Eight Favorite Lawns in the Fairy Garden

Some of the most common questions I have been asked regarding miniature fairy gardens touch on the basics, such as “What miniature plants do you use as a lawn?" Or “How do you create a walkway through your mini garden?" These are the types of questions I enjoy receiving because it seems like the person is invested in their miniature garden hobby and excited to try new things.

I remember the first time I wanted to create a miniscape with a fairy house and a large yard utilizing a variety of miniature accessories. I visualized a backyard patio set in an eye-catching garden scene behind a fairy house. In order to make my dream materialize, I needed a quality groundcover that mimicked a real sized lawn. There are many options for groundcovers; however, they vary in consistency, color, and textures. Some of my favorite groundcovers are tried and true. These miniature plants were recommended to me by people who have been fairy gardening much longer than I have. In this article, I have listed some lovely ground cover plant options to get your miniature garden started! For more information about lawns and groundcovering, enjoy the video, Lawn Covers.

Ideas for Groundcovers:
Elfin Thyme: In partial shade, ‘Elfin’ grows into small hummocks. This hilly effect looks good, but you can also get this herb to grow flat by planting it in a sunny area.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Leptinella, Fairy Fern: This is fern-like foliage that creeps just above the soil to form a thick carpet. It is a partial sun plant that can spread up to 12”.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Corsican Mint: A zone 5 plant with tiny leaves and flowers, this mint forms a dense, spongy mat of fragrant foliage. This plant grows light purple flowers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sagina subulata, Irish Moss: Its low growing habit creates a lush lawn. Disliking drought and other extreme wet weather, Irish Moss is not a good choice for full shade. It has star-shaped white flowers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Leptinella squalida, Platt’s Black: Spread by rhizomes, this groundcover can take some foot traffic and grows best in full to partial sun.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sedum mentha requienii, Stonecrop: This plant has tiny green leaves that slowly spread to form a tight mat. It also grows little yellow-white flowers that appear in summer and spreads up to 12”.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lysimachia, Moneywort: Creating a cute mat with green mouse-ear leaves, Moneywort can tolerate both wet and dry conditions. It grows tiny yellow flowers that bloom sporadically from early to mid-summer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wooly Thyme: Considered one of the woolliest of all thyme plants that form a dense ground covering mat of tiny hairy leaves, Wooly Thyme sprouts tiny pink tubular flowers in the summer. This plant can spread up to 24”.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All of these small-scaled plants are great choices for your future miniature gardens. A personal favorite of mine is Sedum mentha because of the tiny yellow-white flowers and the mat of growth in the summer. Join me in experimenting with planting more than one type of groundcover in your miniature fairy garden. Lastly, using fairy mulch, pebbles, and stones create pathways to lead the fairies through the miniscapes!