Traditional turfgrass has become such a familiar part of the American landscape that it can be easy to forget that a lawn is, in many ways, a highly managed ecosystem. Keeping grass green and tidy often means frequent mowing, regular watering, fertilizer applications and ongoing weed control. For homeowners who want a beautiful landscape with less maintenance and more ecological value, there is another option.
Native groundcovers offer an attractive alternative to grass, particularly in areas where traditional turf struggles to thrive.
Native plants can create a living carpet that changes throughout the growing season. These plants can help support pollinators, provide habitat for wildlife, improve soil health and reduce the amount of time and resources required to maintain a conventional lawn.
For homeowners throughout Northern Illinois and the lower Great Lakes region, there are numerous native groundcovers worth considering.
Rethinking the Traditional Lawn
A traditional lawn certainly has its advantages. Turf provides a familiar, open space for recreation and can create a clean visual transition between gardens, sidewalks and buildings. But it also tends to require considerable maintenance.
Depending on the grass species and site conditions, a conventional lawn may need to be mowed dozens of times during the growing season. During dry periods, irrigation may be necessary to keep it green. Fertilizers are often applied to encourage vigorous growth, while herbicides may be used to control unwanted plants.
Native groundcovers approach the landscape differently.
Instead of trying to maintain a uniform green carpet, native plants embrace variation. Different plants occupy different niches, bloom at different times and provide resources for insects and other wildlife. Some remain relatively short and dense, while others add seasonal flowers and texture.
The result is a groundcover that can become a dynamic part of the landscape rather than simply a surface that needs to be kept short. This is ideal for residents in suburban HOAs, urban cities, and living in rural areas.
Why Choose Native Groundcovers?
Native plants are adapted to the environmental conditions of the region in which they evolved. That doesn’t mean every native plant will thrive in every location, but choosing species appropriate for your soil, moisture, sunlight and site conditions can make establishing a planting much easier.
The Benefits of Native Groundcovers
Less maintenance: Once established in the right location, many native plants require considerably less attention than a conventional lawn.
Pollinator resources: Flowering native plants can provide nectar and pollen for bees, butterflies and other insects.
Biodiversity: A mixture of species creates a more diverse habitat than a monoculture of turfgrass.
Seasonal interest: Native groundcovers can offer flowers, fruit, changing foliage and other visual interest throughout the year.
Better use of difficult spaces: Groundcovers can be particularly useful beneath trees, along woodland edges, on slopes and in areas where turfgrass doesn’t perform well.
The key is to select plants based on the conditions of the site rather than simply choosing the plants you like best.
Sedges Offer an Alternative To Grass
Sedges offer some of the same visual characteristics as the grasses in a traditional lawn.
They belong to the genus Carex and can be particularly useful for creating a low-growing, grass-like appearance. Unlike many traditional turfgrasses, however, native sedges can provide additional ecological value while requiring less intensive management when properly established.
Two species worth considering in Northern Illinois and the lower Great Lakes region are Mead’s sedge and James’ sedge.
Mead’s Sedge
Mead’s sedge is a native, low-growing sedge that can be incorporated into naturalistic plantings and groundcover applications. Its relatively fine texture makes it an appealing choice when homeowners want something that feels lawn-like without relying exclusively on turf.
Sedges can also work well as part of a broader planting rather than being treated as a single-species replacement for grass. Combine them with flowering native plants, for example, and the result can provide both a cohesive ground-level structure and seasonal color.
James’ Sedge
James’ sedge is another native Carex to consider when developing a low-growing planting. Like other sedges, it can contribute a soft, grass-like texture while fitting into a more diverse native landscape.
The advantage of using sedges is that they can help bridge the gap between a conventional lawn and a fully naturalized garden. If you’re not ready to eliminate every square foot of turf, sedges can be used strategically in selected areas.
Add Spring Ephemerals to Shady Areas
One of the biggest challenges for homeowners seeking an alternative to grass is shade.
Traditional turfgrass can struggle beneath mature trees, where competition for water and nutrients combines with limited sunlight. Rather than continually reseeding or repairing thin patches of lawn, consider turning those shady areas into an opportunity for native planting.
Spring ephemerals are especially valuable here.
These plants take advantage of the sunlight available early in the growing season, before the trees are filled with leaves. They emerge in spring, flower, produce seeds and complete much of their growth before the developing tree canopy creates deeper shade.
Two species to consider are Midland shooting star and spring beauty.
Midland Shooting Star
Midland shooting star brings delicate, distinctive flowers to the spring landscape. Its unusual blooms can add an element of surprise to a woodland-edge or naturalized planting.
Because it is adapted to native plant communities, Midland shooting star can help turn a shady portion of the yard into something more ecologically interesting than a struggling patch of grass.
Spring Beauty
As its name suggests, spring beauty is an early-season bloomer. Its small flowers provide an understated but valuable source of spring color.
Spring beauty can be particularly appealing when incorporated into a diverse woodland or shade planting. Instead of expecting one plant to perform every function, combine spring ephemerals with other native groundcovers and shade-tolerant species to create layers of interest.
Mix in Native Forbs for Flowers and Biodiversity
A successful groundcover planting doesn’t have to consist entirely of plants that hug the ground.
Adding native forbs can bring flowers, color and additional ecological value to the planting. Used thoughtfully, flowering plants can be mixed among sedges and other groundcovers to create a landscape that feels intentional rather than overgrown.
Several native forbs are worth considering.
Wild Petunia
Despite its common name, wild petunia isn’t the same plant as the colorful annual petunias commonly purchased for containers. This native perennial produces attractive flowers and can contribute valuable seasonal color to a native planting.
Its relatively manageable growth habit makes it a useful candidate for incorporating flowering interest into areas that might otherwise be dominated by green foliage.
Purple Poppy Mallow
Purple poppy mallow is an eye-catching native perennial with vibrant purple flowers. Its low-growing habit makes it particularly interesting for groundcover applications and naturalistic gardens.
This is the type of plant that demonstrates why a native alternative to grass doesn’t have to mean giving up visual appeal. Instead of a uniformly green lawn, you can create a living landscape with flowers that attract pollinators and add character to the yard.
Wild Strawberry
Wild strawberry is another useful native groundcover to consider. Its low-growing habit allows it to spread and fill space, while its flowers and small fruits add seasonal interest.
Wild strawberry can work especially well when incorporated into a mixed planting rather than being expected to function as a perfectly uniform substitute for turf. Its presence can help create a more diverse ground layer and provide resources for wildlife.
Wild Ginger
For shady locations, wild ginger is an excellent plant to investigate. Its broad, heart-shaped leaves create a distinctive ground-level texture and can form a lush appearance in suitable conditions.
Wild ginger is especially useful beneath trees and in woodland-inspired landscapes, where its foliage can provide the kind of visual coverage homeowners often want from a groundcover.
Rather than fighting the shade and trying to force turfgrass to grow, consider letting the conditions of the site determine the planting palette.
Don’t Overlook Sedum Ternatum
Another native groundcover worth considering is Sedum ternatum, commonly known as woodland stonecrop.
This low-growing succulent can be useful in appropriate conditions and provides a different texture from sedges and broad-leaved groundcovers. Its small white flowers add seasonal interest, while its foliage helps cover the soil surface.
Sedum ternatum is a good example of why thinking beyond traditional lawn plants can open up new possibilities. Native landscapes don’t have to look like a field of tall grasses and wildflowers. They can include a wide range of plant forms, from delicate spring ephemerals to low-growing sedges and succulents.
Think About Plant Communities, Not Just Lawn Replacements
One of the most important considerations when creating a native groundcover planting is to avoid thinking of it simply as a one-for-one replacement for turf.
A lawn is typically designed to look consistent. Native plantings are more successful when they’re designed around relationships between plants and their environment.
Some important considerations include:
How much sunlight does the area receive? A planting beneath mature trees will require a very different selection than one in full sun.
How wet or dry is the soil? Some plants prefer consistently moist conditions, while others are better suited to well-drained or drier locations.
What type of soil do you have? Soil texture and drainage can have a major influence on which plants will thrive.
How much foot traffic will the area receive? A groundcover planting intended for occasional walking needs to be designed differently from an ornamental planting that won’t be walked on.
What kind of maintenance are you willing to do? “Low maintenance” doesn’t mean “no maintenance.” Native plantings still need attention while they’re becoming established, and occasional weeding or management may be necessary.
Answering these questions can help you create a planting that works with the site rather than against it.
You Don’t Have to Eliminate Your Lawn All at Once
The idea of replacing a lawn can seem daunting. Fortunately, you don’t have to transform your entire property in one weekend.
Start small.
A shady section where grass continually becomes thin could become a woodland groundcover planting. A difficult slope could be converted into a low-growing native garden. The area beneath mature trees could become a mixture of sedges, spring ephemerals and shade-loving groundcovers.
You can also create planting beds around existing lawn areas. Over time, additional groundcovers can be introduced as you become more comfortable with a less traditional approach to landscaping.
This gradual approach has another advantage: it gives you an opportunity to observe what performs well on your particular property.
A More Diverse Vision for the Landscape
The movement toward alternatives to traditional lawns isn’t about eliminating every blade of grass. It’s about recognizing that turf isn’t the only option. Native groundcovers allow homeowners to think about their landscapes as something that incorporates beauty and function while reducing reliance on intensive maintenance.
Sedges can create a grass-like foundation. Spring ephemerals can bring life to shady spaces early in the season. Native forbs can add flowers and support pollinators. Groundcovers such as wild strawberry and wild ginger can fill spaces where turfgrass may struggle.
And when these plants are combined thoughtfully, the landscape becomes a true habitat.
Buy Groundcovers From an Experienced Native Plant Nursery
For homeowners and landscapers in Northern Illinois and the lower Great Lakes region, choosing native plants suited to local conditions can be an effective way to create a landscape that is both beautiful and beneficial. Whether you’re ready to replace a large section of turf or simply want to experiment with a small planting bed, native groundcovers offer an opportunity to create a more diverse, resilient and ecologically valuable landscape.
If you’re looking for native groundcover plants for your next project, contact Pizzo Native Plant Nursery today!
