Low, spreading natives that knit together to cover bare ground, smother weeds, and replace thirsty lawn or mulch. For Wisconsin, the right natives are shaped by Northern forest, driftless prairie & oak savanna and a cold continental climate. Every species below, from Woodland Phlox and Prairie Smoke to the rest of the list, is genuinely native to Wisconsin and the wider flora of the Midwest and hardy through zones 3–5. 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 3–5 · see this collection in other states.
Phlox divaricata
In Wisconsin's Northern forest, driftless prairie & oak savanna, 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.
Geum triflorum
In Wisconsin's Northern forest, driftless prairie & oak savanna, a living mulch at 6–16 in tall, fanning 12–18 in wide to cover soil and block weeds; it flowers in Apr and May.
Geranium maculatum
In Wisconsin's Northern forest, driftless prairie & oak savanna, knits across the ground 1.5–2 ft wide and just 1.5–2 ft tall, no mowing needed, flowering as it blooms Apr through Jun.
Achillea millefolium
In Wisconsin's Northern forest, driftless prairie & oak savanna, 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.
Tiarella cordifolia
In Wisconsin's Northern forest, driftless prairie & oak savanna, a low 6–12 in-tall carpet that closes ranks 1–2 ft wide and shades out weeds — it flowers in Apr and May.
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
In Wisconsin's Northern forest, driftless prairie & oak savanna, a low 4–8 in-tall carpet that closes ranks 3–6 ft wide and shades out weeds, flowering as it flowers in Apr and May.
Phlox subulata
In Wisconsin's Northern forest, driftless prairie & oak savanna, runs 1.5–2 ft wide and stays ankle-low at 4–8 in, holding soil where lawn won't, flowering as it flowers in Apr and May.
Parthenocissus quinquefolia
In Wisconsin's Northern forest, driftless prairie & oak savanna, spreads low — 30–50 ft tall, 10–20 ft wide — to knit bare ground and smother weeds, and it flowers in Jun.
Asarum canadense
In Wisconsin's Northern forest, driftless prairie & oak savanna, settles in as a weed-suppressing carpet 12–18 in wide, no taller than 4–8 in, flowering as it flowers in Apr and May.
Rhus aromatica
In Wisconsin's Northern forest, driftless prairie & oak savanna, runs 5–10 ft wide and stays ankle-low at 2–6 ft, holding soil where lawn won't — it flowers in Mar and Apr.
Polystichum acrostichoides
In Wisconsin's Northern forest, driftless prairie & oak savanna, carpets bare soil 1.5–2.5 ft wide to replace thirsty lawn or mulch, happy in rocky and loam soil.
Carex pensylvanica
In Wisconsin's Northern forest, driftless prairie & oak savanna, knits across the ground 1–2 ft wide and just 6–12 in tall, no mowing needed.
Sporobolus heterolepis
In Wisconsin's Northern forest, driftless prairie & oak savanna, a low 2–3 ft-tall carpet that closes ranks 2–3 ft wide and shades out 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.