Ground Cover Plants; Ornamental Peanut

So now that the law has changed, what are you going to do about your lawn?  Obviously you can't just rip it out without having some form of replacement in mind.  Without something to replace it, Florida will use her own ground cover in the form of weeds to decorate.  Now I wouldn't go so far as to suggest this isn't 'Florida Friendly' but it's not particularly 'Neighbor Friendly' and we don't want to encourage animosity with our neighbors (especially that guy a few houses down; you know the one I mean).

 So what's a good replacement?  Introducing Ornamental Peanut!  Ornamental Peanut is a lovely green leaved ground cover.  It's cold and heat tolerant and can be grown in sun or shade.  There are (at least) two varieties that have a very similar look, one for full sun and the other is more shade tolerant.  As a side benefit, it has a beautiful yellow flower through most of the summer.  I've heard claim the flower is edible with a mild peanut flavor and Dragonfly Lady claims to have tried it, but it wouldn't be the first time she's tested my gullability...  One variety spreads via above ground runners and the other via underground rhizomes.  Neither are particularly agressive, in fact like most lawns it goes dormant in the winter.

 So what about care?  As with all plants there is an establishment timeframe.  After that the Ornamental Peanut is drought tolerant.  And of course you'll want to keep it contained (remember the neighbor).  Good news, the Ornamental Peanut can be MOWED!  That also means it can be walked on.  But, you say, is it as soft and pleasant on my bare feet as my St. Augustine?  My response, "Seriously?  You do know this is a gardening blog right?  There's other sites that may be more along the lines you were thinking but since this is a G rated site I can't help you."