Lawn-alternative groundcovers for the Front Range
Quick answer
39 plants make our list of lawn-alternative groundcovers for the Front Range. Examples include Aromatic aster, Blue grama grass, Buffalo grass, Clustered field sedge, and Creeping Oregon grape. Each is rated for Colorado Front Range conditions and drawn from the 2024 Front Range Tree Recommendation List and regional extension references.
Low- and no-mow groundcovers that replace a thirsty Kentucky bluegrass lawn on the Colorado Front Range. Each fills in to a walkable, water-wise carpet you mow a few times a year or never, cutting irrigation while keeping a green yard. Expect a season or two of weeding and watering while they establish.
Planning a whole xeriscape? See the xeriscape plants for Colorado list, trees through groundcovers.
Plan your garden
Not sure what to plant? The finder matches Front Range trees, shrubs, perennials, and groundcover to your soil, water, sun, and zone.
Compare these groundcovers at a glance
| Plant | Mature height | Water | Colorado native | Hardiness |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aromatic aster | 12 to 24 in | low to medium water | Yes | USDA 3 to 8 |
| Blue grama grass | 8 to 18 in | low water | Yes | USDA 3 to 10 |
| Buffalo grass | 4 to 8 in | low water | Yes | USDA 3 to 10 |
| Clustered field sedge | 8 to 18 in | low to medium water | Yes | USDA 3 to 9 |
| Creeping Oregon grape | 10 to 18 in | low to medium water | Yes | USDA 4 to 8 |
| Kinnikinnick / bearberry | 4 to 8 in | low to medium water | Yes | USDA 2 to 7 |
| Mat penstemon | 2 to 4 in | low water | Yes | USDA 3 to 8 |
| Small-leaf pussytoes | 2 to 5 in | low water | Yes | USDA 3 to 8 |
| Angelina sedum | 3 to 6 in | low water | No | USDA 3 to 9 |
| Bigroot / Cambridge cranesbill | 6 to 12 in | low to medium water | No | USDA 4 to 8 |
| Carpet bugle | 4 to 8 in | medium water | No | USDA 3 to 9 |
| Cranberry cotoneaster | 12 to 36 in | low to medium water | No | USDA 4 to 7 |
Ordered Colorado-native first, then alphabetically, not a quality ranking. Full list below.
All 39 plants
Aromatic asterSymphyotrichum oblongifolium12 to 24 inlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 8
Blue grama grassBouteloua gracilis8 to 18 inlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 10
Buffalo grassBouteloua dactyloides4 to 8 inlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 10
Clustered field sedgeCarex praegracilis8 to 18 inlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 9
Creeping Oregon grapeMahonia repens10 to 18 inlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 4 to 8
Kinnikinnick / bearberryArctostaphylos uva-ursi4 to 8 inlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 2 to 7
Mat penstemonPenstemon caespitosus2 to 4 inlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 8
Small-leaf pussytoesAntennaria parvifolia2 to 5 inlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 8
Angelina sedumSedum 'Angelina'3 to 6 inlow waterUSDA 3 to 9
Bigroot / Cambridge cranesbillGeranium x cantabrigiense6 to 12 inlow to medium waterUSDA 4 to 8
Carpet bugleAjuga reptans4 to 8 inmedium waterUSDA 3 to 9
Cranberry cotoneasterCotoneaster apiculatus12 to 36 inlow to medium waterUSDA 4 to 7
Creeping lilyturfLiriope spicata8 to 12 inmedium waterUSDA 5 to 10
Creeping phlox / moss phloxPhlox subulata4 to 6 inlow to medium waterUSDA 3 to 9
Creeping thyme / wild thymeThymus serpyllum1 to 3 inlow to medium waterUSDA 4 to 9
Crystal River veronicaVeronica 'Crystal River'1 to 3 inlow to medium waterUSDA 3 to 8- CRYSTAL RIVER® veronicaVeronica 'Reavis'2 to 4 inlow to medium waterUSDA 3 to 8
DOG TUFF™ grassCynodon 'PWIN04S'4 to 6 inlow water
European wild gingerAsarum europaeum4 to 6 inmedium waterUSDA 4 to 8
Fire Spinner ice plantDelosperma 'Fire Spinner'1 to 2 inlow waterUSDA 5 to 10
FoamflowerTiarella cordifolia6 to 12 inmedium waterUSDA 3 to 9
Japanese spurgePachysandra terminalis6 to 10 inmedium waterUSDA 4 to 8
Lamb's earStachys byzantina6 to 12 inlow to medium waterUSDA 4 to 8
Lily of the valleyConvallaria majalis6 to 12 inmedium waterUSDA 2 to 7- Mesa Verde ice plantDelosperma 'Kelaidis'1 to 3 inlow waterUSDA 5 to 10
Orange carpet / hummingbird trumpetZauschneria garrettii3 to 6 inlow waterUSDA 4 to 9
Partridge featherTanacetum densum amani4 to 8 inlow waterUSDA 3 to 8
PeriwinkleVinca minor3 to 6 inlow to medium waterUSDA 4 to 8- Purple ice plantDelosperma cooperi2 to 4 inlow waterUSDA 5 to 10
Russian stonecropSedum kamtschaticum4 to 8 inlow waterUSDA 3 to 9- Serbian yarrowAchillea serbica4 to 6 inlow waterUSDA 3 to 9
Snow-in-summerCerastium tomentosum4 to 8 inlow to medium waterUSDA 3 to 7- Snow-in-summer (compact form)Cerastium tomentosum4 to 6 inlow to medium waterUSDA 3 to 7
Spotted dead nettleLamium maculatum6 to 9 inmedium waterUSDA 3 to 8
Sweet woodruffGalium odoratum6 to 10 inmedium waterUSDA 4 to 8- Table Mountain ice plantDelosperma 'P001S'1 to 2 inlow waterUSDA 5 to 10
- Turkish veronicaVeronica liwanensis2 to 4 inlow to medium waterUSDA 3 to 8
Two-row stonecropSedum spurium2 to 6 inlow to medium waterUSDA 3 to 9
Woolly veronicaVeronica pectinata1 to 3 inlow to medium waterUSDA 3 to 8
Frequently asked questions
- How big do these groundcovers get?
- Mature heights range from about 1 to 36 in across the 39 groundcovers on this list. Each plant's page lists its exact mature size and spread.
- Which of these are Colorado native?
- 8 of the 39 groundcovers are Colorado natives, including Aromatic aster, Blue grama grass, Buffalo grass, and Clustered field sedge.
- How much water do these plants need?
- 31 of the 39 are rated low or low-to-medium water; the rest need moderate water. Each plant's page lists its water rating.
- How were these plants selected?
- Each of the 39 plants meets this page's criteria and is cross-referenced against the 2024 Front Range Tree Recommendation List, CSU Extension, Denver Botanic Gardens, and USDA PLANTS. This is a reference guide, not a paid listing.
Related guides
- Front Range plants that are toxic to dogs
- Xeric groundcover for the Colorado Front Range
- Groundcovers for under trees on the Front Range
- Steppable groundcovers for between pavers on the Front Range
- Deer-resistant plants and shrubs for Colorado's Front Range
- Native plants of Colorado for Front Range yards
- Xeriscape plants for Colorado