Name: The Plant Company
Address: 284 Meeanee Road, Meeanee, Napier, 4112, New Zealand
Telephone: 0800 843 752
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ground cover plants for walkways

Ground cover plants for walkways bring beauty, resilience, and practicality to garden paths. Whether you dream of a lush, green carpet underfoot or a splash of colour edging your stone walkway, choosing the right ground cover plants creates a welcoming and low-maintenance look. In New Zealand gardens, these plants thrive in our unique climate, offering both ornamental value and functional benefits. Explore below how ground cover plants for walkways can transform your outdoor spaces, and find inspiration to suit every garden style.

Muehlenbeckia complexa (Pohuehue)

Muehlenbeckia complexa (Pohuehue) is a vigorous, hardy NZ native climber or groundcover. It features wiry, twining stems and small, glossy green leaves that create dense coverage. Growing up to 4 m wide and 2 m high, it’s perfect for fences, banks, or walls. Pohuehue tolerates wind, salt spray, and dry conditions once established.

Buy Muehlenbeckia complexa (Pohuehue)

From $20.63

Suited to regions: All regions

Plant type: Groundcover Plants

Height: 30 cm

Spread: 2.00 m

Flowering time: Summer

Tolerances: Coastal, Extended dry periods, Hardy, Wind

Garden uses: Arches, Banks, Borders, Containers, Ground covering, Living areas, Paths & Steps, Patios, Pool areas, Topiary, Walls

Garden styles: Backyard, City & Courtyard, Coastal, Frontyard, Japanese, Modern, Native

Leptinella dioica

Leptinella dioica (Bachelor Button Plant) is a low growing evergreen groundcover valued for its fine fern like foliage and ability to create a dense carpet of greenery. The attractive foliage provides year round texture and softens pathways, rock gardens, and garden edges.

Buy Leptinella dioica

From $13.95

Suited to regions: All regions

Plant type: Groundcover Plants

Height: 10 cm

Spread: 70 cm

Flowering time: Spring, Summer

Tolerances: Coastal, Extended dry periods, Hardy

Garden uses: Borders, Containers, Ground covering, Living areas, Paths & Steps, Ponds

Garden styles: Backyard, City & Courtyard, Coastal, Frontyard, Modern, Native, Tropical

Why Choose Ground Cover Plants for Walkways?

Ground cover plants for walkways provide practical solutions for busy garden areas. These plants suppress weeds, prevent soil erosion, and soften hard edges of paving or gravel, blending functional spaces with natural beauty. Many varieties tolerate foot traffic, making them ideal for pathway borders and stepping stone gaps. Selecting ground covers also reduces maintenance, as they often require less mowing and watering than traditional lawn.

Popular Ground Cover Plants for Walkways

Ajuga reptans variegata

Known for its striking foliage and adaptability, Ajuga reptans variegata delivers vibrant ground coverage that handles partial shade and moderate foot traffic. The variegated leaves offer both texture and colour, making this plant ideal for walkway edges or between pavers.

Coprosma kirkii 'variegata'

With glossy, creamy-edged leaves, Coprosma kirkii 'variegata' brings year-round interest to garden paths. This New Zealand native is tough and tolerant, thriving in most conditions and offering a neat, low-growing form that won’t intrude on foot traffic.

Ajuga 'Jungle Beauty'

For a deeper flush of colour, Ajuga 'Jungle Beauty' features lush, dark foliage and striking blue flower spikes in spring to early summer. Its spreading habit quickly fills gaps along walkways, creating a rich, inviting scene.

Isotoma fluviatilis

Delicate and dense, Isotoma fluviatilis is a favourite for covering shaded walkway areas. Tiny blue flowers add charm during warmer months, while its carpet-like growth withstands moderate use and resists weeds.

Pratia angulata

If you want a native alternative for lawn substitute and pathway coverage, Pratia angulata is perfect. This tiny-leaved ground cover produces white star-shaped flowers and creates a soft, mossy look between stepping stones or bordering paths.

Planting and Caring for Ground Cover Plants

To ensure your ground cover plants for walkways thrive, select varieties suited to your soil and light conditions. Most ground covers are best planted in well-draining soil. Keep young plants watered as they establish and fertilise sparingly. Prune or divide as needed to maintain shape and encourage dense growth, especially around walkways where spreading is desirable. Mulching around newly planted ground covers helps suppress weeds and retain moisture.

Transform Your Walkways Today

Ground cover plants for walkways in New Zealand gardens reward you with beauty, practicality, and easy care. From vibrant ajugas to native options like pratia, you’ll find lasting solutions for every garden path. Browse our range of ground cover plants to find the perfect match for your outdoor spaces and create walkways that invite you to linger and explore.

Contact us

Whether you need assistance finding the plant you’re looking for or you simply want to know more about who we are and what we do, we invite you to get in touch with us today. A member of The Plant Company team will get back in touch as soon as possible.

ground cover plants for walkways

Muehlenbeckia complexa (Pohuehue)

Leptinella dioica

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Why Choose Ground Cover Plants for Walkways?