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Sprawling and Spilling Plants for Paved Areas

By , About.com Guide

Spreading groundcover type perennial plants are great to fill in cracks and spaces in paving. Plants like spreading sedum and creeping thyme are favorites because they can handle some foot traffic and neglect.

You can purchase any of the plants at a good nursery, but 2 companies have made it even easier by choosing some of the best and marketing them under the names STEPABLES® and Jeepers CreepersTM. Their labels are full of information. For instance, Under A Foot Plant Company (the STEPABLES parent company) has researched and copyrighted their foot traffic designations, which tell you how much walking on their plants can handle.

Use Creeping Plants:

Between Pavers
The obvious use for creeping perennials is as a filler between pavers, bricks and stone.

Lawn Alternatives
Many of the Creepers can actually be used in place of turf grass or mixed in with the other grasses in your lawn.

Living Mulch
Spreaders can also be used as a living mulch in established flower beds.

Images 13-24 of 26
Mazus reptans 'Purple'Mazus reptans 'Purple'Mazus reptans 'Purple'Mazus reptans 'Purple'Muehlenbeckia axillaries (Creeping Wire Vine)Muehlenbeckia axillaries (Creeping Wire Vine)Muehlenbeckia axillaries (Creeping Wire Vine)Muehlenbeckia axillaries (Creeping Wire Vine)
Sagina subulata Aurea (Scotch Moss)Sagina subulata Aurea (Scotch Moss)Sagina subulata (Irish Moss)Sagina subulata (Irish Moss)Sedum spurium 'John Creech'Sedum spurium 'John Creech'Sedum pachyclados 'White Diamond'Sedum pachyclados 'White Diamond'
Thymus praecox 'Elfin' (Creeping Thyme)Thymus praecox 'Elfin' (Creeping Thyme)Thymus praecox 'Elfin' (Creeping Thyme)Thymus praecox 'Elfin' (Creeping Thyme)Trifolium repens Atropurpureum (Bronze Dutch Clover)Trifolium repens Atropurpureum (Bronze Dutch Clover)Veronica repens 'Sunshine' (Golden Creeping Speedwell)Veronica repens 'Sunshine' (Golden Creeping Speedwell)
Related Video
Plants to Use in a No-Work Perennial Garden
Start New Plants From Cuttings

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