The hardest question after removing a lawn is what fills all that space. Most of the time the answer is drought-tolerant groundcover: low, spreading plants that knit together, shade out weeds and give a xeriscape a finished, carpeted look without a sprinkler system. These 12 are proven performers in the dry West. The table compares zones, water, height and foot traffic; the profiles give spread rate and a care tip for each.
Two cautions up front. No groundcover takes the abuse a lawn does: a few here handle light foot traffic between stepping stones, none handle daily soccer games. And "drought-tolerant" applies after the first season, so water everything regularly through year one while roots go deep.
The 12 at a glance
| Groundcover | Zones | Water | Height | Foot traffic |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Creeping thyme | 4–8 | Low | 1–3 in | Light |
| Hardy ice plant | 5–9 (TABLE MOUNTAIN® 4–8) | Very low | 2–6 in | None |
| Dragon's Blood sedum | 3–9 | Low | 3–6 in | None |
| Creeping phlox | 3–9 | Low–moderate | 3–6 in | None |
| Snow-in-summer | 3–7 | Low | 6–12 in | None |
| Panchito manzanita | 4–8 | Very low | 10–15 in | None |
| Creeping Oregon grape | 5–8 | Low–moderate (shade) | 9–12 in | None |
| Turkish veronica | 4–8 | Low | 1–2 in | Light |
| Pussytoes | 3–8 | Very low | 1–3 in (flowers 6 in) | Light |
| Winecups | 4–8 | Very low | 6–12 in, trailing | None |
| Sulphur buckwheat | 4–8 | Very low | 6–12 in | None |
| Woolly thyme | 5–8 | Low | 1 in | Light |
The profiles
1. Creeping thyme (Thymus praecox, T. serpyllum)
Zones 4–8 (T. serpyllum 5–8) · Water Low · Size 1–3 in tall, spreads 12–18 in · Bloom Late spring to early summer, pink to purple · Traffic Light
The lawn-replacement poster child: a fragrant mat an inch or two tall with pink or purple flowers that bees love. It takes light foot traffic between stepping stones. CSU Extension lists several thymes in its xeric ground covers for full sun.
Care tip: Shear lightly after bloom to keep the mat dense; it thins out in shade.
2. Hardy ice plant (Delosperma cooperi and TABLE MOUNTAIN®)
Zones 5–9 (TABLE MOUNTAIN® 4–8) · Water Very low · Size 2–6 in tall, spreads 2 ft · Bloom June to September, magenta · Traffic None
A succulent carpet buried in neon daisies for months. Hardy ice plant (D. cooperi) is reliable in dry, well-drained soil in zone 5. For zone 4, choose TABLE MOUNTAIN® (Delosperma 'John Proffitt'), which the Missouri Botanical Garden rates zones 4–8. Fire Spinner® is a Plant Select showstopper in zones 5 and warmer.
Care tip: Keep it out of spots where snow melts and refreezes around the crowns; winter-wet soil is its main killer.
3. Dragon's Blood sedum (Sedum spurium 'Dragon's Blood', syn. Phedimus spurius)
Zones 3–9 · Water Low · Size 3–6 in tall, spreads 18–24 in · Bloom Summer, deep pink · Traffic None
Red-tinged succulent leaves, pink summer flowers, and stems that root wherever they touch soil. Nearly impossible to kill, and ideal for hot edges, rock work and slopes.
Care tip: Pull pieces off and press them into bare spots in spring; they root within weeks.
4. Creeping phlox (Phlox subulata)
Zones 3–9 · Water Low to moderate · Size 3–6 in tall, spreads 2 ft · Bloom April to May, pink, purple, blue or white · Traffic None
The spring headliner: a solid sheet of color in April, then a tidy evergreen mat. It's thirstier than the rest of this list (the Missouri Botanical Garden lists medium water for common cultivars), so give it part shade or the "low" drip zone rather than the hottest bank. It's excellent spilling over walls and slopes.
Care tip: Shear by a third right after bloom to keep it compact.
5. Snow-in-summer (Cerastium tomentosum)
Zones 3–7 · Water Low · Size 6–12 in · Bloom June, white · Traffic None
Silver woolly foliage under white June flowers. Fast and tough in cool, dry climates; it can melt out in humid summer heat, which is why it tops out at zone 7.
Care tip: It spreads aggressively in loose soil; keep it away from small, slow plants.
6. Panchito manzanita (Arctostaphylos × coloradensis 'Panchito')
Zones 4–8 (Plant Select: 4b–8) · Water Very low · Size 10–15 in tall, 2–3 ft wide · Bloom Early spring, pale pink · Traffic None
A broadleaf evergreen groundcover for the interior West: glossy olive leaves, mahogany stems and small pink urn flowers in early spring. Panchito manzanita is a Plant Select plant, slower to establish than the herbaceous groundcovers, then handsome year-round on very little water.
Care tip: Plant it in spring, not fall, and give it afternoon shade in its first summer if the site is very hot.
7. Creeping Oregon grape (Mahonia repens)
Zones 5–8 · Water Low to moderate · Size 9–12 in · Bloom Spring, yellow, then blue berries · Traffic None
One of the few here that wants some shade. Holly-like evergreen leaves turn reddish-bronze in winter, and birds eat the berries. It's native across the West; the Missouri Botanical Garden rates it zones 5–8 with medium water, and CSU lists it among ground covers for part shade. In full sun it scorches, and it's thirstier there.
Care tip: Plant it on the north or east side of a house or under trees; it's a good choice for dry shade.
8. Turkish veronica (Veronica liwanensis)
Zones 3–8 · Water Low · Size 1–2 in tall, spreads 18 in · Bloom Late spring, cobalt blue · Traffic Light
A glossy green mat barely an inch tall, covered in cobalt-blue flowers in May. Creeping veronica takes light foot traffic and looks tidy all season.
Care tip: In the hottest, most reflective spots it browns; afternoon relief keeps it green.
9. Pussytoes (Antennaria parvifolia, A. dioica)
Zones 3–8 · Water Very low · Size 1–3 in, flower stems 6 in · Bloom Late spring, white to pink · Traffic Light
A native silver mat just a couple of inches tall with fuzzy pink-white blooms. It thrives in lean, gravelly spots where nothing else will, including hell strips. CSU describes pussytoes as excellent for rocky slopes.
Care tip: Grow it lean; rich soil and extra water make it rot or thin out.
10. Winecups (Callirhoe involucrata)
Zones 4–8 · Water Very low · Size 6–12 in tall, trailing 2–3 ft · Bloom Late spring to fall, magenta · Traffic None
Magenta chalice-shaped flowers on trailing stems for months, from a deep taproot that shrugs off drought. The Missouri Botanical Garden rates it zones 4–8. It dies to the ground in winter, so pair it with evergreen neighbors.
Care tip: Plant it small; the taproot makes established plants nearly impossible to move.
11. Sulphur buckwheat (Eriogonum umbellatum)
Zones 4–8 · Water Very low · Size 6–12 in tall, spreads 2 ft · Bloom Summer, yellow aging to rust · Traffic None
Native evergreen mats topped with pom-pom flower clusters that pollinators swarm. Sulphur buckwheat turns reddish in winter. Kannah Creek® (E. umbellatum var. aureum 'Psdowns') is a compact Plant Select selection.
Care tip: Gravel mulch only; it rots under wet wood chips.
12. Woolly thyme (Thymus pseudolanuginosus)
Zones 5–8 · Water Low · Size About 1 in tall, spreads 12–18 in · Bloom Sparse, pink, early summer · Traffic Light
Creeping thyme's fuzzy gray cousin: flatter, softer and with fewer flowers, and the best plant for filling gaps between flagstones. The Missouri Botanical Garden rates it zones 5–8, a little less cold-hardy than creeping thyme.
Care tip: Good drainage is essential; it rots in wet clay, especially in shade.
Matching groundcover to the job
- Between stepping stones: creeping thyme, woolly thyme, Turkish veronica, pussytoes.
- Hot slopes and banks: ice plant, Dragon's Blood sedum, sulphur buckwheat and winecups. Their roots hold soil and they like the drainage.
- Dry shade: creeping Oregon grape, with pussytoes at the sunnier edges.
- Year-round green: Panchito manzanita and creeping Oregon grape stay evergreen.
- Big open sweeps: mix two or three with similar water needs and let them weave. Odd-numbered drifts read as intentional, the same rule as perennial design.
Planting and establishment
Space plants 12 to 18 inches apart, closer than most tags suggest, if you want coverage in one or two seasons instead of three. Weed thoroughly before planting, because weeding inside an establishing mat is miserable. A gravel mulch between young plants helps (see gravel vs. wood mulch). Water deeply once or twice a week the first season, then taper hard: most of these plants die from overwatering far more often than thirst.
From our installs
On Front Range clay, groundcovers are where we see the biggest gap between the plant tag and reality. Thymes, veronica and ice plant planted into unimproved clay often rot in their first wet spring; we loosen the top 6 inches and mix in squeegee or crusher fines for the mat-formers, while winecups and buckwheat handle clay fine. We plant in spring or early fall, water new plantings deeply once or twice a week the first summer, and taper off by September. Hail barely touches most of these, since they're low and leathery; creeping phlox is the exception and looks ragged for a few weeks after a storm. (Xeris Landscaping is owned by Xeriscaping.com's founder.)
Frequently asked questions
What groundcover can you walk on in a xeriscape?
Creeping thyme, woolly thyme, Turkish veronica and pussytoes take light foot traffic, such as between stepping stones. For a play area, a low-water grass like buffalograss is better; see buffalograss and blue grama lawns.
What is the fastest-spreading drought-tolerant groundcover?
Hardy ice plant, Dragon's Blood sedum and snow-in-summer spread fastest, often covering 2 feet in a season or two. Manzanita and pussytoes are slow.
Which groundcovers stay green in winter?
Panchito manzanita and creeping Oregon grape are fully evergreen. Creeping phlox, Turkish veronica, thymes and sulphur buckwheat hold their foliage but often bronze or dull in cold.
Can I replace my whole lawn with groundcover?
You can, but mix in paths and a few larger plants for structure. Many homeowners keep a small low-water turf panel for play. Check for lawn removal rebates before you start, and read how to remove a lawn.
For layouts using these plants, see front yard xeriscape ideas and backyard xeriscape ideas. Utah gardeners can find local picks in xeriscaping in Salt Lake City.
