Lawn alternatives
There are alternatives to the traditional grass lawn which function in the same way, but have other benefits. The plants we've selected tend to be lower maintenance, for example they need less mowing and feeding. Also it's good for slopes where access to mow and maintain is difficult. You can have a 'tapestry' effect with a combination of plants, offering different colours and textures. This increases biodiversity and supports more wildlife, particularly pollinators, attracting a range of critters in to your outside space. Top tip: Read our 'Getting Started With Plants' guide for lawns for a summary of options to help you choose the right plants for a beautiful lawn which is so much more than just grass.
Damp & shady lawn
4 plants
Dry & sunny lawn
9 plants
Hardwearing for high foot traffic
6 plants
Lawns for low to medium foot traffic
7 plants
Low maintenance lawn
12 plants
Wildflower meadow
37 plants
All plants (53)
Lythrum salicaria
Purple loosestrife, Spiked loosestrife
Achillea millefolium
Bloodwort, Woundwort, Nosebleed, Thousand leaved yarrow, Sanguinary, Carpenter's weed
Agrostemma githago
Corn cockle, Rose of heaven
Anthyllis vulneraria
Ladies' fingers, Common kidney vetch
Borago officinalis
Borage
Centaurea cyanus
Cornflower, Blue-bottle, Batchelor's buttons
Centaurea nigra
Comon knapweed, Black knapweed, Hard heads, Lesser knapweed
Centaurea scabiosa
Greater knapweed
Daucus carota
Wild carrot, Queen Anne's lace, Bird's nest
Digitalis purpurea
Common purple foxglove, Fairy thimbles, Dead men's bells, Lady's glove, Witches' gloves
Digitalis purpurea
Common purple foxglove, Fairy thimbles, Dead men's bells, Lady's glove, Witches' gloves
Dipsacus fullonum
Teasel, Common teasel
Echium vulgare
Common viper's bugloss
Geranium pratense
Meadow geranium
Hypericum perforatum
Perforate St John's wort, Klamath weed
Knautia arvensis
Field scabious, Blue buttons
Leptinella 'Platt's Black'
Platt's leptinella
Leucanthemum vulgare
Oxeye daisy
Leucanthemum vulgare 'Filigran'
Oxeye daisy
Liriope spicata 'Gin-ryu'
Creeping liriope, Creeping lily turf
Lotus corniculatus
Bird's foot trefoil, Bacon and eggs, Cats clover, Shoes and stockings, Crow toes
Lychnis flos-cuculi
Ragged robin, Cuckoo flower
Lychnis flos-cuculi 'Petite Jenny'
Ragged robin, Cuckoo flower
Lychnis flos-cuculi 'White Robin'
Ragged robin, Cuckoo flower
Lychnis flos-cuculi Jenny = 'Lychjen'
Ragged robin, Cuckoo flower
Lysimachia nummularia
Creeping Jenny, Meadow runagates, Herb twopence, String of sovereigns, Moneywort
Lysimachia nummularia 'Aurea'
Yellow creeping Jenny, Creeping Jenny, Meadow runagates, Herb twopence, String of sovereigns, Moneywort
Lythrum salicaria
Purple loosestrife, Spiked loosestrife
Malva moschata
Musk mallow
Origanum vulgare
Oregano, Common marjoram, Wild marjoram, Dwarf marjoram, Creeping marjoram
Papaver rhoeas
Common poppy, Corn poppy, Field poppy, Flanders poppy
Primula veris
Cowslip, Herb Peter, Keyflower, Fairy cups, Palsywort, St Peter's wort
Prunella vulgaris
Common self heal
Prunella vulgaris 'Rose Pearl'
Common selfheal
Ranunculus acris
Meadow buttercup, Meadow bloom, Gold cup, Tall buttercup
Ranunculus acris 'Flore Pleno'
Yellow bachelor's buttons, Meadow buttercup
Rhinanthus minor
Yellow rattle, Hay rattle, Rattles
Rumex acetosa
Dock, Sorrel, Common sorrel, Garden sorrel, Sour dock, Green sauce
Scabiosa columbaria
Small scabious, Yellow scabious, Bachelor's buttons
Silene dioica
Red Campion, Morning campion
Thymus Coccineus Group
Creeping red thyme, Creeping thyme, Wild thyme, English thyme
Thymus serpyllum
Creeping thyme, Wild thyme, English thyme, Breckland thyme, Mother of thyme
Thymus serpyllum 'Annie Hall'
Creeping thyme, Wild thyme, English thyme, Mother of thyme
Thymus serpyllum 'Russetings'
Creeping thyme, Wild thyme, English thyme, Breckland thyme, Mother of thyme
Trifolium repens 'Purpurascens'
White clover, Shamrock, Dutch clover
Achillea millefolium 'Colorado'
Bloodwort, Woundwort, Nosebleed, Thousand leaved yarrow, Sanguinary, Carpenter's weed
Bellis perennis
Common daisy, Lawn daisy
Chamaemelum nobile 'Treneague'
Lawn chamomile