11 Ground Cover Plants That Can Replace Your Grass

Although it’s a controversial statement, the trends are clear – lawns are out.

Well, not out completely.

They are still useful for recreational spaces and high-traffic areas. But when it comes to environmental concerns, lawns are known for using up tons of resources and limiting biodiversity in your backyard. That’s why many gardeners are looking for lawn replacements to lower maintenance and help the environment at the same time.

Whether you’re looking for extra flowers, something that can stand up to foot traffic, or even edible plants, these 11 ground cover plants make ideal lawn replacements in most backyards.

It’s important to keep in mind that by nature of their rapid spread, a few of these plants are considered invasive in some areas. Be sure to check your local resources before planting to make sure planting is allowed, or look for one of the other alternatives.

Creeping Phlox

	botanical name Phlox subulata
	genus Phlox
	plant type Perennial
	bloom colors Pink, purple, white, red, blue
	sun requirements Full sun to part shade
	water needs Medium
	height 4 to 6 inches

If you want to replace your grass with something a little more colorful, Creeping Phlox is ideal. This perennial is a popular border plant but can also serve as a grass replacement in the right hardiness zones.

From late spring and throughout the summer months, you’ll be treated to masses of blooms that turn the previous lawn into a visual feast. These blooms are also great for attracting pollinators, improving the biodiversity of your garden rather than limiting it.

Growing in USDA Zones 5-9, this Phlox species is wonderfully low maintenance. It is typically planted in rock gardens or around stone landscaping features. It is also a great flowering ground cover to plant between pavers for a pop of color.

Creeping Phlox prefers full sun positions, although they will grow in partial shade with fewer flowers. They are not particularly thirsty plants, but do need additional watering when temperatures are high in summer.

Pruning can help keep them tidy when they begin to look unruly. Their growth is considered moderate, so these plants will need some time to establish before they can completely cover bare patches.

Blue Star Creeper

	botanical name Isotoma fluviatilis
	genus Isotoma
	plant type Perennial
	bloom colors Blue, white
	sun requirements Full sun to part shade
	water needs Medium to high
	height 1 to 3 inches

Blue Star Creeper is another low-maintenance option known for adapting well to a wide range of conditions.

Evident in the common name, this ground cover produces masses of delicate flowers on spreading vines. These adorable blooms are pastel blue in color and shaped just like stars with five petals on each flower. Like Creeping Phlox, the flowers appear in late spring and continue to pop up into fall.

Blue Star Creeper is best for growing in USDA Zones 6-8. But in these ideal conditions, it does grow rapidly which can become a concern.

Growth needs to be monitored as the tough roots are difficult to remove. It should also be kept away from vulnerable and slow-growing plants as these competitive plants are known to smother others.

As long as growth doesn’t get out of hand, Blue Star Creepers are incredibly easy to care for. They grow and flower best in full sun but can also handle some partial shade. They can also tolerate lower temperatures than they are used to and a little drought for short periods.

Moss

	botanical name Bryophyta
	genus Various
	plant type Non-vascular plant
	sun requirements Shade to part shade
	water needs High
	height 0.4 to 4 inches

The previous two options are great for sunny areas and those who love a garden full of flowers. But if you have a shady spot to fill, often under trees where growing grass can be tricky, moss is a great alternative.

Growing moss as a ground cover can seem difficult because these plants are not quite like the others you have in your garden. Moss spreads through spores rather than roots. In fact, moss doesn’t have roots at all, and even the green growth is not technically leaves. That’s because moss is a bryophyte – a non-vascular plant that absorbs moisture from the air to grow successfully.

Despite these technical details, moss is not difficult to grow. It can take a while to become established and spread naturally. But, once established in your garden, mosses don’t require any extra attention.

As a ground cover, mosses can handle some foot traffic. However, they aren’t great for high-traffic areas, better for use under trees or between pavers.

Harvesting moss that occurs naturally is not recommended as this can impact local environments. Rather use plants from local suppliers for your garden. They can be tricky to find, but are worthwhile once established.

Stonecrops

	botanical name Sedum
	genus Sedum
	plant type Perennial
	bloom colors Pink, red, yellow, and white
	sun requirements Full sun
	water needs Low
	height 2 to 24 inches

Mosses are great for damp or humid areas, but not ideal for dry spots around your lawn. In hot climates where soil remains dry, replacing your lawn can help save water and keep your garden looking green year-round. To do that, you need stonecrop, also known as sedum.

Stonecrop is the common name for low-growing members of the Sedum genus. These popular succulents come in many shapes, sizes and colors, allowing you to choose the perfect species for your space. They form dense mats of succulent growth, with bright flowers popping up on tall stalks.

As succulents, stonecrops are great for water-wise gardens. They don’t require much attention to look good, surviving well on rain water and the occasional top-up when temperatures are high. Many tolerate cold quite well, although they perform best in warmer weather.

The downside is that stonecrops do tend to grow slowly, taking a while to fill a space. If you need to replace your lawn quickly, this option may not be for you. However, if you’re looking for a long-term solution that requires almost no attention, these plants are ideal.

Creeping Thyme

	botanical name Thymus serpyllum
	genus Thymus
	plant type Perennial
	bloom colors Pink, lavender, or white
	sun requirements Full sun
	water needs Low
	height 1 to 3 inches

Thyme is a common herb in home gardens, appreciated for its adorable leaves and delicious flavor. But that’s not all it’s good for. Species commonly known as Creeping Thyme are a wonderful lawn replacement for sunny spots.

Creeping Thyme has a spreading growth habit, quickly filling bare areas and forming dense coverage. They are also great in rock gardens or for growing between pavers. What Creeping Thyme is most appreciated for is the stunning purple blooms that form giant carpets of color and attract nearby pollinators.

To add to the benefits, Creeping Thyme is also easy to grow. It can take a while to fill out, but once established and adapted to your garden environment, it needs very little attention. They grow in almost any soil conditions, including nutrient-poor soils. The only thing they don’t appreciate is waterlogged soil.

Even though you probably won’t want to step on your Creeping Thyme lawn – especially when it’s flowering – they can handle quite a bit of foot traffic. This makes it perfect for spots of lawn that get a lot of use, without the maintenance or high resource needs.

Microclover

	botanical name Trifolium repens var. Pipolina
	genus Trifolium
	plant type Perennial
	bloom colors White or pink
	sun requirements Full sun to part shade
	water needs Medium to high
	height 1 to 6 inches

Clover is typically a plant gardeners look to remove from their lawns rather than grow purposefully. But if you want to help the local environment and reduce maintenance at the same time, it is something to consider.

Rather than planting a common White Clover lawn that can look sparse, try the more compact Microclover instead. The leaves are much smaller than typical clover, growing close together to create dense compact growth that keeps empty gaps looking green.

Microclover also flowers less than White Clover. While this can be a downside to some, it does work better in high-traffic areas. Fewer flowers mean fewer bees, saving you or your family from unsuspecting bee stings when using the area for recreation.

Typically Microclover seeds are combined with regular grass seeds to form a dense and healthy green lawn. That’s because Microclover is nitrogen-fixing, adding nutrients to the soil to help the grass grow better. But if you have an open patch in a sunny spot and enough seed, you can also grow Microclover on its own to eliminate the need to mow completely.

Bugleweed 

	botanical name Ajuga reptans
	genus Ajuga
	plant type Perennial
	bloom colors Blue, purple, or white
	sun requirements Full sun to part shade
	water needs Medium to high
	height 4 to 8 inches

The common name Bugleweed often discourages gardeners from considering it as a lawn replacement. And don’t get me wrong, this plant does come with a few warnings. It is considered invasive in a few states and is known for smothering other plants and taking over existing lawns.

But if you can keep the plant contained and stop it from spreading to other beds or beyond the garden, it can make a great lawn replacement.

Bugleweed grows best in partially shady spots that aren’t in deep shade. There are a number of cultivars to choose from, each with different colored foliage from deep burgundy to creamy white and more. Foliage colors will be best in brighter areas, but the leaves will stand out no matter where they are planted.

This plant can grow in almost any conditions, adapting well and spreading quickly. In terms of growing conditions and needs, that makes it one of the more low-maintenance options on this list. However, one maintenance task you cannot skip for this plant is pruning. Any growth escaping the predefined area needs to be trimmed regularly to stop Bugleweed from taking over your garden.

Creeping Jenny

	botanical name Lysimachia nummularia
	genus Lysimachia
	plant type Perennial
	bloom colors Yellow
	sun requirements Part shade to full sun
	water needs Medium to high
	height 2 to 4 inches

Creeping Jenny is another rapidly spreading plant that needs a regular trim to be controlled. But when you consider the maintenance required for regular lawns, Creeping Jenny ends up being a much more low-effort lawn alternative.

This plant is also known as moneywort after the small, rounded leaves that look just like coins. The leaves are a bright, almost luminous green that can turn drab areas of lawn into a bright and exciting spectacle. To add to this explosion of color, bright yellow flowers appear along the vines in summer.

Creeping Jenny grows in full sun to partial shade. However, keep in mind that the amount of light you give the plant will determine the color of the foliage.

Full sun spots will deliver brighter leaves, while plants in shadier spots produce darker leaves from increased chlorophyll production. They will also flower far better in full sun, as long as there is enough moisture to keep the vines happy during high temperatures.

Although Creeping Jenny is quite low maintenance in general terms, it is needy when it comes to water. These plants are naturally found near water sources, accustomed to consistently moist soil. Don’t plant these spreaders in dry spots unless you plan to water regularly throughout the growing season.

Corsican Mint

	botanical name Mentha requienii
	genus Mentha
	plant type Perennial
	bloom colors Lavender to pink
	sun requirements Full sun to part shade
	water needs Medium to high
	height 1 to 2 inches

This adorable mint variety is incredibly compact, growing less than an inch tall and spreading rapidly to cover areas with scented leaves.

Unfortunately, this plant does retain the same reputation as other members of the mint family. It has an aggressive spread, smothering out other plants and readily escaping the confines of our gardens. It is also declared invasive in some parts of the US, with its growth prohibited.

However, if you are allowed to grow Corsican Mint in your area and are willing to keep it under control, it will reward you with mountains of fresh leaves to enjoy as a lawn replacement.

Corsican Mint grows best in shady areas that don’t receive lots of foot traffic. If you have a lawn bank or slope that you want to replace with something a little more exciting, this plant is a great option. As the small leaves don’t retain much moisture, it’s important to keep the soil consistently moist. Although these plants are tough, they don’t like their roots to dry out.

Wild Strawberries

	botanical name Fragaria × ananassa
	genus Fragaria
	plant type Perennial
	bloom colors White
	sun requirements Full sun to part shade
	water needs Medium to high
	height 6 to 10 inches

When thinking of common lawn replacements, strawberries are not likely the first thing to come to mind. They don’t handle foot traffic well (especially if you plan on eating the fruits) and aren’t often seen as ground covers in large patches.

But, if you look to the world of foodscaping for inspiration, you’ll find that these edible plants can make quite useful lawn replacements.

Wild strawberries are low-growing and compact plants that spread naturally along the ground via runners. When given the space and time to establish, they can cover entire patches with lush green foliage, dotted with the occasional bright red strawberry.

Strawberries clearly need to be kept away from any areas of lawn frequently walked on. No one wants to hear the squelch of fresh fruits under their feet. But if you can have an area of lawn that sees no traffic and is taking up valuable space, you can fill that space with edible plants to start your foodscaping journey.

Hosta

	botanical name Hosta
	genus Hosta
	plant type Perennial
	bloom colors Lavender or white
	sun requirements Part shade to full shade
	water needs Medium to high
	height 12 to 36 inches

Hostas are excellent plants for shade gardens, sporting lush leaves in a variety of interesting colors (even blue). They come in many shapes and sizes, from small to giant. When looking for lawn replacements, keep an eye out for mini hostas that remain compact, even when mature.

Hostas don’t have the same spreading habit as some of the other vining plants on this list. But, if you have a small area to fill, you can group a few different mini Hosta varieties together to create a bed that has the same effect as a green lawn, without the maintenance.

Hostas are also great companions for a few other ground covers on this list – such as Creeping Jenny – allowing you to curate a colorful bed of plants that grow perfectly together.