GROUNDCOVER INFO SHEET Alternatives to Grass Lawns

GROUNDCOVER BLOOM COLOUR FORM NOTES PICTURES FULL SUN

Thyme Flower type and colour varies with -prefers well-drained light textured soil with low fertility, and Dense creeping mat, Thymus species species and cultivars will tolerate organic and clay soils if well-drained 3 to 6 inches, -aromatic foliage that can withstand moderate foot traffic spreads 6 inches (wooly thyme pictured) -attracts beneficial insects

-prefers full sun but will tolerate light shade Chamomile 6 inches high, White petals, a yellow centre -prefers well drained soil Anthemis nobilis spreads 6 to 12 inches -aromatic foliage that is resilient to heavy foot traffic

-prefers full sun but will tolerate light shade Bearberry White to pinkish spring flowers, red fruit Evergreen, -well-drained, acidic light-textured soil Arcrostaphy species in the fall 1 to 4 inches - will tolerate salt spray

-salt tolerant Sea Thrift 4 inches without flowers, -semi-evergreen foliage Armeria maritima Pink flowers in the spring Semi-evergreen, up to 12 -drought tolerant and can thrive in a variety of soils inches with flowers -can tolerate light traffic -deadheading can lead to re-blooming

-evergreen mat forming perennial -prefers moist soils -can tolerate some shade Scotch Moss Small white flowers early to mid Very low growing plant 1- -tolerates medium traffic Sagina subluata summer 2 inches -bright green foliage -perfect for filling in cracks between walkways or in rock gardens

Page 1 of 6 guelph.ca/healthylandscapes CITY OF GUELPH GROUNDCOVER INFO SHEET Alternatives to Grass Lawns

-drought tolerant Creeping Potentilla 4-6 inches tall, low Small yellow flower in spring -will survive in a variety of soils Potentilla reptans growing mat -will tolerate some shade

-very drought tolerant 5-10 inches tall, Prickly Pear -only cactus native to Ontario Yellow-orange flowers in early summer evergreen cactus that Opuntia humifusa -tolerates many soils forms a mat *contains prickles which can injure if walked on or picked up

Creeping groundcover -great groundcover for sandy soils Hens & Chicks that grows about 2 inches Flower colour varies with cultivar -extremely drought tolerant Sempevernium species tall and 5-7 inches with a -can grow on rocks with only a bit of soil flower

Non-flowering Evergreen shrub, -tolerates dry soils Juniper (Juniperus horizontalis ‘Wiltonii’ 6-18 inches, -blue to green to yellow foliage; depending on species or Juniperus horizontalis pictured) spread of 4 to 6 feet cultivar

PARTIAL SHADE TO FULL SUN

- low maintenance -prefers poor-drained, fertile soil White Dutch Clover White or pink flowers early summer Low plant, -attracts beneficial insects Trifolium repens through late summer about 3 inches - resilient to heavy foot traffic, and dog urine -especially effective as a grass alternative

Page 2 of 6 guelph.ca/healthylandscapes CITY OF GUELPH GROUNDCOVER INFO SHEET Alternatives to Grass Lawns

- low maintenance -prefers poor-drained, fertile soil Birdsfoot Trefoil Low growing plant, 3-5 -attracts beneficial insects Yellow flowers mid to late summer Lotus corniculatus inches - resilient to heavy foot traffic, and dog urine -especially effective as a grass alternative, seed is inexpensive to buy

-slow growing Varies with cultivar, flowering time Sedum Low creeping mat, -does well in poor soil varies from spring to fall with cultivar as Sedum species 3 to 18 inches -variety of different coloured foliage, flowers and flowering well times

slow spreading mat Barren Strawberry (Native) -spring blooming White/yellow 3 to 6 inches, Waldsteinia fragarioides -Tolerates a wide range of soils spread 6 to 12 inches

-fast grower Geranium Pink to purple flower in spring to early Ranges from 6-12 inches -grows well in shade Geranium maculatum summer -good pollinator plant

Creeping, Bearberry, Rockspray Evergreen shrub, -prefers moist well-drained soil but will tolerate a range of Cotoneaster White or pink spring flowers, dark red 1 to 1.5 feet, conditions; effective in rock gardens and low banks Cotoneaster adpressus, dammeri and fruit in fall spread of 4 to 8 feet -dark green leaves; bronzy to purplish in the fall horizontalis

PARTIAL SHADE TO FULL SHADE

Page 3 of 6 guelph.ca/healthylandscapes CITY OF GUELPH GROUNDCOVER INFO SHEET Alternatives to Grass Lawns

-drought tolerant ground cover that spreads quite quickly 4-6 inches tall, spreading -great in a contained space Wild Violet Purple flower in the spring perennial *has an invasive growth habit and can take over a space quickly

Partridge Berry 1 to 3 inches, -broadleaf evergreen White Mitchella repens mat spreading -organically rich, medium moisture, well-drained soils (red berry) NATIVE 6 to 12 inches -drought tolerant once established

-all season interest groundcover that will grow in full shade Bunchberry White flower in the spring, red berries in Creeping perennial, -prefers moist soils Cornus Canadensis the fall, red fall foliage growing 3-6 inches tall -very rare & a great conversation piece (it is also known as NATIVE creeping dogwood)

-broadleaf evergreen Wintergreen 4 to 6 inches, -prefers organically rich, evenly moist, acidic, well-drained Gaultheria procumbens White spread 6 to 12 inches soils NATIVE -drought tolerant once established

Foam Flower 3-5 inches without -great mat forming perennial for the shade Tiarella cordifolia White flowers in the spring flowers, 5-10 inches with -spreads quickly NATIVE flowers -flowers appear to be floating above the foliage

Page 4 of 6 guelph.ca/healthylandscapes CITY OF GUELPH GROUNDCOVER INFO SHEET Alternatives to Grass Lawns

Japanese Spurge -fast spreading and think mat forming perennial White flowers in the spring 6-10 inches Pachysandra terminalis *can become invasive unless contained

Sedge Species 6-8 inches tall, -prefers moist, rich soils which do not dry out Colour can vary with cultivar Carex species spread 6 to 18 inches -drought tolerant once established

-spotted foliage Lungwort 4-6 inches tall, 10 inches Bluish-purple flowers in early spring -grows well in moist soils in full shade Pulmonaria officinalis with flower -moderately fast growing

6 to 8 inches, Bishop’s Hat Light pinkish white in spring slow spreading -showy flower and good fall foliage Epimedium x youngianum 12 to 18 inches

8-12 inches, -aromatic perennial Sweet Woodruff White flowers in spring spreading mat -prefers average, medium to wet, well-drained soils Galium odoratum 10 to 18 inches -blooms late spring to early summer

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Polypody Fern -evergreen fern Polypodium virginianum Non-flowering 10 to 15 inches -grows well near cedars and in rocky areas NATIVE -prefers well-drained, moist, humus, somewhat infertile soils

GROUND COVERS AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO GRASS A healthy, low maintenance lawn can be made up of a diverse mixture of groundcover species. These groundcovers can be hardier and better adapted to a range of conditions than traditional turf grasses. By having different species present, the lawn will be better able to survive pest infestation or disease outbreak because not all species will be equally susceptible. Groundcovers can reduce or eliminate the need for mowing or watering once established. They also come in a variety of colours and textures and many will bloom at some point through the growing season to provide an attractive, interesting lawn. Some groundcovers, such as clover, can tolerate foot traffic. Others are especially useful for areas that are difficult to grow grass on (i.e. steep banks and sandy slopes).

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