Lawn Alternatives: Grasses and Groundcovers

1. Seashore Bentgrass (Agrostis pallens) – California Native

Disease and pest free:  Yes

Tolerant of foot traffic: Moderate

Water: Drought tolerant to regular

Sunset climate zones: 1-9, 14-24

Soil: Adaptable

Sun Exposure: Sun to shade

Height: 4-12 inches

Leaf color: Light green

Flower: Golden spike clusters to 2 feet

Maintenance: Occasional mowing

Trims into a lawn: Yes

Temp Tolerance: Heat and Cold-Yes

Dormancy: In dry gardens fully summer dormant but can be maintained with water

Wildlife:  Deer resistant

2. UC Verde Buffalograss (Buchloe dactyloides) – California Native, bred at UC Davis

Disease and pest free:  Yes

Tolerant of foot traffic: Yes

Water: Drought tolerant

Sunset climate zones: 5-24

Soil: Adaptable

Sun Exposure: Does best in full sun

Height: 6-7 inches

Leaf color: Bright green

Flower: Seedless

Maintenance: Occasional mowing

Trims into a lawn: Yes

Temp Tolerance: Heat Yes, Cold No

Dormancy: Winter dormant if frost areas

Wildlife: Deer resistant

3. Clustered Field Sedge (Carex praegracilis) - California Native

Disease and pest free: Yes

Tolerant of foot traffic: Yes, extremely durable

Water: Drought tolerant

Sunset climate zones: 1-5, 15-17, 22-24

Soil: Tolerant of poor soils

Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade

Height: 16 inches

Leaf color: Green to yellow-green

Flower: Inconspicuous

Maintenance: Fast growing, regular mowing

Trims into a lawn: Yes

Temp Tolerance: Heat and Cold- Yes

Dormancy: Away from coast, will turn brown with minimal summer irrigation

Wildlife: Deer resistant

4. Silver Carpet (Dymondia margaretae) – South Africa Native (Sunflower family)

Disease and pests: Gophers

Tolerant of foot traffic: Moderate

Water: Drought tolerant, occasional to regular

Sunset climate zones: 17-24

Soil: Likes well drained

Sun Exposure: Sun to partial shade

Height: 3 inches

Leaf color: Green and silver-white

Flower: Small daisy-like yellow

Maintenance: Occasional weeding, good grower

Trims into a lawn: No trimming

Temp Tolerance: Frost tender

Dormancy: Evergreen perennial

Wildlife: Attracts butterflies

5. Blue Fescue (Festuca glauca) – Europe Native – ‘Festina’

Disease and pest free: Yes

Tolerant of foot traffic: No

Water: Drought tolerant, occasional to regular

Sunset climate zones:1-9, 14-24

Soil: Adaptable, grows best in well drained

Sun Exposure: Coast full sun, interior partial shade

Height: 10 to 18 inches

Leaf color: Blue to silver blue

Flower: Summer in spikes

Maintenance: Low

Trims into a lawn: Not too well; grows in dense tufts

Temp Tolerance: Cold- yes, Hot- no

Dormancy: Evergreen

Wildlife: Deer resistant

6. Idaho Fescue (Festuca idahoensis) – California Native – ‘Siskiyou Blue’

Disease and pest free: Yes

Tolerant of foot traffic: Moderate

Water: Drought tolerant, occasional to regular

Sunset climate zones: 1-10, 14-24

Soil: Tolerant of most types

Sun Exposure: Coast full sun, interior partial shad

Height: 12 to 18 inches

Leaf color: Blue to blue green

Flower: Amber 18 inches above foliage

Maintenance: Occasional dividing

Trims into a lawn: Not too well; grows in dense clumps

Temp Tolerance: Heat and Cold- Yes

Dormancy: Evergreen

Wildlife: Deer resistant

7. Creeping Red Fescue (Festuca rubra) – California Native – ‘Molate’

Disease and pest free: Yes

Tolerant of foot traffic: Some tolerance

Water: Drought tolerant, occasional to reg.

Sunset climate zones:A2, A3,

Soil: Not fussy

Sun Exposure: One of the most shade tolerant grasses. Coast full sun, interior partial shade

Height: 6 to 12 inches

Leaf color: Narrow dark green blades

Flower: Inconspicuous

Maintenance: Low

Trims into a lawn: Yes

Temp Tolerance: Not well in hot climates, except shady dry areas

Dormancy: Evergreen

Wildlife: Deer resistant

8. Kurapia (Lippia nodiflora) -  ‘Kurapia New White’ or ‘Kurapia Pink’

Disease and pest free: Yes

Tolerant of foot traffic: Light

Water: Drought tolerant

Sunset climate zones: 1-9, 14-24

Soil: Adaptable

Sun Exposure: Full sun; tolerates partial shade

Height: 4-12 inches

Leaf color: Dark green

Flower: White or pink

Maintenance: Low

Trims into a lawn: No trimming

Temp Tolerance: Heat and Cold- Yes

Dormancy Evergreen in winter; semi-dormant when average daily temperature falls below 38°

Wildlife: Attracts bees and butterflies; deer resistant

9. Common Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) - California Native

Disease and pest free: Yes

Tolerant of foot traffic: Moderate

Water: Drought tolerant once established

Sunset climate zones:A1, A3, 1-24

Soil: Adapts to a variety of soil compositions, from sandy, to loamy, to clay

Sun Exposure: Full sun

Height: Up to three feet.

Leaf color: Green to grayish-green

Flower :White, yellow, pink, red, purple, orange

Maintenance: Low

Trims into a lawn: Mow or clip for ground cover

Temp Tolerance: Heat and Cold- Yes

Dormancy: Winter

Wildlife: Attracts bees and butterflies; deer resistant

10. Roman Chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile)

Disease and pests: Aphids, thrips, mealybugs

Tolerant of foot traffic: Moderate

Water: Fairly drought tolerant once established

Sunset climate zones: 2-24

Soil: Will grow well in poor soil

Sun Exposure: Full sun or partial shade

Height: 3-6 inches

Leaf color: Bright light green

Flower :Resemble little daisies

Maintenance: Low

Trims into a lawn: Mow or clip for ground cover

Temp Tolerance: Heat and Cold- Yes

Dormancy: Winter

Wildlife: Attracts bees; deer resistant

11. Creeping Oregano (Origanum vulgare) - ‘Humile’

Disease and pests: Spider mites, aphids

Tolerant of foot traffic: Moderate

Water: Drought tolerant

Sunset climate zones: 1-24

Soil: Tolerant of poor soils, needs good drainage

Sun Exposure: Full sun

Height: 6 inches

Leaf color: Light green

Flower: Purple, pink, or white

Maintenance: Low

Trims into a lawn: Mow or clip for ground cover

Temp Tolerance: Heat and Cold- Yes

Dormancy: Late fall and winter

Wildlife: Attracts butterflies; deer resistant

12. Creeping Thyme (Thymus serpyllum) - ‘Pink Chintz’

Disease and pests: Spider mites, aphids

Tolerant of foot traffic: Yes

Water: Drought tolerant

Sunset climate zones: A1, 1A, 1B, A2, 1-22

Soil: Adaptable

Sun Exposure: Full sun

Height: 2-3 inches

Leaf color: Blueish green

Flower: Pink

Maintenance: Low

Trims into a lawn: Mow or clip to stimulate new growth

Temp Tolerance: Heat and Cold- Yes

Dormancy: :Late fall and winter

Wildlife: Attracts bees and butterflies; deer resistant

13. Nana Dwarf Carpet of Stars (Ruschia lineolata)

Disease and pest free:  Yes

Tolerant of foot traffic: Moderate

Water: Drought tolerant

Sunset climate zones: 16-26, H1, H2

Soil: Tolerates a range of soil types

Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade

Height: 2 inches

Leaf color: Green and silver white

Flower: White with pink stripes

Maintenance:  Very low

Trims into a lawn: No trimming

Temp Tolerance: Heat and Cold- Yes

Dormancy: Evergreen perennial

Wildlife: Attracts bees and butterflies; deer resistant