Low growing shrubs to cover the ground in full sun on hot dry soil

There is a good variety of low ground hugging sub shrubs that will tolerate a scorching spot in full sun on the most droughty of soils. Any of these multi-stemmed plant that has a reasonably low spreading habit of growth will have the dual advantage of naturally spreading over the soil, helping keep back weed growth as well as providing an attractive foil for taller planting as well as lower flowering plants.

Many of the Mediterranean sub shrubs are especially well suited for planting in sunny dry spots and have the added advantage of being relatively compact and low growing (which means less pruning) as well as being very tolerant of dry droughty conditions.

Such shrubs can be planted on mass in large numbers (ideally five plus of the same species of plant) to provide attractive sweeps of planting. A decent mulch of wood chip or bark will also help young plants as they establish by locking in soil moisture and reducing competition form weeds.