Traditional lawns can be thirsty, high-maintenance, and not always the most eco-friendly choice. Luckily, there’s a growing movement toward replacing turf with lush, low-growing alternatives that offer more beauty and biodiversity—with less effort.
Ground covers and low shrubs can create a textured, vibrant landscape that supports pollinators, conserves water, and looks good year-round. Whether you want a soft carpet of green or a mix of blooms and foliage, there are plenty of options to suit your space and style.
In this article, discover 11 ground covers and 4 low shrubs that replace lawn beautifully—and learn how to transform your yard into a more sustainable, eye-catching landscape.
Creeping Thyme
This aromatic plant is more than just a culinary delight. With its low growth habit, creeping thyme creates a vibrant tapestry of purples and greens that naturally suppresses weeds. Its resilience makes it perfect for sunny, dry areas where grass might struggle. Imagine stepping out and being greeted by its fresh aroma and delicate blooms, creating a sensory garden experience.
Irish Moss
Often mistaken for a traditional moss, Irish Moss offers a cushioned, vibrant green surface dotted with petite white flowers. It’s a charming addition to shaded garden areas and thrives in well-drained soil. Perfect for filling gaps between stepping stones, it adds a touch of whimsy to any path or patio.
Sedum
Sedums are succulents known for their drought tolerance and vibrant colors. These hardy plants come in various forms, from low-growing ground covers to rising rosettes, offering a colorful mosaic in any garden space. Their thick leaves retain water, ensuring they thrive even in poor soil conditions.
Clover
Clover’s trifoliate leaves and charming flowers make it a delightful lawn alternative. This nitrogen-fixing plant enriches the soil, reducing the need for fertilization. It spreads quickly, creating a soft, green carpet even in less-than-ideal conditions. Plus, it’s a favorite among pollinators.
Ajuga (Bugleweed)
Ajuga, commonly known as Bugleweed, features striking, dark green foliage and vivid blue flower spikes. It’s a versatile ground cover that can thrive in both sun and shade, creating a rich, textured layer in gardens. Its rapid growth helps it outcompete weeds, making it a low-maintenance choice.
Lilyturf (Liriope)
Lilyturf, or Liriope, is valued for its grass-like leaves and purple flower spikes that add vertical interest. It’s an excellent choice for borders or under trees where grass might struggle. This hardy perennial is easy to care for and provides year-round color, withstanding various growing conditions.
Creeping Jenny
Creeping Jenny offers bright yellow foliage that cascades beautifully, making it ideal for draping over walls or softening the edges of garden beds. It thrives in sun and partial shade, adding a cheerful splash of color that changes with the seasons. This versatile plant is also effective at controlling erosion.
Pachysandra
Pachysandra is known for its glossy evergreen leaves and low-growing habit, providing a dense mat ideal for shaded areas. This plant is a great ally in weed suppression and thrives in areas where grass fails to grow. It offers seasonal interest with small white flowers in spring.
Vinca Minor
Also called Periwinkle, Vinca Minor is celebrated for its glossy foliage and charming blue flowers. This vigorous ground cover thrives in shade and is excellent for controlling erosion on slopes. It forms a dense carpet that requires minimal maintenance once established, bringing year-round greenery to gardens.
Sweet Woodruff
Sweet Woodruff enchants with its star-shaped leaves and tiny white flowers, creating a fairy-tale effect in shaded gardens. It’s a fragrant addition with a fresh, hay-like scent, often used in potpourri. This plant is also deer-resistant, adding to its charm as a low-maintenance ground cover.
Mazus
Mazus is a wonderfully robust ground cover with bright purple blooms that add a splash of color to any garden. It’s perfect for filling gaps between pavers or cascading over borders. This plant thrives in moist, well-drained soil and can tolerate light foot traffic, making it a functional and decorative choice.
Dwarf Boxwood
Dwarf Boxwood offers a classic touch with its dense, green foliage that’s perfect for creating structured borders. It thrives in sun or partial shade and requires minimal pruning to maintain its shape. This shrub is an enduring favorite for formal gardens, offering year-round appeal with its evergreen nature.
Japanese Spirea
Japanese Spirea is cherished for its vibrant pink blooms and fine-textured foliage that changes color throughout the seasons. It’s a compact shrub that fits well into small gardens and requires little more than annual pruning. Not only does it attract butterflies, but it also provides a long season of interest.
Lavender
Lavender’s iconic purple flowers and silvery foliage evoke the serene landscapes of Provence. This aromatic shrub thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, making it a drought-tolerant choice for those seeking beauty and fragrance. Its blooms attract pollinators, and the plant’s oil is prized for its calming properties.
Dwarf Nandina
Dwarf Nandina, or Heavenly Bamboo, offers a burst of color with its fiery red foliage and delicate berries, especially striking in winter gardens. This low-maintenance shrub is perfect for adding vertical interest with minimal care, thriving in both sun and partial shade. Its vibrant hues create year-round interest.