15 Drought-Tolerant Groundcovers for a Low-Maintenance Landscape

If your lawn drinks more water than your entire household and still looks tired by August, it might be time for a breakup. Enter drought-tolerant groundcovers: tough little plants that sip water, smother weeds, and look good doing it. With the right mix of low-water groundcovers, you can shrink the lawn, cut your watering bill, and still enjoy a lush, colorful landscape that doesn’t demand every weekend of your life.

In this guide, we’ll walk through 15 drought-tolerant groundcovers that thrive in dry conditions, plus tips on where to plant them, how they behave, and how to combine them for a truly low-maintenance landscape.

Why Drought-Tolerant Groundcovers Are a Smart Upgrade

Drought-tolerant groundcovers do the same basic jobs as turfgrasscover bare soil, prevent erosion, cool the groundbut they do it with less water and less maintenance. Many of these plants evolved in rocky hillsides or poor soils, so they’re perfectly happy where lawn grass sulks and browns out.

• They save water: Once established, many drought-tolerant groundcover plants only need occasional deep watering, even in hot summers.
• They fight weeds for you: Dense mats of foliage and roots leave little room for weed seeds to germinate.
• They protect your soil: Groundcovers reduce erosion on slopes and help keep soil temperatures more stable.
• They support pollinators: Flowering options like thyme, sedum, and ice plant provide nectar for bees and butterflies while still being low effort.

The trick is matching the right plant to the right spotsun, shade, and soil conditions matter just as much as looks.

How to Choose the Right Drought-Tolerant Groundcover

Think in Zones and Sun Exposure

Before you fall in love with any plant, double-check its USDA hardiness zone range and light needs. Creeping thyme and sedum, for example, handle full sun and poor soil in many regions, while mondo grass and epimedium shine in dry shade where grass often fails.

Decide How Fast You Want Coverage

Some drought-tolerant groundcovers, like creeping juniper or snow-in-summer, spread quickly and can cover a slope in a season or two. Others, such as black mondo grass or some epimediums, expand more slowly, trading speed for neatness and control.

Consider Foot Traffic

If you want a lawn alternative you can walk on, choose plants rated as “walkable” or “stepable,” like creeping thyme or some sedums. Others, such as ice plant and prostrate rosemary, prefer being admired from the path, not walked on daily.

15 Drought-Tolerant Groundcovers to Transform Your Yard

1. Creeping Thyme (Thymus serpyllum / T. praecox)

Creeping thyme might be the poster child for drought-tolerant groundcovers. This low-growing herb forms fragrant mats only 2–3 inches tall, sprinkled with pink, white, or purple flowers in late spring and early summer. It thrives in full sun, handles poor soil, and once established, is remarkably drought tolerant.

Use creeping thyme between steppingstones, along sunny pathways, or as a small, walkable lawn alternative in lightly trafficked areas. As a bonus, you can snip a few sprigs for cooking, and bees absolutely love the flowers.

2. Sedum / Stonecrop (Sedum spp.)

Sedum is the plant equivalent of that friend who can nap anywhere. These succulents shrug off heat, drought, and poor soil, making them ideal for rock gardens, slopes, and hot curb strips. Low-growing varieties like ‘Angelina’ or golden stonecrop form colorful, dense carpets that change hue with the seasons.

Plant sedum in full sun and well-drained soil. It’s especially useful where you want erosion control without constant irrigation. Some varieties can handle a bit of light foot traffic, but they’re happiest when not trampled daily.

3. Ice Plant (Delospermum spp.)

Ice plant is a standout drought-tolerant groundcover thanks to its succulent foliage and electric-colored blooms. Flowers come in hot pink, orange, yellow, and bicolor combinations, creating a summer-long carpet of color in zones roughly 5–10, depending on variety.

This plant demands excellent drainage and full sun. It’s perfect for gravel beds, retaining walls, or slopes that bake in the afternoon heat. Just be sure to choose non-invasive Delospermum species rather than the coastal Carpobrotus species sold as “ice plant” in some regions.

4. Prostrate Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis ‘Prostratus’)

If you want a groundcover that looks good and smells like dinner, prostrate rosemary is your plant. This trailing form of rosemary spills over walls and slopes, creating a fragrant, evergreen mat with tiny blue to lavender flowers that draw pollinators.

It loves full sun and sharply drained soil, making it ideal for Mediterranean-style, coastal, or xeric gardens. Once established, it is highly drought tolerant. In colder climates, treat it as a seasonal accent or container spiller.

5. Creeping Phlox (Phlox subulata)

Creeping phlox turns bare spring slopes into candy-colored waterfalls. This tough perennial is fairly drought tolerant once established and thrives in full sun with well-drained soil. In early spring, it erupts into sheets of pink, purple, blue, or white blooms that attract pollinators.

Use creeping phlox at the top of retaining walls, along rock gardens, or as a soft edge for sunny borders. After flowering, it settles into a green mat that helps suppress weeds with minimal fuss.

6. Ajuga / Bugleweed (Ajuga reptans)

Ajuga is a versatile groundcover available in rich foliage colorsbronze, burgundy, and variegated greenstopped with blue flower spikes in spring. While it appreciates some moisture, many gardeners find established ajuga surprisingly tolerant of dry spells in partial shade.

It’s a strong spreader, so use it where you’re happy for it to fill in: beneath trees, along shaded paths, or between shrubs. Choose less aggressive cultivars like ‘Chocolate Chip’ for smaller spaces or near more delicate perennials.

7. Mondo Grass (Ophiopogon japonicus)

Mondo grass isn’t a true grass, but it definitely acts like one. This evergreen groundcover forms tidy, fountain-like clumps of narrow leaves that hold up well in dry shade once established. Some dwarf varieties stay only a few inches tall, creating a “mini lawn” effect in difficult, shady spots.

It’s a great choice under trees where turf struggles. Black mondo grass offers dramatic dark foliage, but it grows more slowly, making it better for accent lines or small areas rather than large slopes you want covered quickly.

8. Epimedium (Epimedium spp., also called Barrenwort)

Epimedium is one of the best drought-tolerant groundcovers for dry shade. These perennials feature delicate, heart-shaped leaves and airy, nodding flowers in shades of yellow, lavender, pink, or white. Once established, they handle long dry spells under trees better than many traditional shade plants.

Plant epimedium along woodland paths or beneath high tree canopies. They spread slowly by rhizomes, forming refined colonies that are also resistant to deer and rabbits.

9. Lamb’s Ear (Stachys byzantina)

With its soft, silvery leaves, lamb’s ear adds texture as well as drought tolerance. This low-growing perennial thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, and once established, it needs very little supplemental water. The fuzzy foliage is especially attractive in children’s gardens, where “petting the plants” is encouraged.

Use lamb’s ear as an edging plant, in gravel gardens, or in front of roses and shrubs. Cut back spent flower stalks to keep the clumps neat and dense.

10. Perennial Peanut (Arachis glabrata)

In warmer climates, perennial peanut is a standout lawn alternative. This low-growing legume produces cheerful yellow flowers and thrives in sandy or poor soils with minimal irrigation once established. It’s often used in the southeastern United States as a no-mow, drought-tolerant groundcover and even as a living mulch in orchards.

Because it’s a nitrogen fixer, it also improves soil fertility over time. Give it full sun and good drainage, and be prepared for steady, weed-smothering coverage.

11. Vinca Minor (Periwinkle)

Vinca minor is an evergreen groundcover with glossy leaves and blue, purple, or white pinwheel flowers. It tolerates dry shade surprisingly well once established, making it useful under trees, along fence lines, and in tough side yards.

Because it can spread aggressively in some regions, check local guidance before planting and use it where you truly want a solid, long-term cover that outcompetes weeds with minimal attention.

12. Creeping Juniper (Juniperus horizontalis)

Creeping juniper is a classic solution for hot, dry slopes. This evergreen conifer hugs the ground, with some varieties staying under a foot tall while spreading several feet wide. Foliage color ranges from blue-green to silvery to golden, adding year-round interest.

Once established in full sun and well-drained soil, creeping juniper is extremely drought tolerant and needs almost no care beyond occasional pruning where it overreaches. It’s ideal for erosion control on banks where you never really want to mow again.

13. Snow-in-Summer (Cerastium tomentosum)

Snow-in-summer gets its name from its brilliant white flowers that blanket the silvery foliage in late spring to early summer. This groundcover loves full sun and dry, rocky soils, making it a great choice for walls, rock gardens, and hot slopes.

It spreads quickly, so don’t plant it next to dainty rock-garden treasures you’d like to keep separate. Once in place, it offers a bright, drought-tolerant carpet with very little maintenance beyond an occasional trim after flowering.

14. Silver Carpet (Dymondia margaretae)

In mild climates, silver carpet is a superstar low-water groundcover. Its tiny, gray-green leaves form a tight mat that tolerates light foot traffic and intense sun. It’s often used between pavers or as a fine-textured lawn alternative in coastal or Mediterranean-style landscapes.

Silver carpet prefers well-drained soil and doesn’t love heavy frost, but where it’s hardy, it needs very little water or care after the first growing season.

15. Ostrich Fern (Matteuccia struthiopteris)

Ferns don’t usually scream “drought tolerant,” but ostrich fern is a surprising exception once its roots dive deep. It thrives in shade and prefers moist soil, yet established colonies can tolerate occasional dry spells better than you might expect.

Use ostrich fern on shaded slopes or in woodland borders where you want a bold, lush look with feathery fronds. It spreads by underground rhizomes, so give it space to form colonies and avoid small, tightly packed beds.

Design Ideas for a Low-Maintenance Groundcover Landscape

Mix Textures and Heights

Combine flat, walkable groundcovers like creeping thyme with slightly taller mounds of sedum or lamb’s ear to avoid a “green doormat” look. Evergreen structure from creeping juniper or mondo grass keeps your landscape interesting year-round, even when flowers are done.

Use Groundcovers Strategically

• On slopes: Plant creeping juniper, perennial peanut, or sedum to help stabilize soil and reduce runoff.
• Under trees: Try epimedium, ajuga, or mondo grass to replace struggling turf under thirsty roots.
• Along paths and patios: Tuck creeping thyme, silver carpet, or low sedums between stones for a soft, drought-tolerant edge.

Watering and Maintenance Basics

Even drought-tolerant groundcovers need regular water the first season while roots establish. Aim for deep, infrequent watering rather than frequent light sprinkles. After the first year, many of these plants can rely mostly on rainfall in all but the driest climates, with occasional supplemental watering during extreme drought.

Real-World Experiences: Living with Drought-Tolerant Groundcovers

So what is it actually like to swap out thirsty lawn for drought-tolerant groundcovers? Gardeners who’ve made the leap tend to go through three phases: skepticism, amazement, and “why didn’t I do this sooner?”

In the first phase, you’re staring at a patch of tiny plants thinking, “This will never fill in.” Groundcovers can look a little underwhelming when you first tuck them into the soil. Creeping thyme plugs resemble scraggly herbs, sedum starts are small rosettes, and even juniper looks like someone dropped a green wig on the ground. The key is spacing them according to their mature spreadoften 12–18 inches apartand trusting the process.

By the second season, most gardeners hit the amazement phase. Those once-sparse thyme plants suddenly knit together into a scented carpet that hums with bees on warm afternoons. Sedums that looked shy now spill over rocks, shifting from lime green in spring to coppery pink in fall. Ice plant that seemed too delicate shrugs off a heatwave with neon flowers wide open at noon while your neighbor’s lawn turns crunchy.

Maintenance also changes in ways that feel surprisingly freeing. Instead of dragging a hose or worrying about sprinkler schedules, you shift to occasional spot-watering during extreme drought and a seasonal tidy-up. You might shear lamb’s ear after flowering, trim back ajuga where it’s a little too enthusiastic, or lightly prune prostrate rosemary to keep walkways clear. But there’s no weekly mow-and-blow routine, no fertilizer schedules, and far fewer weed battles once the plants fill in.

Another common experience is how groundcovers change the “feel” of your yard. A slope once too steep to mow becomes a tapestry of textureslamb’s ear, sedum, creeping thyme, and juniper blending into a living quilt. Under a big shade tree, where grass always thinned out and turned muddy, epimedium and mondo grass create a calm, woodland floor you barely have to touch. That side yard where nothing grew? Suddenly, it’s an easy-care ribbon of periwinkle or rosemary instead of a dust bowl or weed patch.

There’s also a psychological shift. When your landscape is packed with drought-tolerant plants that evolved to survive on less, hot summers feel less stressful. You still may need to water occasionally, but you’re no longer battling to keep a thirsty lawn alive at all costs. Instead, you’re working with plants that match your climate and your lifestyle.

And if you like to experiment, groundcovers are forgiving. You can test small patches of new speciessilver carpet between pavers, a strip of perennial peanut along a driveway, a new sedum mix in a sunny cornerand adjust over time. Because they’re relatively low-cost and easy to plant, you can treat them like living tiles in a design you refine each season.

In short, living with drought-tolerant groundcovers feels like upgrading from a high-maintenance pet to a chill one: they still need some care, but they don’t panic if you miss a day. And in return, you get a landscape that looks intentional, saves water, fights weeds, and gives you your weekends back.

Conclusion: Build a Landscape That Works as Hard as You Do

Shifting from thirsty turf to drought-tolerant groundcovers is one of the most impactful changes you can make in your yard. By choosing plants that thrive on less watercreeping thyme, sedum, ice plant, epimedium, juniper, and their friendsyou create a low-maintenance landscape that still feels lush, colorful, and full of life.

Start with one tough area: a slope you hate mowing, a dry patch under a tree, or a hot strip by the driveway. Plant a mix of drought-resistant groundcover plants suited to your climate and soil, give them a year to establish, and enjoy watching your yard transform from water-hungry to water-wise.