Climbers & Groundcover

Pick the surface before the plant

The two halves of this range solve the same problem in different directions. Climbers dress a fence or wall while using almost no ground, and they are compared properly in the dedicated climbers collection. The rest spread sideways to smother weeds, hold slopes and cool the soil. A few do both jobs: star jasmine climbs wires at 1m spacings or runs flat as a fragrant mat, and climbing fig will carpet a bank as readily as a wall.

Choosing groundcover plants for the spot

Foot traffic first. No mow grass (Zoysia tenuifolia) reads as lawn, takes regular walking and forms a soft undulating mat that rarely needs cutting. Kidney weed and white pratia handle light traffic and thrive between pavers, as does creeping thyme, which releases scent underfoot. For moist shade under trees, native violet (Viola hederacea) is the reliable answer, spreading by runners and carrying edible white and purple flowers. For hot, dry and coastal ground, look to creeping boobialla, seaside daisy, silver carpet and blue chalk sticks, all content in poor soil on little water. One honest note: seaside daisy self seeds readily, so keep it away from bushland edges.

Spacing and how many plants to order

• 15cm to 20cm apart. Dwarf mondo grass and kidney weed for a solid, permanent carpet.
• 25cm to 30cm apart. White pratia, silver carpet, creeping thyme, native violet and no mow grass.
• 40cm to 50cm apart. Seaside daisy, trailing silver dichondra (Dichondra argentea), blue chalk sticks, liriope and Lime Tuff lomandra.
• 1m apart. Creeping boobialla and Cousin It, each spreading 1m to 2m wide.

To estimate numbers, divide the bed area by the spacing squared: at 30cm spacing a square metre takes about eleven plants, at 50cm it takes four. Tubestock makes large carpets affordable and catches up faster than most people expect.

Getting a living carpet established

Weed thoroughly before planting, because nothing here outcompetes established weeds in its first months. Water deeply twice a week through the first summer, mulch the gaps until the plants meet, and trim runners back from paths once cover closes. Most of this range is genuinely low maintenance after year one; the first season of weeding is the whole game. For shaded ground, our guide to the best shade groundcovers narrows the list further.

Common questions

Which of these can replace a lawn?

No mow grass is the closest swap: walkable, pet friendly and holding at about 10cm high. Kidney weed suits shadier yards with light traffic. Neither takes the daily hammering of a dog run the way turf does.

What covers a slope or retaining wall fastest?

Creeping boobialla is the quick native answer, spreading up to 2m per plant from 1m spacings. Cousin It pours over wall edges, and the trailing silver dichondra cascades more than a metre from the top of a wall or a tall pot.

Which options are pet friendly?

No mow grass, kidney weed, native violet, creeping thyme, seaside daisy, silver carpet and Evergreen Giant liriope all carry our Pet Friendly flag. Blue chalk sticks and creeping boobialla do not, so plant them out of reach of a determined chewer.

How does delivery work for a big groundcover order?

Everything is delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95 and no minimum order. Every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee. The standalone groundcover collection shows the carpet half of this range on its own.