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 Maryland and the wider flora of the Mid-Atlantic and hardy through zones 6–8 — proven performers for Maryland's humid, four-season climate across Piedmont & Chesapeake Coastal Plain, not a generic list. Local standouts include Foamflower and Woodland Phlox. 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 6–8 · see this collection in other states.
Tiarella cordifolia
Through Maryland's Piedmont & Chesapeake Coastal Plain country, a low 6–12 in-tall carpet that closes ranks 1–2 ft wide and shades out weeds, flowering as it flowers in Apr and May.
Phlox divaricata
Through Maryland's Piedmont & Chesapeake Coastal Plain country, knits across the ground 12–18 in wide and just 10–15 in tall, no mowing needed — it flowers in Apr and May.
Achillea millefolium
Through Maryland's Piedmont & Chesapeake Coastal Plain country, 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.
Geranium maculatum
Through Maryland's Piedmont & Chesapeake Coastal Plain country, a low 1.5–2 ft-tall carpet that closes ranks 1.5–2 ft wide and shades out weeds, and it blooms Apr through Jun.
Asarum canadense
Through Maryland's Piedmont & Chesapeake Coastal Plain country, a low 4–8 in-tall carpet that closes ranks 12–18 in wide and shades out weeds, and it flowers in Apr and May.
Parthenocissus quinquefolia
Through Maryland's Piedmont & Chesapeake Coastal Plain country, carpets bare soil 10–20 ft wide to replace thirsty lawn or mulch, inconspicuous green flowers, and it flowers in Jun.
Phlox subulata
Through Maryland's Piedmont & Chesapeake Coastal Plain country, knits across the ground 1.5–2 ft wide and just 4–8 in tall, no mowing needed — it flowers in Apr and May.
Rhus aromatica
Through Maryland's Piedmont & Chesapeake Coastal Plain country, a low 2–6 ft-tall carpet that closes ranks 5–10 ft wide and shades out weeds — it flowers in Mar and Apr.
Sporobolus heterolepis
Through Maryland's Piedmont & Chesapeake Coastal Plain country, a mat-forming native, 2–3 ft tall and 2–3 ft wide, that fills in and crowds out weeds.
Polystichum acrostichoides
Through Maryland's Piedmont & Chesapeake Coastal Plain country, weaves a 1–2 ft-tall mat 1.5–2.5 ft across to blanket bare ground, good through zone 9.
Carex pensylvanica
Through Maryland's Piedmont & Chesapeake Coastal Plain country, settles in as a weed-suppressing carpet 1–2 ft wide, no taller than 6–12 in.
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.