Tired of mowing your lawn every weekend? Many New Hampshire gardeners are ripping out their grass and planting walkable alternatives instead.
These tough plants can handle foot traffic while requiring less water, fewer chemicals, and minimal maintenance compared to traditional lawns. Plus, they add beauty and ecological benefits to your yard!
1. Creeping Thyme
Creeping thyme creates a fragrant carpet that releases a delightful scent when stepped on. The tiny purple, pink, or white flowers attract pollinators throughout summer.
Hardy in New Hampshire’s climate, this low-growing perennial stays green most of the year and can withstand moderate foot traffic. Plant it between stepping stones or in areas where you walk occasionally.
2. Irish Moss
Despite its name, Irish moss isn’t actually a moss at all! This emerald-green perennial forms a lush, cushiony mat that feels springy underfoot.
Growing just 1-2 inches tall, it spreads to create a velvety carpet perfect for light foot traffic areas. Tiny white star-shaped flowers appear in spring, adding charm to this already magical ground cover.
3. Blue Star Creeper
Imagine walking on a sea of tiny blue stars! Blue Star Creeper forms a dense mat of small, round leaves that burst with pale blue flowers in late spring. Standing up to moderate foot traffic, this versatile ground cover thrives in both sun and partial shade.
Many New Hampshire gardeners use it between stepping stones or to replace small sections of lawn where they walk regularly.
4. Dwarf Mondo Grass
Looking like miniature tufts of ornamental grass, dwarf mondo creates an elegant, low-maintenance alternative to traditional lawns. The dark green, grass-like leaves form neat clumps that spread slowly into a consistent mat.
While it can’t handle constant heavy traffic, this tough plant stands up to occasional walking and never needs mowing. In New Hampshire gardens, it performs best in partial shade.
5. Roman Chamomile
Walking on Roman chamomile releases a sweet, apple-like fragrance that can instantly brighten your mood. The feathery foliage creates a soft, springy surface that can handle moderate foot traffic. Daisy-like white flowers appear throughout summer, creating a meadow-like effect.
Many New Hampshire gardeners plant it along garden paths or in spaces between patios where its pleasant scent can be enjoyed during warm evenings.
6. Corsican Mint
Corsican mint packs a powerful sensory experience into a tiny package! This diminutive ground cover stands barely half an inch tall yet delivers an intense minty fragrance when stepped upon. The tiny, bright green leaves form a dense carpet that can handle light foot traffic.
New Hampshire gardeners love planting it between stepping stones where the wonderful aroma is released with each step.
7. Alpine Sedum
Alpine sedum varieties offer incredible durability in a drought-resistant package. Their fleshy, succulent leaves store water, making them perfect for dry spots in New Hampshire gardens. These low-growing plants spread to form tight mats that can withstand occasional foot traffic.
Many varieties produce star-shaped yellow, pink, or white flowers that attract beneficial insects. Their shallow roots make them easy to establish between pavers or in rocky areas.
8. Elfin Thyme
Elfin thyme grows so densely it practically eliminates weeds! The tiny leaves form an incredibly tight, carpet-like mat that stays under 2 inches tall. More compact than other thymes, this variety handles foot traffic beautifully while requiring almost no maintenance.
Pink-purple flowers appear in summer, attracting pollinators. New Hampshire gardeners appreciate how it thrives in poor soil where grass struggles.
9. Miniature Stonecrop
Miniature stonecrop varieties offer jewel-like beauty with remarkable toughness. Their tiny, plump leaves come in shades of green, blue, red, and gold, creating living mosaics in the garden. These drought-tolerant succulents can handle occasional foot traffic and thrive in New Hampshire’s rocky soils.
Many varieties produce starry flowers in summer. Plant them between stepping stones or in areas where traditional grass struggles due to poor soil.
10. Rupturewort
Don’t let the unusual name fool you – rupturewort creates one of the most durable living carpets for your garden. This tough ground cover forms a dense mat of tiny green leaves that can withstand moderate foot traffic.
Growing just 1-2 inches tall, it spreads steadily to fill spaces between stepping stones or replace small lawn areas. New Hampshire gardeners value its drought tolerance once established and its ability to grow in poor soils.
11. Brass Buttons
Brass buttons offer fascinating texture with their fern-like foliage in bronzy-purple or green. The leaves form a tight carpet that can handle light foot traffic while adding rich color and visual interest.
New Hampshire gardeners love how it thrives in moist areas where other walkable plants might struggle, making it perfect for partially shaded pathways.
12. Creeping Jenny
Creeping Jenny’s coin-shaped leaves create a bright splash of chartreuse or golden color in the garden. This fast-spreading ground cover quickly fills gaps between stepping stones or pavers. While it can’t handle heavy traffic, it bounces back well from occasional footsteps.
Yellow cup-shaped flowers appear in summer. New Hampshire gardeners particularly value how it brightens shady areas where grass struggles to grow.
13. Mazus
Mazus creates a lush, low carpet that erupts with purple-blue or white flowers in late spring. The small, tooth-edged leaves form a dense mat that can handle light foot traffic. Growing just 2-3 inches tall, mazus spreads by runners to fill gaps between pavers or replace small lawn areas.
New Hampshire gardeners appreciate its ability to thrive in moist areas and partial shade where many other walkable plants struggle.
14. Woolly Thyme
Woolly thyme offers a unique tactile experience with its fuzzy, silver-gray leaves that feel soft underfoot. Unlike other thymes, this variety is grown primarily for its attractive foliage rather than culinary use.
Forming a dense mat that stays under 3 inches tall, it handles occasional foot traffic well. New Hampshire gardeners love planting it in hot, dry spots where grass typically burns out during summer.
15. Alpine Water Fern
Alpine water fern creates a lush, moss-like carpet that’s surprisingly tough despite its delicate appearance. The tiny fronds form a dense mat that can handle occasional foot traffic. Unlike true ferns, this unusual plant spreads quickly to fill gaps between stepping stones.
New Hampshire gardeners value it for shady, moist areas where grass struggles to grow, especially under trees or along the north sides of buildings.
16. Snow-In-Summer
Snow-in-summer creates a stunning display with its silvery-gray foliage and masses of pristine white flowers in late spring. The woolly leaves form a dense mat that handles light foot traffic. Growing just 6-8 inches tall when flowering, it stays much lower the rest of the year.
New Hampshire gardeners plant it in sunny, dry areas where its drought tolerance and cold hardiness make it a reliable performer year after year.
17. Creeping Speedwell
Creeping speedwell varieties offer some of the most vibrant blue flowers of any walkable ground cover. The small, rounded leaves form a dense mat that can handle light foot traffic between stepping stones. Growing just 1-2 inches tall, these plants spread steadily to create a weed-suppressing carpet.
New Hampshire gardeners love how they bloom for weeks in spring, creating rivers of blue that complement other garden plants.