10 Edible Groundcovers to Grow Outside the Garden

Often we concentrate on upright plants when planning gardens. What’s the right tree? Which shrubs can create a nice boundary? Do the flowers create a nice color combination?

Even in vegetable gardens, it’s plants like tomatoes and peppers that get all the press. Cucumbers and beans are sent spiraling up trellises. Okra and sweet corn stand proudly at attention.

Groundcovers, sometimes quite literally, get overshadowed by the behemoths towering over them. Many of us fill in the gaps as an afterthought. But, groundcovers play important roles in and out of the garden, far more than just taking up space.

Groundcovers can be below trees, on the lawn, and along borders. They protect the soil from drying out in the sun and from getting overrun with weeds. They provide a habitat for beneficial insects, wildlife, and worms. They attract pollinators. They can even provide us with food.

Simply put, groundcovers deserve some attention, so let’s take a look at 10 awesome, edible choices to grow everywhere, including outside the garden.

1. Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)

An under-sung herb, thyme is great for adding flavor to just about any savory dish. As a ground cover, it is a hardy perennial that thrives from USDA Zone 5-9. It spreads out wide but stays below a foot high. It’s best planted in a place where water doesn’t stand, and it likes at least partial sun.

2. Oregano (Origanum vulgare)

Highly medicinal and beloved in Mediterranean cuisine, oregano is an easy-to-grow, fast-spreading plant. It can withstand the cold environs of Zone 5 and reach heights of about 18 inches. Oregano likes full sun exposure, and it is very drought-tolerant.

3. Corsican Mint (Mentha requienii)

As a plant, mint’s reputation generally precedes, driving fear into gardeners’ hearts. It spreads like mad, taking of garden beds with ease and capable of replacing an entire lawn. Corsican mint is a great choice for a low groundcover because it is diminutive compared to other mints and spreads aggressively. It can be used like any other mint, for tea, desserts, and fresh flavor.

4. Strawberry (Fragaria spp.)

Strawberries have an amazing ability to spread throughout a mulched area, quickly taking over the entire space and snuffing out most competition. They send out runners much like Bermuda grass, and each runner roots to become a new plant. And, they produce strawberries! There are strawberries conducive to growing everywhere in the US, including Alaska.

5. French Sorrel (Rumex scutatus)

Popular in France, French sorrel is an herb used much like spinach. The greens have a lemon-like zip about them and can be cooked or enjoyed raw. In the right conditions, it can take off like a weed and carpet a space. Wild sorrel plants do well also, but French sorrel has the decidedly best flavor. It grows well in Zones 5-7 in full sun and reaches up to 18 inches tall.

6. Sweet Violets (Viola odorata)

Sweet violets grow wild and as weeds for many, but they have a wonderful flavor, darling flowers in the springtime, and establish very well. They spread readily and stay quite low to the ground (four to eight inches). Sweet violet is a perennial that works from Zone 6 through 9. Its heart-shaped leaves and purple flowers are great in salads.

7. Rock Cress (Aubrieta deltoidea)

Mat-forming and semi-evergreen, rock cress grows easily in well-drained soil with full sun. It works especially well on banks and rocky areas. Most varieties stay under half a foot tall but can spread a couple of feet. They have stunning, edible flowers, and the leaves are delicious, too. Plant them in USDA Zones 5-7 for a perennial groundcover.

8. Roman Chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile)

Hardy from USDA Zones 4-9, Roman chamomile is a perennial evergreen that needs little introduction in terms of tea. The leaves and flowers are also edible. As a plant, it stays low, has lovely flowers, and is known to be invasive, a good quality for groundcovers. It wants sun and moist soil

9. Wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens)

Attractive evergreens with vibrant red berries and waxy leaves, wintergreen has aromatic leaves and edible berries. The glossy leaves creep along the ground, spreading slowly into mats. They work in Zones 3-8 and prefer shadier conditions with cool summers.

10. Nasturtium (Tropaeolum spp.)

Potentially perennial in warmer climates, nasturtiums are a popular annual flower that has both edible leaves and flowers. Trailing varieties are especially good as groundcovers because they spread around mulched spaces and will climb onto fences, rocks, etc. They can do partial shade to full sun and get about a foot high.

It’s a lot of fun when the garden and, more so, edible lawnscape starts to fill out with curious things to eat and beautiful plants all around. Groundcovers play a vital role in this, and they aren’t to be forgotten or chosen lightly. Let them be part of the ornamental ideals of the garden and functionally food as well.

Related Content:

• 10 Plants to Grow for Flowers in Winter
• 10+ Evergreen Plants with Food Payoffs
• 10 Water-Saving Tips for the Garden
• 10 Living Plants That Make the Holiday Season More Festive
• 4 Edible Ground Covers for Your Garden

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