Linda, do you have a photo of the steppingstones area? Would you be actually stepping over them, or would they run alongside the pathway? They are cute little hostas, but they look to big to step over unless you plan to cut the petioles or harness the growth in some way.

Yea, I agree -- too tall to step over. If you want to fill in between the stepping stones, I would do something like a groundcover herb (creeping thyme comes to mind)

Most groundcovers don't grow in shade. I have tried creeping thyme numerous times in another shady bed. Ditto scotch moss.

I have Black Scallop Ajuga and it grows extremely well in shade, in fact, it gets out of control so I would not recommend it. I regret the day I planted it Even though it is beautiful in spring with gorgeous purple upright flowers. I am removing it little by little......

Here's a photo: lowest area (where small stepping stones start) floods in heavy rains.

What about Tiny Tears? Or do you think that would just be too delicate.......

I just realized that I used to have my zone clearly listed along with my user name. It's not there anymore. I tried to put it back, but Houzz is not letting me put it in, in a way that is easy for others to read....

I have twist of lime next to flagstones. Mine is very tight and low to the ground.

Twist of Lime is a good suggestion. Small Parts or Little Wonder have a similar growth habit, different color.

I wouldn't use hostas..a pain in the neck to step over..I have Clausa running underneath my edging into the path and probably Elegans self seeding in my path..I want to move them and haven't managed to (did move a few Clausa)..I have some creeping jenny which is low..I love the great color in the spring..it looks nice when I clip it but it does grow over the edge of the driveway sometimes when I can't keep up..

Nicholsworth is probably right about the stepping over. With my luck, I'd try stepping over then trip and fall, break an ankle and end up on crutches for two months! I do have creeping jenny between flagstone on the north side of my house which is morning sun/shady afternoon. It grows ok, but I wouldn't say it grows like one would hope for a ground cover. But if you are just looking for some accent between your step stones, it is cute and pairs very well with hostas. It doesn't become invasive.

lol..I'm so tired after 3 long days with painters that I posted my comment without saying that creeping jenny might work!..a pic with the pretty gold color in the spring..I told my husband the new paint is the color of dirt which is perfect for me..

Sweet Woodruff likes moisture and shade. It has cute leaves and white flowers in spring.

i agree with flora .... the smallish stones will eventually turn green with algae and moss ... and when even slightly wet ... will be an ice rink .....

and adding any plant.. they will only stay wetter ... and the plants themselves.. when crushed by stepping on them ... will make them slipperier ...

i would probably just go with a fine grain mulch .. rather than larger chunks ....

forget what it looks like.. design for safety ...

ken

Ditto what floral and ken said re stones - I'd get rid of them and just put a fine mulch on the path. In the past I've mainly used a fine pine-bark mulch but this year we put down a fine hemlock mulch - it's supposed to be slower to break down as insects and soil organisms are supposed to be less attracted to in. It comes in two colors, depending on the age of the wood used, so it's best to see it before buying it (i.e. if it is bagged, you need to see what is in the bag!) We like it so far and will probably continue to use it. It's what's on the north alley path in this picture:

Fine mulch - probably any mulch - will wash down. It's on a slope. I started with the bigger square blocks then decided they were too obtrusive. I will have to look again for something perhaps half way in size between the 2. The brick size ones were just something I had around.

I do thyme in between (in case it gets stepped on) and shorties on the edges. It works for me.... I wish I had nw‘s problem of too much growth!

oursteelers..and my weeds grow even BETTER!!!Lol..

How steep is the slope? (It’s hard to tell from the picture....). Most of the paths in our garden double as drainage channels as the property slopes from north to south and from east to west. But the slopes are not extreme. There are some places when water can accumulate in heavy rains or where the soil can get quite saturated without having standing water. In those areas, there is ‘crusher run’ gravel on the paths for drainage with bark mulch on top - largely for the sake of appearance! Pine-bark mulch is light and does float off when water flow is heavy. We’d just rake it back into place when the area dried. The hemlock mulch seems to be a bit heavier/stays in place a bit better. But there is one place where the slope is steeper where some raking will need to happen from time to time.

Definitely use larger stones of a consistent size if you go with stepping stones. I find stepping stones uncomfortable/unsafe for walking and look out of place in a ‘woodland’ setting, so the small inconveniences of raking mulch from time to time are something I put up with! If stepping stones are your final choice, pulmonaria might be a good choice to fill in harmoniously between/around the stones and hostas and their plant companions, especially if you let the pulmonaria seed around in a natural way.

To the OP... I would replace the bricks serving as footspots with larger stepping stones. And no hostas between stones, though they can make for nice shorter side edges.

Creeping thymes, and ajuga can be nice. Thymes can do a bit more poorly in shade, and ajuga can creep to the point of swallowing stepping stones. But considering it's a shady area that can flood- moss might be your best option for what to grow between stones.

mazus repens?

despite “ Stepables” masterful advertising campaign over the last 5 years plants between most kinds ofplants between impermeable materials are a pita. They get kicked around broken off, smashed and mutilated by humans large and small not to mention wheelbarrows. I paid big bucks for huge stepping stones and labor to get a path laid ( several of the 25 stones are almost 2 feet across)

the soil eroded , the weeding is constant, the soils so crappy that only ugly weeds grow and the edges are a terrible trip hazard. You have to have the skills of a youthful gymnast to negotiate it without anxiety.

(However I have seen mazus grow successfully in the shade along side moss)

Nicholsworth, I’m amazed at how similar our houses are! Please give me the make, name and number of the paint you used. It would be perfect on my house!

I have a small ground cover sedum, don’t remember the name but will add a photo. Be warned, it will spread, grows everywhere with no problem. Here is a close up beneath a hosta and heuchera

Kathy..I'm flattered!..we do love it..these are screenshots from the Sherwin Williams website..the house stain WoodScapes..the left one..8 yr warranty..color Shagbark..the windows, shed doors, back door..Emerald limited lifetime warranty.. color Urbane Bronze..both in a flat finish..

Kathy..haha..the first screenshot is a hot mess!..but I think all of the product information is in the pics..the online samples look more similar than in reality..they ARE similar but in reality you see more of a difference..Urbane Bronze has a hint of gray..

My house is built partially with lannon stone as are many other homes around me. There was a lannon stone pathway already in place when we bought the house, but it was almost completely covered by grass. When we dug around the stones they were were huge. We made sure they were laid steadily and have been walking on them for the past 20+ years. HOWEVER, like many other forum members, I am in my mid 60’s and having trouble with knees, hips, you name it....so my stability is not what it was. The stones are more difficult for me to manage now. While I like the look, I have to be careful walking on them or take alternate route to deposit recycle and garbage. Wish I could afford to do a concrete walkway Where they are. I agree with those who have said safety first.

Sherrygirl, does your NOID sedum have small yellow flowers? That could be Angelina sedum. I have been offered that at a plant swap when asking for ground covers for a different area. I have not taken any thus far, hearing that it was very invasive. Do you find it invasive?

Marie Tulin, I bought a quart of mazus reptans earlier this year for the above-mentioned different ground cover area, which is drier. It is doing very well so far. Remains to be seen whether it will survive the winter. I did a test planting of 5 or more different groundcovers there. The mazus reptans and a purple ajuga are doing best thus far. I will get more if this one makes it.

Linnea, is it the black scallop adjuga you refer to? I plantEd this ground cover some years ago in my front garden. It is very aggressive and difficult to control. I have injured myself this year from trying to control it by digging/pulling it out. Two days ago I had my garden guy dig it all out......lol

I've never planted it but I HAVE the ajuga djacobz is talking about because my neighbor has it!..in my case it's not a problem..I have a large wooded informal property..but I find it hilarious that they planted ajuga in the back and I have some in front by the curb and they don't!

Linnea, the sedum does have yellow flowers, I’m sure some would call it invasive. It’s easy to remove, but is small enough it doesn’t choke other plants. I guess you just have to weigh the options.

Sherry

djacobz568sewi , I don't know the variety. I don't think it's Black Scallop. I've seen that at several nurseries and it is blacker than what I have, with slightly rounder leaves.

In front I have Mahogany ajuga. But have serious die back every winter if we don't get enough snow cover. Could be it's too hot with reflected heat of the stone patio or too much sun. Only the more sheltered parts are doing well.

The one I got at this swap last May to put at the side of the house where I am doing the "groundcover experiment" looks ever-so-slightly different. It's doing very well but it never gets baked by the sun there.

Sherry I believe your plant is Sedum acre. I have it too and it is a great little plant but any tiny piece that breaks off will root. I have stepped on it and had it come up in my walkway from pieces stuck in the treads of my shoes. Cheerful little plant though. It looks really good surrounding your Dream Queen.

Waking up my thread again: I visited a nursery a couple of
hours south of me today and they had all the quart pots on sale for $ 1. That
included ground covers. So I got several kinds to try for different areas.

The 2 I got for possibly this area between the stepping
stones have very small leaves, are very short, and would look appropriately in scale :

Veronica Repens. (Flowers white or blue. Tags and signs conflicted.)

Scotch
Moss. Sagina
subulata

( I had tried the golden
version in a different area and that never made it through the winter. I saw on
signs today that that is hardy to Zone 5 (I am Zone 5); whereas the plain green
is hardy to Zone 3 to 4). So I got the plain green one.

Given both the SLOPE for the upper part, and the LOW
area that floods when it rains, which would you suggest? Has anyone tried
either of these in a similar application? Thanks.

I moved out all the mini hostas and put them on the sides. Planted the groundcovers yesterday. Scotch moss at the lowest area. I did find ordinary moss growing on the ground at the lowest area, so maybe it is a good environment for other kinds of "moss".

if you have native local moss .... i seen to remember that it might be easy to propagate ...

i have some vague recollection of bob solberg.. at hosta college ... some random class he taught ... that he took such.. mixed it with buttermilk ... liquefied it ... and then spread it around.. it might have een those hyper-tofu pots ...

i have no clue if it would work on soil.. between stones ....

thats all i recall.. lol ...

ken

but if it grows on the stones themselves, watch out, because it can be slippery