Substitutes for Ornamental Grass on Your Lawn

Evergreens for Sun

• If your planting site receives five or more hours of direct sun each day between the hours of 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. during the growing season, select species that prefer full-sun exposure. For year-round cover and color, choose evergreen plants. Yarrow (Achillea tomentosa) grows quickly from 6 to 12 inches tall and has hairy, feathery foliage. This drought-hardy, sun-loving evergreen can be mowed up to eight times per year. It prefers well-drained soil and blooms with small, yellow flowers in summer. St. John's wort (Hypericum calycinum) can also be mowed. This evergreen grows to 18 inches tall and has dark foliage that turns purple in winter. St. John's wort thrives in well-drained, acidic soil and tolerates some drought.

Evergreens for Shade

• Sites that receive less than four hours of sun or a constant mix of sun and shade are partially shaded. Sites that don't receive any direct light are fully shaded. Pachysandra (Pachysandra terminalis) grows well in acidic, well-drained soil and partial to full shade. It grows from 6 to 12 inches tall and has 4-inch glossy leaves. Pachysandra spreads slowly and forms a thick carpet of foliage. Creeping liriope (Liriope spicata) also prefers partial to full shade. This mowable evergreen grows to 12 inches tall with a similar spread. Creeping liriope has strap-shaped dark fronds that turn coppery in winter. It prefers well-drained soil and produces blue-black berries.

Deciduous for Sun

• Though deciduous plants lose their leaves in winter, many compensate with attractive flowers, fruits or showy fall colors. Deciduous grass alternatives for sunny sites include spring cinquefoil (Potentilla tabernaemontanii) that grows from 1 to 4 inches tall. It produces tiny clusters of yellow flowers in spring and summer and helps prevent weed growth. It thrives in full sun and tolerates a range of soils. Stonecrop (Sedum spp.) prefers full sun and well-drained soil. This deciduous plant tolerates acidic, poor and rocky sites and grows to 2 inches tall. It has tiny green leaves and blooms with yellow flowers in spring.

Deciduous for Shade

• Not many plants thrive in full shade, but a few actually prefer it. Goutweed (Aegopodium podograria "Variegatum") spreads quickly with its rootlike rhizomes. This deciduous plant thrives in partial or full shade and can be mowed two or three times per year to keep it low. Goutweed has variegated green and white foliage and grows to 8 inches tall. Canadian wild ginger (Asarum canadense) has large heart-shaped foliage. This ground cover forms a low mat up to 6 inches tall and blooms with bell-shaped flowers in spring. Canadian wild ginger spreads quickly.