x Close

Keyword Search

Plant List Display

Alpha Filter

Additional Filters

Display By
Categories
Exposure
Custom Attributes
Attracts Wildlife
Special Recognition
Hardiness Zone

Reset Filters

Foot Traffic Tolerant Plants

Success! The following plants match your search request. We've included all matches below. Click on any plant to learn additional details.

  Filters
Dwarf Golden Sweet Flag

Acorus gramineus 'Minimus Aureus'

Dwarf Golden Sweet Flag is a wonderful plant for walkways as well as rain gardens and stream edges, because it is tolerant of foot traffic as well as significant moisture. The evergreen foliage is like tiny thick bladed grass tufts and when crushed, it releases an attractive sweet scent. The tufts slowly expand to make a short yellowish green mat. Although it looks like a grass, Acorus gramineus 'Minimus Aureus' is actually more closely related to the Iris family.

H: 4 Inches  ·   S: 8 Inches  ·   Zone: 5


Bugleweed

Ajuga reptans 'Black Scallop' PP15815

The deep purple shiny leaves of 'Black Scallop' ('Binblasca') Bugleweed have ruffled edges. Deep blue flower spikes appear on Ajuga in late spring. From Mike Tristram of the UK.

H: 3 Inches  ·   S: 6 Inches  ·   Zone: 6


Bugleweed

Ajuga reptans 'Chocolate Chip'

'Chocolate Chip' ('Valfredda') Bugleweed has tiny purplish chocolate foliage with violet-blue flower spikes in late spring. This Ajuga makes an excellent groundcover around stepping stones. It came to the US from Italy.

H: 2 Inches  ·   S: 4 Inches  ·   Zone: 4


Bugleweed

Ajuga reptans 'Pink Lightning' PP22255

Short mauve pink flower spikes above crinkled green and white leaves in mid spring. A semi-evergreen shade groundcover.

H: 6 Inches  ·   S: 6 Inches  ·   Zone: 4


Blue Grama

Bouteloua gracilis

Native warm-season grass with persistent, unique looking inflorescences that remain upright from their arrival in late June and persist deep into winter. Highly drought tolerant, adaptable to poor soils, occasional mowing, and light foot traffic. Lawn alternative.

H: 14 Inches  ·   S: 20 Inches  ·   Zone: 3


Glaucous Sedge

Carex flacca 'Blue Zinger'

'Blue Zinger' Glaucous Sedge has beautiful grayish blue foliage that is similar in color to Festuca 'Elijah Blue', but 'Blue Zinger' is much more tolerant of different sites, going from shade to full sun. Carex flacca 'Blue Zinger' spreads rapidly to make a good tight groundcover.

H: 6 Inches  ·   S: 18 Inches  ·   Zone: 4


Japanese Grass Sedge

Carex morrowii 'Ice Dance'

'Ice Dance' Japanese Grass Sedge has green and white striped foliage. 'Ice Dance' Kan Suge is a great evergreen groundcover that can cover a large, shady area rapidly and easily. The small flowers appear above the foliage in May. Introduced to the US by Barry Yinger.

H: 12 Inches  ·   S: 24 Inches  ·   Zone: 5


Pennsylvania Sedge

Carex pensylvanica

Pennsylvania Sedge has fine green leaves which are semi-evergreen, spreading slowly by rhizomes to form a tough groundcover in shady areas. Most effective if planted in mass. It can be used instead of grass in the shade. It is very tolerant of foot traffic as well. Mow infrequently.

H: 8 Inches  ·   S: 12 Inches  ·   Zone: 4


New
Carex woodii
Wood's Sedge

Carex woodii

H: 12 Inches  ·   S: 12 Inches  ·   Zone: 4


Golden Star

Chrysogonum virginianum 'Superstar'

'Superstar' Golden Star makes a lovely delicate green carpet in shady and sunny locations. The slightly fuzzy green foliage is studded with lots of bright yellow simple flowers in mid to late spring, with some reblooming when moisture is adequate. Originally named after the American Rock Garden Society's Norman Singer, this native groundcover is both deer resistant and very easy to grow. 'Superstar' was renamed to reflect the fact that the foliage is significantly cleaner and more vigorous, remaining attractive long after the vivid flower display finishes. James Brown, the Carex King of New Moon Nursery, says it's his favorite Chrysogonum.

H: 5 Inches  ·   S: 12 Inches  ·   Zone: 5


Red Fescue

Festuca rubra

Cool season grass that makes a great lawn substitute, handling many different site conditions, regular mowing, and high shade tolerance. Airy, reddish panicles appear between May and June over narrow, arching blades. Enjoyed by wildlife and livestock but ignored by deer. Highly drought tolerant.

H: 18 Inches  ·   S: 18 Inches  ·   Zone: 2


Lily-turf

Liriope muscari 'Big Blue'

The lavender-blue flowers of 'Big Blue' Lily-turf appear in late summer. Liriope tolerates dry and difficult sites, and is an evergreen spreader. The flower spikes make good short cut flowers.

H: 12 Inches  ·   S: 18 Inches  ·   Zone: 5


Golden Creeping Jenny

Lysimachia nummularia 'Aurea'

Golden Creeping Jenny has bright, golden-yellow leaves that hug the ground and form a dense, attractive mat. Small yellow flowers in spring are not conspicuous, but the leaves turn a bronzy-gold fall color. Lysimachia is great for rock gardens and walls, fast spreading.

H: 2 Inches  ·   S: 18 Inches  ·   Zone: 3


Creeping Mazus

Mazus reptans

Creeping Mazus has tiny green leaves that form a dense mat, covered with delicate, purple-blue flowers in late spring. A great plant for rock gardens, walkways and walls.

H: 2 Inches  ·   S: 18 Inches  ·   Zone: 6


White Creeping Mazus

Mazus reptans 'Alba'

White Creeping Mazus forms a thick mat of tiny green leaves, topped by delicate white flowers in late spring. Good for walls, walkways and rock gardens, does best in moist shade.

H: 2 Inches  ·   S: 18 Inches  ·   Zone: 6


Meehan's Mint

Meehania cordata

Meehan's Mint is a lovely native groundcover that thrives in shade. The low trailing foliage is covered with bright blue flowers in late spring. The clean, neat leaves form a good green mat in average to moist locations. Hummingbirds and bees are attracted to the flowers, and deer leave them alone. What could be better?

H: 8 Inches  ·   S: 12 Inches  ·   Zone: 5


Dwarf Mondo Grass

Ophiopogon japonicus 'Nana'

Dwarf Mondo Grass is an excellent evergreen groundcover between stepping stones because it has good tolerance for moderate foot traffic. The delicate strap-like leaves are dark green and very uniform. This plant is a good grass-like substitute for lawns in shady areas. Dwarf Mondo Grass is very useful for water run off in shade, as well as water absorption on shady green roofs. A member of the Asparagus family (as you can tell by the occasional blue fruit).

H: 3 Inches  ·   S: 8 Inches  ·   Zone: 6


Moss Phlox

Phlox subulata 'Amazing Grace'

White star-shaped flowers cover green needle-like leaves in early spring. Makes a semi-evergreen groundcover for sunny locations.

H: 6 Inches  ·   S: 12 Inches  ·   Zone: 2


Moss Phlox

Phlox subulata 'Candy Stripe'

The flowers in April of 'Candy Stripe' Moss Phlox are pink and white stripes, over creeping thread-like green foliage. Needs good drainage.

H: 4 Inches  ·   S: 10 Inches  ·   Zone: 2


Moss Phlox

Phlox subulata 'Drummond's Pink'

Bright pink star-shaped flowers cover the delicate ground-hugging foliage in early spring. Makes a carpet-like groundcover.

H: 6 Inches  ·   S: 18 Inches  ·   Zone: 3


Moss Phlox

Phlox subulata 'Emerald Blue'

'Emerald Blue' Moss Phlox is covered with lavender blue flowers in April. Creeping green thread-like foliage is perfect for rock gardens and around walks. Prefers good drainage.

H: 4 Inches  ·   S: 10 Inches  ·   Zone: 2


Moss Phlox

Phlox subulata 'Emerald Pink'

Bright pink notched tubular flowers cover the delicate green mat of foliage in April and May. Excellent in rocky and sunny locations.

H: 6 Inches  ·   S: 12 Inches  ·   Zone: 3


Moss Phlox

Phlox subulata 'Purple Beauty'

North American native. An evergreen, dense mat of finely textured, needle-like foliage becomes impressively covered with small purple flowers from early April to the end of May. Deer resistant and tolerant of dry soils.

H: 4 Inches  ·   S: 16 Inches  ·   Zone: 2


Moss Phlox

Phlox subulata 'Red Wings'

'Red Wings' Moss Phlox blooms profusely in April, with fuchsia red flowers covering the semi-evergreen needle-like leaves for several weeks. The green foliage forms a carpet-like mat, spreading slowly to cover the ground thoroughly. Phlox 'Red Wings' performs well in rock gardens and along walls, where it has good drainage.

H: 4 Inches  ·   S: 12 Inches  ·   Zone: 2