Wild Geranium
Geranium maculatum
A low 1.5–2 ft-tall carpet that closes ranks 1.5–2 ft wide and shades out weeds — it blooms Apr through Jun.
- Part shade
- Average
- 1.5–2 ft
- Blooms Apr–Jun
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- Groundcovers
South Carolina · Zones 7–9
Native Groundcover Plants in South Carolina
Low, spreading natives that knit together to cover bare ground, smother weeds, and replace thirsty lawn or mulch. South Carolina sits in a landscape of Sandhills, Piedmont & Lowcountry, and the natives that thrive here are the ones built for its humid subtropical character. The list below — led by Wild Geranium and Common Yarrow — is filtered to species genuinely native to South Carolina and the wider flora of the Southeast and hardy through zones 7–9. 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
10 native species for South Carolina
Each one native to your region and hardy in zones 7–9 · see this collection in other states.
Common Yarrow
Achillea millefolium
Spreads low — 1.5–3 ft tall, 1.5–2 ft wide — to knit bare ground and smother weeds — it blooms May through Aug.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 1.5–3 ft
- Blooms May–Aug
Foamflower
Tiarella cordifolia
Carpets bare soil 1–2 ft wide to replace thirsty lawn or mulch, happy in loam soil; it flowers in Apr and May.
- Part shade
- Average
- 6–12 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Woodland Phlox
Phlox divaricata
A mat-forming native, 10–15 in tall and 12–18 in wide, that fills in and crowds out weeds; it flowers in Apr and May.
- Part shade
- Average
- 10–15 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Fragrant Sumac
Rhus aromatica
A mat-forming native, 2–6 ft tall and 5–10 ft wide, that fills in and crowds out weeds, flowering as it flowers in Mar and Apr.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 2–6 ft
- Blooms Mar–Apr
Creeping Phlox
Phlox subulata
Carpets bare soil 1.5–2 ft wide to replace thirsty lawn or mulch, cold-hardy to zone 3 — it flowers in Apr and May.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 4–8 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Virginia Creeper
Parthenocissus quinquefolia
A low 30–50 ft-tall carpet that closes ranks 10–20 ft wide and shades out weeds; it flowers in Jun.
- Sun to shade
- Dry–average
- 30–50 ft
- Blooms Jun
Wild Ginger
Asarum canadense
Carpets bare soil 12–18 in wide to replace thirsty lawn or mulch, happy in loam soil; it flowers in Apr and May.
- Part shade
- Average
- 4–8 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Pennsylvania Sedge
Carex pensylvanica
Spreads low — 6–12 in tall, 1–2 ft wide — to knit bare ground and smother weeds.
- Part shade
- Dry–average
- 6–12 in
- Foliage
Christmas Fern
Polystichum acrostichoides
Spreads low — 1–2 ft tall, 1.5–2.5 ft wide — to knit bare ground and smother weeds.
- Part shade
- Dry–average
- 1–2 ft
- Evergreen
Sourcing
Where to find these in South Carolina
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.