Looking to fill bare patches or awkward empty spots in your garden? These reliable, fast-spreading plants are perfect for transforming sparse areas into a lush, thriving space in no time.
Whether you plant yours in hanging baskets or garden borders, fast-spreading plants create a fuller look with relatively little effort. Ground-cover options, such as campunulas, can also help to retain moisture, reduce soil erosion and blur edges around paths for a more natural feel.
Keep reading for the top three to plant in your garden this summer:
1. Lobelia
"If you're looking for low-lying plants, then trailing varieties of lobelia are fast-growing and quick to establish from plug plants," Chris Bonnett, plant expert and founder of online garden centre Gardening Express, tells Country Living.
"They create a full, cascading effect quickly, so they are particularly good for filling in gaps in hanging baskets and containers. Annual lobelia varieties are the fastest to spread in summer, whereas perennial types are more upright and don't spread rapidly in quite the same way."
There's a lobelia for every garden, with the pretty plants coming in a range of colours from white to blue, deep purple and vibrant red.
2. Petunias
These popular summer annuals are fast-spreading, covering large areas within a single growing season.
"Many trailing petunias flower continuously from late spring until the first frost, so they provide colour for months with one planting. They're also generally quite cheap to buy, so they are a very cost-effective option for mass planting," says Chris.
"The only thing to bear in mind is that they can become quite leggy without maintenance, so they'll benefit from trimming or cutting back to refresh growth. Their vigorous spread means they may also crowd out smaller and more delicate bedding plants."
3. Campanulas
Low-growing campanulas are great at quickly forming beautiful carpets for foliage and flowers, perfect for filling gaps in the garden. While they are among the hardiest, make sure to water well during dry spells and deadhead to prolong blooming.
"They even fill gaps between paving stones and walls if able," says Chris. "And unlike many fast spreaders, most campanulas are hardy perennials in the UK, gradually expanding each year to form larger clumps.
"They're very low maintenance and relatively drought-tolerant, especially alpine types, so they are happy in poorer soil conditions. A great option for gardeners wanting impact without consistent upkeep."
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Lisa Joyner is the Deputy Daily Editor at House Beautiful UK and Country Living UK, where she's busy writing about home and interiors, gardening, dog breeds, pets, health and wellbeing, countryside news, small space inspiration, and the hottest properties on the market. Previously, she has written for Conde Nast Traveller, House & Garden and Marie Claire magazine. Lisa studied at University For The Creative Arts, where she completed a BA in Fashion Journalism.
