Lawns! We love them and we hate them. Turf grass remains the largest irrigated crop in the U.S., covering approximately 49,000 square miles – that’s larger than the state of Pennsylvania! Some view a green lawn as essential to being a good neighbor or even an indication of financial success. Many of us, well, we just like the way they look.
Yet, the popularity of lawns has been trending downward across the nation for years, understandably. An attractive lawn requires work – lots of it. Mowing, edging, maintaining equipment, fighting brown spots and weeds, adding fertilizers, regular watering, and on and on. These are the constant trials of the grass farmer.
Lawns need a lot of water. Outdoor water use accounts for
up to 30% of total household use.
If you’re part of the crowd that wants to get off the hamster wheel of time and money BUT you still love coming home to an attractive green space, consider replacing your turf grass with native groundcover.
Just what is a groundcover? They’re low-lying plants that creep and spread. They cover small to large sections of ground with minimal maintenance and come in a spectrum of shapes and sizes. Whatever your taste, neat and trim or something more “natural,” tall or short, busy or manicured, green or colorful, you can find a native groundcover to meet your needs.
Going with groundcover will save you a ton of maintenance time, water, chemicals, and money. The added bonus: while lawns offer almost zero environmental value, native groundcovers provide a host of benefits for pollinators and other wildlife. Who wouldn’t like to see more butterflies out their window?!
If you’re ready to say good-bye to turf grass, check out these native, perennial groundcovers and find the best fit for your yard.
Sun Loving Groundcover
Frogfruit Phyla incisa
- Height: 3-6 inches
- Bloom Time: May through October
- Color: White flowers. Semi-evergreen leaves
- Light Requirement: Sun
- Soil Condition: Tolerates most soils and drainage; Low water use
- Attracts: Butterflies and is the larval host plant for Phaon Crescentspot, Buckeye and White Peacock butterflies
- Tolerates drought and flooding. Avoid mowing until after flowering season
Silver Ponyfoot Dichondra argentea
- Height: 3-4 inches
- Bloom Time: May through August
- Color: Silver-gray semi-evergreen leaves
- Light Requirement: Sun
- Soil Condition: Well-drained soil; Low water use
- Attracts: Butterflies and bees use for food and shelter
- Can spread rapidly under constant irrigation.
Prairie Verbena Glandularia bipinnatifida
- Height: 6-12 inches
- Bloom Time: March through December
- Color: Pink and purple flowers; Semi-evergreen leaves
- Light Requirement: Sun
- Soil Condition: Well-drained soil; Low water use
- Attracts: Butterflies
- Cut back to encourage re-bloom and denser growth.
Shade Tolerant Groundcover
Horseherb Calyptocarpus vialis
- Height: 6-12 inches
- Bloom Time: March through November
- Color: Yellow flowers; Semi-evergreen leaves
- Light Requirement: Part Shade, Shade, Sun
- Soil Condition: Well-drained sand, loam or clay soil; Low to medium water use
- Attracts: Small butterflies
- Tolerates mowing
Partridgeberry Mitchella repens
- Height: 1-2 inches
- Bloom Time: May through October
- Color: White, pink and purple flowers; Red berries; Evergreen leaves
- Light Requirement: Part Shade, Shade
- Soil Condition: Dry to moist soil; Low to medium water use
- Attracts: Birds and small mammals enjoy the small red berries
- Best for low traffic/undisturbed locations. Avoid mowing.
Wild Petunia Ruellia nudiflora
- Height: 1-2 feet
- Bloom Time: April through October
- Color: Purple flowers; Leaves will fall off at the end of growing season
- Light Requirement: Shade, Part Shade, Sun
- Soil Condition: Sandy soil; Low to medium water use
- Attracts: Butterflies and is a larval host plant for Common Buckeye, Cuban Crescentspot, Malachite and White Peacock butterflies
- Tolerates mowing
Concerned about keeping native plants looking tidy? Keep edges maintained and occasionally trim or mow depending on the groundcover selected and you will have an aesthetically pleasing lawn with little effort.
Still unsure? The Woodlands Residential Development Standards encourages the use of native plants. As stated:
D. Front Yard Landscaping
Forty percent of the front yard (excluding the portion covered by driveway and walkways) must be trees, shrubbery, flowers, mulch or plants other than turf or grass. No trees, shrubbery, plants or vegetation may be removed that would result in the grassed area exceeding 60 percent of the front yard.
F. Native Plants
The use of native plant materials with an understanding of the functional and aesthetic properties of each plant category is essential in the achievement of a sense of continuity and consistency in The Woodlands landscape concept. Whenever possible, new plantings should make use of ground covers in lieu of grass.
Even if you aren’t ready to replace your entire lawn, consider the benefits of replacing part of your lawn. Be rewarded with a yard that attracts pollinators and birds, saves you water, time and money.
Many native plants qualify for a native plant rebate from Woodlands Water Agency. If you are a Woodlands resident and live in Montgomery County, be sure to check out the complete list of rebates available here.
Great article, one I’ve been waiting for to solve some gardening problems. Thank you for all of your informative blogs.
Thank you for this article!