Foamflower
Tiarella cordifolia
A mat-forming native, 6–12 in tall and 1–2 ft wide, that fills in and crowds out weeds, flowering as it flowers in Apr and May.
- Part shade
- Average
- 6–12 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Maine · Zones 3–6
Native Groundcover Plants in Maine
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 Maine and the wider flora of the Northeast and hardy through zones 3–6 — proven performers for Maine's cool, short summers climate across Acadian forest & coastal lowlands, not a generic list. Local standouts include Foamflower and Wild Geranium. 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
12 native species for Maine
Each one native to your region and hardy in zones 3–6 · see this collection in other states.
Wild Geranium
Geranium maculatum
Runs 1.5–2 ft wide and stays ankle-low at 1.5–2 ft, holding soil where lawn won't — it blooms Apr through Jun.
- Part shade
- Average
- 1.5–2 ft
- Blooms Apr–Jun
Woodland Phlox
Phlox divaricata
Spreads low — 10–15 in tall, 12–18 in wide — to knit bare ground and smother weeds, flowering as it flowers in Apr and May.
- Part shade
- Average
- 10–15 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Common Yarrow
Achillea millefolium
Knits across the ground 1.5–2 ft wide and just 1.5–3 ft tall, no mowing needed, flowering as it blooms May through Aug.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 1.5–3 ft
- Blooms May–Aug
Virginia Creeper
Parthenocissus quinquefolia
A low 30–50 ft-tall carpet that closes ranks 10–20 ft wide and shades out weeds, flowering as it flowers in Jun.
- Sun to shade
- Dry–average
- 30–50 ft
- Blooms Jun
Bearberry
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
Runs 3–6 ft wide and stays ankle-low at 4–8 in, holding soil where lawn won't — it flowers in Apr and May.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 4–8 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Creeping Phlox
Phlox subulata
Spreads low — 4–8 in tall, 1.5–2 ft wide — to knit bare ground and smother weeds, and it flowers in Apr and May.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 4–8 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Wild Ginger
Asarum canadense
Spreads low — 4–8 in tall, 12–18 in wide — to knit bare ground and smother weeds, and it flowers in Apr and May.
- Part shade
- Average
- 4–8 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Fragrant Sumac
Rhus aromatica
A living mulch at 2–6 ft tall, fanning 5–10 ft wide to cover soil and block weeds; it flowers in Mar and Apr.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 2–6 ft
- Blooms Mar–Apr
Christmas Fern
Polystichum acrostichoides
Settles in as a weed-suppressing carpet 1.5–2.5 ft wide, no taller than 1–2 ft.
- Part shade
- Dry–average
- 1–2 ft
- Evergreen
Prairie Dropseed
Sporobolus heterolepis
Weaves a 2–3 ft-tall mat 2–3 ft across to blanket bare ground, for sand, rocky, and loam ground.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 2–3 ft
- Fall color
Pennsylvania Sedge
Carex pensylvanica
Weaves a 6–12 in-tall mat 1–2 ft across to blanket bare ground, cold-hardy to zone 3.
- Part shade
- Dry–average
- 6–12 in
- Foliage
Sourcing
Where to find these in Maine
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.