Groundcovers and lawn alternatives

What to plant

Full sun

Anthemis nobilis, chamomile

Flowers have white petals with a yellow centre. Grows to 15 centimetres (6 inches) tall and spreads 15 to 30 centimetres (6 to 12 inches).

• prefers full sun but will tolerate light shade
• prefers well drained soil
• romantic foliage that is resilient to heavy foot traffic

Arcrostaphy sp, bearberry

An evergreen that grows 2.5 to 10 centimetres (1 to 4 inches) tall with white to pinkish flowers in the spring, red fruit in the fall.

• prefers full sun but will tolerate light shade
• well-drained, acidic light-textured soil
• will tolerate salt spray

Armeria maritima, sea thrift

A semi-evergreen that grows 10 centimetres (4 inches) tall with pink flowers which grow up to 30 centimetres (12 inches) in the spring.

• drought tolerant
• can thrive in a variety of soils
• salt tolerant
• can tolerate light traffic
• deadheading can lead to re-blooming

Juniperus horizontalis, juniper

A non-flowering evergreen shrub that grows 15 to 20 centimetres (6 to 18 inches) tall, with a spread of 1.2 to 1.8 metres (4 to 6 feet).

• tolerates dry soils
• blue to green to yellow foliage; depending on species or cultivar

Opuntia humifusa, prickly pear

An evergreen cactus that forms a mat and grows 12 to 25 centimetres (5-10 inches) tall with yellow-orange flowers in early summer.

• very drought tolerant
• only cactus native to Ontario
• tolerates many soils
• contains prickles which can injure if walked on or picked up

Potentilla reptans, creeping potentilla

A low growing mat up to 10 centimetres (4 inches) tall with small yellow flowers in spring.

• drought tolerant
• will survive in a variety of soils
• will tolerate some shade

Sagina subluata, Scotch moss

A low growing plant 2.5 to 5 centimetres (1-2 inches) tall with small white flowers early to mid-summer.

• evergreen mat-forming
• prefers moist soils
• can tolerate some shade
• tolerates medium traffic
• bright green foliage
• perfect for walkways or rock gardens

Sempevernium sp., hens and chicks

A creeping groundcover about 5 centimetres (2 inches) tall. Flowers grow 12 to 18 centimetres (5 to 7 inches) tall and vary in colour depending on species.

• great for sandy soil
• extremely drought tolerant
• can grow on rocks with only a bit of soil

Thymus sp., thyme

Forms a dense creeping mat 7 to 15 centimetres (3 to 6 inches) tall. Flower type and colour varies with species and cultivars. .

• prefers well-drained light textured soil with low fertility
• will tolerate organic and clay soils if well-drained
• aromatic foliage
• can withstand moderate foot traffic
• attracts beneficial insects

Part shade

Carex sp., sedge species

Grows 15 to 20 centimetres (6 to 8 inches) tall and spreads 15 to 45 centimetres (6 to 18 inches). Flower colour varies with cultivar.

• prefers moist, rich soils which doesn’t dry out
• drought tolerant once established

Cornus Canadensis, bunchberry (native)

Also known as creeping dogwood, it grows 7 to 15 centimetres (3 to 6 inches) tall with white flowers in the spring, red berries in the fall and red fall foliage.

• all season interest
• prefers moist soils

Epimedium x youngianum, bishop’s hat

A slow spreading groundcover that grows 30 to 45 centimetres (12 to 18 inches) tall and spreads 30 to 45 centimetres (12 to 18 inches). Light pink and white flowers in spring, colourful fall foliage

Galium odoratum, sweet woodruff

Grows 20 to 30 centimetres tall, and spreads 25 to 30 centimetres (10 to 18 inches) with white flowers late spring to early summer; prefers medium to wet, well-drained soil.

Gaultheria procumbens, wintergreen (native)

Grows 10 to 15 centimetres (4 to 6 inches) tall and spreads 15 to 30 centimetres (6 to 12 inches) with white flowers.

• broadleaf evergreen
• prefers organically rich, evenly moist, acidic, well-drained soils
• drought tolerant once established

Geranium maculatum, geranium

Grows from 15 to 30 centimetres (6 to 12 inches) tall, with pink to purple flowers spring to early summer.

• fast grower
• also grows well in more shade
• good pollinator plant

Lotus corniculatus, birdsfoot trefoil

A low growing plant 7 to 12 centimetres (3 to 5 inches) with yellow flowers mid to late summer.

• inexpensive and effective grass alternative
• prefers poorly-drained, fertile soil
• attracts beneficial insects
• resilient to heavy foot traffic, and dog pee

Mitchella repens, partridge berry (native)

A mat forming plant that grows 2.5 to 7 centimetres (1 to 3 inches) tall, spreads 15 to 30 centimetres (6-12 inches) with white flowers and red berries.

• broadleaf evergreen
• prefers organically rich, medium moisture, well-drained soils

Pachysandra terminalis, Japanese spurge

Mat forming quick spreading plant grows 15 to 25 centimetres (6 to 10 inches) tall with white flowers in the spring.

Polypodium virginianum, polypody fern (native)

Evergreen fern about 25 to 30 centimetres (10 to 15 inches) tall.

• prefers well-drained, moist, humus, somewhat infertile soils
• grows well near cedar trees and in rocky areas

Pulmonaria officinalis, lungwort

Grows 10 to 15 centimetres (4 to 6 inches) tall. Blueish-purple flowers in early spring grow 25 centimetres (10 inches) tall.

• spotted foliage
• grows well in moist soils in full shade
• moderately fast growing

Sedum sp., sedum

A low, creeping mat that grows 7 to 45 centimetres (3 to 18 inches) tall and flowers ranging from spring to fall.

• slow growing
• does well in poor soil
• variety of different coloured foliage, flowers and flowering times

Tiarella cordifolia, foam flower (native)

Mat-forming plant grows 7 to 15 centimetres (3 to 5 inches) tall without flowers, with white flowers in the spring which grow 12 to 24 centimetres (5 to 10 inches) tall.

• quick spreading
• flowers appear to float above foliage

Trifolium repens, white Dutch clover

A low plant, about 7 centimetres (3 inches) tall, with white or pink flowers early to late summer.

• effective grass alternative
• resilient to heavy foot traffic and dog pee
• low maintenance
• prefers poorly-drained, fertile soil
• attracts beneficial insects

Waldsteinia fragarioides, barren strawberry (native)

A slow spreading mat that grows 7 to 15 centimetres (3 to 6 inches) tall, spreads 15 to 30 centimetres (6 to 12 inches) with white or yellow flowers in the spring.