Common Yarrow
Achillea millefolium
Runs 1.5–2 ft wide and stays ankle-low at 1.5–3 ft, holding soil where lawn won't; it blooms May through Aug.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 1.5–3 ft
- Blooms May–Aug
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- Groundcovers
Washington, D.C. · Zone 7
Native Groundcover Plants in Washington, D.C.
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 Washington, D.C. and the wider flora of the Mid-Atlantic and hardy through zone 7 — proven performers for Washington, D.C.'s humid, four-season climate across Northern Piedmont & Potomac fall line, not a generic list. Local standouts include Common Yarrow 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.
The plants
11 native species for Washington, D.C.
Each one native to your region and hardy in zone 7 · see this collection in other states.
Woodland Phlox
Phlox divaricata
Spreads low — 10–15 in tall, 12–18 in wide — to knit bare ground and smother weeds — it flowers in Apr and May.
- Part shade
- Average
- 10–15 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Wild Geranium
Geranium maculatum
A living mulch at 1.5–2 ft tall, fanning 1.5–2 ft wide to cover soil and block weeds, flowering as it blooms Apr through Jun.
- Part shade
- Average
- 1.5–2 ft
- Blooms Apr–Jun
Foamflower
Tiarella cordifolia
Settles in as a weed-suppressing carpet 1–2 ft wide, no taller than 6–12 in — it flowers in Apr and May.
- Part shade
- Average
- 6–12 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Wild Ginger
Asarum canadense
Spreads low — 4–8 in tall, 12–18 in wide — to knit bare ground and smother weeds, flowering as it flowers in Apr and May.
- Part shade
- Average
- 4–8 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Virginia Creeper
Parthenocissus quinquefolia
Knits across the ground 10–20 ft wide and just 30–50 ft tall, no mowing needed, and it flowers in Jun.
- Sun to shade
- Dry–average
- 30–50 ft
- Blooms Jun
Fragrant Sumac
Rhus aromatica
Weaves a 2–6 ft-tall mat 5–10 ft across to blanket bare ground, good through zone 9, flowering as it flowers in Mar and Apr.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 2–6 ft
- Blooms Mar–Apr
Creeping Phlox
Phlox subulata
A living mulch at 4–8 in tall, fanning 1.5–2 ft wide to cover soil and block weeds — it flowers in Apr and May.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 4–8 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Prairie Dropseed
Sporobolus heterolepis
Settles in as a weed-suppressing carpet 2–3 ft wide, no taller than 2–3 ft.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 2–3 ft
- Fall color
Christmas Fern
Polystichum acrostichoides
A low 1–2 ft-tall carpet that closes ranks 1.5–2.5 ft wide and shades out weeds.
- Part shade
- Dry–average
- 1–2 ft
- Evergreen
Pennsylvania Sedge
Carex pensylvanica
Weaves a 6–12 in-tall mat 1–2 ft across to blanket bare ground, hardy in zones 3–8.
- Part shade
- Dry–average
- 6–12 in
- Foliage
Sourcing
Where to find these in Washington, D.C.
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.