In California, water, maintenance, and long-term resilience are concepts you should always consider when designing your garden, and at Hommes + Gardens, this is the baseline when we work with our clients and consider moving away from traditional turf and toward layered ground covering.
When approaching a new project, we think in layers, and to start, always ground cover.
I tell clients this all the time: ground cover isn’t filler, it’s the foundation. It adds variation, stabilizes soil, and handles the work most people don’t want to think about. Yes, most people don’t want to think about weed suppression, moisture retention, and reducing long-term upkeep, my life daily.
In California, we’re designing for microclimates. Coastal fog, inland heat, shade pockets, slopes. So when I’m selecting ground cover, I always come back to three things:
- Water efficiency
- Growth habit
- Sun tolerance
Think of ground cover like your shoes. You can put together a great outfit, but if the shoes are wrong, that’s all anyone notices. These are the ground covers I find myself using over and over again:
1. Sedum (Stonecrop)
If you want something that just works, start here.
Sedum handles drought, poor soil, and heat without needing much attention. It’s one of the few plants that can live in a modern gravel garden or a more natural landscape and still feel intentional. Go with the creeping varieties if you want true ground coverage. Sedum also comes in a range of colors, from cool blue-greens to warm golds and deep reds, often intensifying with more sun and less water.
Where I use it:
Slopes
Gravel gardens
Minimal, architectural spaces
2. Creeping Thyme
This is one of those plants people don’t expect to love, but they do.
It fills in quickly, can handle light foot traffic, and releases a subtle scent when you walk across it. Once it’s established, it doesn’t ask for much.
Where I use it:
Between pavers
Walkways
Courtyard gardens
3. Creeping Phlox
If a space needs color without adding complexity, this is usually where I go.
It spreads easily and creates a dense layer of seasonal blooms, which is especially useful on slopes or edges where you want coverage to feel soft, not forced.
Where I use it:
Hillsides
Retaining wall edges
Transition zones between planting areas
4. Creeping Raspberry
This one doesn’t get enough attention.
It has a more textured, almost structured look compared to softer ground covers, and it holds up well over time. It’s especially useful when you need something that fills in densely but still feels designed.
Where I use it:
Under trees
Informal garden areas
Larger properties where coverage matters
5. Sweet Woodruff (for Shade)
Shade is where most California gardens fall apart, which make this is one of the easier solutions.
It spreads well in low light and creates a consistent layer where grass usually struggles.
Where I use it:
Under mature trees
North-facing areas
Layered, woodland-style gardens
Most people think they need a better garden. What they actually need is a better foundational ground cover.