Types Of Cold-Tolerant Groundcovers For Minnesota Gardens

Minnesota spans USDA hardiness zones roughly 3 to 5, which means winter lows can reach -40 F in the north and -10 F in the south. Choosing groundcovers that tolerate deep cold, repeated freeze-thaw cycles, salt exposure, and local soil types is essential for reliable winter survival and year-round garden value. This article describes practical, cold-hardy groundcover options for Minnesota gardens, organized by site conditions and plant traits, and offers planting and maintenance guidance to maximize success.

How to choose a groundcover for Minnesota climates

Selecting the right groundcover starts with matching plant requirements to site conditions. Consider these factors before planting:

• Soil type and drainage (sandy, loam, clay, wet, or dry).
• Sun exposure (full sun, partial shade, deep shade).
• Winter salt exposure (streets, sidewalks, driveways).
• Deer and rodent pressure.
• Desired maintenance level (low, moderate).
• Purpose (erosion control, lawn replacement, under trees, pollinator habitat).

Good cold-tolerant groundcovers are not only hardy to low temperatures but also able to endure winter stresses such as ice crusting, desiccating winds, and snow mold. Native species are often the best first choice because they evolved in similar climates and tend to require less care while supporting local wildlife.

Categories of cold-tolerant groundcovers

Below are practical groupings to help you narrow choices based on common Minnesota garden situations.

Evergreen groundcovers for year-round interest

Evergreen groundcovers give winter color and soil protection. They are especially useful on slopes where exposed soil is prone to freeze-thaw erosion.

• Juniperus horizontalis (creeping juniper)
• Hardiness: zones 2-7.
• Height/Spread: 6-24 inches tall, spreads indefinitely.
• Soil/Sun: best in full sun, well-drained soil; drought tolerant.
• Notes: excellent for erosion control and salt tolerance; low maintenance; choose cultivars for color and form.
• Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (bearberry)
• Hardiness: zones 2-6.
• Height/Spread: 4-8 inches tall, spreads 3-6 ft.
• Soil/Sun: prefers sandy, acidic, well-drained soils; full sun to part shade.
• Notes: native, evergreen, attractive berries; drought tolerant once established.

Native, shade-tolerant forest floor groundcovers

Native forest species perform well under mature trees and in shady yards where grass struggles.

• Asarum canadense (wild ginger)
• Hardiness: zones 4-8 (may be marginal in extreme zone 3; plant in protected sites).
• Height/Spread: 4-6 inches tall, spreads slowly by rhizomes.
• Soil/Sun: rich, moist, well-drained, acidic to neutral soils; deep shade to part shade.
• Notes: glossy heart-shaped leaves, low growth habit, excellent as a woodland carpet.
• Cornus canadensis (bunchberry)
• Hardiness: zones 2-6.
• Height/Spread: 3-6 inches tall, spreads by rhizomes.
• Soil/Sun: cool, acidic, moist soils; shade to part shade.
• Notes: native, spring flowers, red berries; good in boggy or cool woodland settings.
• Carex pensylvanica (Pennsylvania sedge)
• Hardiness: zones 3-8.
• Height/Spread: 6-10 inches tall, forms loose mats.
• Soil/Sun: well-drained soils, tolerates dry shade; part shade to shade.
• Notes: excellent low-maintenance lawn alternative under trees; deer tolerant.

Sun-loving, drought-tolerant groundcovers for dry spots and slopes

For hot, sunny sites and poor soils, choose low-growing succulents and aromatic herbs that resist drought and erosion.

• Sedum spp. (stonecrop)
• Hardiness: many cultivars hardy to zone 3 or 4.
• Height/Spread: typically 2-6 inches for groundcover types; spreads by stolons or clumping.
• Soil/Sun: excellent in poor, well-drained soils; full sun.
• Notes: showy summer flowers that attract pollinators; very low maintenance.
• Thymus serpyllum (creeping thyme)
• Hardiness: zones 4-9 (choose hardiest cultivars for colder sites).
• Height/Spread: 1-3 inches tall, spreads rapidly.
• Soil/Sun: well-drained, lean soils; full sun; tolerates light foot traffic.
• Notes: fragrant, produces flowers for bees; good between pavers.

Wet-soil and shoreline tolerant groundcovers

Some areas in Minnesota are seasonally wet or sit near ponds and streams. These species handle periodic flooding and saturated soils.

• Lysimachia nummularia (moneywort) — use cautiously
• Hardiness: zones 3-9.
• Height/Spread: 2-6 inches tall, spreads very aggressively.
• Soil/Sun: moist to wet soils; full sun to part shade.
• Notes: fast-spreading and can be invasive in wetlands; best in controlled areas where rapid cover is desired.
• Vaccinium vitis-idaea (lingonberry)
• Hardiness: zones 2-7.
• Height/Spread: 4-8 inches tall, spreads by runners.
• Soil/Sun: acidic, moist to well-drained soils; full sun to part shade.
• Notes: native to northern climates, edible berries, tolerates cold and snow.

Low-growing flowering groundcovers for pollinators and color

Choose these when you want seasonal blooms as well as cold-hardiness.

• Lamium maculatum (spotted dead-nettle)
• Hardiness: zones 3-8.
• Height/Spread: 4-10 inches tall, spreads moderately.
• Soil/Sun: part shade best; moist, well-drained soils.
• Notes: variegated foliage, spring to early summer flowers; tolerates heavy shade better than many flowering groundcovers.
• Trifolium repens (white clover) — as a lawn alternative
• Hardiness: zones 3-10.
• Height/Spread: 2-6 inches tall, naturalizes in turf.
• Soil/Sun: tolerates a range of soils; full sun to part shade.
• Notes: fixes nitrogen, tolerates mowing to a low height, supports pollinators; combined with grass makes a resilient lawn mix.

Common pitfalls and winter-specific care

Cold hardiness is only one piece of the puzzle. Minnesota winters create additional stresses that can kill otherwise hardy plants. Address these practical items to avoid winter losses.

Freeze-thaw heaving and root protection

Plants in shallow soils or heavy clay are vulnerable to heaving when cycles of thaw and refreeze lift roots out of the soil. To reduce risk:

• Plant slightly deeper or mound soil around roots to encourage deeper anchoring.
• Mulch with 2-3 inches of coarse organic mulch in late fall to moderate soil temperature shifts, leaving a small gap at the crown to prevent rot.
• Avoid high-nitrogen fall fertilizers that stimulate late growth susceptible to winter injury.

Rodents and deer browse in winter

Evergreens and low shrubs can be chewed through winter by voles, mice, and rabbits, and deer may browse tender shoots in late winter. Reduce damage by:

• Avoiding planting tender species close to compost or shrub edges that harbor rodents.
• Installing hardware cloth collars around small plants in high-rodent areas.
• Using protective repellents or fencing where deer pressure is high.

Salt tolerance for urban edges

If planting near roads or driveways where salt is used in winter, select salt-tolerant species such as creeping juniper, certain sedums, and bearberry. Avoid sensitive woodland natives right at salt-exposed edges.

Planting and establishment best practices

Proper planting and establishment determine long-term success for groundcovers in Minnesota.

• Timing: Plant in spring after frost danger or in early fall (6-8 weeks before average first hard frost) so roots become established before winter.
• Soil preparation: Improve heavy clay with compost and coarse sand to enhance drainage for drought-tolerant species. For acid-loving natives like lingonberry, amend soil to lower pH if necessary.
• Spacing: Follow recommended spacing for rapid coverage without overcrowding. For aggressive spreaders like thyme or sedum, space 6-12 inches apart. For slower natives like wild ginger, space 12-18 inches.
• Watering: Keep new plantings moist during the first season. Reduce watering in late summer to allow maturation before winter dormancy.
• Monitoring: In spring, check for winter-killed stems and remove dead material to encourage fresh growth and reduce disease.

Practical planting plans by site

Here are concrete planting suggestions for common Minnesota site types. Adjust quantities to cover your area and mix species for diversity.

Sunny, dry slope (erosion control)

• Combine creeping juniper as the backbone for evergreen cover, interplant with drought-tolerant sedum cultivars for seasonal flowers, and use creeping thyme along paths for a fragrant low mat.

Shaded understory beneath mature oaks or maples

• Establish a carpet of Carex pensylvanica for a naturalistic look, intersperse patches of wild ginger for texture and spring interest, and add a few bunchberry colonies in cooler, moist micro-sites.

Edge near driveway or sidewalk (salt exposure)

• Use creeping juniper or bearberry for salt tolerance and low growth habit; avoid delicate woodland species. Add sedum on the sunny side of the bed for pollinator value.

Wet border or rain garden perimeter

• Plant lingonberry or controlled patches of moneywort for quick cover, combined with other moisture-loving perennials higher in the bed for structure. Avoid letting moneywort escape into native wetland plantings.

Final takeaways

• Match species to micro-site conditions first: sun/shade, soil moisture, pH, and salt exposure.
• Favor native and regionally proven plants for the best long-term survival and wildlife benefits.
• Prepare soil, mulch properly, and time planting to allow root establishment before the onset of deep cold.
• Mix species with complementary spread rates and maintenance needs to build resilient, diverse groundcover plantings.
• Consider practical winter stresses beyond low temperature, like freeze-thaw heaving, rodents, and deicing salt.

By understanding the site and choosing appropriately hardy groundcovers–evergreen mats like creeping juniper, native sedges and wild ginger for shade, sedums and thyme for sun–you can achieve reliable, attractive groundcover that endures Minnesota winters while lowering maintenance and supporting local ecology.