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Carolina Gardening

ground cover for full sun??

17 years ago

I have a flagstone patio with widespread stones. My intention was to grow grass between the stones and keep it cropped short. Then, I decided that creeping thyme would be nicer---the problem is, the thyme doesn't seem to like the stones, the soil, or the sun. Three different plantings have failed (the thyme seems to rot and/or dry out totally). Is there a good, low growing, controllable mat-like ground cover that will fill in between my flagstones?

Thanks for your help,

Lea

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Comments (8)

heelsfan
17 years ago
Low growing is the key. How raised are your flagstones?
nancyofnc
17 years ago
Lots of Sedums will work (if you can't tell by previous posts I am a big fan of Sedum). They like the hot sun, some stop at the stones, some crawl over. I would wonder though if there is a lot a lime seeping from your stones or that the soil was treated when the stones were put down and that is the reason nothing will grow. It might be a good idea to have the soil tested before you waste money on more plants.

Nancy the nancedar
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byrdlady
17 years ago
This low growing sedum is in bloom in the picture, but is lower to the stones when not in bloom. It can be walked on and takes the hottest of sun. My son got it from my garden for his townhouse pathway. Wish I had a name but it is a fairly common variety.

{{gwi:581509}}
scamper_z7
Original Author
17 years ago
The flagstones are ground level, set in a mixture of sand and soil. Grass is growing around some of the stones now, so I don't think the soil is toxic. Can the sedum be trimmed? I really don't know much about sedum....my remembrance from my youth (admittedly a long time ago) is of kind of "fleshy" thick leaves like a Jade plant. My patio spacing is very much like the picture byrdlady posted, except no small stones...just sand/soil. Any other suggestions?
doc_dot
17 years ago
If you want to try some "hundred acre" sedum, email me.
dirtysc8
17 years ago
What about Mazus reptans?

Here is a link that might be useful: Mazus reptans
scamper_z7
Original Author
17 years ago
dirtysc8---Thank you so much---except for the "rich" soil part, this plant sounds ideal. I think it would take lots of "black cow" to get my sand/soil to the 'rich' state, but I certainly love the plant. I think it would be worth the effort! And thanks so much for including the link....saved me lots of time.
Lea
_____________________________
What about Mazus reptans?
Mazus reptans: http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/Plant.asp?code=E190
greygardener
17 years ago
Yes, you can cut sedum back. And there are lots of different kinds. Some big and thick like you remember, others are small, thin and very hardy. They also tend to take more moisture than the thymes.

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