Wild Geranium
Geranium maculatum
A low 1.5–2 ft-tall carpet that closes ranks 1.5–2 ft wide and shades out weeds, and it blooms Apr through Jun.
- Part shade
- Average
- 1.5–2 ft
- Blooms Apr–Jun
Illinois · Zones 5–7
Native Groundcover Plants in Illinois
Low, spreading natives that knit together to cover bare ground, smother weeds, and replace thirsty lawn or mulch. For Illinois, the right natives are shaped by Central Tallgrass Prairie and a humid continental climate. Every species below, from Wild Geranium and Foamflower to the rest of the list, is genuinely native to Illinois and the wider flora of the Midwest and hardy through zones 5–7. 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
14 native species for Illinois
Each one native to your region and hardy in zones 5–7 · see this collection in other states.
Foamflower
Tiarella cordifolia
A mat-forming native, 6–12 in tall and 1–2 ft wide, that fills in and crowds out weeds; it flowers in Apr and May.
- Part shade
- Average
- 6–12 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Woodland Phlox
Phlox divaricata
Spreads low — 10–15 in tall, 12–18 in wide — to knit bare ground and smother weeds, flowering as it flowers in Apr and May.
- Part shade
- Average
- 10–15 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Prairie Smoke
Geum triflorum
Carpets bare soil 12–18 in wide to replace thirsty lawn or mulch, hardy in zones 3–7, flowering as it flowers in Apr and May.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 6–16 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Common Yarrow
Achillea millefolium
A living mulch at 1.5–3 ft tall, fanning 1.5–2 ft wide to cover soil and block weeds, flowering as it blooms May through Aug.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 1.5–3 ft
- Blooms May–Aug
Blue Grama
Bouteloua gracilis
Runs 8–16 in wide and stays ankle-low at 8–20 in, holding soil where lawn won't, flowering as it blooms Jun through Aug.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 8–20 in
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Wild Ginger
Asarum canadense
A low 4–8 in-tall carpet that closes ranks 12–18 in wide and shades out weeds — it flowers in Apr and May.
- Part shade
- Average
- 4–8 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Virginia Creeper
Parthenocissus quinquefolia
A living mulch at 30–50 ft tall, fanning 10–20 ft wide to cover soil and block weeds — it flowers in Jun.
- Sun to shade
- Dry–average
- 30–50 ft
- Blooms Jun
Creeping Phlox
Phlox subulata
Weaves a 4–8 in-tall mat 1.5–2 ft across to blanket bare ground, pink to lavender flowers, and it flowers in Apr and May.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 4–8 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Bearberry
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
Runs 3–6 ft wide and stays ankle-low at 4–8 in, holding soil where lawn won't, flowering as it flowers in Apr and May.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 4–8 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Fragrant Sumac
Rhus aromatica
Spreads low — 2–6 ft tall, 5–10 ft wide — to knit bare ground and smother weeds, flowering as it flowers in Mar and Apr.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 2–6 ft
- Blooms Mar–Apr
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
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
Prairie Dropseed
Sporobolus heterolepis
Runs 2–3 ft wide and stays ankle-low at 2–3 ft, holding soil where lawn won't.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 2–3 ft
- Fall color
Sourcing
Where to find these in Illinois
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.