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Low-Maintenance Ground Covers to Go With Your Pavers
These 8 plants will fill the spots between steppingstones, gaps in flagstone patios and other garden nooks and crannies
Lauren Dunec Hoang
2017年11月17日
Plants tucked between pavers can soften pathways, break up expanses of hardscape, aid in permeability and generally make a walkway or patio feel more like a lush, living part of a garden. When choosing a ground cover to add between pavers, look for low-growing, resilient plants that can tolerate foot traffic or easily bounce back, fill in relatively quickly and grow in the light and moisture conditions of your site. To get started, consider this roundup of eight tough ground covers that thrive in garden nooks and crannies.
Gardeners in mild climates can plant ground covers now so they can establish over winter and be ready to spring into growth in the new year. In cold-winter climates, gardeners should plan now and wait until spring to plant.
Gardeners in mild climates can plant ground covers now so they can establish over winter and be ready to spring into growth in the new year. In cold-winter climates, gardeners should plan now and wait until spring to plant.
Caution: Some of these tough ground covers can be aggressive spreaders and can become invasive in some areas; check your region before planting.
1. Baby’s Tears
(Soleirolia soleirolii)
Native to the Mediterranean
A great choice for dappled shade beds with moist soil, baby’s tears fills in gaps between pavers with small mounds of tiny, button-like foliage. The leaves are small enough that, from a distance, the ground cover looks like moss — lending a romantic, almost fairy-tale look to garden paths. The delicate leaves and stems are not step-proof, so it’s best to plant between edging pavers rather than those that take heavy foot traffic. The plants are low-growing (4 to 6 inches tall) and spread laterally to form mats.
Note: Not frost-hardy; may become dormant if exposed repeatedly to frosts.
Great for: Cottage gardens; fairy gardens; filling in small cracks and shaded areas
Where it will grow: Hardy to 25 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 3.9 degrees Celsius (USDA zones 9 to 11; find your zone)
Water requirement: Moderate to high; prefers moist soil in summer and only slightly moist soil in winter
Light requirement: Partial to full shade
1. Baby’s Tears
(Soleirolia soleirolii)
Native to the Mediterranean
A great choice for dappled shade beds with moist soil, baby’s tears fills in gaps between pavers with small mounds of tiny, button-like foliage. The leaves are small enough that, from a distance, the ground cover looks like moss — lending a romantic, almost fairy-tale look to garden paths. The delicate leaves and stems are not step-proof, so it’s best to plant between edging pavers rather than those that take heavy foot traffic. The plants are low-growing (4 to 6 inches tall) and spread laterally to form mats.
Note: Not frost-hardy; may become dormant if exposed repeatedly to frosts.
Great for: Cottage gardens; fairy gardens; filling in small cracks and shaded areas
Where it will grow: Hardy to 25 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 3.9 degrees Celsius (USDA zones 9 to 11; find your zone)
Water requirement: Moderate to high; prefers moist soil in summer and only slightly moist soil in winter
Light requirement: Partial to full shade
2. Blue Star Creeper
(Isotoma fluviatilis)
Native to Australia and New Zealand
Named for the tiny star-shaped flowers that abound on this ground cover in spring, blue star creeper fills in around steppingstones and pavers to form a springy mat of foliage. The plants stay low, growing 2 to 4 inches tall, making them a good choice to fill in around low stones without covering them. They can also tolerate foot traffic.
Great for: Traditional and cottage-style gardens; filling in around low steppingstones
Where it will grow: Hardy to minus 15 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 26.1 degrees Celsius (zones 5 to 9)
Water requirement: Moderate to high; thrives in moist soil
Light requirement: Partial to full sun
(Isotoma fluviatilis)
Native to Australia and New Zealand
Named for the tiny star-shaped flowers that abound on this ground cover in spring, blue star creeper fills in around steppingstones and pavers to form a springy mat of foliage. The plants stay low, growing 2 to 4 inches tall, making them a good choice to fill in around low stones without covering them. They can also tolerate foot traffic.
Great for: Traditional and cottage-style gardens; filling in around low steppingstones
Where it will grow: Hardy to minus 15 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 26.1 degrees Celsius (zones 5 to 9)
Water requirement: Moderate to high; thrives in moist soil
Light requirement: Partial to full sun
3. Creeping Thyme
(Thymus pseudolanuginosus and T. serpyllum)
Native to Europe and North Africa
Perhaps the most popular and widely used ground cover for sunny areas, creeping thyme species hit all the right marks for a between-pavers ground cover. It grows to about 4 inches tall, tolerates foot traffic and difficult soil conditions, draws pollinators with its attractive flowers and produces a fragrance when crushed or stepped on.
Woolly thyme (T. pseudolanuginosus) has fuzzy, gray-green foliage and white or pale purple flowers, while wild thyme (T. serpyllum) has brighter green leaves and pink flowers. Particularly low-growing (to 2 inches), ‘Elfin’ thyme is perfect for planting in tight spots.
Great for: Mediterranean-style, cottage-style and low-water gardens; filling in cracks between pavers or flagstones in sunny areas
Where it will grow: Hardy to minus 25 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 31.7 degrees Celsius (zones 4 to 8)
Water requirement: Low to moderate
Light requirement: Full sun
(Thymus pseudolanuginosus and T. serpyllum)
Native to Europe and North Africa
Perhaps the most popular and widely used ground cover for sunny areas, creeping thyme species hit all the right marks for a between-pavers ground cover. It grows to about 4 inches tall, tolerates foot traffic and difficult soil conditions, draws pollinators with its attractive flowers and produces a fragrance when crushed or stepped on.
Woolly thyme (T. pseudolanuginosus) has fuzzy, gray-green foliage and white or pale purple flowers, while wild thyme (T. serpyllum) has brighter green leaves and pink flowers. Particularly low-growing (to 2 inches), ‘Elfin’ thyme is perfect for planting in tight spots.
Great for: Mediterranean-style, cottage-style and low-water gardens; filling in cracks between pavers or flagstones in sunny areas
Where it will grow: Hardy to minus 25 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 31.7 degrees Celsius (zones 4 to 8)
Water requirement: Low to moderate
Light requirement: Full sun
4. Mondo Grass
(Ophiopogon japonicus)
Native to Asia
Strappy-leaved mondo grass grows from underground rhizomes and is slower to spread than other ground covers. Plants grow in tufty clumps to 4 to 12 inches tall, depending on the species, with grass-like foliage and pale white or lavender flowers in summer.
Dwarf mondo grass (O. japonicus ‘Nana’) stays low, topping out at 4 inches, and grows best in shaded areas, while larger black mondo grass (O. planiscapus ‘Nigrescens’) has black leaves, grows larger and thrives in full sun. While the plants are tough and can tolerate foot traffic, their medium height and clumping nature make them less practical to walk on.
Great for: Between pavers as a lawn look-alike that doesn’t require mowing
Where it will grow: Hardy to 5 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 15 degrees Celsius (zones 7 to 10)
Water requirement: Moderate
Light requirement: Full shade to full sun, depending on the species
(Ophiopogon japonicus)
Native to Asia
Strappy-leaved mondo grass grows from underground rhizomes and is slower to spread than other ground covers. Plants grow in tufty clumps to 4 to 12 inches tall, depending on the species, with grass-like foliage and pale white or lavender flowers in summer.
Dwarf mondo grass (O. japonicus ‘Nana’) stays low, topping out at 4 inches, and grows best in shaded areas, while larger black mondo grass (O. planiscapus ‘Nigrescens’) has black leaves, grows larger and thrives in full sun. While the plants are tough and can tolerate foot traffic, their medium height and clumping nature make them less practical to walk on.
Great for: Between pavers as a lawn look-alike that doesn’t require mowing
Where it will grow: Hardy to 5 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 15 degrees Celsius (zones 7 to 10)
Water requirement: Moderate
Light requirement: Full shade to full sun, depending on the species
5. Sea Thrift
(Armeria maritima)
Native to Europe and North America
A whimsical ground cover when in bloom, this coastal native sends up tiny pink or white pompom flowers from clumping grass-like mounds. The foliage clumps grow from 4 to 12 inches tall, with flower stems extending higher. Native to sea coasts from Europe to North America, sea thrift grows best in well-draining soil with low water. Plant it between flagstones or other pavers as an accent ground cover rather than as the main filler.
Great for: Mixing with other low-growing ground covers; low-water and maritime gardens — tolerates wind and salt spray
Where it will grow: Hardy to minus 25 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 31.7 degrees Celsius (zones 4 to 8)
Water requirement: Low
Light requirement: Full sun
(Armeria maritima)
Native to Europe and North America
A whimsical ground cover when in bloom, this coastal native sends up tiny pink or white pompom flowers from clumping grass-like mounds. The foliage clumps grow from 4 to 12 inches tall, with flower stems extending higher. Native to sea coasts from Europe to North America, sea thrift grows best in well-draining soil with low water. Plant it between flagstones or other pavers as an accent ground cover rather than as the main filler.
Great for: Mixing with other low-growing ground covers; low-water and maritime gardens — tolerates wind and salt spray
Where it will grow: Hardy to minus 25 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 31.7 degrees Celsius (zones 4 to 8)
Water requirement: Low
Light requirement: Full sun
Scotch moss (Sagina subulata ‘Aurea’), an Irish moss cultivar; garden designed by Spring Greenworks and Verde Design
6. Irish Moss and Scotch Moss
(Sagina subulata and S. subulata ‘Aurea’)
Native to Europe
Grow Irish moss (Sagina subulata) and Scotch moss (S. subulata ‘Aurea’), its chartreuse cultivar, as delicate ground covers around pavers and along pathways. Neither is a true moss; rather, they are creeping perennials that fill in to form a lush, velvet-like carpet, reaching only about 4 inches tall. They can tolerate some light foot traffic but grow best along pathways, in planting strips with hardscape or around large pavers where foot traffic will be limited.
Great for: Traditional, cottage-style and contemporary gardens; grow as a moss look-alike
Where it will grow: Hardy to minus 25 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 31.7 degrees Celsius (zones 4 to 8)
Water requirement: Moderate to high; keep the soil moist
Light requirement: Partial shade to partial sun; requires partial shade in hot inland areas
6. Irish Moss and Scotch Moss
(Sagina subulata and S. subulata ‘Aurea’)
Native to Europe
Grow Irish moss (Sagina subulata) and Scotch moss (S. subulata ‘Aurea’), its chartreuse cultivar, as delicate ground covers around pavers and along pathways. Neither is a true moss; rather, they are creeping perennials that fill in to form a lush, velvet-like carpet, reaching only about 4 inches tall. They can tolerate some light foot traffic but grow best along pathways, in planting strips with hardscape or around large pavers where foot traffic will be limited.
Great for: Traditional, cottage-style and contemporary gardens; grow as a moss look-alike
Where it will grow: Hardy to minus 25 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 31.7 degrees Celsius (zones 4 to 8)
Water requirement: Moderate to high; keep the soil moist
Light requirement: Partial shade to partial sun; requires partial shade in hot inland areas
7. Silver Carpet
(Dymondia margaretae)
Native to South Africa
This silvery ground cover fills in with flat, blade-like foliage to form a dense mat reaching 2 to 4 inches tall and spreading laterally to about a foot wide. Grow silver carpet between low pavers or in tight gaps between flagstone pavers, as it stays tight and compact and tolerates moderate foot traffic. It grows best in well-draining soils.
Great for: Mediterranean-style, traditional, low-water and coastal gardens; filling in around low and tightly set pavers
Where it will grow: Hardy to 25 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 3.9 degrees Celsius (zones 9 to 11)
Water requirement: Moderate; low once established
Light requirement: Full to partial sun
(Dymondia margaretae)
Native to South Africa
This silvery ground cover fills in with flat, blade-like foliage to form a dense mat reaching 2 to 4 inches tall and spreading laterally to about a foot wide. Grow silver carpet between low pavers or in tight gaps between flagstone pavers, as it stays tight and compact and tolerates moderate foot traffic. It grows best in well-draining soils.
Great for: Mediterranean-style, traditional, low-water and coastal gardens; filling in around low and tightly set pavers
Where it will grow: Hardy to 25 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 3.9 degrees Celsius (zones 9 to 11)
Water requirement: Moderate; low once established
Light requirement: Full to partial sun
Orange stonecrop (Sedum kamtschaticum)
8. Stonecrop
(Sedum spp.)
Native throughout the Northern Hemisphere
Ground cover sedums grow where few other plants can thrive: in compacted and poor soils and in hot, dry areas. Select for size, color and overall plant toughness, as there is a wide range of species and cultivars to choose from.
Deep burgundy ‘Dragon’s Blood’ sedum (Sedum spurium ‘Dragon’s Blood’) grows 4 to 6 inches tall, spreads to about a foot wide and tolerates moderate foot traffic. More delicate, fine-leaved ‘Blue Spruce’ sedum (Sedum reflexum ‘Blue Spruce’) stays under 4 inches tall and spreads more slowly.
Great for: Traditional and contemporary gardens; hot, dry areas and coastal conditions
Where it will grow: Hardiness varies by species, ranging from zones 3 to 11
Water requirement: Low
Light requirement: Full to partial sun
8. Stonecrop
(Sedum spp.)
Native throughout the Northern Hemisphere
Ground cover sedums grow where few other plants can thrive: in compacted and poor soils and in hot, dry areas. Select for size, color and overall plant toughness, as there is a wide range of species and cultivars to choose from.
Deep burgundy ‘Dragon’s Blood’ sedum (Sedum spurium ‘Dragon’s Blood’) grows 4 to 6 inches tall, spreads to about a foot wide and tolerates moderate foot traffic. More delicate, fine-leaved ‘Blue Spruce’ sedum (Sedum reflexum ‘Blue Spruce’) stays under 4 inches tall and spreads more slowly.
Great for: Traditional and contemporary gardens; hot, dry areas and coastal conditions
Where it will grow: Hardiness varies by species, ranging from zones 3 to 11
Water requirement: Low
Light requirement: Full to partial sun
Two types of ground covers are planted between these pavers: Sedum acre and Thymus serpyllum ‘Alba’.
Tips for Growing Ground Covers Between Pavers
1. Right plant, right place. As you would with any other plant for your garden, choose a ground cover that grows well in your climate and with the site’s soil type, level of moisture and sunlight.
2. Prep the soil. Soil between pavers is often very compacted and less hospitable to plants. Digging out a few inches of soil between pavers and replacing it with loose, rich soil (or decomposed compost) will give ground covers the best chance of success. This is essential if you’re growing ground covers on paths or patios set on compacted base or in sand.
3. Let plants get established. After planting, fill in any gaps between young plants with soil or decomposed compost. Avoid stepping on ground covers that have been planted recently, to allow them to adjust to transplanting.
4. Water consistently. Keep the soil moist for a few weeks after planting ground covers to encourage root formation. For the long term, set up a system of irrigation such as drip or spray according to how much moisture the plants require.
More
What to Know About Installing a Walkway of Pavers and Pebbles
Soak It Up: How to Manage Stormwater in Your Landscape
Tips for Growing Ground Covers Between Pavers
1. Right plant, right place. As you would with any other plant for your garden, choose a ground cover that grows well in your climate and with the site’s soil type, level of moisture and sunlight.
2. Prep the soil. Soil between pavers is often very compacted and less hospitable to plants. Digging out a few inches of soil between pavers and replacing it with loose, rich soil (or decomposed compost) will give ground covers the best chance of success. This is essential if you’re growing ground covers on paths or patios set on compacted base or in sand.
3. Let plants get established. After planting, fill in any gaps between young plants with soil or decomposed compost. Avoid stepping on ground covers that have been planted recently, to allow them to adjust to transplanting.
4. Water consistently. Keep the soil moist for a few weeks after planting ground covers to encourage root formation. For the long term, set up a system of irrigation such as drip or spray according to how much moisture the plants require.
More
What to Know About Installing a Walkway of Pavers and Pebbles
Soak It Up: How to Manage Stormwater in Your Landscape
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