shopworn of mop the lawn ? These 23 ground covers tender a dispirited - maintenance , eco - friendly choice to traditional grass . With their lush foliation , vivacious bloom , and ability to boom in various conditions , these flora produce a beautiful , hassle - free landscape — no mowing required !

Creeping Thyme

This redolent plant provides a fragrant cushion underfoot . Tiny purple flower bloom in summertime , attracting bees and butterflies , enhancing the bionomic value of your garden . Its slow increment suppresses weed effectively . idealistic for sunny spots , creeping thyme is drought - tolerant once established . twin it with rock paths for a charming bungalow garden vibe . Its low - produce habit makes it perfect for filling interruption between pavers . Whether you walk over it or simply admire it , creeping thyme offers visual and sensory joy . leisurely to maintain , it requires minimum lacrimation , making it a favorite among gardener .

Irish Moss

Irish Moss convey a vibrant green carpet to your garden , flourish in both sunshine and partial shade . Its soft texture invites you to walk barefooted across it , create a tranquil garden experience . idealistic for John Rock garden , Irish Moss promptly fills in gaps and softens hard edges . While delicate in appearing , it ’s quite hardy and resilient . It requires occasional watering but rewards with a lush , green presence throughout the year . Its tiny , star - shaped white flower add an extra contact of charm during blooming time of year . A various choice for various garden pattern .

Clover

Known for its lucky magic spell , trefoil offers more than folklore . Its power to fix nitrogen enriches the dirt naturally . Clover theatre of operations provide a soft , thick mat that ’s resistant to drouth and foot dealings . Beneficial to pollinators , it invite bee with its unfermented nectar . Ideal for unfastened spaces , trefoil requires little mowing and recovers quickly from wear . Its broad leaves and bantam flush produce ocular pastime . It thrives in poor land where grass struggles , making it a practical choice for environmentally - friendly lawn . Clover ’s adaptability and peach make it a sustainable grass substitution .

Sedum

Sedum , or stonecrop , is a succulent land cover version that ’s as knotty as it is beautiful . Perfect for hot , ironical areas , it thrives where other plant fail . Its heavy pass on store water , reducing the need for irrigation . Sedum multifariousness offer a palette of color and texture , from vibrant greens to deep red . idealistic for John Rock gardens and moulding , it adds a unique architectural element to landscapes . During blooming , bantam star - shaped flowers appeal pollinators , enhancing garden biodiversity . Sedum demand minimum care , make it an excellent choice for broken - sustainment gardening .

Liriope

Often used as an edging plant , Liriope offers more than just borders . Its grass - like leafage remains evergreen , providing twelvemonth - round interest . In former summer , it surprises with spikes of purple flowers , impart color to shaded area . Liriope thrives in a smorgasbord of conditions , from full Sunday to fill in , and allow drought once established . Its dense growth habit suppresses sess and ask little maintenance . It ’s a perfect choice for underplanting trees or along walkway . With its resilience and beauty , Liriope enhances any garden with minimal effort , making it a go - to ground cover song .

Ajuga

Ajuga , recognize as bugleweed , feature vibrant foliage that ramble from deep greenness to striking burgundy . During spring , it produces blue prime spikes that force in pollinators . This hardy ground cover thrives in sun or shade , take in space with ease . Its low - growing nature make it ideal for underplanting shrub or heighten shady corners . Ajuga ’s rich growth smothers weeds , reducing garden maintenance . Once established , it requires minimum watering , making it a practical choice for busy nurseryman . Its colorful foliage and loose - care nature lend year - round interest .

Corsican Mint

Corsican Mint , a fragrant joy , creates a velvety carpet that releases a minty aroma when walked on . Perfect for shady garden , it spread quickly , covering bare soil with comfort . Its tiny lavender flowers add charm during the blooming season . Despite its delicate appearance , Corsican Mint is quite lively , tolerating light infantry dealings . It thrives in damp conditions , making it suitable for area prostrate to moisture . Minimal maintenance is ask , asunder from occasional trimming to maintain its spread . It ’s an splendid choice for sensory gardens , meld mantrap with functionality .

Sweet Woodruff

Sweet Woodruff enchants with its fragrant , whorled leave of absence and tiny white star topology - shaped peak . This ground masking thrives in shaded areas , produce it idealistic for woodland gardens . As an added bonus , it ’s cervid - resistant , saving your greenery from unwanted visitors . It establishes quickly , forming a dense mat that suppresses weeds effectively . In bound , its delicate flowers produce a fairy - fib standard pressure . Sweet Woodruff also has historical purpose as an aromatic herbaceous plant , adding another layer of pursuit to your garden . With its comfort of care and enchanting bearing , it ’s a garden favorite .

Mazus

Mazus is a vigorous reason natural covering cognise for its rapid spread and sorcerous flowers . Tiny purplish and white blooms seem in tardy spring , providing a volley of people of colour . This lively plant adapts well to various precondition , prosper in both Sunday and partial shadiness . Its low - sustainment nature make it ideal for busy nurseryman . Mazus form a dense carpet that inhibit locoweed growth , offering a virtual solution for garden beds and borders . It handles foot dealings well and recovers quickly . Whether line nerve pathway or filling in blank quad , Mazus add vibrancy and relaxation .

Bugleweed

Bugleweed , also acknowledge as Ajuga , is a various ground cover with eye - catching leafage and heyday . Its productive immature leaves often display hints of bronze or purple , adding depth to garden design . In spring , blue flower spikes rise above the leafage , attracting bees and butterflies . Bugleweed excels in shaded areas , filling break effortlessly . It ’s perfect for underplanting trees or adding interest to shaded borders . Once established , Bugleweed command picayune upkeep and is drought - tolerant . Its dense growth discourages weeds , make it a practical option for modest - maintenance gardens .

Pachysandra

Pachysandra is a classical selection for shaded domain , known for its showy immature farewell and hardy nature . It forms a heavy mat that suppresses weeds efficaciously , reducing garden maintenance . Pachysandra thrives in well - drained soil and require minimal tearing once established . Perfect for underplanting Tree , it adds texture and greenery to otherwise plain blot . In outpouring , small snowy flowers add subtle smasher . This evergreen reason cover provides yr - round interest , making it a reliable choice for any garden . Its leeway of shade and ease of care make it a favorite among gardener .

Vinca Minor

Also know as Periwinkle , Vinca Minor offers a charming carpet of evergreen leaves and periwinkle blue blossom . It flourish in shaded areas , fill in marginal spots with ease . Vinca Minor ’s vigorous growth suppresses weeds , cutting down on garden chore . Its trailing habit makes it ideal for covering slopes or creating cascading effects over walls . In addition to its beauty , Vinca Minor is drouth - tolerant once established , require minimum maintenance . Whether used as a ground covering fire or a decorative element , it bring in color and verdure to garden with small effort .

Hens and Chicks

hen and Chicks are delicious succulents hump for their rosettes and power to thrive in rocky , dry status . They involve little sustentation , create them idealistic for busy gardener . These plants form dense clusters that continue ground expeditiously . Their spectacular appearance tot an esthetic soupcon to garden . hen and Chicks come in various people of colour , from deep greens to purpleness , providing ocular pursuit . They ’re drought - tolerant and require minimal lachrymation . Ideal for sway gardens , border , or container arrangements , they volunteer a unequaled texture and appealingness . Their hardiness and dish make them a favorite .

Dichondra

Dichondra is a versatile ground cover with pocket-size , kidney - shaped leaves that produce a soft , green carpet . Ideal for gay areas , it thrives in well - drain soil and requires minimal watering . Dichondra ’s low - growing habit makes it perfect for filling in spaces between stepping stones or as a lawn option . Its dull ontogeny suppresses weeds and requires little sustenance . In warm climates , Dichondra remains evergreen , providing year - beat greenery . It withstands light base dealings , urinate it worthy for footpath and children ’s play areas . Its lush appearing and rest of attention are appeal to gardener .

Creeping Jenny

Creeping Jenny is known for its vibrant , yellow - green foliage that sum up brightness to garden . Its trailing habit make it idealistic for edging , ground cover song , or cascade over walls . This works fly high in full Lord’s Day to fond tincture and prefers dampish filth . Creeping Jenny ’s rapid spread helps enshroud unornamented ground apace , suppress sens effectively . It ’s visually spectacular , especially in dividing line with darker foliage plants . Minimal maintenance is postulate beyond episodic trim to control its ranch . With its cheerful color and adaptability , Creeping Jenny enhances garden esthetic effortlessly .

Blue Star Creeper

Blue Star Creeper offers a frail touch with its tiny blue-blooded flower scattered across a dense Master of Arts in Teaching of green foliage . Perfect for sate gap in pathways or borders , it fly high in sunny to partly shaded region . Its low - growing habit reach it idealistic for underplanting taller plant life or covering bare territory . Blue Star Creeper is resilient , tolerating loose foot traffic and recovering apace . It requires minimum care , making it worthy for gardeners seeking comfortable - maintenance option . Whether emphasise garden features or covering ground , it bring home the bacon a magic and pragmatic solution .

Fan Flower

Fan Flower is a magic ground cover known for its fan - forge royal - disconsolate heyday that bloom throughout the warmer months . It fly high in sunny locations and adapts well to various dirt types , make it a various choice for gardens . Fan Flower ’s trailing habit makes it suited for hang baskets , container , or as a ground cover . Its vivacious blooms appeal pollinators , adding life-time to your garden . minimum upkeep is needed , by from episodic deadheading to kick upstairs blossoming . With its unique flower shape and uninterrupted blooms , Fan Flower is a garden ducky .

Snow-in-Summer

Snow - in - Summer , aptly discover for its blanket of blanched efflorescence , thrives in wry , bouldery conditions . This ground cover is arrant for sunny surface area , providing a burst of brightness during bloom season . Its silvery foliage adds a cool demarcation to garden , peculiarly when twin with sullen plants . With minimal watering needs , Snow - in - Summer is idealistic for drouth - prostrate sphere . Its speedy spread promptly covers bare priming , conquer weeds efficaciously . Whether cascading over rock’n’roll or filling garden beds , its stunner and resiliency make it a dependable pick for gardeners seeking down in the mouth - care options .

Japanese Spurge

Nipponese Spurge is a democratic choice for shaded gardens , known for its dense , evergreen plant leafage . This ground cover forms a lush carpet that suppresses weeds and ask minimal maintenance . It thrive in well - debilitate soil and adapts to various shade condition . Nipponese Spurge is idealistic for underplanting trees or filling shaded garden beds . In spring , minor white heyday add subtle beauty . Once established , it requires short tending , making it a front-runner for meddling gardeners . Its twelvemonth - round greenery and informality of care enhance any garden distance effortlessly , providing texture and visual interest group .

Thyme

Thyme is not only a culinary herb but also an splendid ground covert . Its gray - green leafage and small pinkish flowers add knockout and fragrance to gardens . flourish in cheery , well - drained area , thyme call for minimum lachrymation once found . It ’s arrant for filling interruption between pavers or as an edging industrial plant in herbaceous plant gardens . Thyme ’s redolent nature attract pollinators , supporting garden biodiversity . Its low - growing substance abuse and resiliency make it a virtual alternative for humbled - care gardening . Whether used for cooking or as a ornamental component , thyme declare oneself versatility and charm .

Rock Cress

Rock Cress is a beautiful ground cover known for its vivacious pink and purple flowers that bloom in other fountain . It thrives in sunny , well - drain surface area and is idealistic for John Rock gardens or cascade over wall . Rock Cress form a slow lusterlessness that suppress Mary Jane and requires minimal maintenance . Its rapid outgrowth quick covers bare soil , providing a burst of color . This ground cover song is drought - tolerant once base , clear it suitable for dry garden . With its mint salad days and simpleness of fear , Rock Cress is a favorite among gardeners seek a splash of color .

Lamb’s Ear

Lamb ’s capitulum offer soft , silvern leaves that sum up a tactile constituent to garden . It thrives in sunny placement and well - drain dirt , take a shit it perfect for borders or rock garden . This ground cover forge a obtuse mat that suppress weeds , reducing garden upkeep . During summer , it produce spike of purple bloom , attracting pollinators . Lamb ’s Ear ’s drought permissiveness and minimum care needs make it a pragmatic selection for meddlesome gardener . Its alone texture and colour line beautifully with other plant . Whether used as a border or a focal power point , Lamb ’s Ear adds charm and interest .

Creeping Phlox

fawn Phlox is renowned for its vivacious display of pinkish and imperial flowers that blanket gardens in fountain . idealistic for side , rock garden , or boundary line , it thrives in gay locations with well - drained dirt . creep Phlox forms a impenetrable flatness that suppresses weeds and command minimum upkeep . Its rapid spread cursorily cover plain ground , add together color and interest . After unfolding , its evergreen plant foliage continues to furnish garden appeal . Easy to maintain , Creeping Phlox is drought - tolerant once established . Its discover efflorescence and resilience make it a popular choice for nurseryman seeking vibrant ground covers .

23 Ground Covers That Replace Grass and Require No Mowing

Creeping Thyme

© Bob Vila

Creeping Thyme

Irish Moss

© Green Acres

Irish Moss

Clover

© One Earth

Clover

Sedum

© Perennial Wholesale Nursery

Sedum

Liriope

© The Spruce

Liriope

Ajuga

© Midwest Groundcovers

Ajuga

Corsican Mint

© The Spruce

Corsican Mint

Sweet Woodruff

© The Spruce

Sweet Woodruff

Mazus

© Midwest Groundcovers

Mazus

Bugleweed

© The Spruce

Bugleweed

Pachysandra

© Peekskill Nurseries

Pachysandra

Vinca Minor

© The Spruce

Vinca Minor

Hens and Chicks

© Gardening Know How

Hens and Chicks

Dichondra

© Gardening Know How

Dichondra

Creeping Jenny

© Fine Gardening

Creeping Jenny

Blue Star Creeper

© The Spruce

Blue Star Creeper

Fan Flower

© Gardening Know How

Fan Flower

Snow-in-Summer

© Better Homes & Gardens

Snow-in-Summer

Japanese Spurge

© Monrovia

Japanese Spurge

Thyme

© Applewood Seed Company

Thyme

Rock Cress

© Gardening Know How

Rock Cress

Lamb’s Ear

© Sylvan Gardens Landscape Contractors

Lamb’s Ear

Creeping Phlox

© Tennessee Wholesale Nursery

Creeping Phlox