These groundcovers don't take as much rough play as grass, but they bear reasonable foot traffic. They're excellent for planting in among flagstones, along paths where feet are likely to wander, or in spaces where you occasionally want to step to reach something, such as the outside of a window, an air conditioner, or a tree.
Bugleweed (Ajuga reptans). These groundcovers need full sun in the North, otherwise light to full sun. Prefers rich, moist, but well-drained soil. 4-12 inches tall, spread a few feet in ideal conditions. Sending up pretty usually blue spikes of flowers, there are many types of bugleweed with fascinating number of leaf color variations. Zones 4-9.
Chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile) Full sun. These groundcovers prefer average to rich, moist but well-drained soil. 3-9 inches high, a spread up to 2 feet. The pretty daisy-like flowers this plant produces are the basis for the famed herbal tea. Can even be used as a low-traffic lawn, especially if you mow it occasionally. Zones 3-8.
Creeping cinquefoil (Potentilla neumanniana or reptans) Full sun. Average to poor well-drained. 4-12 inches. A low, less woody cousin of the popular shrub, this groundcover produces bright yellow flowers atop mats of emerald green foliage. Some types spread slowly, but the most commonly available spread rapidly. Zones 5-8.
Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia) Full sun to light shade. Rich moist to wet soil. Does well in drier soil if in shade. 4-8 inches high, spreading to 1-2 feet. This moisture-loving groundcover has distinctive dime-size leaves attached to visible stems. The yellow-green types are especially popular. Zones 3-8.
Dichondra (Dichondra micrantha) Full sun to light shade. Average soil and moisture. 6 to 12 inches high and wide. Once all the rage as a lawn replacement, this perennial in warm climates can be planted from seed. Zones 10-11
Irish and Scotch moss (Sagina subulata ). Full sun to part shade in the North, part to full shade in the South. Rich, moist soil with ample water. 1 inch high and a few inches across; spreads more in moist conditions. Producing tiny white flowers, this is not a true moss but looks like one. Perfect for between pavers. Golden types available. Zones 3-9.
Mazus (Mazus reptans) Full sun to full shade. Rich, wet to boggy soil. Good for low-lying sites. 2 inches high, 1 foot wide. Excellent along creeks, ponds, or other wet site, this groundcover produces pretty showy flowers, usually in lavender, for two months. Zones 5-8.
Mint (Mentha spp.) Full sun to part shade. Average to rich, moist soil. Some types of mint can top 3 feet; choose ground-hugging types with tiny leaves. Spreads a foot or two. Good choices include Corsican mint (Mentha requienii) or Mentha spicata 'Nana'. Zones 6-9.
Oregano (Oreganum spp.) Full sun. Well-drained, average soil. Needs excellent drainage. Some types can grow 2 feet high, so choose low ground-hugging types. Golden cultivars, such as Origanum aureum, are especially striking. Zones 4-9.
Pinks (Dianthus spp.) Full sun to light shade in the South. Rich, very well-drained, alkaline soil. Although some types of dianthus can top a foot, look for low-growing types, such as maiden pinks (Dianthus deltoides) and cheddar pinks (Dianthus gratianopolitanus) that grow just a few inches high and form tight mats. All produce striking flowers pink, lavender, and white. Zones 3-9.
Sedum (Sedum spp.) Full sun. Average to sandy, well-drained soil. Groundcover types grow just a few inches tall and spread to a few feet over time. This succulent comes in many forms. Choose those with tiny leaves and a tight growth habit for best traffic tolerance. Good choices include 'Dragon's Blood', golden stonecrop, blue spruce sedum and the variegated 'Tricolor.' Zones 3-10.
Thyme (Thymus spp.) Full sun. Light, dry, well-drained soil. Groundcover types grow just 1 to a few inches tall and spread to a few feet over time. Fragrant, tough thyme loves growing in tight spaces between flagstones or tucked in among rocks, but it grows well just about anywhere it has plenty of sun and good drainage. It covers itself with pretty little flowers in pink, blue, purple, or white in spring. Dislikes humidity. Zones 4-10.
Veronica (Veronica spp.) Full sun to light shade in the South. Average, well-drained soil. Groundcover types grow just a few inches tall and spread 1 to 2 feet. Also called speedwell, this flower blooms with gorgeous blue flowers in spring. Try any of the prostrate Veronicas (Veronica prostrata), such as 'Heavenly Blue', or blue wooly speedwell, or Turkish speedwell (Veronica Liwanensis). Also try golden creeping as well as alpine speedwell. The smaller the leaf and the tighter the growth habit, the better it holds up to traffic. Zone 4-9.
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