6 Tiny Fast-Growing Perennial Flowers That Cover Bare Soil And Fill Garden Gaps Year After Year
Bare patches don’t stand a chance against these pretty blooms!
There’s a fine line between a garden that looks beautifully full and one that looks slightly… unfinished. Bare patches of soil, awkward gaps between plants, and sparse borders can make even the most thoughtfully designed yard feel a little underwhelming – and I’m absolutely guilty of obsessing over them more than I should.
I’ve found myself staring at empty spots in borders thinking something is missing, even when the garden is technically doing perfectly fine. Thankfully, though, that’s where tiny fast-growing perennial flowers come into their own.
It is a truth universally acknowledged that the best fast-growing perennials do three things; soften edges, suppress weeds, and fill awkward gaps with flowers and foliage year after year. I especially love the ones that manage to spread beautifully without turning into a maintenance headache a few seasons later.
So, which ones to pick?
6 Tiny Fast-Growing Perennial Flowers
If you want to banish garden gaps for good, you need to invest in those tiny fast-growing perennial flowers – particularly those which are happily ideal for smaller US gardens, pathways, rockeries, and sunny borders alike.
To help you out, here are six teeny but hardworking perennials that are sure to make a big splash. You’re welcome!
1. Creeping Phlox
If you want dramatic spring color that also covers bare soil quickly, creeping phlox is difficult to beat. And I especially love the Emerald Blue variety seen above, as it forms a dense mat of evergreen foliage that becomes smothered in soft lavender-blue flowers in spring.
Personally, I think it looks best spilling over walls and edging pathways; it softens any harsh lines and somehow makes everything feel a bit more like a designer was involved. Even better? Once established, it’s remarkably low-maintenance and drought tolerant, making it very much a plant that promises a high reward for very low effort.
Pick up an Emerald Blue Creeping Phlox from Nature Hills and find out what all the fuss is about for yourself.
2. Sedum
Sedum has long been valued as one of those tiny fast-growing perennial flowers that gives some serious bang for its buck. If you want to take things a step further, though, go for the aptly named Little Miss Sunshine Sedum from Nature Hills, as its bright golden foliage makes it stand out long before its flowers appear.
Yes, ‘Little Miss Sunshine’ slowly spreads into cheerful mounds that brighten dry areas where many plants struggle. And, because it stores water in its leaves, it copes surprisingly well during hot summers and works brilliantly in gravel gardens or drought-tolerant planting schemes.
It’s also one of those plants that quietly gets on with things without demanding much attention – always a bonus.
3. Cranesbill
I think we can all admit that hardy geraniums are some of the hardest-working plants you can grow, and ‘Max Frei’ (available at Nature Hills) is one of my favorites for filling awkward little gaps.
Why? Well, because it produces vivid magenta-pink flowers on mass, which means it gradually spreads into a weed-suppressing carpet without becoming overwhelming.
Unlike fussier perennials, it’s also incredibly forgiving. In fact, everyone I know who grows it says it seems perfectly happy getting on with life even after a bit of accidental neglect... which is the gold standard for busy people in the market for a pretty garden.
4. Dianthus
For long-lasting color in smaller spaces, dianthus is hard to beat; they are, after all, beloved for their frilly flowers and surprisingly long blooming season – which makes them ideal if you want to fill small bare patches without overwhelming nearby plants.
Personally, I love that they also tend to have that distinctive spicy clove-like fragrance, as it means they can perfume a walkway perfectly.
A few particularly pretty varieties worth trying include:
A softer, more delicate-looking variety with pale pink fringed flowers that works beautifully in cottage-style gardens and containers.
A vivid magenta-pink variety with blue-green foliage and an especially long flowering season. It’s brilliant for sunny border edges and pollinator-friendly planting.
A vivid magenta-pink variety with blue-green foliage and an especially long flowering season. It’s brilliant for sunny border edges and pollinator-friendly planting.
5. Creeping Thyme
If you want tiny fast-growing perennial flowers, then give creeping thyme a whirl; it really is one of those plants that quietly improves almost every garden it touches. Especially as this fragrant herb forms the kind of soft living carpet that pollinators absolutely love.
The added bonus of this one is that it releases a punch of fragrance when stepped on – which is one of those tiny garden details that feels surprisingly luxurious. Bag yourself some creeping thyme from Nature Hills, then, and watch the magic unfold.
6. Candytuft
Candytuft doesn’t always get the attention it deserves, but it’s one of the most useful little perennials for brightening empty spaces.
The evergreen foliage stays neatly attractive through much of the year, before being smothered in white blooms in spring and early summer. It gradually forms dense, spreading cushions that blur hard edges and help keep weeds down without much effort.
I especially love it spilling gently over raised beds and stone walls, where it gives everything a softer, more romantic feel. Go for something like Snowsurfer™ Forte Candytuft from Nature Hills if you want something cold hardy (it thrives in USDA Zones 4-8).
When it comes to picking the best tiny fast-growing perennial flowers, it’s all about that sweet spot: plants that spread, but don’t misbehave. These little cuties do just that as they quietly fill every gap, soften every edge, and somehow make the whole garden look intentional... even if you did just stick them in and hoped for the best.
Sometimes smaller really is better. Who knew?
