eight weeks before last frost expectations. The seeds begun indoors often result in specimens that are hard to transplant successfully, warns the Missouri Botanical Garden.

Parrot's Beak

• The exotic plant known as parrot's beak (Lotus berthelotii) grows in the warm climates of zones 10 through 12, since it is native to the Canary and Cape Verde islands. Growing as a small vine up to 8 inches tall, parrot's beak features colorful red flowers shaped like sickles. When growing this ground cover from seed, plant them as early as eight to 10 weeks before the last projected frost of spring. Those grown from seeds as perennials in these zones do not flower that first year, but the whorled, needle-like leaves still make the plant attractive.

Basket-of-Gold

• The colors of the flowers of basket-of-gold (Aurinia saxatilis) are obvious from the plant's name. Native to southeastern areas of Europe, basket-of-gold grows from USDA zones 4 through 7, with summer heat and high humidity levels preventing it from doing its best. The species blooms during April and May and grows only to 18 inches, making it work as ground cover and in rock gardens. The perennial grows from seed, especially in hotter climates where landscapers simply plant its seeds and use it as an annual. Seeds planted in the early weeks of fall yield results the following spring.

Prairie Dropseed

• Found from Texas north to Canada, prairie dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis) is an ornamental grass suitable for ground cover duties in dry and hot areas. Prairie dropseed matures to between 2 and 3 feet from zones 3 through 9, with an ability to colonize many kinds of soils. The grass grows in heavy clay, for example, and it will develop in rocky ground as well. Prairie dropseed grows from seed, but it does take time to establish itself fully in the landscape. Tolerant of drought, this grass grows best in full sun. The green leaves turn shades of orange in autumn and bronze during the winter.