Nursery ground covers are widely thought of as utilitarian – we turn to them when we have a problem that needs a solution. Yet these plants also offer a range of beautiful and intriguing options with a variety of colors, textures and forms. They can unify a landscape, knit together plantings and hardscape, and add extra layers of dynamism and surprise. As a replacement for lawns, they can reduce our use of water, fertilizer, pesticides, herbicides and carbon-based fuels, and transform a yard into a diverse landscape of habitat and food for native insects, birds and other wildlife.