10 compact Australian native groundcovers for every garden
Groundcovers are some of the hardest-working plants in any garden. They suppress weeds, cool and protect the soil, reduce water loss, provide habitat for insects and skinks and soften harsh lines in beds and borders.
Unlike traditional lawn which often becomes a thirsty, high-maintenance “dead zone” for biodiversity, native groundcovers bring texture, colour, movement and ecological value to even the smallest spaces.
Whether you need something for full shade, hot sun, between stepping stones or cascading over a retaining wall, these ten Australian low-growing natives offer resilient, compact and truly beautiful options.
1. Pratia pedunculata (Matted Pratia / White Star Creeper)
Height: 1–3 cm
Spread: Fast, dense mat
Best for: Stepping-stone gaps, shady or part-shaded groundcover
Why it’s great
A true “carpet” plant, Pratia forms a dense mat covered in tiny white star flowers through the warmer months. It handles light foot traffic, making it perfect for pathways or between pavers. Pratia spreads using slender runners and tiny underground nodes that help it creep into every available gap. It’s why it makes such a good lawn substitute.
Where it thrives
Prefers semi-shade to shade with moist, well-drained soil. Excellent under trees that don’t take too much water from the surface.
Best placement
Use around stepping stones, under shrubs, or in small courtyard gardens needing softness.
2. Scleranthus biflorus (Cushion Bush)
Height: 3–10 cm
Spread: Neat rounded mounds
Best for: Rockeries, modern minimalist gardens, textural contrast
Why it’s great
This species forms dense, moss-like cushions that look sculptural year-round. It adds shape, structure and softness without spreading aggressively. It's so dense and springy that landscapers sometimes call it “nature’s stress ball.” If you press it lightly, it gently springs back into shape; a completely natural little green cushion.
Where it thrives
Full sun to part shade, preferring free-draining soil. Great for coastal gardens.
Best placement
Plant among rocks, in Japanese-inspired gardens, or as a structural edge along garden beds.
3. Dichondra repens (Kidney Weed)
Height: 1–5 cm
Spread: Fast creeping
Best for: Shade, underplanting, soft green carpeting
Why it’s great
Kidney Weed creates lush green coverage quickly and tolerates foot traffic better than most natives. It’s also one of the few Australian groundcovers that works beautifully as a lawn substitute in dappled shade. It stays naturally short, needs almost no mowing and spreads itself politely without becoming invasive.
Where it thrives
Shade to part shade with consistent moisture.
Best placement
Under trees, around stepping stones and in shaded courtyards.
4. Grevillea lanigera ‘Mt Tamboritha’ (Woolly Grevillea)
Height: 20–30 cm
Spread: 1–1.5 m
Best for: Coastal gardens, slopes, hot dry positions
Why it’s great
A compact mound-forming grevillea with soft, woolly foliage and masses of red-pink spider flowers that attract bees and small birds. Drought-tough and low maintenance. Its tiny leaves are covered in soft hairs that trap dew and mist — a clever adaptation allowing it to drink from the air on cold coastal mornings.
Where it thrives
Full sun, well-drained soil, excellent in coastal or windy sites.
Best placement
Use as a feature groundcover on slopes, retaining walls or to fill hot, dry garden beds.
5. Chrysocephalum apiculatum ‘Desert Flame’ (Yellow Buttons)
Height: 15–30 cm
Spread: 40–60 cm
Best for: Colour impact, pollinator-friendly gardens
Why it’s great
Bright yellow button flowers sit above soft silver foliage for most of the year. Adds vibrant colour and handles heat beautifully. Its papery, everlasting flower heads are designed to withstand heat and drought by protecting the developing seeds from moisture loss.
Where it thrives
Full sun, sandy or well-drained soil.
Best placement
Mass-plant along borders, combine with grasses, or fill gaps in dry garden beds.
6. Kennedia prostrata (Running Postman)
Height: 5–10 cm
Spread: Up to several metres
Best for: Fast coverage, tough low-growing
Why it’s great
A hardy, sprawling native with striking pea flowers. Great for banks, retaining walls or areas needing quick cover. The name “Postman” comes from the bright red colour, which reminded early settlers of the red jackets traditionally worn by postmen in the 1800s.
Where it thrives
Full sun to part shade. Tolerates poor soils extremely well.
Best placement
Allow it to cascade over edges, cover embankments or sprawl beneath taller shrubs.
7. Acaena anserinifolia (Bidgee Widgee)
Height: 5–10 cm
Spread: Wide, dense carpeting
Best for: Cooler climates, erosion control
Why it’s great
Forms a soft mat of divided leaves that take on beautiful bronze tones in cooler months. Also excellent for holding soil on slopes. One quirky feature of Bidgee Widgee is its tiny burr-like seed pods that dry, tense up and eventually burst open, flinging seeds short distances — a clever little mechanism that helps the plant spread across bare ground.
Where it thrives
Full sun to part shade in temperate climates. Prefers moisture but tolerates brief dry spells.
Best placement
Use under trees, along woodland paths or as a soft, low mat through shaded garden beds.
8. Myoporum parvifolium (Creeping Boobialla)
Height: 5–15 cm
Spread: Up to 2 m
Best for: Hot, dry sites, weed suppression
Why it’s great
One of the toughest native groundcovers available and very easy to propagate. Dense foliage blocks weeds and the white starry flowers add gentle colour. Its fleshy leaves store water, giving it drought tolerance comparable to many succulents — this lets it survive extended dry spells in inland regions.
Where it thrives
Full sun, dry soil, coastal conditions, slopes.
Best placement
Road verges, embankments, sunny front gardens or anywhere needing hardy, weed-suppressing coverage.
9. Carpobrotus rossii (Native Pigface)
Height: 10–15 cm
Spread: Wide and fast
Best for: Coastal gardens, very hot dry areas
Why it’s great
A succulent groundcover with fleshy leaves and vivid pink flowers. Almost indestructible and extremely low maintenance. Pigface leaves operate like water balloons, they store huge amounts of moisture, allowing the plant to survive long dry periods and even stabilise coastal dunes.
Where it thrives
Full sun, sandy or very free-draining soils.
Best placement
Coastal beds, raised mounds, rockeries and anywhere needing waterwise coverage.
10. Scaevola albida (Pale/Fan-Flower)
Height: 10–20 cm
Spread: 50–100 cm
Best for: Flower colour, edging, soft mounding form
Why it’s great
Produces masses of pale blue to white fan-shaped flowers from spring through summer. A gentle spreader that forms soft mounds of foliage. The “fan-shaped” flowers evolved to make pollination more efficient in windy, coastal conditions by providing a more stable landing platform for native bees.
Where it thrives
Full sun to part shade; tolerates coastal winds and poor soils.
Best placement
Use along pathways, as a flowering edge, or mixed among grasses and silver foliage plants.
Groundcovers That Work With Nature, Not Against It
Compact native groundcovers not only look beautiful, they cool the soil, support pollinators, suppress weeds and reduce water use. Whether you're after a dense carpet, a soft mound, vibrant flowers or tough-as-nails coverage, there’s an Australian groundcover to suit your space.
If you’d like to keep exploring, check out:
- 11 Native Australian Plants for Ponds & Shady, Wet Areas
- 12 Australian Plants for Extreme Heat
- DIY Fertilisers Safe for Native Plants
