'Steppable' plants for walkways, patios and more

Plants you can walk on are attractive additions to pathways. These low-lying perennials can withstand heavy foot traffic, release pleasant odors when crushed, smother weeds, and cushion your step in the narrow spaces between bricks or flagstones.

You can use steppables for all kinds of applications, said Kathy Gurnee, owner of Green Thumb Landscaping in Clinton, Wash.

You can use them as groundcover in lieu of bark, she said. On patios, pathways, rock walls and crevices. I like them around the bottoms of trees. Theyre also good for living roofs and living walls. They deliver a beautiful resilience.

Walkables generally are defined as creeping plants that dont exceed 12 inches in height, said John Schroeder, president of Valleybrook International Ventures Inc., a family-owned horticultural operation in Abbotsford, British Columbia. The companys line of Jeepers Creepers includes around 100 varieties of low-to-the-ground herbs, mints, evergreens, ivy, moss and more.

I like them for lawn repair or replacement, he said, adding that he stripped 900 square feet of turf grass from his own front yard and replaced it with creeping mazus, a dense, ground-hugging plant.

Many walkable plants are drought-resistant, while others perform well in shade, on hard-to-maintain slopes, covering bulb gardens, spilling from containers or protecting high-use areas. A sampling:

For areas with moderate to heavy foot traffic: Corsican sandwort has moss-like foliage with white flowers in spring. Does well in damp, dry or shaded settings. Celestial spice pratia has tiny green leaves covered by deep blue flowers all summer.

For fragrance: Corsican mint, the smallest of the mint family. It delivers a pleasant crme-de-menthe fragrance when crushed. It also does well in shade. Creeping thyme is a fast-growing groundcover that gives off a spicy scent. Most thymes are drought-tolerant and can survive moderate traffic.

As a lawn substitute: Alpine moss ear grows into a dense carpet with white flowers in summer. It thrives in dry climates. Blue star creeper is a dark green perennial producing soft blue flowers through summer. Creeping mazus, with its low mat of green leaves studded by small lavender flowers, tolerates hot, humid summers.

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'Steppable' plants for walkways, patios and more