It depends what the spacing is.......groundcovers typically need at least a 2-3" gap in order to root in well and start growing. And what you select will be determined by the sun exposure - creeping thymes prefer lots of sun but there are other possibilities for shadier areas.

This is really no different than planting a groundcover between pavers or flagstone, which is done routinely. This is just on a smaller scale :-)

Is this path going to be heavily used? Brick can get very slippery in wet weather and there is a trip hazard with plants between the bricks. The whole centre of my garden is paved (stone, not brick) rather than lawn and a lot of plants are growing in it. In winter it is lethal. I live with the thrill of making a trip down to the shed for the sake of the plants.

Giggling over here at your last sentence...what we do for our beloved beings (in this case our plants)! Thank you for the heads-up. The path will be used every day but not heavily every day. I think we're going to go ahead and plant flat and low ground cover. Scotch and Irish Moss in the shady parts and Mauve Thyme in the sunnier spots.

Not too shady for the Scotch and Irish moss!! They are not mosses at all but low growing, flowering perennials that like rich, very well drained soils and plenty of sun.

Sagina subulata.

Gosh, that is sooooo interesting and helpful to know! The plant expert at our well respected nursery here in town suggested these plants for the more shaded areas along the path. But your comment explains why the "mosses" I planted years ago in my "shade garden" with slightly dappled light did not thrive at all. Hmmm....Are you aware of any low ground covering that can thrive in areas that do not get strong sun??

Oops I forgot to mention, I live in Zone 5.

Look at rupturewort, Herniaria glabra, sometimes sold as 'Green Carpet'. Will transition easily from full sun to nearly full shade, is evergreen and is very low growing, mat-like in appearance. Alternatively, Corsican sandwort, Arenaria balerica, is very happy in a lot of shade and with the same growth habit as the rupturewort.

THANK YOU!

I know it's late, but if you haven't done this yet, I would suggest considering planting along the edges and let it spill onto the path rather than in the path. The plants are a trip/slip hazard, and snow removal on a path that has plants in it will be a pain and may kill the plants. With plants spilling onto the path, in the fall, trim them back to the edge and then snow removal won't be an issue. Perhaps it's my age, but I am becoming more careful about trip hazards since I am often carrying something that prevents me seeing where my feet are.

Very good idea! Thank you!!