Garden paths become magical when lined with the right groundcovers. These low-growing plants soften hard edges, reduce weeds, and add texture between stepping stones. Choosing the perfect groundcover companions transforms ordinary walkways into enchanting garden features while making maintenance easier.
1. Creeping Thyme
Walking on creeping thyme releases a wonderful herbal fragrance that transforms garden strolls into aromatic adventures. This tough little plant forms a dense mat that handles light foot traffic without complaint.
Purple, pink, or white flowers appear in summer, creating a colorful carpet that bees absolutely adore. As a bonus, the tiny leaves stay evergreen in mild climates, providing year-round interest alongside your garden path.
2. Irish Moss
Resembling a lush green cushion, Irish moss creates a velvety carpet that practically begs for bare feet. Despite its name, it’s not actually a moss but a flowering perennial that forms tight mounds of emerald foliage.
Tiny white star-shaped blooms appear in spring, adding subtle charm. Irish moss thrives in partial shade and moderate moisture, making it perfect for woodland paths or shaded walkways where grass struggles.
3. Corsican Mint
Step onto Corsican mint and be rewarded with an intense minty fragrance that lingers in the air. The tiny bright green leaves form a low carpet that hugs the ground between stepping stones.
Growing just half an inch tall, this diminutive plant packs a powerful sensory punch. Corsican mint prefers partial shade and consistent moisture, making it ideal for garden paths in cooler, damper areas where its refreshing scent can be fully appreciated.
4. Blue Star Creeper
Delicate pale blue flowers float above a sea of tiny green leaves, creating a dreamy effect along garden paths. Blue star creeper forms a dense mat that fills gaps between pavers while remaining short enough to never need mowing.
Hardy and adaptable, this Australian native tolerates light foot traffic and various soil conditions. The starry blooms appear from late spring through summer, attracting pollinators and adding a soft, whimsical quality to formal or cottage garden pathways.
5. Wooly Thyme
Fuzzy gray-green leaves give wooly thyme its distinctive texture that feels amazing underfoot. Unlike its cousin creeping thyme, this variety emphasizes foliage over flowers, creating a silvery carpet that stands out against stone or brick paths.
Extremely drought-tolerant once established, wooly thyme thrives in hot, sunny spots where other plants might struggle. Its soft, tactile quality invites touch, making garden paths more interactive and engaging for visitors of all ages.
6. Roman Chamomile
Apple-scented foliage makes Roman chamomile a fragrant choice for garden paths where brushing against plants releases delightful aromas. The feathery leaves form a soft, springy carpet that can handle occasional foot traffic.
Daisy-like flowers appear in summer, adding cheerful white and yellow accents. Traditional cottage gardeners have used this herb along walkways for centuries, valuing both its beauty and its calming scent that’s released when walked upon.
7. Stonecrop Sedum
Succulent leaves in shades of green, red, or blue make stonecrop sedum an eye-catching addition to sunny garden paths. These drought-masters store water in their thick leaves, creating carefree groundcovers that thrive on neglect.
Low-growing varieties like Sedum album and Sedum acre spread into tight mats between stepping stones. Star-shaped flowers in yellow, pink, or white appear in summer, attracting butterflies and adding seasonal interest to path edges.
8. Sweet Woodruff
Whorls of bright green leaves arranged like stars make sweet woodruff instantly recognizable along shaded garden paths. This woodland native spreads gently to form lush carpets beneath trees or along north-facing walkways.
Fragrant white flowers appear in spring, floating above the foliage like tiny constellations. When dried, the leaves smell like fresh hay or vanilla, once used to scent linen and repel insects. Sweet woodruff thrives where many groundcovers struggle—in dry shade under trees.
9. Ajuga (Bugleweed)
Glossy, often colorful foliage makes ajuga a standout groundcover for garden paths in partial shade. Varieties with purple, bronze, or variegated leaves create dramatic color that persists year-round in many climates.
Spikes of blue-purple flowers rise above the leaves in spring, attracting early pollinators. Ajuga spreads vigorously to form dense mats that choke out weeds, making it perfect for low-maintenance path edges where you want carefree color without constant upkeep.
10. Mazus
Forming a flat green carpet just an inch tall, mazus creates the perfect living mulch between stepping stones. This lesser-known groundcover surprises with abundant purple-blue flowers that resemble tiny snapdragons.
Tolerant of light foot traffic, mazus bounces back quickly if accidentally stepped on. It thrives in moist areas that receive morning sun and afternoon shade, making it ideal for garden paths that transition between sunny and shady spots.
11. Creeping Jenny
Bright chartreuse leaves bring a pop of color to garden paths, especially in shady areas where creeping Jenny’s golden foliage seems to glow. This fast-spreading groundcover quickly fills gaps between stepping stones with trailing stems.
Small yellow cup-shaped flowers appear in summer, complementing the vibrant leaves. Though vigorous, creeping Jenny remains well-behaved in dry conditions and can be easily trimmed if it ventures where unwanted. The golden variety ‘Aurea’ brightens dark corners of garden paths.
12. Miniature Mondo Grass
Resembling a tiny dark green lawn, miniature mondo grass creates formal, tidy edges along garden paths. The grass-like leaves form neat clumps that spread slowly, never becoming invasive.
Unlike real grass, mondo requires no mowing and stays green year-round in mild climates. At just 2-4 inches tall, dwarf varieties like ‘Nana’ fit perfectly between stepping stones. The fine texture contrasts beautifully with broader-leaved plants and the hard surfaces of path materials.
13. Alpine Water Fern
Delicate fronds that resemble tiny ferns make alpine water fern (Azolla filiculoides) a fascinating groundcover for damp garden paths. Despite its name, this unusual plant isn’t actually a fern but a floating water plant that adapts to moist soil.
The tiny overlapping leaves turn brilliant red in cool weather or full sun. Perfect for paths in rain gardens or areas that stay consistently moist, this groundcover creates a lush, primeval look that works beautifully in Japanese-inspired gardens.
14. Elfin Thyme
The tiniest member of the thyme family, elfin thyme forms an incredibly dense, tight carpet just half an inch tall. Perfect for filling cracks between pavers, this miniature herb creates the illusion of a living mortar.
Tiny pink flowers appear in summer, attracting bees while adding a blush of color. Extremely drought-tolerant once established, elfin thyme handles hot, sunny locations with ease, making it perfect for exposed garden paths that bake in summer heat.
15. Brass Buttons
Fern-like foliage in bronze or purple makes brass buttons an eye-catching groundcover for garden paths. The tiny leaves form a dense mat that resembles miniature ferns, creating interesting texture between stepping stones.
Small yellow button-like flowers appear in spring, giving this plant its common name. Brass buttons tolerate light foot traffic and moderate moisture, making them versatile for various garden path situations. The dark foliage provides beautiful contrast against light-colored pavers or gravel.
16. Dwarf Cinquefoil
Strawberry-like leaves and bright yellow flowers make dwarf cinquefoil a cheerful addition to sunny garden paths. The five-lobed leaves form a neat, compact mat that stays under 6 inches tall.
Blooming from late spring through summer, the butter-yellow flowers resemble tiny wild roses. Drought-tolerant and low-maintenance, dwarf cinquefoil varieties like ‘Nana’ or ‘Verna’ work beautifully in rock gardens or along gravel paths where their sunny blooms brighten the landscape.
17. Rupturewort
Nearly indestructible, rupturewort creates a flat green carpet that withstands foot traffic better than most groundcovers. The tiny round leaves form a dense mat that fills gaps between stepping stones while staying remarkably low to the ground.
Tolerant of drought, poor soil, and even salt spray, this tough plant thrives where others fail. Though its flowers are insignificant, the bright green foliage provides year-round color in mild climates, making garden paths look established and welcoming.