Light traffic
Is there a path that’s seldom used, where visitors tread lightly? Try any of these handsome plants. An occasional footfall won’t do too much damage, and might even release a delightful fragrance.
Ajuga reptans (carpet bugleweed); zones 3 to 10
Alchemilla alpina (alpine lady’s mantle); zones 3 to 9
Alchemilla ellenbeckii (lady’s mantle); zones 6 to 9
Campanula poscharskyana (Serbian bellflower); zones 3 to 8
Cerastium tomentosum (snow-in-summer); zones 3 to 7
Chamaemelum nobile (Roman chamomile); zones 4 to 9
Chrysogonum virginianum (goldenstar); zones 5 to 9
Cymbalaria muralis (Kenilworth ivy); zones 5 to 8
Erysimum kotschyanum (dwarf wallflower); zones 4 to 9
Fragaria chiloensis (beach strawberry); zones 4 to 9
Mentha requienii (Corsican mint); zones 7 to 9
Ophiopogon japonicus ‘Nanus’ (dwarf mondo grass); zones 6 to 11
Sagina subulata (Irish moss); zones 4 to 10
Soleirolia soleirolii (baby’s tears); zones 9 to 11
Moderate traffic
If a walkway is used a few times a day, groundcovers that are a bit tougher can fill the voids nicely.
Antennaria dioica (pussytoes); zones 3 to 8
Leptinella squalida (brass buttons); zones 4 to 10
Lysimachia nummularia (creeping Jenny); zones 3 to 9
Lysimachia japonica var. minutissima (miniature moneywort, loosestrife); zones 5 to 8
Mazus reptans (mazus); zones 5 to 8
Phlox subulata (creeping phlox); zones 3 to 9
Potentilla neumanniana ‘Nana’ (alpine cinquefoil); zones 4 to 8
Pratia pedunculata (blue star creeper); zones 6 to 10
Thymus pseudolanuginosus (woolly thyme); zones 5 to 8
Thymus serpyllum (wild thyme); zones 4 to 8
Veronica liwanensis (Turkish veronica); zones 4 to 9
Veronica prostrata (prostrate speedwell); zones 4 to 8
Veronica repens (creeping speedwell); zones 6 to 9
Viola labradorica (Labrador violet); zones 3 to 8
Waldsteinia ternata (barren strawberry); zones 4 to 8
http://www.amerinursery.com/growing/step-on-it/