Compared to big leafy tropical plants and vibrant flowers, ground cover plants are the unsung heroes of a tropical oasis. They often get lost in the entire look but without ground cover, the space can look rather bare.
Not only do these plants fill empty space, but they also help reduce weeds and retain moisture, which is vital in a tropical garden. Here are some easy-to-grow tropical ground cover plants that can bring you all of the benefits with minimal effort:
1. Mondo Grass
Mondo grass is very versatile and it doesn’t require a lot of maintenance. Whether you’re a beginner or a pro, you’ll be able to use this ground cover to turn your garden into a lush tropical oasis. Its grassy leaves create dense mats that help to suppress weeds and prevent soil erosion.
Mondo grass is ideal for slopes, pathways, or just simple garden borders. It thrives in both sunny and shady areas and it grows at a comfortable pace. You can choose a variety that grows low to the ground or find a taller alternative, depending on your aesthetic needs. The dark green foliage complements colorful tropical plants beautifully.
2. Dwarf Asiatic Jasmine
Dwarf Asiatic jasmine grows very fast and it’s very fragrant compared to some other easy-to-grow tropical ground cover plants. The leaves are dark green and glossy, which work so well with any other tropical plants, from palm trees to banana plants. The plant also produces small white flowers that release a sweet smell.
It forms a thick carpet that fills empty spaces in no time and it keeps pesky weeds out. The Dwarf Asiatic jasmine is perfect for your tropical yard whether you’ve got full sun or partial shade. It can also withstand foot traffic, so you can also use it to cover pathways.
3. Creeping Jenny
During the growing season, Creeping Jenny will give you tiny tropical yellow flowers. For the rest of the year, you’ll have a vibrant, dense low-growing mat.
The ground cover keeps weeds at bay and retains soil moisture. It spreads fast and also trails perfectly down slopes and around rocks, but it does prefer moist soil. Thus, areas near ponds and water features are ideal.
4. Periwinkle
Periwinkle, or Vinca, is a ground cover classic. The glossy evergreen leaves and colorful blooms match the tropical vibe and the plant grows vigorously. The flowers are star-shaped and they come in shades of white, purple, and blue.
You can let periwinkle grow wild or prune it occasionally to keep it in shape, but it’s up to you and the tropical look you’re going for. It’s adaptable and can withstand any sun conditions, most soil types, and even droughts.
5. Purple Heart
Purple heart, or Tradescantia padilla, will cover your ground with deep purple foliage. And in the growing season you’ll get small vibrant magenta flowers; perfect for your tropical garden. It trails quickly, suppresses weeds, stabilizes soil, and purifies the air.
The plant thrives in full sun and partial shade and tolerates most soils. However, purple heart does prefer moist, well-drained soil conditions so it’ll be healthier if you can try to accommodate this. Not only is it easy to grow, but it also requires little watering once established.
6. Beach Morning Glory
Beach morning glory, or Ipomoea pes-caprae, goes by a lot of names. You may know it as bayhops, railroad vine, or goat’s foot. These names may not mean something at first, but they give a lot of hints about what you can expect from these plants. They’re often found on beaches (or bays), where they open in the morning, revealing funnel-shaped flowers in shades of pink, purple, or white.
The long, creeping stems that grow fast resemble railroad tracks, and the leaves are supposed to be shaped like goat hooves. These easy-to-grow tropical ground cover plants are ideal for low-maintenance and beginner landscaping because they grow aggressively with regular pruning. You don’t need green fingers or the skills of a pro gardener to cover your landscape with beach morning glory.
7. Sweet Potato Vine
Sweet potato vine, or Ipomoea batatas, is a versatile plant. On one end, it carries tubers that give edible sweet potatoes, while it can also be purely ornamental and perfect for a tropical ground cover option.
The plant thrives in anything from partial shade to full sun and it grows in a range of soils if they drain well. It creates a lush trailing carpet that fills gaps and retains moisture, and it can also produce tubular flowers to enhance your garden’s tropical aesthetic.
8. Wandering Jew
Wandering Jew, or Tradescantia zebrina, is a favorite among people looking for easy-to-grow tropical ground cover plants. The plant has vibrant striped leaves that are green and purple with silvery accents. It grows fast, suppresses weeds, retains soil moisture, and tolerates most garden conditions.
As long as you water it during dry periods, you won’t have any trouble getting Wandering Jew to cover bare areas and give your yard a tropical look. You can even plant it in hanging baskets or garden beds.
9. Frog Fruit
Phyla nodiflora, otherwise known as frog fruit, is a hardy, low-growing ground cover that transforms a dull garden into a tropical oasis in no time. The leaves are smaller than other easy-to-grow tropical ground cover plants’, but that doesn’t take away from its ability to spread quickly and establish easily.
Frog fruit is perfect for slopes, borders, garden beds, or anywhere else you want to attract butterflies and bees to. You can even plant this ground cover with its small flowers in sandy or clay types of soil.
10. Creeping Thyme
Creeping thyme is what you need if you want your garden to be just as fragrant as it is tropical. It’s better suited for sunny spots, where it absorbs all of the energy it needs to cover your garden in a dense mat of tiny, aromatic leaves. The growing season comes with clusters of small pink, purple, and white flowers that attract pollinators.
It’s good for low-water landscapes, well-draining soils, pathways, borders, and the awkward openings between stepping stones.
11. Lippia
Whether you know it as phyla or lippia, this easy-to-grow tropical ground cover plant is well-suited to tropical landscapes. It produces tiny white or lavender flowers throughout the growing season, and for the remainder of the year the lush green carpet prevents soil erosion and keeps weeds at bay.
You can pair it with other tropical plants and rocks to bring your vision to life, but it’s pretty enough to stand out on its own.
Jamie is the founder of The Backyard Pros. When he was 15 years old he started working at a garden centre helping people buy plants, gardening products, and lawn care products. He has real estate experience and he is a home owner. Jamie loves backyard projects, refinishing furniture, and enjoys sharing his knowledge online.