by Do you have a sunny yard? You can grow special plants called stepables for sun right in your path.These are tough little plants that love the sunshine. You can walk on them, and they grow low to the ground. They are a great way to fill in the spaces between stepping stones and make your garden soft and green.
What Are Sun-Loving Stepable Plants?
Stepables are amazing creeping plants for full sun. They spread out to make a living carpet in your garden. We call them stepables because you can step on them without hurting them much. These plants are perfect for hot, sunny spots where grass has trouble growing. They are low-maintenance walkable plants, which means they don’t need a lot of work. Once they are happy, they help keep weeds away and make your yard look beautiful. They are some of the best plants between stepping stones and work especially well in neighborhood entrance landscaping ideas where you want beauty and durability together.
Top 5 Plants for Sunny Walkways
Let’s look at some of the best heat tolerant groundcovers for your yard. These plants are tough and love the sunshine.
1. Creeping Thyme (Thymus serpyllum)
Creeping Thyme is a very popular choice. When you walk on it, it releases a lovely fresh scent. It grows tiny pink or purple flowers in the summer that bees love.
- Light: Full sun. It needs at least 6 hours of direct sun each day.
- Water: Needs very little water once it’s grown up. It’s one of the best drought-tolerant stepables. Water it when the soil is very dry.
- Care: Very easy! You do not need to mow it. You can trim it if it grows too far.
- Height: Stays very low, only 2-4 inches tall.
- Walkability: Can handle light to medium foot traffic.
- USDA Zone: 4-9
2. Blue Star Creeper (Isotoma fluviatilis)
This plant has tiny green leaves and sweet little blue star-shaped flowers that bloom all summer. It creates a soft, green mat.
- Light: Likes full sun but also does well with a little bit of afternoon shade.
- Water: Likes to stay a bit moist. Water it regularly, especially when it is hot.
- Care: Spreads easily to fill in spaces. It doesn’t need much care besides watering.
- Height: Grows about 3 inches tall.
- Walkability: Good for medium foot traffic.
- USDA Zone: 6-8
3. Woolly Thyme (Thymus pseudolanuginosus)
Woolly Thyme is a fun plant to touch. It has soft, fuzzy, gray green leaves. It is one of the best walkable plants for hot climates because it loves dry heat.
- Light: Needs full sun all day long.
- Water: Does not need much water. Let the soil dry out before you water it again.
- Care: This is a very tough and low-maintenance plant. It grows slowly.
- Height: Stays super short, only 1-3 inches high.
- Walkability: Handles light foot traffic. The fuzzy leaves are delicate.
- USDA Zone: 5-8
4. Sedum (Sedum album or other creeping varieties)
Sedum, also called stonecrop, is a type of succulent. It has fleshy leaves that store water, which makes it great for hot, dry areas. There are many kinds, and they often have pretty flowers.
- Light: Loves full sun.
- Water: It is very drought-tolerant. It needs very little water.
- Care: Super easy! Just plant it and watch it grow. It’s a great ground cover for sunny areas.
- Height: Varies by type, but many are 2-4 inches tall.
- Walkability: Best for light foot traffic.
- USDA Zone: 3-9
5. Irish Moss (Sagina subulata)
Don’t let the name fool you, Irish Moss is not actually moss! It’s a plant that looks like a lush, green carpet of moss. It gets tiny white flowers in the spring.
- Light: Prefers full sun in cooler areas but likes some afternoon shade in hot climates.
- Water: Needs regular water to keep its bright green color.
- Care: Keep the soil moist. It may turn brown in very hot, dry sun.
- Height: Grows only 1-2 inches tall.
- Walkability: Handles medium foot traffic well.
- USDA Zone: 4-8
For more expert ideas on walkable plants, you can read articles on websites like https://www.gardenista.com.
Comparison of Top 5 Stepables for Sun
|
Plant |
Sun Tolerance |
Water Needs |
Height |
Walkability |
USDA Zone |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Creeping Thyme |
Full Sun |
Low |
2-4 in. |
Medium |
4-9 |
|
Blue Star Creeper |
Full Sun/Part Shade |
Medium |
3 in. |
Medium |
6-8 |
|
Woolly Thyme |
Full Sun |
Very Low |
1-3 in. |
Light |
5-8 |
|
Sedum |
Full Sun |
Very Low |
2-4 in. |
Light |
3-9 |
|
Irish Moss |
Full Sun/Part Shade |
Medium |
1-2 in. |
Medium |
4-8 |
Tips for Planting and Design
Planting stepables is a fun project! Here are some simple tips to help you get started with your full sun landscaping ideas.
- Prepare the Soil: Before you plant, clear the area of weeds and rocks. Loosen the soil with a small rake or shovel. This helps the new plants grow strong roots.
- Spacing Your Plants: When you plant your stepables, leave some space between them. Read the plant tag to see how far apart they should be. They will grow and creep together to fill in the empty spots.
- Planting Between Stepping Stones: This is the most popular way to use stepables! Dig small holes between your stones. Gently place one plant in each hole and press the dirt around it. Make sure the plants are level with the top of the stones.
- Watering New Plants: After you plant them, give your new stepables a good drink of water. Water them every few days for the first few weeks to help them get started.
Using stepables at entrances for curb appeal can make your home’s walkway look soft and inviting. These plants also work as a great companion plant in sunny landscapes next to taller flowers or shrubs. You could even pair them with a low-maintenance sun-loving grass. You can find more suggestions for groundcovers on sites like the Old Farmer’s https://www.almanac.com.
Adding stepables to your sunny paths is an easy and fun way to make your garden special. These tough little plants add color, texture, and even nice smells to your yard.Find more sunny garden ideas here.
