Woodland Phlox
Phlox divaricata
In West Virginia's Allegheny Mountains & Ridge-and-Valley, carpets bare soil 12–18 in wide to replace thirsty lawn or mulch, lavender-blue flowers; it flowers in Apr and May.
- Part shade
- Average
- 10–15 in
- Blooms Apr–May
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- Groundcovers
West Virginia · Zones 5–7
Native Groundcover Plants in West Virginia
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 West Virginia and the wider flora of the Mid-Atlantic and hardy through zones 5–7 — proven performers for West Virginia's cool, humid, mountainous climate across Allegheny Mountains & Ridge-and-Valley, not a generic list. Local standouts include Woodland Phlox 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
13 native species for West Virginia
Each one native to your region and hardy in zones 5–7 · see this collection in other states.
Wild Geranium
Geranium maculatum
In West Virginia's Allegheny Mountains & Ridge-and-Valley, carpets bare soil 1.5–2 ft wide to replace thirsty lawn or mulch, lavender-pink flowers; it blooms Apr through Jun.
- Part shade
- Average
- 1.5–2 ft
- Blooms Apr–Jun
Foamflower
Tiarella cordifolia
In West Virginia's Allegheny Mountains & Ridge-and-Valley, weaves a 6–12 in-tall mat 1–2 ft across to blanket bare ground, good through zone 8, and it flowers in Apr and May.
- Part shade
- Average
- 6–12 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Prairie Smoke
Geum triflorum
In West Virginia's Allegheny Mountains & Ridge-and-Valley, a mat-forming native, 6–16 in tall and 12–18 in wide, that fills in and crowds out weeds; it flowers in Apr and May.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 6–16 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Common Yarrow
Achillea millefolium
In West Virginia's Allegheny Mountains & Ridge-and-Valley, settles in as a weed-suppressing carpet 1.5–2 ft wide, no taller than 1.5–3 ft, and it blooms May through Aug.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 1.5–3 ft
- Blooms May–Aug
Virginia Creeper
Parthenocissus quinquefolia
In West Virginia's Allegheny Mountains & Ridge-and-Valley, a mat-forming native, 30–50 ft tall and 10–20 ft wide, that fills in and crowds out weeds, flowering as it flowers in Jun.
- Sun to shade
- Dry–average
- 30–50 ft
- Blooms Jun
Creeping Phlox
Phlox subulata
In West Virginia's Allegheny Mountains & Ridge-and-Valley, settles in as a weed-suppressing carpet 1.5–2 ft wide, no taller than 4–8 in; it flowers in Apr and May.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 4–8 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Wild Ginger
Asarum canadense
In West Virginia's Allegheny Mountains & Ridge-and-Valley, settles in as a weed-suppressing carpet 12–18 in wide, no taller than 4–8 in, flowering as it flowers in Apr and May.
- Part shade
- Average
- 4–8 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Bearberry
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
In West Virginia's Allegheny Mountains & Ridge-and-Valley, spreads low — 4–8 in tall, 3–6 ft wide — to knit bare ground and smother weeds, flowering as it flowers in Apr and May.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 4–8 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Fragrant Sumac
Rhus aromatica
In West Virginia's Allegheny Mountains & Ridge-and-Valley, spreads low — 2–6 ft tall, 5–10 ft wide — to knit bare ground and smother weeds, and it flowers in Mar and Apr.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 2–6 ft
- Blooms Mar–Apr
Pennsylvania Sedge
Carex pensylvanica
In West Virginia's Allegheny Mountains & Ridge-and-Valley, a mat-forming native, 6–12 in tall and 1–2 ft wide, that fills in and crowds out weeds.
- Part shade
- Dry–average
- 6–12 in
- Foliage
Prairie Dropseed
Sporobolus heterolepis
In West Virginia's Allegheny Mountains & Ridge-and-Valley, runs 2–3 ft wide and stays ankle-low at 2–3 ft, holding soil where lawn won't.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 2–3 ft
- Fall color
Christmas Fern
Polystichum acrostichoides
In West Virginia's Allegheny Mountains & Ridge-and-Valley, carpets bare soil 1.5–2.5 ft wide to replace thirsty lawn or mulch, for rocky and loam ground.
- Part shade
- Dry–average
- 1–2 ft
- Evergreen
Sourcing
Where to find these in West Virginia
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.