Native Ground Covers That Choke Out Weeds Naturally
The smartest way to control weeds is to not leave room for them. Dense ground cover plants occupy the space, compete for light and water, and make it almost impossible for weeds to establish. Australian natives are particularly good at this — they’re adapted to our conditions, they’re low maintenance once established, and they don’t need rich soil.
The Best Performers
Myoporum parvifolium (Creeping Boobialla) — the gold standard for Peninsula ground cover. Flat, fast-spreading, with tiny white flowers followed by purple berries. Handles full sun, salt, wind, and poor soil. Once established, it forms a dense mat that virtually nothing grows through.
Viola hederacea (Native Violet) — perfect for shaded spots under trees. Soft, rounded leaves with delicate purple and white flowers. Spreads by runners and fills in quickly. Tolerates foot traffic surprisingly well.
Dichondra repens (Kidney Weed) — a soft, low-growing native with tiny kidney-shaped leaves. Works beautifully between stepping stones, along path edges, or as a living carpet in part shade. Gentle to walk on.
Scaevola aemula (Fan Flower) — trailing habit with fan-shaped purple, blue, or white flowers from spring through autumn. Excellent for banks, retaining walls, and edges. Handles sandy soil and coastal conditions.
Carpobrotus rossii (Pig Face) — the ultimate frontline coastal ground cover. Thick succulent leaves, bright pink or purple flowers, completely unfazed by salt, wind, or drought. Brilliant for sandy banks and exposed areas.
Brachyscome multifida (Cut-leaf Daisy) — fine, ferny foliage covered in small daisy flowers for months. Low mounding habit, handles sun or light shade, and self-seeds gently to fill gaps.
Goodenia ovata (Hop Goodenia) — slightly taller (30-50cm) but spreads vigorously and creates dense cover. Glossy green leaves with yellow flowers. Good for larger areas where you want a natural bushland look.
How to Establish Ground Cover Successfully
The first few months are critical. Ground covers need help to get established before they can suppress weeds on their own.
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Prepare the ground. Remove existing weeds thoroughly. If the area is heavily infested, consider sheet mulching with cardboard and a thick layer of mulch for a few months before planting.
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Plant densely. Space plants closer together than you think you need to. For most ground covers, 30 to 40 centimetre spacing fills in within a season. Wider spacing means more time for weeds to establish in the gaps.
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Mulch between plants. Fill gaps between new plantings with fine mulch. This suppresses weeds while the ground cover grows to fill in.
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Water regularly until established. Even drought-tolerant natives need consistent water for the first summer. Once roots are deep and growth has spread, you can back off.
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Hand weed the gaps. For the first season, pull any weeds that appear between plants. This gets easier every month as the ground cover thickens.
Combining Ground Covers
For a natural, layered look, combine ground covers of different heights and textures. A taller shrub layer (Westringia, Correa) with a mid-layer of Lomandra or Dianella and a low carpet of Myoporum or Native Violet creates a planting so dense that weeds simply can’t compete. This mimics natural bushland structure and looks far more interesting than a single species carpet.
The Payoff
Ground cover takes patience — usually one to two seasons to fully establish. But once it’s in, the maintenance drops dramatically. No mowing, minimal weeding, no bare soil to manage. Just an occasional trim if things get too enthusiastic, and an annual feed with a low-phosphorus native fertiliser.