So, what exactly is living mulch?
These low-growing plants form a thick mat or leafy canopy that blocks sunlight from reaching the soil, stopping weed seeds from germinating. Less weeding, more enjoying - yes, please!
And the benefits don't stop there. Living mulch can also reduce water evaporation, protects soil from compaction, regulates soil temperature, and traps fallen leaves that break down into nutrients. It's a hardworking garden hero.
The golden rule: keep it low
When choosing your living mulch plants, you want them to spread outward, not upward - rooting as they go and locking together into a weed-proof layer. Plant them slightly closer together than you normally would to help them link up faster.
Best living mulch plants for Perth
Perth’s sandy soils and warm, dry climate suit many waterwise groundcovers, particularly Australian natives that are adapted to free-draining conditions. Choosing the right plants for each part of your garden will give you the best results.
Shady or moist areas
Viola hederacea (Native Violet often sold as Viola banksii) is a reliable option. It prefers dappled shade and soils that don’t dry out completely, and it will spread to form a soft, low mat. In Perth, it usually needs some supplementary water, especially through summer.
Sunny slopes and banks
Look for low-growing, spreading plants that can handle heat and poor soils. Prostrate forms of Melaleuca work well, as do Brachyscome (native daisies), though these can be relatively short-lived and may need replanting over time. Low-growing grevillea cultivars are a better fit than taller types, as some species can grow into large shrubs rather than staying compact. Prostrate Casuarina and Banksia blechnifolia are both well suited to sandy soils and can form effective groundcovers once established.
Verges and tough spots
Hardy species such as Scaevola (fan flowers), Chrysocephalum apiculatum (Yellow Buttons), and Myoporum parvifolium (Creeping Boobialla) are widely used in Western Australia. They tolerate heat, wind, and poor soils, and Myoporum in particular is known for forming a dense, weed-suppressing carpet.
Edible gardens
Sweet potato can be used as a vigorous seasonal groundcover that shades out weeds, though it needs warmth and regular water. Prostrate rosemary is another good option, providing a low, spreading habit and useful harvests once established.
A few tips before you plant: choose plants that match your site conditions, including sun exposure and soil type, as this will determine how well they perform. Many herbs can double as living mulch; thyme, for example, works well in sunny, well-drained areas. Before planting, check that your chosen species is not considered invasive in your area, and keep an eye on its spread to make sure it stays where you want it.
A few tips before you plant
- Choose plants suited to your conditions. Sun, shade, soil type - match the plant to the spot and it'll do the hard work for you.
- Herbs work too! Thyme is a wonderful, fragrant living mulch option for sunny areas.
- Check before you plant. Make sure your chosen groundcover isn't listed as a weed in your area and keep an eye on it to ensure it stays where you want it.
A living garden, not just a pretty one
Living mulch is more than a practical solution - it adds texture, colour, and life to spaces that might otherwise be tricky to manage, like steep banks, retaining walls, and shaded corners under shrubs.
By choosing living mulch, you're protecting your soil, saving water, reducing weeding, boosting biodiversity, and adding more beautiful plants to your garden - all at once. Now that's what we call working smarter, not harder!
