These lawn alternatives are eco-friendly, sustainable, and easy to maintain.
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Americans are rethinking their relationship with lawns.
They require vast amounts of time and resources to maintain while supporting little ecological diversity.
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Consider the function you want your lawn area to serve when selecting plants.
Lawns are traditionally used to stabilize soil and provide a surface for playing, walking, or gathering.
In landscape design, lawns create cohesion, providing an open framework around which gardens are laid.
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From flowering perennials to native sedges, there are grass alternatives to meet each of these needs.
Green and gold provides a gorgeous alternative to grass beneath trees and also looks fabulous edging woodland paths.
Plants spread by rhizome and may self-seed in the garden but are easy to keep contained.
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Note that foliage is semi-evergreen and may go dormant in winter.
There are gold-leaved varieties like ‘Sunshine’ for those who want to light up their lawn.
Spring brings a flush of dainty white to lavender-blue flowers, while autumn paints the foliage with burgundy accents.
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Plant it inUSDA Plant Hardiness Zones4 to 8 in well-draining, moist soil in the sun.
Creeping speedwell makes a great lawn substitute and works well between pavers or as an edging along pathways.
Plants resist deer and rabbit browsing.
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Showy, dark pink flowers cover the cushiony foliage in early summer, attracting butterflies and other pollinators.
Evergreen in mild Southern winters, the blue-green foliage releases a pleasant fragrance when walked upon.
Creeping thyme does not tolerate wet soil and prefers gritty or sandy conditions.
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Cut back stems as needed to reduce woody growth.
Plants bloom over a long season from spring through summer, covering plants with white to pale blue blossoms.
In hot Southern gardens, plants perform best in dappled or afternoon shade.
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Plant it in Zones 6 to 8.
Foliage is semi-evergreen in mild winters and turns a golden tan in autumn.
Plants spread by rhizome to form loose colonies.
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Clovers are nitrogen-fixing plants and integrating them into lawns helps reduce fertilizer needs.
Clovers also provide a valuable source of nectar to native pollinators.
White or Dutch clover is the most common clover used in lawns today.
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A compact variety called micro clover has gained popularity as a lawn substitute.
Clovers tolerate heavy foot traffic but can look a little beaten down.
you might grow it almost anywhere in the South in full sun or light shade.
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It does not tolerate foot traffic but provides excellent coverage in heavy shade.
Plants tolerate deer and rabbit browsing and even grow well beneath black walnut trees.
Small, fragrant white flowers open in loose bundles in spring.
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This plantcan be aggressivein some gardens.
Creeping phlox provides a colorful semi-evergreen ground cover in areas where walkable surfaces are not needed.
Plants spread quickly and tolerate a wide range of growing conditions including rocky or salty sites.
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Gorgeous purple-blue flowers add color in spring through early summer.
Mazus also works well between stepping stones or as aground coverin rain gardens.
It is also a host plant for larvae of the clouded sulphur butterfly.
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It benefits from partial shade in hot gardens and can be grown in Zones 4 to 9.
Plants mimic moss, producing dense mats of fine, deep green foliage that hugs the ground.
Small white daisy-like flowers cover plants in spring and emerge periodically throughout the season.
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Irish moss is evergreen and tolerates moderate to heavy foot traffic, making a lovely lawn alternative.
It looks beautiful planted between flagstone or stepping stones.
Grow it in Zones 4 to 8 in evenly moist, rich soil.
This moss lawn contains multiple species and grows over multiple surfaces, including soil, rocks and tree roots.Credit: Johann Kraftner, Getty Images
Plants stand up to foot traffic, drought, salt spray, and animal browsing.
Dwarf mondo grass thrives in heavy shade and can be grown under black walnut trees.
The main challenge with dwarf mondo is its price tag.
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Plants, especially the black variety called ‘Nigrescens’, tend to be expensive and slow-growing.
This plant requires more moisture in sunny lawns.
Plants are quite adaptable to a range of sun and soil conditions.
Close-up of Flowering Corsican Mint (Mentha requienii) (syn. M corsica).Credit: Francois De Hee/Getty Images
Despite the fleshy leaves, plants tolerate moderate foot traffic.
They also stand up to heat and drought.
Plants arenot bothered by deeror rabbits and tolerate poor soil.
A late summer flush of vibrant pink blooms attracts butterflies to the garden.
Moss does particularly well in full or dappled shade on moist, acidic soils.
It typically goes dormant during hot, dry spells, then revives with a good rain.
Moss requires no fertilizer and much less watering than a traditional lawn.
Sheet moss can withstand moderate foot traffic as well.
Carpet Bugleweed
Carpet bugleweed is a low-growing ground cover that forms a thick mat as it spreads.
Dark green leaves highlighted with purple sprout violet flower spikes in spring.
Corsican Mint
Grow Corsican mint as a grass alternative in warmer Zones 7 to 11.
It thrives in shade and well-drained soil.
Use it between stepping stones or to cover larger areas since it tolerates foot traffic well.
Stepping on this perennial also releases its pleasant fragrance.
Tiny purple flowers bloom in summer.
