Lawn Alternative Plants
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Acorus gramineus 'Minimus Aureus'
Dwarf Golden Sweet Flag is a wonderful plant for walkways as well as rain gardens and stream edges, because it is tolerant of foot traffic as well as significant moisture. The evergreen foliage is like tiny thick bladed grass tufts and when crushed, it releases an attractive sweet scent. The tufts slowly expand to make a short yellowish green mat. Although it looks like a grass, Acorus gramineus 'Minimus Aureus' is actually more closely related to the Iris family.
H: 4 Inches · S: 8 Inches · Zone: 5
Ajuga reptans 'Black Scallop' PP15815
The deep purple shiny leaves of 'Black Scallop' ('Binblasca') Bugleweed have ruffled edges. Deep blue flower spikes appear on Ajuga in late spring. From Mike Tristram of the UK.
H: 3 Inches · S: 6 Inches · Zone: 6
Ajuga reptans 'Chocolate Chip'
'Chocolate Chip' ('Valfredda') Bugleweed has tiny purplish chocolate foliage with violet-blue flower spikes in late spring. This Ajuga makes an excellent groundcover around stepping stones. It came to the US from Italy.
H: 2 Inches · S: 4 Inches · Zone: 4
Ajuga reptans 'Pink Lightning' PP22255
Short mauve pink flower spikes above crinkled green and white leaves in mid spring. A semi-evergreen shade groundcover.
H: 6 Inches · S: 6 Inches · Zone: 4
Bouteloua gracilis
Native warm-season grass with persistent, unique looking inflorescences that remain upright from their arrival in late June and persist deep into winter. Highly drought tolerant, adaptable to poor soils, occasional mowing, and light foot traffic. Lawn alternative.
H: 14 Inches · S: 20 Inches · Zone: 3
Bouteloua gracilis 'Blonde Ambition' PP22048
'Blonde Ambition' Blue Grama is a lovely low maintenance native grass which has unusually shaped inflorescences. The orange to straw colored flowers are held horizontally off the stems, so that they look like tiny feathers. This is especially lovely when back lit by afternoon sun. When planted in mass, Bouteloua 'Blonde Ambition' can serve as an infrequently mowed lawn, since it does best in full sun. It was introduced by David Salman of High Country Gardens, and brought to our attention by Steve Castorani of North Creek Nurseries.
H: 24 Inches · S: 18 Inches · Zone: 4
Carex albicans
Insignificant green flower spikes emerge above thread-like arching green leaves in May. The fine semi-evergreen foliage makes a great lawn substitute for shady locations.
H: 20 Inches · S: 20 Inches · Zone: 4
Carex appalachica
Appalachian Sedge is a fine-textured green clump-forming Carex that performs really well in very shady dry woodlands. The habit is arching, like a green fountain, so Appalachian Sedge is particularly attractive in mixed shade containers.
H: 12 Inches · S: 18 Inches · Zone: 3
Carex cherokeensis
Cherokee Sedge is an increasingly rare native that tolerates a wide range of conditions throughout the Southeast. The fine green foliage is fountain-like in habit, and the clumps slowly widen to make a natural looking groundcover. It tolerates dry conditions but is happiest in moist sites. Since it is deer resistant as well as at home in both sun and shade, this Carex deserves more usage. Avoid hard cutback.
H: 18 Inches · S: 12 Inches · Zone: 6
Carex divulsa
Narrow green leaves arch out from central clumps. A low maintenance alternative to grass in sun or shade. Deer resistant and tolerant of a wide range of conditions.
H: 15 Inches · S: 30 Inches · Zone: 4
Carex eburnea
Native cool season sedge perfect for adding a soft textural accent to the shady rock garden. Can be used as an accent, groundcover, or lawn alternative. Deer and heavy shade resistant.
H: 8 Inches · S: 8 Inches · Zone: 2
Carex flacca 'Blue Zinger'
'Blue Zinger' Glaucous Sedge has beautiful grayish blue foliage that is similar in color to Festuca 'Elijah Blue', but 'Blue Zinger' is much more tolerant of different sites, going from shade to full sun. Carex flacca 'Blue Zinger' spreads rapidly to make a good tight groundcover.
H: 6 Inches · S: 18 Inches · Zone: 4
Carex pensylvanica
Pennsylvania Sedge has fine green leaves which are semi-evergreen, spreading slowly by rhizomes to form a tough groundcover in shady areas. Most effective if planted in mass. It can be used instead of grass in the shade. It is very tolerant of foot traffic as well. Mow infrequently.
H: 8 Inches · S: 12 Inches · Zone: 4
Carex socialis
Long flowy thread-like green leaves are semi-evergreen in woodland settings. A good choice for rain gardens, erosion control and shade lawn substitutes.
H: 18 Inches · S: 18 Inches · Zone: 5
Carex woodii
Versatile, adaptable, low maintenance and no fuss sedge with emergent bluish-green foliage that matures to a rich green, topped by bottlebrush-like tannish-yellow inflorescences from April to May. Can be used as a lawn substitute or anywhere light foot traffic occurs. Deer resistant. Tolerant of full sun and full shade.
H: 12 Inches · S: 12 Inches · Zone: 4
Chrysogonum virginianum 'Superstar'
'Superstar' Golden Star makes a lovely delicate green carpet in shady and sunny locations. The slightly fuzzy green foliage is studded with lots of bright yellow simple flowers in mid to late spring, with some reblooming when moisture is adequate. Originally named after the American Rock Garden Society's Norman Singer, this native groundcover is both deer resistant and very easy to grow. 'Superstar' was renamed to reflect the fact that the foliage is significantly cleaner and more vigorous, remaining attractive long after the vivid flower display finishes. James Brown, the Carex King of New Moon Nursery, says it's his favorite Chrysogonum.
H: 5 Inches · S: 12 Inches · Zone: 5
Dennstaedtia punctilobula
Hay-scented Fern has lacy green foliage that will take somewhat dry, relatively sunny sites. Dennstaedtia punctilobula is a deciduous spreader that can handle poor soils well. When the fronds are brushed against, they release the smell of fresh cut hay.
H: 18 Inches · S: 36 Inches · Zone: 3
Deschampsia cespitosa
Deschampsia cespitosa has delicate green foliage topped by airy panicles in fall. Shade and wet site tolerant, clump-forming, semi-evergreen.
H: 24 Inches · S: 12 Inches · Zone: 4
Deschampsia cespitosa 'Goldtau'
Golden yellow inflorescences bloom from July to September, topping dark green fine blades. Semi-evergreen and clump forming. Seedheads are attractive through the winter.
H: 18 Inches · S: 24 Inches · Zone: 4
Deschampsia cespitosa 'Northern Lights'
Native clumping grass that remains semi-evergreen in mild winters. Variegated green, white and gold foliage takes on pinkish tones upon emergence in spring and cool weather in autumn. Attractive seedheads in late summer. Low maintenance and shade tolerant.
H: 24 Inches · S: 24 Inches · Zone: 5
Dianthus gratianopolitanus 'Firewitch'
'Firewitch' ('Feuerhexe') Cheddar Pinks has shocking pink fragrant flowers, low growing blue foliage, and is an excellent repeat bloomer. The fragrance is wonderful, like so many of the Carnation family. 2006 Perennial Plant of the Year.
H: 6 Inches · S: 8 Inches · Zone: 5