Drought-Tolerant Groundcovers That Thrive From Seed

by | Apr 12, 2026 | Uncategorized

Groundcovers are proverbial problem solvers: They fill in bare spots, discourage weeds and erosion, and help prevent the soil from getting parched by the sun.

Although many groundcovers are low-maintenance, with increasingly erratic precipitation patterns it becomes more important to choose drought-tolerant groundcovers.

Starting groundcovers from seed takes time and effort, but it’s a budget-friendly way to get your hands on lots of plants. Keep in mind, though, that the timing must be right; some seeds require cold stratification before germinating.

If you want to start plants from seed in the spring, your choices are more limited. Here is a selection of groundcovers that will thrive if you start them from seed in the spring.

Creeping Thyme

A rock garden with flowering ground cover plants and larger stones placed among the vegetation
Credit: fotokate / Getty Images

Also known as Breckland thyme or mother of thyme, creeping thyme (Thymus serpyllum) is a low-growing groundcover, reaching only 2 to 3 inches tall and spreading up to 12 inches. It needs full sun but tolerates poor and rocky soil and grows even between stepping stones or wall crevices. 

  • USDA Hardiness Zones: 4-9
  • Sowing period: Indoors, 8 to 10 weeks before the last spring frost
  • Water needs: Low
  • Sun exposure: Full sun
  • Soil type: Loamy, sandy, well-drained

Water Your Seeds

Note that even groundcovers that are drought-tolerant need regular watering to enable them to germinate and grow into strong seedlings. They only withstand dry conditions once they are established, usually after the first growing season.

Kidney Weed

A dense growth of smallleafed green groundcover plants
Credit: Nguyen Linh Son / Getty Images

If you live in a warm climate and need a fast-spreading groundcover for a large space, possibly as a lawn alternative for areas with light foot traffic, consider kidney weed (Dichondra repens). It forms a dense carpet of bright green, kidney-shaped leaves that remain evergreen in USDA Zone 8 and above.

The plant is quick to establish within a couple of months. To develop deep roots, water it deeply and infrequently and let the soil dry out between waterings. 

  • USDA Hardiness Zones: 7-11
  • Sowing period: Spring and summer, with daytime temperatures in the 70s
  • Water needs: Low
  • Sun exposure: Full sun to partial shade
  • Soil type: Well-drained

Yarrow

Cluster of flowers growing in a natural setting
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With its soft, fern-like leaves, yarrow (Achillea millefolium) is attractive even when the plant is not in bloom. There are several flower colors to choose from: white, yellow, pink, red, purple, or orange. Because of its tolerance to drought and poor soil, yarrow is a favorite for xeriscaping.

  • USDA Hardiness Zones: 3-9
  • Sowing period: Indoors, 8 to 10 weeks before the last spring frost
  • Water needs: Low
  • Sun exposure: Full sun
  • Soil type: Loamy, sandy, well-drained

Mountain Rock Cress

A cluster of small flowers growing in a natural setting
Credit: fotokate / Getty Images

Mountain rock cress (Arabis alpina) or aubrieta forms a breathtaking 4- to 6-inch carpet that is breathtaking when the plant is in bloom. The seeds require light to germinate, so make sure to press them into the soil surface.

Rock cress prospers in dry and rocky but it needs alkaline soil with a pH between 6.5 and 7.5. If your soil is acidic you might have to amend it with lime.

  • USDA Hardiness Zones: 4-9
  • Sowing period: Indoors, 6 to 8 weeks before the last spring frost, or outdoors after the last spring frost 
  • Water needs: Low
  • Sun exposure: Full sun
  • Soil type: Well-drained

Basket of Gold

Yellow flowers growing on a stone wall in a garden setting
Credit: BasieB / Getty Images

Basket of gold (Aurina saxatilis), also known as gold dust or golden tuft, is a more short-lived perennial. This pretty, spring-flowering groundcover grows well in shallow, rocky soil, and it’s drought-tolerant and deer-resistant.

It grows to 6 to 12 inches tall and spreads up to 1.5 feet. In areas with cool summers, the velvety, lance-shaped foliage remains attractive even after the bloom. The seeds need light to germinate, so do not cover them.

  • USDA Hardiness Zones: 3-7
  • Sowing period: In spring, after temperatures remain above 65°F
  • Water needs: Low
  • Sun exposure: Full sun
  • Soil type: Sandy, well-drained

Blue Grama

Closeup of tall grass with seed heads in a natural setting
Credit: Imagebroker/mcphoto / Getty Images

Planting this short native ornamental grass as a clump-forming groundcover not only adds beauty to your landscape but also provides wildlife value. Blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis) is one of the host plants of two native butterfly species: the Leonard’s skipper and the common branded skipper.

Blue grama is a warm-season grass that grows in a wide range of hardiness zones. It is valued for its drought-tolerance and adaptability to a wide range of soils.

  • USDA Hardiness Zones: 3-10
  • Sowing period: In spring, after temperatures remain above 65°F
  • Water needs: Low
  • Sun exposure: Full sun to partial shade
  • Soil type: Well-drained

Hardy Ice Plant

Purple flowers growing on the ground near a stone path
Credit: Olga Maslennikova / Getty Images

The common name of this plant does not convey its strengths. The hardy ice plant (Delosperma cooperi) is native to South Africa and not all that winter-hardy, but with its succulent leaves, it stands up well to both heat and drought, and it even grows in poor, rocky, and shallow soil.

The plant grows to a height of only 3 inches, but the bright flowers make it stand out. Only lightly press the seeds into the soil to ensure germination.

  • USDA Hardiness Zones: 6-10
  • Sowing period: In spring, after temperatures remain above 65°F
  • Water needs: Low
  • Sun exposure: Full sun
  • Soil type: Well-drained