Fill in your garden paths with these low-growing plants that can take a little foot traffic.
Asolid brick or concrete walkwaycan be a bit blah, not to mention pricey to build.
All three grow as dense mats of pretty foliage.
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
Another bonus: Thyme isdeer- and rabbit-resistant.
This pretty little ground hugger develops masses of pale blue, star-shaped flowers in spring and early summer.
Use it as alawn alternativein locations too shady to support turf grass.
Credit: Matthew Benson
Once established, blue star creeper spreads quickly by underground runners and canbecome aggressivein cool, moist areas.
It’s tough enough to tolerate light foot traffic as long as it receives regular water.
These tough-as-nails plantsrequire little attentionand are strong enough to handle foot traffic.
Credit: Mike Jensen
Sedum comes in many shapes and sizes, but shorter, creeping varieties make thebest groundcovers.
Most sedum groundcovers also produce flowers in the late summer thatattract bees and butterflies.
Ajuga alsothrives in containers.
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
Its coinlike golden leaves are why it’s commonly called moneywort.
Creeping Jenny works well growing between stepping stones, where it will tolerate some foot traffic.
In the late spring, creeping Jenny also produces daintybutter-yellow flowers.
Credit: Justin Hancock
It’s a tough, sun-loving plant that frequently self-sows, popping up in unexpected places.
Portulaca also has bright green needlelike foliage that pops back into place if you happen to step on it.
This drought-tolerant groundcover is perennial in frost-free regions, but it’s usuallygrown as an annualelsewhere.
Credit: Erica George Dines
Yet this golden moss bounces right back if someone steps on it.
Use Scotch moss ingarden paths, rock gardens, or as a lawn substitute insmall backyards.
Scotch moss is also frosted with a pretty layer of tiny white flowers in the spring.
Credit: Denny Schrock
The key with this walkable groundcover plant is to keep it well hydrated, particularly during the summer heat.
And this plant grows slowly so there’s no worry about it getting out of control.
Creeping phlox works especially well onsmall slopesthat drain quickly after rains.
Credit: Bob Stefko
It may self-sow but doesn’t generallybecome invasive.
To keep plants looking good, shear them back after flowering.
Snow-in-summer prefers cooler climates and may suffer during hot, humid summers.
Credit: Ed Gohlich
For example, the leaves ofsoapwort(Saponaria officinalis)were once used to make a cleansing lather.
Use this groundcover you could walk on along your garden path or tuck it into rock gardens or walls.
Soapwort isdrought- and deer-tolerant.
Credit: Denny Schrock
It also works well invertical gardensand containers.
When happy, baby tears spreads rapidly, forming a moss-like cushion.
Keep the foot traffic on it light.
Credit: Denny Schrock
It grows just 3 inches tall but packs a big impact when it spreads across the ground.
This compact beauty grows quickly and tolerates light foot traffic.
Hens-and-chicks can be tuckedbetween pavers, in rock or wall gardens, or containers.
Credit: Laurie Dickson
If the plants grow too close together, simply transplant the chicks to other locations in your landscape.
Even though hens-and-chicks can take a lot of abuse, they don’t like too much foot traffic.
Use Corsican mintbetween stepping stonesso you canenjoy its fragranceevery time you brush past the foliage.
Credit: Jamie Hadley
In late summer, Corsican mint produceslilac flowersthat are so tiny they are easy to overlook.
Credit: Susan Gilmore
Credit: Matthew Benson
Credit: Ed Gohlich
