18+ Low Maintenance Plants for Walkway Borders

Creating a stunning walkway doesn’t have to be a high-maintenance chore. With the right selection of plants, you can enjoy a beautiful, easy-care garden border that stays vibrant all year long.

1. Creeping Thyme Magic

Creeping thyme offers a fragrant and colorful ground cover.
Creeping thyme offers a fragrant and colorful ground cover.

Imagine walking along a fragrant carpet of purple blooms—creeping thyme offers this luxury with little effort. In my experience, its ability to suppress weeds is a bonus for busy gardeners.

A few things you might like:

  • Creeping Thyme Seeds: Grow a lush, aromatic ground cover effortlessly with these easy-to-plant creeping thyme seeds.
  • Garden Edging for Walkways: Define your walkway beautifully with durable, flexible garden edging that complements your thyme border.
  • Organic Garden Fertilizer: Nourish your plants naturally with this organic garden fertilizer, promoting lush and vibrant thyme growth.

2. Evergreen Ground Covers

Evergreen ground covers ensure year-round greenery.
Evergreen ground covers ensure year-round greenery.

Ground covers like vinca and liriope are fantastic for edging, providing year-round greenery. They’re reliable workhorses that keep borders neat and weed-free.

A few helpful options:

  • Vinca Minor Live Plants: Enhance your garden with Vinca Minor for lush, year-round greenery and easy maintenance.
  • Liriope Bare Root Plugs: Transform your walkway edges with Liriope for a neat, evergreen look that’s weed-free.
  • Landscape Fabric Landscaping Supplies: Secure your garden with landscape fabric to maintain weed-free, beautiful borders effortlessly.

3. Sedum Stunners

Sedum plants add color and texture with minimal water needs.
Sedum plants add color and texture with minimal water needs.

Sedum plants are champions of drought resistance, thriving with just sunshine. Their colorful blooms add a pop of cheer to any path, making them a favorite in my garden designs.

May just do the trick:

  • Sedum Plant Mixed Pack: Enhance your walkway with vibrant, easy-care sedums. Perfect for sunny, drought-prone areas.
  • Sun-loving Plant Fertilizer: Boost your sedums’ growth with this fertilizer, tailored for sun-loving, drought-resistant plants.
  • Decorative Outdoor Planter: Showcase your stunning sedums in style with these durable, eye-catching outdoor planters.

4. Daylily Delight

Daylilies offer long-lasting color with minimal effort.
Daylilies offer long-lasting color with minimal effort.

Daylilies are the epitome of low-maintenance beauty, with vibrant blooms that return year after year. Their cheerful presence is a hit with clients looking for color without the fuss.

Some ideas to consider:

  • Daylily Bulb Collection: Brighten your walkway with this assorted daylily bulb collection, offering vibrant blooms each season.
  • Garden Arch Trellis: Enhance your garden’s charm with a durable trellis perfect for climbing plants and daylilies.
  • Organic Plant Fertilizer: Nourish your daylilies effortlessly with this organic fertilizer, promoting healthy, vibrant blooms.

5. Blue Fescue Highlights

Blue fescue provides a chic, low-maintenance accent.
Blue fescue provides a chic, low-maintenance accent.

Blue fescue grass offers striking blue-green tufts that are perfect for accenting borders. Its tidy mounds are a chic addition to any landscape.

A few choices to try:

  • Blue Fescue Grass Seeds: Transform your garden with easy-to-grow blue fescue seeds for vibrant border accents!
  • Garden Edging Border Kit: Enhance your landscape’s design with a flexible and durable garden edging kit for clean lines.
  • Mulch for Flower Beds: Protect your blue fescue and enrich the soil with high-quality, moisture-retaining mulch.

6. Vinca Versatility

Vinca adds vibrant color to hot, sunny areas.
Vinca adds vibrant color to hot, sunny areas.

Vinca thrives in hot, sunny spots, offering glossy foliage and a range of flower colors. I’ve often used it to brighten up paved areas with ease.

You might like:

  • Vinca Seeds Pack: Easily grow vibrant vinca flowers for your walkway. Ideal for sunny, hot spots.
  • Liquid Plant Fertilizer: Nourish your vinca plants with essential nutrients for lush, glossy foliage.
  • Garden Hand Trowel: Efficiently plant and care for your vinca with this durable garden hand trowel.

7. Hosta’s Lush Foliage

Hostas provide lush foliage in shaded areas.
Hostas provide lush foliage in shaded areas.

Hostas are a go-to for shaded paths, with their lush, broad leaves adding a tropical feel. They thrive in low-light areas, making them a reliable choice.

Maybe worth checking out:

  • Hosta Plant Collection: Transform your shaded garden paths with vibrant, easy-care hostas. Perfect for lush greenery.
  • Shaded Pathway Fertilizer: Boost your hostas’ growth in shaded areas with this specialized, slow-release fertilizer.
  • Garden Shade Cloth: Protect your hostas from harsh sunlight using a durable, easy-to-install shade cloth.

8. Mealy Cup Sage Surprise

Mealy cup sage offers striking blooms for sunny borders.
Mealy cup sage offers striking blooms for sunny borders.

Mealy cup sage surprises with its long-lasting violet-blue blooms, perfect for hot, sunny borders. Its resilience makes it a standout in any garden.

Possibly handy products:

  • Organic Plant Fertilizer: Enhance your sage blooms with premium organic fertilizer for vibrant, healthy growth.
  • Garden Pruning Shears: Maintain your garden’s beauty effortlessly with sharp pruning shears designed for precision cutting.
  • Drip Irrigation Kit: Ensure consistent watering for your plants with an easy-to-install drip irrigation system.

9. Astilbe’s Showy Plumes

Astilbe adds height and texture with its showy plumes.
Astilbe adds height and texture with its showy plumes.

Astilbe brings a touch of drama with its feathery plumes, thriving in partial shade. I’ve used it to add height and texture to shaded walkways.

A few relevant products:

  • Astilbe Seeds Pack: Cultivate stunning plumes effortlessly. Perfect for shaded walkways, adding elegance and texture.
  • Shaded Walkway Gardening Book: Unlock creative ideas to enhance any shaded space with useful planting insights.
  • Plant Fertilizer for Shade Plants: Boost your plant’s growth in shady areas with this specially formulated fertilizer.

10. Lavender Charm

Lavender provides a soothing scent and timeless beauty.
Lavender provides a soothing scent and timeless beauty.

There’s nothing quite like the calming sight and scent of lavender along a walkway. It’s a staple in my projects for a touch of elegance and a haven for pollinators.

Products that could assist:

  • Lavender Plant Seeds: Cultivate a fragrant lavender garden to add beauty and calm to your walkway.
  • Outdoor Solar Garden Lights: Illuminate your lavender-lined walkway with eco-friendly solar lights for an enchanting evening glow.
  • Rustic Wooden Planters: Showcase your lavender plants in charming wooden planters for a rustic garden appeal.

11. Lamb’s Ear Texture

Lamb's ear adds unique texture with its soft, silvery leaves.
Lamb’s ear adds unique texture with its soft, silvery leaves.

Lamb’s ear brings a soft, fuzzy texture to the garden, perfect for adding interest to a border. Its silver foliage contrasts beautifully with more colorful plants, as I’ve seen in many of my designs.

Give these a look:

  • Lamb’s Ear Seeds: Cultivate a serene garden with lush, velvety lamb’s ear plants for a soft, inviting border.
  • Garden Soil for Perennials: Enhance growth with nutrient-rich soil designed to support vibrant perennial borders like lamb’s ear.
  • Low Maintenance Garden Fertilizer: Boost your lamb’s ear health using this easy-care fertilizer for lush, robust plant borders.

12. Creeping Zinnia Charm

Creeping zinnias offer a sunny splash of color.
Creeping zinnias offer a sunny splash of color.

Creeping zinnias provide a sunny splash of color with their mini sunflower-like blooms. They make an excellent ground cover for sunny walkways.

Items that may come in handy:

  • Creeping Zinnia Seeds: Enhance your walkway with vibrant zinnia blooms, perfect for creating a lively garden border.
  • Organic Plant Fertilizer: Boost the growth of your zinnias with this organic fertilizer for stunning, healthy blooms.
  • Garden Edge Border: Define your zinnia pathway with a decorative garden edge, keeping plants neat and tidy.

13. Wax Begonia Brights

Wax begonias add bright color to shaded walkways.
Wax begonias add bright color to shaded walkways.

Wax begonias are delightful for adding a pop of color to shaded borders. Their compact size and bright flowers make them a carefree choice.

Try these:

  • Wax Begonia Seeds Packet: Cultivate vibrant borders effortlessly with wax begonia seeds specially made for shaded areas.
  • Shaded Garden Planters: Enhance your walkway design with durable planters suitable for shaded border plants.
  • Potting Soil for Flowering Plants: Use quality potting soil to boost growth and color in shady border gardens.

14. Dwarf Fountain Grass

Dwarf fountain grass adds movement with its feathery plumes.
Dwarf fountain grass adds movement with its feathery plumes.

Dwarf fountain grass adds soft, flowing movement to borders with its feathery plumes. Its low-maintenance nature makes it ideal for sunny paths.

You might give these a try:

  • Ornamental Grass Fertilizer: Enrich your dwarf fountain grass for lush growth with this specialized ornamental grass fertilizer.
  • Decorative Garden Edging: Enhance your walkway’s appearance with easy-to-install decorative garden edging for a polished look.
  • Garden Pruning Shears: Keep your dwarf fountain grass tidy and neat with these precise garden pruning shears.

15. Boxwood Elegance

Boxwood shrubs create a classic, low-maintenance border for walkways.
Boxwood shrubs create a classic, low-maintenance border for walkways.

Boxwood shrubs are the classic choice for walkways, providing a structured and polished look with minimal upkeep. I’ve found them perfect for clients seeking a timeless and sophisticated garden edge.

Some handy options:

  • Boxwood Shrub Seeds: Grow a timeless garden edge with easy-to-plant boxwood shrub seeds. Perfect for structured beauty.
  • Garden Hedge Trimmer: Maintain your boxwood shrubs effortlessly with this reliable hedge trimmer. Achieve perfect lines and shapes.
  • Organic Plant Fertilizer: Boost the health of your boxwood shrubs with this organic fertilizer. Ensure lush, green growth.

16. Coral Bells Variety

Coral bells add vibrant foliage with minimal upkeep.
Coral bells add vibrant foliage with minimal upkeep.

Coral bells offer stunning foliage in a range of colors, perfect for adding depth to your walkway. Their versatility and low care needs make them a favorite in my garden designs.

Check these products out:

  • Coral Bells Seeds Mix Pack: Transform your walkway with vibrant Coral Bells seeds. Easy to plant and maintain.
  • Organic Fertilizer for Perennials: Boost your Coral Bells’ growth with this gentle, organic fertilizer. Perfect for vibrant foliage.
  • Garden Soil for Flower Beds: Enhance soil quality with this nutrient-rich garden soil. Ideal for healthy Coral Bells.

17. Rhododendron Blooms

Rhododendrons provide vibrant blooms for a striking border.
Rhododendrons provide vibrant blooms for a striking border.

Rhododendrons bring a burst of color with their vibrant blooms, perfect for dappled sunlight. Their dramatic flowers create a striking focal point.

A few suggestions:

  • Rhododendron Fertilizer: Enhance your rhododendron’s vibrant blooms with specialized fertilizer for healthy and lush growth.
  • Pruning Shears for Rhododendrons: Keep your rhododendrons tidy and blooming with these easy-to-use pruning shears.
  • Rhododendron Soil Mix: Provide the perfect soil environment for your rhododendrons to thrive and flourish.

18. Ferns for Shade

Ferns provide a lush, low-maintenance border in shaded areas.
Ferns provide a lush, low-maintenance border in shaded areas.

For shaded walkways, lush ferns create a magical, woodland feel. Their low-maintenance nature makes them a go-to choice for shady spots.

Might be a good match:

  • Outdoor Ferns Plants: Transform your shaded walkway with lush ferns that are both beautiful and easy to maintain.
  • Shade-Loving Plant Fertilizer: Boost the health of your shade-loving ferns with this specialized, effective fertilizer.
  • Decorative Outdoor Planters: Enhance your walkway’s charm with elegant planters perfect for showcasing lush ferns.

Text: Joyce Peterson