In a garden that is home to four-legged friends, outdoor creeping plants that are pet-safe can stand up to being trampled by playful paws and recover quickly from disturbance. In addition to helping prevent weeds and cooling the soil, groundcover plants also limit the digging that a layer of wood mulch encourages, while minimizing muddy messes. The following nontoxic outdoor creeping plants are safe for pets, so you don’t need to worry if your rambunctious canine chews a few stems or a meandering feline snacks on tender leaves.
Shade vs. Sun
When adding plants to your garden, make sure to match how much sunlight a planting area receives to what the plant needs to thrive.
- Full sun: At least 8 hours of direct sunlight a day.
- Full shade: 4 hours or less of bright light a day.
- Part shade: 4 to 6 hours of direct sunlight.
Bugleweed
A leafy, evergreen to semi-evergreen groundcover plant, bugleweed (Ajuga reptans) forms a dense mat of foliage. It has beautiful clusters of small purple flowers in mid to late spring. Bugleweed is perfect for moist, shaded areas where grass will not grow. ‘Bronze Beauty’ and ‘Chocolate Chip’ have striking dark foliage.
Growing Conditions: Full sun, part shade, or full shade, depending on variety, in well-drained, moist soil.
Size: Up to 6 inches tall and 18 inches wide
Hardiness Zones: 3–10
Bugleweed is considered invasive across much of the eastern half of the U.S. and parts of the Pacific Northwest, so should not be planted in these areas.
Candytuft
An early spring-flowering perennial, candytuft (Iberis sempervirens) is covered with white, pink, or yellow flowers for weeks in early spring into summer. Its leathery, dark-green foliage is evergreen in most climates. Even when this plant is not in bloom, its deep green foliage acts as a vibrant backdrop for neighboring plants.
Growing Conditions: Full sun and moist, well-drained soil
Size: Up 12 inches tall and 18 inches wide
Hardiness Zones: 3–8
Barrenwort
Also known as bishop's hat, barrenwort (Epimedium spp.) is tolerant of both deep shade and drought. In addition to being a slowly creeping outdoor plant that's pet-safe, it makes an excellent groundcover in shady areas because it tolerates root competition beneath trees and shrubs well. Its leaves emerge purple or bronze in spring, turn green in summer, and then change to bronze, red, or purple in fall.
Growing Conditions: Part to full shade and average soil
Size: Up to 12 inches tall and 24 inches wide
Hardiness Zones: 4–8
Creeping Juniper
A ground-hugging, needled evergreen, creeping juniper (Juniperus horizontalis) has long, spreading branches that creep over the ground. It grows best in well-drained, sandy soils and is drought-tolerant and deer-tolerant. ‘Blue Chip’ has silver-blue foliage, and ‘Bar Harbor’ has bright green needles.
Growing Conditions: Full sun to part shade and rich, well-drained soil
Size: 1 to 3 feet tall and 8 to 10 feet wide
Hardiness Zones: 3–9
Creeping Speedwell
A low-growing, evergreen groundcover, creeping speedwell (Veronica spp.) is decorated with dainty flowers in spring, summer, and fall. This groundcover veronica blooms more vigorously when sheared back in spring after the first flush of flowers. Look for ‘Tidal Pool,’ ‘Waterperry Blue,’ and ‘Crater Lake Blue.’
Growing Conditions: Part to full shade and organically rich, well-draining soil
Size: Up to 6 inches tall and 2 feet wide
Hardiness Zones: 3–9
Creeping Thyme
A close relative of fragrant culinary thyme, creeping thyme (Thymus serpyllum) is slow-growing, but it tolerates foot traffic from pets and people well so is a good choice to fill in around stepping stones. This outdoor creeping plant attracts pollinators with its tiny but prolific flowers and requires minimal care.
Growing Conditions: Full sun to part shade and well-draining soil
Size: Up to 6 inches tall and 12 inches wide
Hardiness Zones: 4–9
Creeping Shrubby Ice Plant
Bright daisy-like flowers cover this hardy perennial from early spring through summer. Creeping shrubby ice plant (Ruschia pulvinaris) forms a ground-hugging mat and has exceptional drought, heat, and humidity tolerance. This pet-safe outdoor creeping plant is evergreen in warmer regions.
Growing Conditions: Full sun to part shade and well-draining sandy or gravelly soil
Size: Up to 6 inches tall and 12 inches wide
Hardiness Zones: 5–10
Dianthus
Dianthus (Dianthus spp.) has fragrant flowers and good drought tolerance. Low-growing cultivars of this spring- and summer-flowering perennial plant make excellent groundcovers. Some varieties, such as 'Mountain Frost Pink Twinkle’ offer attractive silvery foliage in addition to long-lasting flowers.
Growing Conditions: Full sun to part shade in well-drained soil
Size: 6 to 8 inches tall and 10 to 12 inches wide
Hardiness Zones: 4–9
Fragrant Sumac
When you need a taller outdoor creeping plant that safe for pets, try fragrant sumac (Rhus aromatica). This fast-growing, native groundcover shrub can grow about 3 feet tall. Plant it where its height is welcome and where it can freely spread. ‘Gro-Low’ sumac has brilliant yellow, orange, and red fall color and good drought tolerance.
Growing Conditions: Full sun to part shade
Size: Up 3 feet tall and 8 feet wide
Hardiness Zones: 4–9
Heart-Leaf Bergenia
A low-growing plant with big, glossy leaves, heart-leaf bergenia (Bergenia cordifolia) thrives in shade and moist soil. It tolerates drought but maintains a lush, full appearance when it receives regular moisture. Bergenia blooms in late spring and is evergreen in regions that have a mild winter.
Growing Conditions: Prefers part shade, tolerates full shade and full sun, in average, well-draining soil
Size: 6–12 inches tall and 12–18 inches wide
Hardiness Zones: 3–8
Heart-leaf Brunnera
Plant heart-leaf brunnera (Brunnera macrophylla) in a woodland garden or shady spot where you need a splash of color. This easy-care perennial’s brightly variegated foliage is a backdrop to the plant’s small blue flowers in spring. ‘Sea Heart’ is known for its excellent tolerance of heat and humidity.
Growing Conditions: Full to part shade and rich, well-draining soil
Size: Up to 18 inches tall and 24 inches wide
Hardiness Zones: 3–8
Lamb’s Ear
A perennial with wooly foliage, lamb’s ear (Stachys byzantina) grows quickly to form a dense mat of foliage. Its silvery leaves add a bright spot wherever it is planted. Lamb ear’s fuzzy foliage is a striking contrast to traditional foliage plants.
Growing Conditions: Full sun to part shade. Tolerates poor soil, but it must drain well
Size: Up to 6 inches tall and 18 inches wide
Hardiness Zones: 4–8
Moss Phlox
Moss phlox (Phlox subulata), also called creeping phlox, is covered with blossoms in spring into early summer. This low-growing perennial creates a carpet of color as it scrambles around taller perennials and shrubs. It looks especially pretty planted where it can drape over retaining walls or spill down slopes.
Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-draining sandy soil
Size: Up to 6 inches tall and 3 feet wide
Hardiness Zones: 3–8
Plumbago
Plumbago (Ceratostigma plumbaginoides), also known as leadwort, is a fast-growing outdoor creeping plant that's pet-safe. This ground-hugging perennial is decorated with sky-blue flowers in summer and striking red and orange foliage in fall. Although it provides quick cover, it is not considered invasive.
Growing Conditions: Full sun to part shade in regular, well-drained soil
Size: 6–12 inches tall and 18 inches wide
Hardiness Zones: 5–9
Russian Cypress
Dense stems of soft, evergreen foliage make Russian cypress (Microbiota decussata), also called Siberian cypress, a favorite groundcover shrub. It tolerates a few hours of shade and grows well under shade trees and small ornamental trees such as crabapples or redbuds. In addition to being an outdoor creeping plant that's pet-safe, Russian cypress is also deer-resistant.
Growing Conditions: Full sun to part shade in moist, well-drained soil
Size: 6 to 18 inches tall and up to 10 feet wide
Hardiness Zones: 3–7
Sedge
Sedge (Carex spp.) is a large group of grasslike plants. They often have a graceful arching habit and offer fall color. Some types, such as spreading sedge (Carex laxiculmis), will slowly creep outward to fill in around other perennials. Some also spread by seeding themselves around. Make sure to select a sedge that's suited for your climate and isn't considered invasive in your area.
Growing Conditions: Full sun, part shade, or full shade, depending on variety and moist, well-drained soil
Size: Up 1 to 2 feet tall and wide
Hardiness Zones: 5–9
Spotted Deadnettle
The silver-green foliage of spotted deadnettle (Lamium maculatum) lights up shady areas. Its small leaves are highlighted with white spots, and light pink flowers decorate the plant in early summer. Some varieties offer variegated leaves and more vividly colored flowers, such as 'Purple Dragon' shown here. Spotted deadnettle is a fast-growing outdoor creeping plant that's pet-safe.
Growing Conditions: Full to part shade in acidic, well-drained soil
Size: 6 to 9 inches tall and 12 to 24 inches wide
Hardiness Zones: 3–8
Spotted deadnettle is considered invasive across several states that border the Great Lakes, so avoid planting it if you live in these regions.
Stonecrop
A favorite pollinator plant, stonecrop (Sedum spp.), also called sedum, has succulent foliage and blooms in late summer. Many easy-to-grow stonecrop cultivars make excellent walkable groundcovers, such as ‘Green Ice,’ ‘Aureum,’ and ‘Bailey’s Gold.’
Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil (avoid clay soil)
Size: Up 3 inches tall and 18 inches wide
Hardiness Zones: Zones 3–8
Threadleaf Coreopsis
Soft yellow or pink flowers and thin, airy foliage give this easy-to-grow perennial a delicate appearance, but it is anything but delicate. Threadleaf coreopsis (Coreopsis verticillata) grows easily in average soil, tolerates drought well, and blooms for weeks in spring and summer. When not in bloom, its foliage provides a simple, clean backdrop. It spreads to form large colonies.
Growing Conditions: Full sun and average, well-draining soil
Size: Up 12–18 inches tall and 24 inches wide
Hardiness Zones: 3–9