Question
Thanks for your speedy reply, Gary.  I had actually tried the stepables site, but didn't like the plants they came up with.  Even when I chose to list only plants that were close to the ground, they came up with many that were higher than we would want.  

I've actually just sent an email to Stepables asking for further clarification as their descriptions didn't include growth height.

They don't appear to offer dichondra or irish moss or thymes - all that we were leaning toward.

If you have recommendations, I'd be happy to hear them and then I can look them up online for photos, etc.

Thanks again for your time...

Take care,

Anastasia


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Followup To
Question -
Hi Gary,

My husband and I are designing our backyard.  We're creating a "living patio" with flagstone that we want to space about 3" apart and grow a ground cover.

We live in Petaluma, California.  By zip code I'm told I'm in zone 8.  According to Sunset, I'm in zone 14...borderline with 15.

The "popular" choice seems to be thyme these days.  I personally wanted dichondra because no one uses it anymore and my parents used it years ago and loved it.

Anyway, this patio will be walked on.  It has full sun during the day.  I want something as compact as possible.  Flowers are nice, but not if they'll attract bee (my concern with many of the thymes).

I saw a dwarf creeping thyme between rocks in a neighbor's garden that was lovely, but I can't seem to find it online.  A local high-end nursery sells it for $4/small pot - a small fortune to get enough.

I also wonder about what would grow faster...

Anyway, can you perhaps give us the pros/cons of dichondra, thyme (by type), and irish moss?  My husband is leaning toward the latter, but I once tried growing it without success and am leary.

Would love any light you can shed on what you think is most effective to grow between flagstone for a patio that people will walk on.

Thanks soooooooooo much!


Answer -
Anastasia,

What a fun project you guys are doing.  One of the most attractive details of flagstone patios are the plants between the stones.  

I was confused by your zone description, so I looked it up.  Petaluma is in USDA Hardiness zone 9b-10a.  

I have been doing some investigation into these types of plants, for a home project.  I lean towards buying the plants due to ability to fill in.  

You are asking me for suitable plants.  I can do that but these are plant I think would be OK, but perhaps not what you would like.  

I want you to go to the following Stepables URL.  I have been growing their plants for two years here in Central Illinois.  They are pricey but I believe you get what you pay for.  These plants are worth the money.

http://www.stepables.com/

They have great plant information and best of all a searchable database that allows you to select plants based on light, foot traffic, maint., color, scent, etc.  They also list dealers in your area.

I hope this helps.

Good luck with the patio.

Gary

Answer
Anastaia,

Stepables has had the irish moss and thyme in our neck of the woods.  

The creeping thyme is a good choice.  If you do not want to go the plant route, try seeds.  Now you should do this in the spring, though in your zone seeding may be possible now.  I think if you surf around you will find the seed.

Gary