Tired of the same old lawn look? These 18 grass alternatives bring fresh style and texture that can totally transform your outdoor space. They’re not just pretty — many need less water and less work, which means more time to relax.
If you want your yard to stand out without all the fuss, these options are a game-changer. I’ve also got some easy care tips to keep things thriving with less effort.
1. Clover
Ever noticed how clover stays green when grass turns brown? This resilient little plant creates a lush carpet that feels amazing underfoot. It naturally fixes nitrogen in soil, meaning you can skip the fertilizer completely.
Clover thrives in poor soil conditions where grass struggles. It rarely needs mowing and stays green during mild droughts. White clover produces delicate flowers that attract beneficial pollinators to your yard.
2. Creeping Thyme
Walking on creeping thyme releases a gentle, pleasant aroma that transforms your yard into a sensory experience. The tiny purple flowers create a magical carpet effect when in bloom, attracting butterflies and bees to your garden.
Unlike regular grass, this ground cover stays low naturally without mowing. It thrives in sunny spots with good drainage and spreads gradually to fill bare patches. Creeping thyme handles light foot traffic well while adding year-round visual interest.
3. Moss
Imagine walking barefoot on nature’s velvet! Moss creates an enchanting, woodland-inspired landscape that looks straight out of a fairy tale. It thrives in shady, moist areas where traditional grass struggles to grow.
The velvety texture adds a unique dimension to your outdoor space. Moss requires zero mowing and minimal maintenance once established. For best results, choose moss varieties native to your region for a truly sustainable, magical lawn alternative.
4. Ornamental Grasses
The gentle swaying of ornamental grasses brings movement and drama to any landscape. These stunning plants come in countless varieties with different heights, colors, and textures to create visual interest year-round.
Many ornamental grasses thrive with minimal water once established. They provide habitat for small wildlife and birds. Planting in groupings creates a natural, prairie-like effect that changes beautifully with the seasons, offering winter interest when other plants go dormant.
5. Sedum
The fleshy, star-shaped leaves of sedum create a living tapestry that changes colors throughout the seasons. This drought-tolerant succulent forms a dense mat that chokes out weeds naturally while requiring almost no maintenance.
Sedum thrives in poor, rocky soil where grass would struggle. The late-summer flowers attract important pollinators to your yard. Some varieties turn brilliant red or copper in fall, adding seasonal color changes that grass simply can’t match.
6. Buffalo Grass
Native to North American prairies, buffalo grass evolved to survive harsh conditions without human help. This tough native grass requires about 75% less water than conventional turf while staying naturally short at just 4-8 inches.
Buffalo grass develops deep roots that help it survive drought conditions. It grows in a beautiful blue-green color that stands out from conventional lawns. The minimal maintenance requirements make it perfect for busy homeowners who still want a traditional lawn look.
7. Chamomile
Walking across a chamomile lawn releases a sweet apple scent that transforms your yard into an aromatic retreat. The delicate white and yellow flowers look like tiny daisies scattered across a green carpet during blooming season.
Chamomile grows well in poor soil and partial shade. The non-flowering variety stays short naturally without mowing. This medicinal herb has been used for centuries for tea, making your lawn not just beautiful but potentially useful too!
8. Corsican Mint
The intense fragrance released when walking on Corsican mint makes this ground cover truly special. Its tiny round leaves form an incredibly dense, bright green carpet that looks like a miniature wonderland up close.
Corsican mint thrives in partial shade and moist conditions. The delightful scent is reminiscent of mint candy, making garden strolls a sensory experience. Though it doesn’t handle heavy foot traffic, it’s perfect for areas between stepping stones or as garden borders.
9. Dwarf Mondo Grass
From a distance, dwarf mondo grass resembles a traditional lawn but requires zero mowing! The fine, grass-like leaves create an elegant, tidy appearance that stays neat year-round without any trimming.
This Asian native thrives in shade where regular grass struggles. Mondo grass forms dense clumps that naturally prevent weeds from establishing. The slow-growing nature means less maintenance, though it does require patience during the initial establishment period.
10. Creeping Jenny
The bright chartreuse color of creeping Jenny creates a stunning contrast against darker elements in your landscape. This fast-spreading ground cover cascades beautifully over walls and slopes where traditional grass would be difficult to maintain.
Creeping Jenny forms a dense mat that effectively suppresses weeds. The round leaves create interesting texture and catch light beautifully after rain. It works wonderfully in moist areas where other plants might rot, making it perfect for problem spots in your yard.
11. Dichondra
The tiny round leaves of dichondra create a delicate, uniform carpet that feels soft underfoot. This low-growing plant spreads to form a dense mat that stays just 1-2 inches tall without any mowing.
Dichondra thrives in mild climates and partial shade. The silver variety offers a unique metallic sheen that makes your lawn look truly distinctive. It handles light foot traffic well and fills in gaps quickly, creating a seamless, weed-resistant ground cover.
12. Roman Chamomile
The apple-scented foliage of Roman chamomile makes your outdoor space smell amazing with every step. Unlike its cousin, this variety forms a denser mat that handles occasional foot traffic while staying naturally short.
Roman chamomile produces charming daisy-like flowers in early summer. The feathery foliage creates a soft, inviting texture that contrasts beautifully with hardscaping. Once established, it requires minimal water and care while providing year-round structure to your landscape.
13. Blue Star Creeper
Tiny blue star-shaped flowers cover this ground cover in spring, creating a magical carpet effect that looks like the night sky brought down to earth. The delicate blooms contrast beautifully against the small, round green leaves.
Blue star creeper handles moderate foot traffic without damage. It fills spaces between stepping stones perfectly, softening hard edges in your landscape. This versatile plant thrives in sun or partial shade and stays green year-round in mild climates.
14. Woolly Thyme
The fuzzy, silver-gray leaves of woolly thyme create a unique textural element that regular grass simply can’t match. This drought-tolerant ground cover forms a dense mat that’s perfect for hot, dry areas where grass struggles.
Woolly thyme produces small pink flowers in summer that attract pollinators. The soft texture feels amazing underfoot and creates interesting contrast in the landscape. It thrives in poor soil and full sun, making it perfect for problem areas.
15. Ajuga
The glossy, colorful foliage of ajuga (also called bugleweed) adds dramatic color to shaded areas where grass typically struggles. Some varieties feature deep burgundy leaves that create striking contrast against other plants.
Spikes of blue-purple flowers appear in spring, attracting beneficial insects. Ajuga spreads to form a dense mat that effectively suppresses weeds. It thrives in shade and moisture, solving the problem of bare patches under trees where grass refuses to grow.
16. Irish Moss
Despite its name, Irish moss isn’t actually moss at all! This charming plant creates a bright green, cushion-like carpet that looks like a miniature landscape of rolling hills when established.
Tiny white flowers appear in spring, adding seasonal interest. Irish moss thrives in cool, moist conditions and partial shade. The dense growth naturally prevents weeds while creating a lush appearance that stays green even during light frost.
17. Creeping Mazus
The low-growing habit of creeping mazus creates a lush green mat that bursts into bloom with purple-blue flowers in spring. These delicate blooms hover just above the foliage like a floating carpet of color.
Mazus handles light foot traffic without damage. It spreads gradually to fill spaces and conforms beautifully to contours in the landscape. This versatile ground cover thrives in moist soil with partial shade, making it perfect for areas where grass often struggles.
18. Dymondia
The silver-green leaves of dymondia have white undersides that create a beautiful two-tone effect when they catch the breeze. This tough ground cover forms a dense, drought-resistant mat that handles foot traffic better than many alternatives.
Dymondia thrives in full sun and poor soil. Small yellow flowers appear occasionally throughout the growing season. The slow-growing nature means less maintenance once established, and its salt tolerance makes it perfect for coastal gardens.