34 Full Sun Ground Covers for Zone 3 (Best Choices)

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There’s no shortage of full sun ground covers, not even in zone 3! Zone 3 climates offer hot but short-lived summers and very cold winters. So each plant in this list can withstand the frigid temperatures and also enjoy the hot sun in summer.

Full sun means that a plant is in a position that receives 6-8 hours or more of direct sun. Most plants, particularly ones that love to flower and fruit, will require this at a minimum to thrive! Many of these options will also grow well in partial shade (4-6 hours of direct sunlight).

If, however, you also have some shady corners to consider. . . You’ll find all the best shade-loving ground covers here: Best Shade-Loving Ground Covers (Complete Guide)

• Sunny areas are often open and prone to drying. You’ll find plenty of drought-tolerant and soil-stabilizing options in this list.

• Beyond all limits, you’ll also find sun-loving plants that thrive in wet soils! Plenty of aquatic plants need a full sun position.

To use this long list to your best advantage, might I suggest, you scroll through and write down your favorites. From your list of favorites, prioritize the ones that are most appropriate for the environment you’re offering.

Here are the best full-sun ground covers for zone 3 climates:

Daylily (Hemerocallis fulva)

Daylilies flower prolifically and for a long time! With multiple varieties of daylilies, you can prolong the blooms as some types send flowers earlier or later in the season.

Each bloom opens and lasts for a day as new ones are preparing to show next. I love eating blooms before they open the next day. They have a lovely texture.

• Height: 2-3 feet
• Range: Native to Asia
• Climate: Zones 3-10
• Functions: All parts are edible and similar to asparagus in texture from shoot to flower but with a sweet taste. Gorgeous and easy-growing ornamental with big flowers. Erosion control. Often planted in masses or clumps.
• Light requirements: Full sun or partial sun
• Soil preferences: Dry or moist soil. Grows in light or heavy soil textures and is suitable for heavy clay.

Endless flower colors and daylily varieties are offered here as plant starts. You can find even more variety by seed here.

Quaker ladies (Houstonia caerulea)

A popular dainty ground cover for its cute four-leaf pedalled blue flowers and low-growing dense habits. Without flowers, it resembles a thyme plant—so If you love creeping thyme but it doesn’t survive in your climate, this might be what you’re looking for!

• Height: 3-6 inches
• Range: Native to North America
• Climate: Zones 3-8
• Functions: Edible and ornamental ground cover. Mat-forming and low-growing coverage.
• Light requirements: Full sun or partial sun.
• Soil preferences: Moist or dry soil and tolerates drought. Grows well in light to medium soil textures.

Seeds may be available to order here, and if not, and you have trouble finding them, someone on a forum may know where to find them, may collect seeds for you, and send them your way!

Marsh blue violet (Viola cucullata)

A violet-lover’s dream come true: a full-sun-loving violet!

Many violets prefer some shade. But if you have a full-sun position to fill, this is an appropriate candidate!

• Height: 8 inches
• Range: Native to North America
• Climate: Zones 3-8
• Functions: Edible flowers and leaves. Floral fragrance. Nectar for bees, butterflies, and more. Food for various birds and small animals. Ornamental ground cover with pretty purple flowers.
• Light requirements: Partial shade to full sun.
• Soil preferences: Moist or wet soil. Suitable for light-textured or heavy clay soils.

You’ll find sun-loving violets as plant starts here.

Ajuga (bugleweed)

Bugleweed seems to be one of the most versatile and tough ground covers—no wonder it’s a common favorite.

Bugleweed is a go-to ground cover as it thrives in wet or dry conditions and most people plant it just about anywhere.

It forms a dense mat with spikes of blue-purple flowers, has cute creeping foliage, and keeps snug to the ground.

• Height: 4-8 inches.
• Range: Europe, Asia, North Africa.
• Climate: Zones 3-10
• Functions: Attracts bees and butterflies. Edible leaves and shoots. Cute carpeting ground coverage. Medicinal benefits. Ideal for rock gardens, erosion control, low growing ground coverage, and usefulness.
• Light requirements: Full/deep shade to partial shade.
• Soil preferences: Moist or wet soil. Tolerates droughts.

Plants and seeds are available here.

Pennsylvania sedge (Carex pensylvanica)

This grassy-looking semi-evergreen native attracts wildlife—in good ways—and stabilizes the soil whether it’s moist or dry. With a bit of mulch, you’ll be able to set and forget it after establishing.

• Height: 6-12 inches
• Range: North America
• Climate: Zones 3-8
• Functions: A perfect ground cover for dry shade to prevent erosion and emptiness, or lawn replacement for heavy-shaded areas.
• Light requirements: Full sun to partial shade.
• Soil preferences: Moist soil and tolerates drought.

This sedge is available here (currently at 17% off).

Bristleleaf sedge (Carex eburnea) hardy to zones 2-8 is also an option or alternative if you’d like variety or a colder climate option.

Rock Jasmine (Androsace sarmentosa)

Starting as a small plant start, rock jasmine will send runners out to fill in free spaces.

Since rock jasmine takes full sun and tolerates summer heat waves, but will do best with a bit of shade in the afternoon. You’ll get pink flowers from July to August.

• Height: 3-4 inches
• Range: Asia
• Climate: Zones 3-7
• Functions: Best used as a low-growing ground cover in sandy or rocky areas.
• Light requirements: Full sun to partial shade.
• Soil preferences: Dry or moist well-drained soil and prefers light and poor soils.

Rock jasmine is offered here for purchase.

Sea Thrift (Armeria maritima)

This sun-loving ground cover flowers from June to August. It offers edible leaves and roots and medicinal values.

Grows with a clumping habit and slowly expands. A slower growth rate is generally easier to manage and maintain than most fast-growing plants.

• Height: 6-12 inches
• Range: Europe
• Climate: Zones 3-9
• Functions: Rock gardens. Maritime positions. Windbreak. Attracts butterflies.
• Light requirements: Full sun.
• Soil preferences: Dry or moist well-drained soil and prefers light to medium textured soils. Grows well in nutritionally poor soils. Tolerates droughts. Tolerates exposure to coastal salts.

Plant starts are available to order here for quick results. Seeds for large areas are available here.

Fridged wormwood (Artemisia frigida)

Most artemisia love a full sun position. This variety offers essential pollinators plenty of nectar from bright yellow flowers.

Artemisia is a lovely ground cover in areas that plants might be touched or rubbed against when walking by.

• Height: 9-16 inches
• Range: North America
• Climate: Zones 3-10
• Functions: Ornamental ground cover. Erosion control. Nectar for pollinators. Fragrant and soft. Deer resistant.
• Light requirements: Full sun.
• Soil preferences: Well-drained moist or dry soils and tolerates droughts. Prefers light to medium sandier soils with plenty or minimal nutrients.

Plant starts can be ordered here. Artemisia seeds and selection are available here.

Beach wormwood/dusty miller (Artemisia stelleriana)

If you have sandy soil in the sun, dusty miller and other artemisia varieties are a perfect addition to your landscape.

• Height: 12 inches
• Range: Asia
• Climate: Zones 3-9
• Functions: Ornamental and soft to the touch ground cover. Deer resistant. Fragrant.
• Light requirements: Full sun.
• Soil preferences: Dry or moist well-drained soil and prefers light to medium textured soils. Grows well in nutritionally low soils. Tolerates droughts. Tolerates exposure to coastal salts.

Plant starts can be ordered here. Dusty miller seeds are available here.

Goat’s beard (Aruncus dioicus)

Named after its flower structure, goat’s beard shoots out soft and wispy clusters of white. More attractive than it sounds, it’s quite a popular ground cover. The rest of the plant has layers of medium-sized and textured green leaves—turning yellow in autumn.

If you have a lot of area to cover, this is one of several good choices—especially as it’s native!

Goat’s beard are often included in cut flower arrangements as a contrast to bright showy flowers. The same effect is created in your garden—a lovely accent plant.

• Height: 4-6 feet
• Range: Europe, Asia, and North America
• Climate: Zones 3-7
• Functions: Edible ground cover for larger areas. Scent confuser. Nectar source for essential pollinators. Deer resistant. Easy to grow and adaptable.
• Light requirements: Full sun or partial sun.
• Soil preferences: Dry, moist, or wet soils. Grows well in light to heavy textures.

Plants are available to order here. Seeds are available to order here.

Bigleaf aster (Aster macrophyllus)

A popular choice. Asters prefer sunny positions but thrive with partial sun as well—either way, it’s an easy-going and showy ground cover. Most asters make gorgeous ground covers and come in a wide variety of colors.

Many love asters for their flowers and include them in cut flower bouquets.

• Height: 1-2 feet
• Range: Britain and North America
• Climate: Zones 3-7
• Functions: Edible and ornamental native ground cover. Rabbit resistant.
• Light requirements: Full sun or partial sun.
• Soil preferences: Dry or moist well-drained soil. Light to heavy soil textures.

An endless color selection of plants is available to order here.

Marsh marigold (Caltha palustris)

The flowers, leaves, and roots of this gorgeous gorund cover are also edible! A great option for the wet areas or swales in food forests. They will, however, require partial to full sun positions.

These marsh marigolds are also perennial from zones 3-7. When most people in cold climates hear marigold they think annual—I do too! But these are different!

• Height: 1-2 feet
• Range: Europe, Asia, and North America
• Climate: Zones 3-7
• Functions: Edible and ornamental ground cover. Attracts pollinators.
• Light requirements: Full sun or partial sun.
• Soil preferences: Wet soil or water. Light to heavy soil textures. Suitable for heavy clay.

Order plants here. For larger areas, consider seeds here.

Cussicks camas (Camassia cusickii)

This ground cover is a perennial bulb—and a popular choice. Rather than planting a seed or transplanting a potted plant, you’ll recieve and burry a bulb!

Fun fact, this bulb is edible and apparently delicious—making this an excellet ground cover addition to food forests and edible gardens.

Ornamental gardens love this plant too as their flowers and foliage offer diversity in texture and color.

• Height: 2-3 feet
• Range: Northwestern America
• Climate: Zones 3-11
• Functions: Edible and ornamental ground cover. Attracts pollinators. Deer and rodent resistant.
• Light requirements: Full sun or partial sun.
• Soil preferences: Moist well-drained soil. Light to medium soil textures.

Bulbs of different color varieties are available to order here.

Trailing Bellflower (Campanula poscharskyana)

An edible and low-growing semi-evergreen plant with pretty purple flowers.

• Height: 4-10 inches.
• Range: Native to Europe.
• Climate: Zones 3-7.
• Functions: Attracting pollinators. Edible flowers and leaves. Dense ground coverage with blooms from June to August flowers.
• Light requirements: Partial shade is best.
• Soil preferences: Moist soil.

Seeds for white or purple flowers are available here.

• (Campanula alliariifolia) cornish bellflower
• (Campanula carpatica) Tussock Bellflower
• (Campanula portenschlagiana) Adria Bellflower

Mountain bluet (Centaurea montana)

Deer haven’t been caught muching on the Centaurea genus in general.

Mounitain bluets are known for their bachelors’ button flowers but feature gorgeous low growing silvery-green foliage as well.

• Height: 12-28 inches
• Range: Native to Europe
• Climate: Zones 3-9
• Functions: Used as a ground cover to attract pollinators from May to August with pretty blue or white flowers.
• Light requirements: Full sun.
• Soil preferences: Dry or moist soil and tolerates drought.

Nature Hills Nursery offers white flowers here. Seeds for many varieties are available here.

Water mat (Chrysosplenium americanum)

This water-loving ground cover is most often left alone by deer. It grows well in sun and partial sun areas with.a tendancy to form a carpet—hence ‘mat.’

• Height: 3-6 inches
• Range: Native to North America
• Climate: Zones 3-7
• Functions: Edible ground cover used in food forests or boggy and wet areas.
• Light requirements: Full sun or partial sun.
• Soil preferences: Moist or wet soil.

Whorled tickseed (Coreopsis verticillata)

Butterflies love whorled tickseed! This native plant is very easy to care for and will do well in poor conditions like dry or poor soil and even tolerates summer heat! This ground cover thrives off of neglect and deer don’t tend to fancy this plant more than others.

If deer damage does occur, usually it’s a taste test and the best part is that this ground cover grows back very quickly.

• Height: 12-36 inches
• Range: Native to North America
• Climate: Zones 3-9
• Functions: Used as a ground cover for its gorgeous and wild-life-attracting flowers. Also increases soil stabilization and controls erosion on slopes with its fast-growing habit and fibrous roots.
• Light requirements: Full sun.
• Soil preferences: Dry or moist soil and tolerates drought.

Gold flowers, peachy flowers, and bright off-white yellow flowers are gorgeous varieties available here as plant starts. Other fun colors can be found from seed here.

Cheddar pink (Dianthus gratianopolitanus)

The strong clove scent of this plant is too pungent for most deer. Strongly scented plants such as this are often not the top choices of pests in general and attract beneficial wildlife and insects.

Butterflies and moths love these flowers.

This ground cover is best used in dryer areas and along retaining walls.

• Height: 6-12 inches
• Range: Native to Europe
• Climate: Zones 3-7
• Functions: Scent confuser in food forests for the ground cover layer. Ground cover for dry and sunny areas.
• Light requirements: Full sun.
• Soil preferences: Dry well-drained soils and drought tolerant.

Two types of pink are offered here as plant starts—a deep pink and a baby pink. Seeds are available here for filling larger areas.

Mountain avens (Dryas octopetala)

This mat-forming ground cover stays low to the ground and is often insignificant to deer. The evergreen foliage and flowers, however, play a significant role of beauty in our gardens.

• Height: 2-8 inches
• Range: Native to Europe and Asia
• Climate: Zones 3-6
• Functions: Nitrogen fixing ground cover. Ornamental. Used as a ground cover between more prominent plants and bulbs.
• Light requirements: Full sun.
• Soil preferences: Moist soil

This ground cover is available by seed here.

Rockberry (Empetrum eamesii hermaphroditum)

Rockberry is an evergreen fruiting shrub that makes for a great wind-breaking border. These small shrubs bloom in March and attract plenty of bees.

• Height: 12 inches
• Range: Native to Europe, Greenland, & North America
• Climate: Zones 3-8
• Functions: Edible fruiting ground cover. Windbreak and erosion control.
• Light requirements: Full sun.
• Soil preferences: Moist and well-drained soil. Grows well in light to heavy soil textures including clay.

Seeds are available to order here.

For more fruiting ground covers, see: 19 Tasty Fruiting (Low-Growing) Ground Covers

Bog heather (Erica tetralix)

Although not popular, this bog-loving ground cover thrives in acidic soils with plenty of moisture and sunlight. If you have an environment like this, you’ve found the right fit.

This plant has sturdy greens making it useful for making brooms, brushes, and perhaps wreathes.

• Height: 12 inches
• Range: Native to Europe
• Climate: Zones 3-7
• Functions: Windbreak. Ground coverage for wet and acidic soil. Habitat and shelter.
• Light requirements: Full sun.
• Soil preferences: Moist or wet soil. Grows well in light to medium soil textures.

This plant is available to order here.

Beach aster (Erigeron glaucus)

Beach asters need sun and enjoy holding together sandy dry soils. The foliage smells somewhat like balsamic vinegar when ripped or smooshed.

This plant tolerates general exposure, coastlines, and even exposure to sea salts.

• Height: 6-12 inches
• Range: Native to North America
• Climate: Zones 3-7
• Functions: Scent confuser ground cover for exposed areas. Attractive to beneficial wildlife. Attractive ornamental.
• Light requirements: Full sun.
• Soil preferences: Moist or dry soil. Grows well in light to heavy soil textures.

Seeds for this variety are available here.

Meadowsweet (Filipendula vulgaris)

Meadowsweet loves a full sun and open position. Deer tend to keep this plant out of their diets and it grows well in common conditions.

This attractive meadow flower reminds me of delicate lace when in bloom.

• Height: 2-3 feet
• Range: Native to Europe and North Africa
• Climate: Zones 3-10
• Functions: Attracts pollinators. Edible leaves and roots. Sweet fragrance. Deer resistant.
• Light requirements: Full sun.
• Soil preferences: Moist or dry soil. Grows well in light to heavy soil textures.

Seeds for this variety are available here.

Blanket flower (Gaillardia x grandiflora)

Blanket flower is not only sun-loving but a fast-growing ground cover. Butterflies and birds love the vibrant flowers.

This ground cover has a clumping habit which is easy to contain—even though it’s fast-growing.

• Height: 1-3 feet
• Range: Native to North America
• Climate: Zones 3-10
• Functions: Attracts pollinators and provides nectar. Edible leaves. Lovely for cut flowers and bouquets.
• Light requirements: Full sun.
• Soil preferences: Moist or dry soil and tolerates drought. Grows well in light to medium soil textures.

Seeds for a variety of flowering colors are available here. Plant starts are available here.

Winged broom (Genista sagittalis)

Hitting every spectrum of ‘ground cover’ here, this is a low-growing and sun-loving nitrogen fixer. It’s mat-forming with a dense growth habit and will appear yellow when flowering and green the rest of the season!

• Height: 4-6 inches
• Range: Native to Europe
• Climate: Zones 3-8
• Functions: Nitrogen fixing ground cover. Low-growing and dense growth.
• Light requirements: Full sun.
• Soil preferences: Moist or dry well-drained soil, and tolerates drought. Grows well in light to medium soil textures.

A couple varieties of this plant are available here in pots.

Spotted geranium (Geranium maculatum)

For full-sun native gardens, wild geranium makes a lovely ground cover. Plant 16 inches apart, and gradually, they will fill in. Cute pink flowers pop among their interesting and shapely green foliage.

• Height: 12-28 inches
• Range: Native to North America
• Climate: Zones 3-10
• Functions: Ornamental and medicinal ground cover. Attractive to pollinators and butterflies.
• Light requirements: Full sun.
• Soil preferences: Moist or wet soil and grows well in light to heavy soil textures.

Seeds are available to order here. Plants are available here.

Ground ivy (Glechoma hederacea)

This type of ivy loves the sun! It was cute heart-shaped leaves and thrives in most soil types.

Check with your local plant councils before planting, however, as this may be invasive in some areas.

• Height: 24 inches
• Range: Native to Europe and Asia
• Climate: Zones 3-10
• Functions: Edible and fragrant ground cover. Attracts bees.
• Light requirements: Full sun or partial sun.
• Soil preferences: Moist soil. Grows well in light to heavy soil textures.

Seeds to sow this ground cover can be ordered here.

Oxeye daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare)

Daisies are popular in both sunny ornamental and edible gardens as they offer beautiful ‘classic’ flowers and edible leaves, roots, and shoots! The flowers bloom from June to August.

While not eaten often its simply possible to eat from this plant.

• Height: 24-32 inches
• Range: Native to Europe
• Climate: Zones 3-9
• Functions: Wind-tolerant and ornamental ground cover. Attracts pollinators. Edible.
• Light requirements: Full sun.
• Soil preferences: Moist soil and grows well in light to heavy soil textures.

Seeds are available here. Various daisy plants are available to order here.

Self-Heal (Prunella vulgaris)

We grow and collect the flowers of self-heal for a nourishing tea. The taste is quite pleasant with sweet notes. The plant is also cute-looking with pretty purple flowers.

• Height: 2-6 inches.
• Range: Native to temperate climates in Europe, North Africa, and Asia.
• Climate: Zones 3-7.
• Functions: Attracts pollinators such as bees. Medicinal qualities have been described to accelerate wound healing, fevers, and more. Edible for salads or tea. Small and cute looking. Ideal for high-functioning forest gardens.
• Light requirements: Partial shade to shade.
• Soil preferences: Moist soil.

Self-heal seeds can be ordered here.

Rhubarb (Rheum rhaponticum)

Often an overlooked but effective ground cover is rhubarb! Perfect for food forests and lush-looking landscapes. Rhubarb offers large leaves that act as a self-watering system.

Of course, the stalks are delicious and edible, but optional to eat!

• Height: 2-3 feet
• Range: Native to Europe and Asia
• Climate: Zones 3-7
• Functions: Edible and self-watering ground cover. Dynamic accumulator. Rabbit and deer resistant.
• Light requirements: Partial shade to full sun.
• Soil preferences: Moist soil. Suitable for light-textured or heavy clay soils.

Rhubarb seeds are available to order here. Plant starts are available here.

Virginia rose (Rosa virginiana)

Virginia rose is a larger sun-loving ground cover. It produces edible fruit and leaves and provides the rest of your garden with a windbreak. Not only does it hold strong against winds, but it also has a pleasant fragrance when in flower!

Often planted in sandy areas to stabilize the soil and prevent erosion.

• Height: 4-6 feet
• Range: Native to North America
• Climate: Zones 3-7
• Functions: A windbreak ground cover. Erosion control. Dry sunny positions.
• Light requirements: Partial shade to full sun.
• Soil preferences: Moist or dry well-drained soil. Suitable for light-textured or heavy clay soils.

Seeds to grow this hedge are found here. Plenty of options in the ‘rosa’ family can be ordered as plant starts here.

Swamp dewberry (Rubus hispidus)

Swamp dewberry is a low-growing semi-evergreen shrub that produces edible fruits. This North American native makes a great ground cover in wet areas, along forested edges, or open spaces.

For bird lovers, this trailing plant is an excellent choice for your garden.

• Height: 8 inches
• Range: Native to North America
• Climate: Zones 3-7
• Functions: Edible fruit for us and birds.
• Light requirements: Partial shade to full sun.
• Soil preferences: Moist soil. Suitable for light-textured or heavy clay soils.

This specific variety may be difficult to source. Other trailing ground covers in the rubus genus can be found here.

Thimbleberry (Rubus odoratus / Rubus parviflorus)

Thimbleberries are an underrated delight! They aren’t available in grocery stores because their shelf life is incredibly short, but if you can pick them yourself, do it! They melt like butter in the mouth and taste like sweet velvet.

The berries make an incredible jam. The plant is rather large but covers lots of ground. Full sun is best for berry production but partial sun will also do.

• Height: 4-8 feet
• Range: Native to North America
• Climate: Zones 3-7
• Functions: Edible and delicious berries. Ground cover for large spaces.
• Light requirements: Partial shade to full sun.
• Soil preferences: Moist soil. Suitable for light-textured or heavy clay soils.

Thimbleberry plants have no thorns at all and are very friendly for picking. Rubus odoratus can grow out of control. Rubus parviflorus is more tame in growth.

You can grow thimbleberries by ordering seeds here.

Lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea)

This evergreen ground cover produces gorgeous glossy foliage and bright red edible berries. More sun means more delicious and nutritious berries.

Lingonberries thrive in acidic soils where other evergreens tend to live. The fruit stays on the bush through winter (unless you eat it!) and provides food for birds.

• Height: 12-18 inches
• Range: Native to Europe and Asia
• Climate: Zones 3-8
• Functions: Edible fruit. Attracts bees. Evergreen ground cover.
• Light requirements: Partial shade to full sun.
• Soil preferences: Moist soil. Suitable for light-textured or medium silty soils.

Seeds to grow this plant can be ordered here.