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 Mississippi and the wider flora of the Southeast and hardy through zones 7–9 — proven performers for Mississippi's hot, humid subtropical climate across Gulf Coastal Plain & Black Belt prairie, not a generic list. Local standouts include Wild Geranium and Foamflower. 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 7–9 · see this collection in other states.
Geranium maculatum
Through Mississippi's Gulf Coastal Plain & Black Belt prairie country, runs 1.5–2 ft wide and stays ankle-low at 1.5–2 ft, holding soil where lawn won't, and it blooms Apr through Jun.
Tiarella cordifolia
Through Mississippi's Gulf Coastal Plain & Black Belt prairie country, carpets bare soil 1–2 ft wide to replace thirsty lawn or mulch, happy in loam soil, flowering as it flowers in Apr and May.
Achillea millefolium
Through Mississippi's Gulf Coastal Plain & Black Belt prairie country, spreads low — 1.5–3 ft tall, 1.5–2 ft wide — to knit bare ground and smother weeds, flowering as it blooms May through Aug.
Phlox divaricata
Through Mississippi's Gulf Coastal Plain & Black Belt prairie country, a low 10–15 in-tall carpet that closes ranks 12–18 in wide and shades out weeds, flowering as it flowers in Apr and May.
Rhus aromatica
Through Mississippi's Gulf Coastal Plain & Black Belt prairie country, spreads low — 2–6 ft tall, 5–10 ft wide — to knit bare ground and smother weeds; it flowers in Mar and Apr.
Phlox subulata
Through Mississippi's Gulf Coastal Plain & Black Belt prairie country, settles in as a weed-suppressing carpet 1.5–2 ft wide, no taller than 4–8 in, flowering as it flowers in Apr and May.
Asarum canadense
Through Mississippi's Gulf Coastal Plain & Black Belt prairie country, carpets bare soil 12–18 in wide to replace thirsty lawn or mulch, happy in loam soil — it flowers in Apr and May.
Parthenocissus quinquefolia
Through Mississippi's Gulf Coastal Plain & Black Belt prairie country, runs 10–20 ft wide and stays ankle-low at 30–50 ft, holding soil where lawn won't; it flowers in Jun.
Polystichum acrostichoides
Through Mississippi's Gulf Coastal Plain & Black Belt prairie country, a low 1–2 ft-tall carpet that closes ranks 1.5–2.5 ft wide and shades out weeds.
Carex pensylvanica
Through Mississippi's Gulf Coastal Plain & Black Belt prairie country, a living mulch at 6–12 in tall, fanning 1–2 ft wide to cover soil and block weeds.
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.