Shade-Loving Ground Cover Seeds

Zone 3

• To thrive in USDA zone 3, ground covers must tolerate average annual low temperatures to minus 40 degrees F. Variegated bishop's weed (Aegopodium podograria "Variegata") grows best in partial to full shade. This fast-growing, deciduous plant reaches heights to 8 inches and has green, white and silver variegated foliage. It self-seeds easily and is hardy in zones 3 to 9. Crownvetch (Coronilla varia) grows in partial shade. This perennial legume has fern-like foliage and produces white and pink flowers from early summer through fall. It grows from 24 to 30 inches tall and can spread aggressively if not contained. Crownvetch can be mowed. Plant crownvetch seeds in spring. It is hardy in zones 3 to 9.

Zone 4

• USDA zone 4 experiences average annual lows to minus 30 degrees. Lamb's ear (Stachys byzantina) grows well in light shade and is hardy in zones 4 to 8. This evergreen ground cover grows to 18 inches tall with a 3-foot spread. It forms dense mats of fuzzy, gray-green foliage and has an aromatic fragrance. Seed lamb's ear in early spring. Creeping Jenny or Moneywort (Lysimachia nummularia) prefers partial to full shade. This low, creeping plant grows from 4 to 6 inches tall and spreads up to 12 inches wide. It has bright-green, rounded foliage and blooms with a yellow flowers in summer. Creeping Jenny is hardy in zones 4 to 9 and should be seeded in spring.

Zone 5

• Ground covers in zone 5 must tolerate average lows to minus 20 degrees. Creeping thyme (Thymus praecox) grows well from seed. This perennial ground cover is hardy in USDA zones 5 to 9 and grows from 3 to 6 inches tall with a similar spread. It prefers light shade and grows well in poor soil. Creeping thyme has aromatic foliage and produces purple-pink summer blossoms. Variegated sweet flag (Acorus calamus "Variegatus") is hardy in zones 5 to 10. It grows well in partial shade and tolerates wet soils. This ornamental grass has flat, upright leaves with yellow and white stripes. It grows from 2 to 4 feet tall and can be seeded in spring.

Zone 6

• In USDA zone, average lows hit minus 10 degrees. Sedum or stonecrop (Sedum spp.) is hardy in zones 6 to 8. This semi-evergreen to deciduous ground cover grows slowly from 3 to 18 inches tall and prefers partial shade. It forms a low, dense mat of foliage. Grow from seed in spring. Golden hakonech loa (Hakonechloa macro Aureola) is hardy in zones 6 to 9. This ornamental grass grows best in partial shade. It has lime green foliage with shades of red, pink and yellow. Golden hakonech loa grows slowly from 1 to 2 feet tall. Seed in spring.