Wild Geranium
Geranium maculatum
A mat-forming native, 1.5–2 ft tall and 1.5–2 ft wide, that fills in and crowds out weeds; it blooms Apr through Jun.
- Part shade
- Average
- 1.5–2 ft
- Blooms Apr–Jun
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- Groundcovers
New Jersey · Zones 6–7
Native Groundcover Plants in New Jersey
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 New Jersey and the wider flora of the Mid-Atlantic and hardy through zones 6–7 — proven performers for New Jersey's humid, four-season climate across Pine Barrens & Piedmont, not a generic list. Local standouts include Wild Geranium 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.
The plants
12 native species for New Jersey
Each one native to your region and hardy in zones 6–7 · see this collection in other states.
Woodland Phlox
Phlox divaricata
Weaves a 10–15 in-tall mat 12–18 in across to blanket bare ground, happy in loam soil; it flowers in Apr and May.
- Part shade
- Average
- 10–15 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Foamflower
Tiarella cordifolia
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.
- Part shade
- Average
- 6–12 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Common Yarrow
Achillea millefolium
A living mulch at 1.5–3 ft tall, fanning 1.5–2 ft wide to cover soil and block weeds; it blooms May through Aug.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 1.5–3 ft
- Blooms May–Aug
Bearberry
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
A living mulch at 4–8 in tall, fanning 3–6 ft wide to cover soil and block weeds — it flowers in Apr and May.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 4–8 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Creeping Phlox
Phlox subulata
Carpets bare soil 1.5–2 ft wide to replace thirsty lawn or mulch, happy in sand, rocky, and loam soil, flowering as it flowers in Apr and May.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 4–8 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Wild Ginger
Asarum canadense
A low 4–8 in-tall carpet that closes ranks 12–18 in wide and shades out weeds; it flowers in Apr and May.
- Part shade
- Average
- 4–8 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Virginia Creeper
Parthenocissus quinquefolia
Carpets bare soil 10–20 ft wide to replace thirsty lawn or mulch, happy in clay, rocky, and loam soil, and it flowers in Jun.
- Sun to shade
- Dry–average
- 30–50 ft
- Blooms Jun
Fragrant Sumac
Rhus aromatica
Spreads low — 2–6 ft tall, 5–10 ft wide — to knit bare ground and smother weeds — it flowers in Mar and Apr.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 2–6 ft
- Blooms Mar–Apr
Prairie Dropseed
Sporobolus heterolepis
A mat-forming native, 2–3 ft tall and 2–3 ft wide, that fills in and crowds out weeds.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 2–3 ft
- Fall color
Pennsylvania Sedge
Carex pensylvanica
Carpets bare soil 1–2 ft wide to replace thirsty lawn or mulch, happy in rocky and loam soil.
- Part shade
- Dry–average
- 6–12 in
- Foliage
Christmas Fern
Polystichum acrostichoides
Spreads low — 1–2 ft tall, 1.5–2.5 ft wide — to knit bare ground and smother weeds.
- Part shade
- Dry–average
- 1–2 ft
- Evergreen
Sourcing
Where to find these in New Jersey
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.