I understand the dilemma gardeners have when selecting groundcovers for this purpose, because, to be totally honest there are really very few candidates that fit the bill, leaving us feeling rather like a  boss searching for a highly qualified ‘plant candidate’ for the position of ‘ground cover between pavers’ without much luck.

If so, here are some tips for success, be realistic in your search and realise that although very few plant candidates qualify, you need to select one even if you think it’s unqualified for the job because it does not fit your idea of an ideal groundcover between pavers, or perhaps because you don’t think it’s as pretty as you would like it to be. However, if it’s going to do the job well then you have found what you are looking for.  

Pavers, with their little strips of greenery between them, are rather like delicate trimmings in the home that form an integral part of the overall composition and soften hard lines. What plants you select to use as an edging to your pathway or flagstones, is what will really showcase the area, adding a lush, living element to the design.

Planting the perfect garden between pavers and stepping stones is easier than you think, and what you select to plant will depend on the climate of your area, what kind of soil you have, and whether the garden receives shade or sun, or perhaps a bit of both. Therefore, you need to seek advice from your local garden centre – they know what grows best in your region. I also strongly urge you to visit local Indigenous nurseries in your area - you will be surprised at what lovely qualified candidates they will have.

So what qualifications do the plants candidates need to have to qualify for the job? First and foremost they have to stay very low and be vigorous enough to grow thickly and supress weeds, but not so vigorously they need continual clipping. They also mustn’t mind being squashed a bit under feet, or paws! If the area only gets trodden on occasionally, then choose more delicate plants, but for an area that has fairly high traffic you will need plants like creeping thyme that are more tolerant of trampling. If foot traffic is very high, living plants are not recommended – rather lay pebbles, bark mulch, or gravel between the pavers.

Another important consideration to bear in mind when designing or laying pavers or pathways is how much space will be left between the pavers to plant in. Narrow gaps will suit very low growers that do not spread too rapidly, but please remember that plants will need space to grow in and don’t usually do well in ‘cracks’. Wider gaps suit more vigorous, spreading plants, and will even support low growing annuals like alyssum for a colourful summer show.

Different garden styles lend themselves to different plant choices so you need to decide if your paved area requires uniformity or if lends itself to a mixture of plants for a more informal look.

You also need to be realistic about how much time you have to spend on maintaining your pathway or flagstone patio. For a less intensive care pathway, choose plants that require little attention and can be left alone for prolonged periods. If you have more time to spend in the garden, you can opt for an assortment of plant candidates, with differing maintenance requirements, or even create a "wild" looking path or paved area.

Watering will also play an important role in keeping your plants looking good, and even if there is plenty of rainfall throughout the year, they will need supplementary watering occasionally. If you live in an area where water restrictions could be implemented, choose wisely, and select candidates that are water-wise.

Stepping stones and flagstones are often set on a compacted soil base, or several inches of sand, which obviously is not ideal for plant roots to thrive in, so if you wish to plant between the pavers and some sand is required, always use washed river sand and not builder’s sand, which is disastrous for growing plants in.

Before planting, always prep your space by removing all weeds, loosening the soil between the pavers, and adding some compost. Adding a slow release fertiliser to the spaces at planting time will help tremendously to establish the plants quickly. The key to ground cover success between pavers is to give the plants sufficient loose, nutrient-rich soil that is at least 15cm deep for roots to grow well, and with gaps at least 6cm wide, but an extra centimetre or two would be perfect.

If you wish to install a watering system, this must be done before planting. For large areas it may be worthwhile to install a thin, running drip line between the pavers, or for pathways you could line the path with pop-up micro-sprayers, or even adjust nearby sprinklers so that their over-spray covers the plants.

Once you have finished planting, mulch the bare soil with more compost and then irrigate well, continuing to do so until the plants are well established.

Now for the hard, or perhaps the easiest part – selecting the perfect plant for the position of groundcover between pavers.

As I mentioned earlier there are very few plants that truly qualify for this position in the garden, and often just selecting a single plant to adorn the spaces between pavers is all you need if the borders of the patio or pathway are filled with a glorious array of other plants. 

The plant options below are by no means the only ones, just some of the popular ones. Pick plants suited to how much foot traffic the area receives and take into consideration your growing region, soil type, and light exposure. It’s also good to bear in mind that if plants which prefer full sun are grown in semi-shade, they will grow a bit taller than if planted in full sun.

Dymondia margaretae Picture courtesy Wild Flower NurserySilver Carpet (Dymondea margaritae)

My first choice for sunny South African gardens is our very own indigenous silver carpet which is renowned the world over for its ability to grow with ease between pavers. It’s a perfectly flat, neat, drought tolerant ground cover, and although it thrives in full sun it will also take semi-shade. It’s phenomenally tidy and bears slender leaves that are green on top and grey underneath, and the slight upward curl on the edges of each leaf gives the plants a delightful frosted, two-tone look. Charming little yellow daisy flowers appear in summer, and once established the plants fill in to form a dense, flat carpet that visually really looks like a ‘silver lawn’. Silver carpet is a really tough evergreen which tolerates foot traffic so well that it is often used as a lawn substitute, and it’s soft and squishy to walk on barefoot, what more could you ask for?

Members can click here to read more about Silver Carpet

  

Ophiopogon japonicus 'Nana' Picture courtesy www.acemondo.co.nz'Mondo Grass' ( Ophiopogon)

There are several dwarf cultivars of Ophiopogon which have short leaves and form very compact mounds, making them perfect candidates to plant between paving slabs and stepping stones. They will grow is semi-shade and sun and spread at a moderate pace to form dense carpets of evergreen leaves that can take a fair amount of foot traffic, and the little flower spikes are pretty but not really visible inside the leaves. 

'Kyoto Dwarf' (Ophiopogon japonicus) is a miniature which spreads to form a dense carpet of dark green leaves 8 to 10cm tall, with spikes of lilac flowers.

'Kyoto' Super Dwarf (Ophiopogon japonicus) only grows around 5cm tall and has short dark green leaves and tiny white flowers hidden within the foliage.

'Nigrescens' (Ophiopogon planiscapus) is a dwarf cultivar 5 to 10cm tall with black leaves; making it an excellent contrast plant for pavers

Members can click here to read more about Mondo Grass

 

Sagina subulata 'Aurea' Picture courtesy Karen Maraj from flickrIrish moss (Sagina subulata)

Irish moss, often called “Scottish Moss” is another perfect evergreen candidate that stays very low, and although it only grows a couple of centimetres high, it can spread 30cm or more.  This lovely groundcover will grow in semi-shade or sun and requires virtually no maintenance, and although it’s technically speaking not a true moss, it sure resembles moss, forming a gorgeous, thick and dense mound of tiny yellow-green leaves, and anytime from late spring to summer, tiny translucent white flowers appear. Don't worry about treadling lightly on Irish moss as it will bounce right back from occasional damage, and its soft and spongy texture makes it wonderful for bare feet.

What is commonly called "Irish Moss" (Sagina subulata) has rich emerald green leaves whilst the cultivar called "Scotch Moss" (Sagina subulata 'Aurea') is vibrant chartreuse.

Members can click here to read more about Irish Moss

 

Thymus serpyllum 'Pink' Picture courtesy Leonora 'Ellie' Enking from flickrCreeping Thyme (Thymus spp)

There are very few ground covers that can really be walked-on, but creeping thyme is one of them, so it’s my first choice for high traffic areas. When its tiny leaves are bruised even lightly it emits a wonderful fragrance, and when in full bloom it can be quite spectacular. Creeping thyme is considered one of the finest evergreen ground covers for filling in between flagstones as it meets all of the criteria of a good plant employee. It’s a very petite herb that comes in many varieties, all with tiny fragrant leaves in shades of dark green, lime green, and even yellow with a white edging. They stay flat, will grow in difficult soils and are water-wise, and though they revel in full sun where they flower abundantly, they will tolerate a little shade.

(Thymus serpyllum) is a creeping form with small oval leaves which are sometimes hairy, and pink, pale mauve, or purple-pink to dark crimson flowers.

(Thymus ‘Bressingham’) has pretty purple-pink flowers, splashed dark crimson. It is a mat forming variety with creeping stems and hairy leaves.

(Thymus praecox ‘Coccineus’) has dark green leaves, and is smothered by bright magenta-red flowers in early summer.

Members can click here to read more about Thyme

 

Falkia repens Picture courtesy www.randomharvest.co.zaAfrican Morning Glory, White Carpet, Oortjies (Falkia repens)

Oortjies comes highly recommended as an evergreen filler plant between pavers as it forms a low, mat-forming groundcover that will take light foot traffic. Depending on how much sun it receives, it grows about 5 to 10cm in height with a spread of 30 to 46cm, and may require some clipping to keep it really low and neat. It has lovely rounded leaves, and in summer large, white to pinkish paper-like flowers appear that look like miniature poppies. It’s hardy and tolerates poor soil and heat, and although it thrives in quite wet areas of the garden, in sun or shade, it adapts to both wet and normally irrigated areas. 

Members can click here to read more about Oortjies

 

Creeping Mazus Creeping Mazus (Mazus reptans)

Creeping mazus is a pretty flowering perennial that is ideal planted between stepping stones and pavers because it grows very quickly to form a dense ground-hugging carpet, without being aggressive. In small areas with limited foot traffic it’s even sometimes used as a lawn substitute, and will tolerate the occasional mowing. Creeping mazus will grow in sun or semi-shade and is cold and frost hardy, but also tolerates hot and humid summers. In warm winter regions the plants are evergreen, but are semi-evergreen or totally dormant in cold winter regions. In adequate sunshine the plant will remain short, 3 to 5cm, with a spread of 25 to 30cm. From late spring to mid-summer this lovely perennial produces pretty lavender-blue or white flowers with yellow and white centres. There's also a white variety called 'Alba'

Members can click here to read more about Creeping Mazus

 

Viola hederaceaAustralian Violet (Viola hederacea)

The Australian violet is a delightful fast spreading evergreen perennial that grows well throughout South Africa. It’s quite the charmer with its low mats of bright green leaves, and masses of tiny white and violet flowers which appear in spring, summer and autumn, and in subtropical gardens it can flower all year round. The foliage remains low, around 10cm, and the flowers stand above the leaves at a height of about 15cm. Individual plants can spread via underground runners to about 30cm. The Australian violet thrives in moist shady places, but in most regions of South Africa it will grow happily in full sun, as long as it can be watered regularly. And, if kept moist the plants can withstand very high temperatures. It’s lovely between pavers and stepping stones, tolerating light foot or paw traffic. Under favourable conditions it can become invasive, but is easy to control if necessary

Members can click here to read more about the Australian Violet

  

Mentha requienii Image by Gerson Rodriguez from PixabayCorsican Mint (Mentha requienii)

Corsican mint is one of the smallest members of the mint family, and an old garden favourite because it creeps continually to form a beautiful, dense and soft mat of very low growing foliage, generally growing only about 1 to 5cm tall,  and if you walk on it, the bruised leaves release wafts of scent reminiscent of minty toothpaste. Tiny, lilac-pink flowers appear in summer, but are so small they are hardly noticeable. In cold and frosty regions this perennial will become totally dormant in winter, re-sprouting again in spring, but in mild, frost-free climates it is semi-evergreen. It grows well if watered regularly in summer and loves growing in semi-shade or sun. Corsican mint takes moderate foot traffic and is excellent planted between pavers and stepping stones, but as most gardeners know, mints all have aggressive, invasive qualities, and Corsican mint is no exception, and under favourable conditions it can become invasive, but is easy to control if necessary.

Penny Royal Mint (Mentha pulegium)

Penny Royal is similar to Corsican Mint, but has broader leaves and is taller growing. It does well in full sun as well as in damp, shady places. In sun it will grow about 5cm tall, making it great to plant between pavers and stepping stones, but because it is very vigorous and can become invasive, it will need to be controlled, and is not recommended for small gardens. However, in large areas where the pavers are widely spaced this plant candidate may just be the right one for the job.

Members can click here to read more about Mints

 

Selaginella kraussiana 'Aurea' Picture courtesy Megan Hansen from flickrKrauss' Spike Moss, Woud Aarmos (Selaginella kraussiana)

Krauss' Spike Moss is a popular evergreen groundcover for shady gardens that’s acclaimed worldwide for its luxuriant leaves and low growth, and it’s often a first choice for use between pavers and stepping stones because it’s soft enough for a barefoot pathway, yet it tolerates moderate foot traffic. And although it only grows about 5cm tall, it can spread 30cm or more. Spike moss is a very hardy perennial that thrives in moist conditions with high humidity, it can also be grown in colder climates where it will tolerant low winter temperatures, but will not survive being frozen. It adapts to most soil types and thrives in moderate to low light, in shady positions, and even in deep shade. The plants will tolerate higher light intensities and exposure to short periods of full sunlight as long as the soil can be kept moist.

Kraus's Golden Spikemoss (Selaginella kraussiana 'Aurea') is a variation which has luminous golden-coloured foliage that will lighten up any damp, shady spot.

Gold Tips Spikemoss (Selaginella kraussiana 'Gold Tips’) is a variation with light green foliage and lighter yellow-green tips.

Members can click here to read more about Krauss' Spike Moss

 

Lysimachia nummularia 'Aurea'Golden Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia 'Aurea')

The green leaved creeping jenny can be very aggressive, and although the yellow cultivars like 'Aurea' are much less aggressive, they can still be invasive.  However, if it can be controlled, creeping jenny is a very useful plant to grow between pavers and stepping stones because it is very easy to grow, remains low, and can tolerate light foot traffic. It is grown for its beautiful foliage which is broadly yellow, ranging from lime-green to soft chartreuse if grown in quite a lot of shade, transitioning to a more golden yellow in semi or dappled shade, to a brassy gold in full sun. In very hot regions full sun is not recommended as this will often burn the foliage. It thrives in regions with high summer rainfall, but can struggle in very hot and humid regions, and in very cold regions it will go completely dormant in winter. If you have a large area to cover, golden creeping jenny may be the plant for the job.

Members can click here to read more about Creeping Jenny

 

Phyla nodiflora Picture courtesy Forest and Kim Starr from flickrCape Weed, Matgrass - Phyla nodiflora

The Cape weed is not indigenous to SA but has naturalised itself here. Because it generally stays low, growing about 5 to 10cm tall, and can take heavy foot-traffic, it’s often grown as a lawn substitute, or planted between pavers and stepping stones. It grows happily in full sun or semi-shade, and although it revels in subtropical regions where it remains evergreen, it’s fully hardy in cold and frosty regions too, where it will die down completely in winter and shoot again in spring. It’s a great coastal plant and can tolerate salt spray. If you have a small garden, Cape weed, in my opinion, is not a good candidate for the position of groundcover between pavers as it grows far too vigorously, and in moist subtropical regions the plant can produce stems up to 90cm long, becoming woody at the base as it matures. But, if you have a large area of pavers this plant may be the perfect candidate.

Members can click here to read more about Cape Weed

 

Lawn Grass.

Yes, turf grass makes an excellent filler plant between flagstones or pathway stones, especially if they are on the larger side and are set a good distance apart. And, with smart design and proper paver height placement, you can literally mow right over the pavers as if they weren’t there. This is very effective in modern and minimalistic garden styles. Turf grass can look really effective, but to look good, just like your lawn, it needs regular watering, feeding and mowing.