Can you Walk on Creeping Thyme?

Yes, you can walk on Creeping Thyme. In this post, we will see if list of Ground cover plants you can walk on or step-able plants.

These ground cover plants’ growth does not get disturbed by stepping on. You can plant these ground plants in pathways, and gaps in walkways. 

Can grow any short-growing green plants as ground cover or you should use grass. 

Well, you have to select a plant species for crevice planting that does not die. Many people put grass strips in between pathways but there is a little challenge. 

Grass works well when grown in a large area, but they tend to die when cut to fit in crevices. This is because grass still needs to be watered, mowed, and fertilized. 

Why is grass can step down without getting crushed? 

Actually, grass has an individual string, which is a single plant with its own roots. This makes a strong root layer underneath of grass and its all roots are so dense when anyone crashes or steps on they can bound back like a cushion.

That’s interesting. So we have to choose plants that have similar properties as grass that can be used to plant in crevices. You have to choose plants that are packed densely and when you step on them they bounce back. 

Ground cover plants

Here are some of the ground cover plants you can walk on:

Wooly thyme

In the hot summer, plants get dry easily. Mostly it’s not possible to water large spread ground cover plants. To deal with this plant drought tolerant ground cover like wooly thyme. Wooly thyme has similar properties to grasses and it also smells nice. It grows dense and in the spring it grows beautiful flowers. Learn How to grow thyme.

Related Post: How To Grow, Care, And Trim Asiatic Jasmine

Dymondia 

If you plant ground cover that looks different from grass consider Dymondia. Its foliage is green with white stripes. This is a great cover for a hot, dry garden, you can grow them in between stones in a sunny area. You just need to space them out every 8 inches and they will combine and look gorgeous. 

Moss

Moss is the other step on ground cover plants. It is a very neat and green-looking plant that feels like little cushions. You can plant in shady areas but it needs a little bit of water.

Isotoma “Blue star creeper”

• Zones: 6 to 10
• Size: 1 to 2 inches tall and 8-12 inches wide
• Sun: Full to partial sun
• Soil: well-drained, average to poor soil
• Water: drought tolerant

Isotoma “Blue star creeper” is a shade or show growing ground cover plant. This plant does not die even in dark shade or in snow. This has long string-like stems with little tiny button-shaped buttons. It grows close and dense and forms clumps. It can also be a step in not getting affected. Pulse in the spring bears white flowers.

Dwarf Mondo Grass

• Zones: 7 to 10
• Size: 2 inches tall and 4-6 inches wide
• Sun: partial to full shade
• Soil: average soil
• Water: evenly moist to dry

If you want a plant that has texture and is a little bit tough, consider Dwarf mondo grass. It grows in a bunch of little plants in heavy shady areas.

Plant them with a gap of 8 inches between each plant. It grows slowly which makes it terrific between pavers because its slow growth does not cover stone. However, when they cover a large area, it looks gorgeous. Dwarf Mondo grass grows 2 inches tall, and plants 2 inches deeper in the soil so that it does not look overgrown. 

Green carpet rupturewort

• Size: 1-2 inches tall and 10-18 inches wide
• USDA hardiness zones: 5 to 9
• Light: Full sun to bright shade
• Soil: average to poor soil, rocky soil.
• Water: drought tolerant, avoid overwatering. 

Green carpet rupturewort is the toughest of the tough. You want to cover land that has lots of rush or walk-on plant green carpet rupturewort. It has tiny bright green leaves that form very extremely dense carpets that do not get crushed or turn yellow even after vehicles run off them.

The summer blooms are not that attractive but the plant does self-sow. It is preferred not to cover the leaves for a long period of time with a container or material. The major advantage of rupturewort is that it does not “melt out” in highly humid summer conditions the way other creeping thyme often do.

Dwarf creeping wire vine

• Zone: 6 to 10
• Size: 1-2 inches tall and 8 to 12 inches wide
• Sun: full sun to partial shade
• Soil: well-drainage, average soil
• Water: drought tolerant

Dwarf creeping wire vine gives a contrasting look when planted between stepping stones. It has wiry stems and tiny, dark green leaves that turn bronze with heat or cold. This variety forms a denser mat in the ground. In the spring it bears tiny green flowers that bloom in the fall.

The stems grow underground as well as along the surface which works great in dry, well-traveled paths, but they can adapt in the garden. In winter its foliage gets dried, you can cut the dried foliage to ground level or allow new foliage to grow over it in spring.

‘Chocolate Chip’ ajuga

• Zones: 3 to 9
• Size: 3 to 4 inches tall and 1 foot wide
• Sun: Full to partial shade
• Soil: dry to average soil
• Water: evenly moist

Chocolate chip ajuga grows small, dark purplish, green leaves that create a ground cover that is not aggressive as other ajuga varieties. It welcomes spring with beautiful bluish-purple flowers. However, it should be mowed or trimmed with a mower to keep it tidy and to prevent self-seeding. Deer and rabbits do not feast on this ground plant. Chocolate chip ajuga can fill space around large plants and provide year-long beauty.

White cup flower

• Zones: 7 to 10
• Size: 2 to 3 inches tall and 8 to 12 inches wide
• Sun: Full sun to partial shade
• Soil: well-drained, average soil
• Water: drought once established

White cup flower blooms quarter size in the spring and covers the ground with green foliage when no other ground cover plants bloom. Although the plant grows better in sunny areas, its white buttercup flowers get bright even in shady areas. The plant is considered aggressive but it provides a dependable ground cover.

The dense underground growth of the roots controls most weeds to thrive but the plant is low enough to carpet taller or heavy basal growth. You can grow this loving flower growing ground cover plant in the garden, it unites the entire area into one sweep.

Miniature golden sweet flag

• Zones: 5 to 9
• Size: 3 to 5 inches tall and 6 to 12 inches wide
• Sun: Full sun to full shade
• Soil: well-drained, boggy soil.
• Water: evenly moist

Miniature golden sweet flag sunshine in shade. This is a moisture-living plant that thrives in clay soil or loamy soil with normal moisture. This does well in between stones in pathways, wooden ties, and a golden mat. It is a slow grower and deer resistant.

‘Archer’s Gold’ creeping thyme

• Zones: 5 to 9
• Size: 3 to 4 inches tall and 5-12 inches wide
• Sun: Full sun to partial shade
• Soil: moist, well-drained, average soil.
• Water: drought tolerant when established

‘Archer’s Gold’ Creeping thyme has all the good qualities of a plant. It bears bright gold evergreen foliage, a lemon scent when it gets crushed underfoot, and a nice lemon flavor for cooking.

The plant is drought tolerant and deer resistant, excellent for herb garden walkways, around beautiful rose beds as a mulch substitute, or in the lawn as a disease-free alternative.

The part of this plant does not turn brown in heat and humidity, as many other thyme do. Plus its light lavender-pink flowers bounce in the summer.

Did I Miss Anything?

Now I’d like to hear from you: which ground cover plant from today’s post are you going to try first? Or maybe, I didn’t mention your favorite ground cover plant. Either way, let me know by leaving a comment below right now.

Before going if you want to grow beautiful flowers in your garden? Then click on these articles also.

Madhuresh

Hey! I’m Madhuresh, a passionate content creator, and a Plant lover. I created Shiny Plant to explore and learn about new plants. The purpose is to provide simple and effective Gardening Tips. Hope you’ll find this informative.