Fragrance Underfoot

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Creeping oregano (Origanum vulgare ‘Compactum’)

This spicy herb needs full sun and good drainage, but few crevice plants have as much to offer in terms of fragrance and longevity. Adapted in Zones 3 to 10, the plants become dormant in winter except in mild climates, where they are often evergreen, darkening to a purplish color in cold weather. The dainty flowers produced in midsummer attract bees and other beneficial insects.

Soapwort (Saponaria ¥‘Bressingham’)

Originally from the meadows and rocky, mountainous areas of Europe and southwest Asia, soapwort requires gritty, sharply drained soil. The hybrid ‘Bressingham’ grows to 3 inches high, and its many short-stemmed cymes carry brilliant deep-pink flowers. It is adapted for Zones 5 to 8. Besides poking out of a walkway, soapwort is also a good choice for growing in rock gardens and in stone troughs. Its common name refers to the fact that its leaves can be used to create a mild soap.

Woolly thyme (Thymus pseudolanuginosus)

Expect confusion in botanical names when shopping for woolly thyme, which goes under several names. All varieties have soft gray-green foliage that grows to less than 4 inches high, spreading into mats in hospitable places that have excellent drainage and some protection from the baking sun. Adapted in Zones 4 to 9, this thyme releases a refreshing herbal scent when crushed underfoot. After the small blooms wither in midsummer, shear the plants back to help them maintain a tight cover of foliage.

Barbara Pleasant is the author of The Gardener’s Bug Book (Storey, 1994), The Gardener’s Guide to Plant Diseases (Storey, 1995), and The Gardener’s Weed Book (Storey, 1996). This text was excerpted with permission from her most recent book, Garden Stone (Storey, 2002). Pleasant is currently the author and publisher of the Alabama Gardener’s Almanac and a member of the Garden Writers Association of America.

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