Grass Alternatives for Parking Lot Islands: Durable, Low-Maintenance Solutions for Commercial Landscapes

What’s your favorite thing about a big parking lot?

The endless expanse of baking hot asphalt? The relentless sun beating down?

Yeah — probably not.

But those small, shady, green parking lot islands? That’s more like it. These little planted oases offer a welcome splash of color, comfort, and curb appeal.

Just don’t plant them with grass.

Grass doesn’t hold up in the tough conditions of parking lot islands. So what should you plant instead?

We asked Paul Weaver, construction branch manager for Level Green Landscaping, to share his top grass alternatives for parking lot islands that thrive in the Mid-Atlantic climate and meet commercial property needs.

Why Parking Lot Islands Matter in Commercial Landscaping

Engineers and architects plan for a certain number of parking lot islands in order to meet county, city and state regulations, Weaver says.

“If you cut down trees to create a parking lot, the laws say you have to put some back,” Weaver says. “You have to have a certain percentage of canopy cover.”

Plus, they look nice, breaking up large expanses of hot parking lots with cool, shady spots of green plants and bright flowers.

But in older shopping centers, these islands can be so overgrown, they’re a big problem.

“You want to attract people who want to rent or lease space there,” Weaver says. “Some shopping centers are so overgrown you can’t see the stores from the street. Nobody wants to do business there.”

Level Green recently completed a re-do at an overgrown shopping center, thinning and shaping existing trees so you could see through them from the road to the stores.

“After we were done, all the vacant spots there were filled,” he says.

Landscaping matters.

Why Parking Lot Islands Are So Tough to Landscape

Parking lot islands are some of the harshest spots for plants. Here’s why:

• “You want attractive plants that are also easy to maintain,” Weaver says. “And the laws often require you use native plants.“
• Parking lot islands don’t have built-in irrigation, he says, so plants have to be drought tolerant.
• “People walk right over these islands, and step on the plants, instead of walking around them,” Weaver says. Plants have to be tough.
• Car exhaust can burn plants right up.
• Salt and snow pile up during the winter, taxing plants.

“They have to put up with a lot,” Weaver says.

Why Grass Doesn’t Work in Parking Lot Islands

While grass is inexpensive and offers a nice carpet of green, it won’t stand up to the rigors of a big parking lot, Weaver says.

“Car exhaust and salt aren’t great for turf,” Weaver says. “You really don’t want turf there.”

Parking lot islands are rarely perfectly flat, which means mowers can scalp the grass and damage it.

And mowing turf near parked cars is risky, as flying debris could hit them. This is especially true if the island is mounded. The gap this creates between the mower deck and the ground allows more debris to escape.

Grass Alternatives for Parking Lot Islands That Actually Work

There are many turf alternatives for parking lot islands that offer both resilience and visual appeal. Paul Weaver shares some of the best options Level Green Landscaping installs for clients across Maryland, DC, and Virginia:

Barberry

This native plant has beautiful, vibrant foliage in shades of green, yellow and burgundy. Plus it has thorns, great for deterring pedestrians from stomping through the plants.

Pyracantha

It’s also called firethorn, so yes, this one is thorny, too. But it also offers spectacular clusters of red or orange berries that emerge in the fall and stick around through the winter. And it’s drought tolerant.

Liriope

This pretty grasslike plant is a Paul Weaver favorite for parking lot islands.

“It’s hardy, it’s hard to kill, you can walk on it, it’s relatively cheap,” Weaver says. “We’ve planted tens of thousands of these. They offer a lush, wavy grass feel.”

Creeping juniper

You can walk on this low-lying evergreen ground cover. And it’s drought tolerant.

Black-eyed Susan

Everybody loves this cheerful garden staple. These natives are great in mass plantings and hold up well in the tough conditions of parking lots.

“It can take abuse, and it keeps coming back,” Weaver says.

Purple coneflower

Another garden favorite, it’s both pretty and sturdy, blooming heavily for several weeks in late summer.

Daylily

Weaver loves the variety of this hardy and pretty plant. “You can get them tall, short, yellow, purple,” Weaver says. “It gets covered with snow and salt and it keeps coming back.”

Hardscape Elements

Not all parking lot islands have to sport greenery. The lowest maintenance choice is hardscape.

“Decorative gravel, pavers, stepping stones will all work well,” Weaver says. “You can also use them to create a path to encourage people to walk around the plants.”

Best Trees for Parking Lot Islands (And What to Avoid) 

Shade trees are a natural complement to no-grass parking lot landscaping, but not every tree is a good fit. 

“Some trees have berries that fall and can stain cars,” Weaver says. “Some attract insects and birds, and you don’t want that in a parking lot.”

Top picks:

Oaks and maples are good choices for parking lot islands. Weaver's top picks for parking lot trees are:

• ‘Red Sunset’ maple
• ‘October Glory’ maple
• Columnar oaks (tall and narrow — ideal for small spaces)

FAQs About Grass Alternatives for Parking Lot Islands

Q: What is the best grass alternative for commercial parking lot islands?
A: Hardy groundcovers like liriope and creeping juniper, native perennials like black-eyed Susan, and hardscape elements like gravel or pavers are excellent choices.

Q: Do parking lot island plants need to be native?
A: Many cities and counties require native or drought-tolerant plants, especially for commercial projects.

Q: How do you maintain plants in parking lot islands without irrigation?
A: Choose drought-tolerant plants and mulch well. You can also add slow-release water bags or hand-water new installations until they’re established.

Q: Can you mix plants and hardscape in one island?
A: Absolutely — many designs incorporate both for function and visual interest.

Q: What are some alternatives to turf in parking lot medians?
A: While we primarily recommend grass alternatives, groundcovers like liriope, flowering perennials, and decorative gravel are all great turf alternatives for commercial parking lots.

Get Expert Help Choosing Grass Alternatives for Your Property

Need help redesigning your parking lot islands with smart, sustainable plantings? At Level Green Landscaping, we specialize in grass alternatives for parking lot islands that perform beautifully in high-stress commercial environments.

We proudly serve the following commercial properties in Maryland, Washington DC, and Virginia:

• Shopping Centers
• Office Parks
• Municipalities
• Healthcare & Institutional Campuses
• HOAs

Contact us at 202-544-0968. You can also request a free consultation online to meet with us one-on-one.

We’d love to hear from you.