What Can I Plant Between Stepping Stones? Best Plants for Australian Gardens
There is something slightly optimistic about putting a delicate little plant between two stepping stones and then expecting the entire family not to step on it.
Kids.
Dogs.
Visitors.
The person who installed the path and apparently has a completely different stride length to every other human being.
And yet, when it's done properly, planting between stepping stones is one of the easiest ways to make a garden feel established.
Hard edges disappear.
Greenery creeps into the gaps.
A plain pathway suddenly feels like it's actually part of the garden.
But there's one fairly important detail we need to sort out first.
Are people going to walk ON the plants... or BETWEEN them?
Because those are two very different gardening jobs.
First: How Much Foot Traffic Will There Be?
Before you choose a single plant, walk the path.
Seriously.
Don't look at it.
Walk it.
Where does your foot naturally land?
If your stepping stones are properly spaced and most feet land comfortably on the pavers, the plants between them only need to tolerate the occasional stray foot.
That gives you considerably more options.
If the gaps themselves are part of the walking surface and they'll be stepped on every day, you need something genuinely suitable for that level of traffic.
And if you're expecting a soft little groundcover to survive children repeatedly riding scooters over it...
I admire your optimism.
But we need to adjust the brief. 😂
The Other Question Nobody Asks: Where Does the Sun Go?
A path might be sunny at midday and completely shaded by the house for most of the day.
Or sit beneath trees.
Or bake beside a west-facing wall.
The little spaces between stepping stones can create surprisingly different growing conditions.
So before choosing your plant, work out:
- how much direct sun the area receives
- whether the soil stays damp or dries quickly
- how well it drains
- how much foot traffic it receives
- how wide the gaps are
- whether you want plants to remain neatly between the stones or soften over their edges
Then we can choose plants.
1. Mini Mondo — The Tiny Plant That Makes Pavers Look Better
If you've got relatively small gaps and want that beautiful fine green line running between stepping stones, Mini Mondo is an obvious plant to investigate.
And here's why it works visually.
Stepping stones create strong geometric shapes.
Straight edges.
Squares.
Rectangles.
Hard surfaces.
Mini Mondo does the opposite.
Fine leaves.
Soft texture.
Dense green growth.
Put the two together and each makes the other look better.
The paving gives the planting structure.
The planting softens the paving.
That's garden design in its simplest form:
Contrast.
Mini Mondo is particularly useful where you want a very low, neat ground layer and conditions suit it.
But don't confuse being low with being indestructible.
If the pathway receives heavy daily foot traffic, keep feet primarily on the stones rather than expecting Mini Mondo to become a football field.
2. Mondo Grass — When You Want a Little More Presence
Regular Mondo Grass gives you the same beautiful strappy texture but at a larger scale.
And despite its common name...
Mondo isn't actually a grass.
It's generally classified in the genus Ophiopogon and belongs to the asparagus family.
Which means we've once again been naming plants according to whatever they vaguely resemble.
Gardening is excellent like that. 😂
Mondo works particularly well where the spaces between or beside stepping stones are larger and you want a stronger green border.
It can also be used around the path rather than strictly inside every tiny gap.
That's worth remembering.
You don't have to fill every single crack with a plant.
Sometimes the best result comes from allowing greenery to move around the stepping stones so the pathway feels like it's travelling through the garden.
3. Dichondra — When You Want Something Softer
Now we're changing shape completely.
Instead of upright little leaves, Dichondra creates a low, creeping layer of small rounded foliage.
And that difference matters.
If Mondo gives you little grassy tufts between pavers, Dichondra gives you more of a carpet.
It can soften edges beautifully and create that lovely effect where the garden appears to be gently reclaiming the path.
But again:
Match it to the site.
Groundcover doesn't automatically mean:
“Drive over me, walk over me, forget I exist and I'll be fabulous forever.”
No plant label has ever said that.
Probably. 😂
Think about the amount of traffic and the growing conditions before deciding whether Dichondra belongs directly between the stones or simply around them.
4. Native Violet — For Softer, Shadier Paths
If your stepping stones run through a more sheltered part of the garden, Native Violet can create a completely different look.
Instead of a clipped, formal pathway, you get something softer and more natural.
Small rounded foliage.
Delicate flowers.
Growth that can weave around the edges of pavers.
It's particularly lovely in gardens where you're trying to create that feeling that the path has simply appeared through the planting rather than being drawn through it with a ruler.
Think:
Under trees.
Around ferny areas.
Through sheltered garden beds.
Beside naturally styled paths.
This is where the conditions become more important than the Pinterest photo.
A plant looking spectacular between stepping stones in one garden doesn't mean it'll do the same beside your hot western wall.
Site first. Plant second.
Always.
Should Plants Grow Over the Stepping Stones?
A little?
Absolutely.
That's often what makes the whole thing look good.
Too much?
Now you're creating a trip hazard.
There's a difference between a plant gently softening the edge of a paver and completely hiding where you're supposed to put your foot.
This is particularly important around:
Steps.
Pools.
Sloping paths.
Frequently used entrances.
Areas used at night.
Gardens used by people with reduced mobility.
Pretty should never win an argument with safe.
Let plants soften the path.
Don't let them eat it.
How Wide Should the Gaps Between Stepping Stones Be for Plants?
There's no magic number because it depends on the plant you're using and the pathway design.
But here's something more useful:
Design the stepping stones for people first.
Then design the planting around them.
Your natural walking stride should determine where the pavers sit.
Not the mature width of your Mini Mondo.
😂
Once the stones are comfortably positioned, look at the remaining gaps and decide what plant scale makes sense.
Tiny gaps?
Use something appropriately small.
Larger planting pockets?
You have more options.
Wide spaces around irregular stones?
Now you can create much looser groundcover planting.
What Should I Put Under Plants Between Pavers?
This bit matters enormously.
Plants still need soil.
It sounds obvious, but sometimes paving installations leave the spaces between stones filled with compacted road base, crusher dust or other material designed to support paving rather than grow plants.
A beautiful little groundcover isn't going to be particularly impressed if its proposed garden bed is essentially concrete ingredients.
Before planting, make sure there's appropriate growing medium and enough soil volume for the plant you're asking to grow there.
Also consider drainage.
Pavers change the way water moves through a space.
Some gaps may collect water.
Others may dry incredibly quickly because they're surrounded by hot stone.
Watch what happens after rain.
Your path will tell you quite a lot.
Can I Plant Between Stepping Stones in Full Sun?
Yes — if you choose plants suited to the amount of sun and heat the area receives.
But remember something important.
Paving can make a sunny site hotter.
Stone and concrete absorb heat.
So a plant growing between pavers can experience more reflected and radiated heat than the same plant growing in an open garden bed nearby.
This is particularly important with dark paving and western sun.
Don't simply ask:
“Does this plant grow in full sun?”
Ask:
“Will this plant enjoy THIS full sun?”
There's a difference.
What Can I Plant Between Stepping Stones in Shade?
Shade can actually create beautiful opportunities for planted pathways.
Mini Mondo, Mondo, Native Violet and other shade-tolerant groundcovers may be worth considering depending on the exact conditions.
But shade isn't one condition either.
There's:
Bright shade.
Filtered light.
Morning sun.
Dry shade under established trees.
Damp sheltered shade.
Deep shade.
And they aren't interchangeable.
If you're planting under trees, remember you're also dealing with root competition.
The area might look cool and protected while the soil underneath is surprisingly dry.
Again:
Look at the site.
Not just the amount of light.
Do Plants Between Pavers Need Watering?
Yes.
Especially while establishing.
Tiny plants planted into tiny pockets of soil surrounded by paving can dry faster than you expect.
Even plants that become relatively hardy once established still need enough moisture to develop the root system that eventually makes them resilient.
This is one of the gardening phrases worth permanently remembering:
Drought tolerant once established.
The last two words are doing a LOT of work there.
😂
How Do I Stop Weeds Growing Between Stepping Stones?
I wish I could tell you there was a plant that created a magical forcefield against weeds.
There isn't.
Dense groundcover can help occupy space and reduce exposed soil where opportunistic weeds might establish.
But weeds can still appear.
The best strategy is usually a combination of:
Appropriate planting.
Good establishment.
Removing weeds before they seed.
Keeping unwanted plants under control while your desired groundcover fills in.
And accepting that gardens contain living things and occasionally one of them will have the audacity to grow somewhere you didn't invite it.
Should I Plant Every Gap?
No.
And this is where restraint can make a pathway look considerably better.
You could use Mini Mondo consistently through the gaps.
Or allow Native Violet to move naturally around irregular pavers.
Or plant Mondo in repeated pockets beside the path rather than filling every centimetre.
What I'd avoid is:
Mini Mondo.
Then Dichondra.
Then Native Violet.
Then something else.
Then another groundcover because you saw it at the nursery.
Then one random succulent.
😂
The pathway itself already creates repetition.
Let the planting reinforce it.
A Simple Formula for a Beautiful Stepping-Stone Path
If you're completely stuck, try this.
Step 1: Get the path right.
Walk it.
Make sure the stepping stones are comfortable and safe.
Step 2: Choose ONE main groundcover.
Mini Mondo.
Mondo.
Dichondra.
Native Violet.
Whatever best suits the conditions.
Step 3: Repeat it.
This is not the moment to panic and add nine more varieties.
Step 4: Plant larger plants beside the path.
Now you can bring in your shrubs, grasses, flowering plants or feature foliage.
The pathway planting becomes the quiet layer that joins everything together.
Step 5: Let it soften.
You don't need every edge perfectly visible.
A little greenery creeping towards the stones is what makes the finished path feel settled into the garden.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best plant to grow between stepping stones?
There isn't one best plant for every garden. Mini Mondo, Mondo Grass, Dichondra and Native Violet can all be useful depending on sunlight, soil moisture, gap size and foot traffic.
Can you walk on Mini Mondo?
Mini Mondo can suit areas around stepping stones where most foot traffic lands on the pavers, but it shouldn't automatically be treated as a substitute for a high-traffic lawn. Consider the amount and frequency of foot traffic before planting.
What can I plant between pavers in shade?
Depending on your climate and site conditions, Mini Mondo, Mondo Grass and Native Violet may be worth considering for shaded or partly shaded areas. Soil moisture and tree-root competition should also be considered.
What can I plant between pavers in full sun?
Choose a low-growing plant suited to your climate, sunlight and the additional heat created by surrounding paving. The best choice will depend on the intensity of sun, drainage and expected foot traffic.
Can I grow Dichondra between stepping stones?
Dichondra can be used to create a soft creeping ground layer around stepping stones where conditions suit it. Consider traffic levels and whether the plant will be walked on regularly.
How do I prepare between pavers for plants?
Make sure the planting gaps contain suitable soil rather than only compacted paving base. Check drainage, provide adequate soil depth for the chosen plant and water consistently while plants establish.
Are groundcovers better than gravel between stepping stones?
Neither is universally better. Groundcovers provide living foliage and can soften the path, while gravel may be more suitable where growing conditions or traffic make planting impractical. The right choice depends on how the pathway is used.
One Last Thing...
When people ask what to plant between stepping stones, they're usually thinking about the plants.
I'd start with the feet.
Walk the path.
Watch where you step.
Look where the sun falls.
See what happens when it rains.
Then choose the plant.
Because the goal isn't to grow something in every available crack.
It's to make the path feel like it belongs in the garden.
And when you get that combination of hard stone and soft planting just right?
Even walking to the clothesline can look ridiculously good.