Groundcover perennials can be used to replace or substitute for a lawn, fill spaces between stepping stones in a pathway, soften the edges of hardscapes like patios and walls, control erosion, or just for creating a dramatic rock garden. Here at Stargazer Perennials Farm & Nursery we grow hundreds of plants that can be used as groundcover in various applications, and we are often asked which ones will bear the most foot traffic as a substitute lawn or pathway plant. You can't go wrong with any of these these tough, beautiful and fragrant lawn alternatives.

For areas of heavy foot traffic, many of the creeping Thyme varieties are great survivors. One of our favorites and the fastest spreading Thyme is Woolly Thyme, or Thymus pseudilanuginosus. It has a soft fuzzy leaf texture that is quite distinct in the Thymus genus, with a nice mid-summer pink bloom. Other great choices are Red Creeping thyme, white creeping thyme, pink creeping thyme, Elfin, or miniature thyme, and Thymus x citriodorus varieties like 'Doone Valley' or 'Archer's Gold', which have brightly variegated foliage and give off a lemony citrus scent when crushed underfoot.


Two other great tough lawn substitutes or stepping stone fillers are Scotch Moss and Irish Moss, or Sagina subulata.  
These two softly textured plant relatives are a lot tougher than they look and can take foot traffic much like a traditional lawn, and are much easier to maintain than turf, as they require less water once established and never need to be mowed or fertilized.