Although most lawns are established with grasses, other evergreen species can also be used. These may include various species of moss, Cotula species, kidneyweed (Dichondra micrantha) or chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile). As these ground-cover plants cannot tolerate heavy, continual wear, they are best used for primarily ornamental areas.

Non-Grass Varieties

Chamomile leaves release a sweet, apple-like fragrance when gently trodden on; the dense, non-flowering Chamaemelum nobile 'Treneague' is naturally low-growing and particularly suitable for lawns. Cotula has fern-like leaves, and is much more hard-wearing than chamomile, as it forms a thick carpet of creeping stems. It has the added bonus of being able to flourish in moist conditions. Kidneyweed is another useful non-grass plant; however, although it will grow successfully in warm areas, it will not survive temperatures lower than -4°C (25°F).

Tapestry Lawns

You could also consider creating a 'tapestry lawn', by growing a number of low, mat-forming plants together to create a patchwork effect. This is best done by selecting plants that grow at a similar rate, so that one species does not become dominant and upset the balance of the original design. Creeping thymes such as Thymus praecox var. arcticus 'Coccineus', T. p. var. a. 'Doone Valley' and Azores thyme (Thymus caespititius) are particularly useful for this purpose. However, as with other non grass lawns, tapestry lawns will not withstand continual, heavy use.