Groundcovers for Lawns, Paths, and Walkways
Plants that can be used for purposes such as edging borders and paths, planting between flagstones in patios and walkways, lawn substitutes (especially for difficult to mow areas like steep slopes), rock gardens, and containers.
Groundcovers that can handle heavier foot traffic include:
Blue Star Creeper (Isotoma fluviatilis) — Zone 6 to Zone 9
Blue Star Creeper (Pratia “Celestial Spice”) — Zone 7 to Zone 9
Blue Star Creeper (Pratia pedunculata “County Park”) — Zone 6 to Zone 9
Brass Buttons (Leptinella squalida “Platt’s Black”) — Zone 5 to Zone 9
Corsican Mint (Mentha requienii) — Zone 7 to Zone 9
Creeping Thyme (Thymus praecox “Elfin”) — Zone 2 to Zone 9
Creeping Wire Vine (Muehlenbeckia axillaris) — Zone 6 to Zone 9
Golden Bird’s Foot (Lotus corniculatus “Plenus”) — Zone 2 to Zone 9
Green Brass Buttons (Leptinella squalida) — Zone 5 to Zone 9
Miniature Brass Buttons (Leptinella gruveri) — Zone 7 to Zone 9
Rupturewort (Herniaria glabara) — Zone 5 to Zone 9
Turkey Tangle Fogfruit (Phyla nodiflora) — Zone 8 to Zone 10
Variegated Ground Ivy (Glechoma hederacea “Variegata”) — Zone 4 to Zone 9
Woolly Thyme (Thymus pseudolanuginosus) — Zone 2 to Zone 9
For moderate foot traffic:
Alpine Cinquefoil (Potentilla neumanniana “Nana”) — Zone 3 to Zone 9
Beach Strawberry (Fragaria chiloensis) — Zone 4 to Zone 9
Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia) — Zone 2 to Zone 9
Creeping Mazus (Mazus reptans) — Zone 5 to Zone 9
Creeping Speedwell (Veronica repens) — Zone 2 to Zone 9
Creeping Speedwell (Veronica repens “Sunshine”) — Zone 4 to Zone 9
Creeping Thyme (Thymus “Doone Valley”) — Zone 4 to Zone 9
Creeping Thyme (Thymus praecox “Coccineus”) — Zone 2 to Zone 9
Creeping Thyme (Thymus praecox “Purple Carpet” — Zone 2 to Zone 9
Creeping Thyme (Thymus serpyllum “Pink Chintz”) — Zone 2 to Zone 9
Crystal Rivers® Speedwell (Veronica “Reavis”) — Zone 3 to Zone 9
Dutch White Clover (Trifolium repens) — mow occasionally — Zone 4 to Zone 9
Emerald Cushion (Azorella trifurcata “Nana”) — Zone 7 to Zone 10
Golden Stonecrop (Sedum acre “Aureum”) — Zone 2 to Zone 9
Irish Moss (Sagina subulata) — Zone 3 to Zone 9**
Mediterranean Creeping Thyme (Thymus longicaulis) — Zone 6 to Zone 9
Miniature Rush (Eleocharis radicans) — Zone 7 to Zone 10
Mock Strawberry (Duchesnea indica) — Zone 3 to Zone 9
Nutmeg Thyme (Thymus praecox “Nutmeg”) — Zone 2 to Zone 9
Orange-Scented Thyme (Thymus “Spicy Orange”) — Zone 4 to Zone 9
Ruby Glow Creeping Thyme (Thymus) — Zone 4 to Zone 9
Scotch Moss (Sagina subulata “Aurea”) — Zone 3 to Zone 9**
Snow in Summer (Cerastium tomentosum) — Zone 3 to Zone 9
Thyme (Thymus “Hartington Silver” / “Highland Cream”) — Zone 4 to Zone 9
Treneague (Roman) Chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile) — Zone 4 to Zone 9
White Creeping Mazus (Mazus reptans “Albus”) — Zone 5 to Zone 9
White Moss Thyme (Thymus praecox “Albiflorus”) — Zone 2 to Zone 9
Whitley’s Speedwell (Veronica whitleyi) — Zone 3 to Zone 9
For lighter foot traffic:
Alpine Calamint (Acinos alpinus) — Zone 6 to Zone 10
Alpine Mouse Ear (Cerastium alpinum lanatum) — Zone 4 to Zone 9
Bronze New Zealand Burr (Acaena microphylla) — Zone 3 to Zone 9
Creeping Crosswort (Phuopsis stylosa) — may find odor offensive — Zone 5 to Zone 9
Creeping Lamium (Lamium maculatum “Aureum”) — Zone 2 to Zone 9
Creeping Lamium (Lamium maculatum “Pink Pewter”) — Zone 2 to Zone 9
Creeping Lamium (Lamium maculatum “Red Nancy”) — Zone 2 to Zone 9
Creeping Lamium (Lamium maculatum “White Nancy”) — Zone 2 to Zone 9
Creeping Speedwell (Veronica “Waterperry Blue”) — Zone 4 to Zone 9
Double Flowered Chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile “Flore Pleno”) — Zone 4 to Zone 9
Dwarf London Pride (Saxifraga × urbium “Primuloides”) — Zone 4 to Zone 9
Golden Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia “Aurea”) — Zone 2 to Zone 9
Golden Oregano (Origanum vulgare “Aureum”) — Zone 4 to Zone 9
Kenilworth Ivy (Cymbalaria muralis) — Zone 6 to Zone 9**
Miniature Mat Daisy (Bellium minutum) — Zone 7 to Zone 9**
Mongolian Stonecrop (Sedum hybridum “Czar’s Gold”) — Zone 4 to Zone 9
Mossy Whitlowwort (Paronychia kapela subsp. serpyllifolia) — Zone 4 to Zone 9
Purple Ice Plant (Delosperma cooperi) — Zone 6 to Zone 9
Pussytoes (Antennaria carpartica) — Zone 2 to Zone 8
Roman Chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile “Creeping Chamomile”) — Zone 4 to Zone 9
Silver Carpet Lambs Ears (Stachys byzantina) — Zone 3 to Zone 9
Six-Sided Stonecrop (Sedum sexangulare) — Zone 2 to Zone 9
Stonecrop (Sedum spurium “John Creech”) — Zone 2 to Zone 9
Turkish Speedwell (Veronica liwanensis) — Zone 3 to Zone 9
Voodoo Stonecrop (Sedum spurium “Voodoo”) — Zone 2 to Zone 9
Wineleaf Cinquefoil (Potentilla tridentata “Nuuk”) — Zone 1 to Zone 9
Yellow Ice Plant (Delosperma nubigenum) — Zone 3 to Zone 9
**not as suitable for hot, humid areas. If you live in zones 7 to 9 of the southern United States, be sure the plant you select is recommended for your area.
Most groundcovers are perennials and evergreen in the milder climates. Many of the blooming groundcovers attract butterflies. Many of the heavy traffic ones listed above can be used effectively as a lawn replacement.
Light Foot Traffic = Traffic one to two times weekly
Moderate Foot Traffic = Traffic one to two times per day
Heavy Foot Traffic = Traffic three or more times per day
For more information, visit:
Jeepers Creepers™
STEPABLES®
Call your county extension to make sure the groundcover you choose is suitable for your area as some ground covers are considered invasive.