Of any of the low growing groundcovers - other than a lawn - creeping thyme is the most tolerant of foot traffic but really does best in full sun. Otherwise, Veronica peduncularis 'Georgia Blue' or Corsican sandwort (Arenaria balearica) could work but best if used where pavers or stepping stones are involved to absorb some of the foot traffic. Both tolerate full sun to partial shade and all 3 are evergreen.

Thanks so much! Do you think creeping thyme will survive in partial shade or just not do as good?

Lastly, any tips on where to source a bunch of plugs of creeping thyme? Thanks.

theres this thing called a search engine..they are amazing..

https://duckduckgo.com/?t=ffab&q=creeping+thyme+plugs+price&ia=web

how much tolerance ANY plant will have to being walked on.. is a function of how much walking will be done on it.. on a daycare lot.. all plants will fail in weeks...

in the garden.. and once a week you will hover thru on the way to the she shed.. anything will work...

the term shade really means nothing.. shade is defined by the hours of actual sun.. and at what hours of the day ... but it usually just boils down to trying it. and finding out.. if in your garden.. in your sun/shade.. in your soil. it will all work ...

ken

ps: to this MI boy.. asking for a drought tolerant plant for the PNW freaks me out.. lol .. i just think of it all as a rain forest.. and im sure its not.. so.. bam.. mind blown...

btw.. if you are in a drought area.. your next best planting time for smallish plugs.. will probably be fall ..but even that blows my mind.. because gal will probably say there isnt a minute in the year.. that you cant plant in the pnw..

key word in that sentence: smallish plugs ... the bigger the plants with bigger roots.. the more forgiving they will be to planting any time...

ken

I have many different types of thyme and corsican mint and think the corsican mint works the best, especially at blocking weeds. Thyme tends to need more maintenance at my house.

Just a warning-corsican mint STINKS to my nose but as long as you’re not crawling around on the ground it’s all good!

IME, Corsican mint, Mentha requienii, is neither very walkable (crushes/damages easily), drought tolerant (wants consistently moist soil) nor spreads densely enough to deter weeds. YMMV

I have used a really cute little New zealander in paths: acaena buchananii. In friable, fast draining soil, especially when other little seeders such as erigeron karvinskianus are in the mix, thery are tough and charming. They are very forgiving of being trod and trampled but nothing really survives without some additional foot support such as paviours or shingle.

I can technically plant all year round but only with a lot of summer irrigation. I did a lot of late planting this year and find that my most successful efforts are from either direct from seed (annuals, basically) or larger 1 litre plants. Plugs or pricked out seedlings are the hardest - still small and fragile and needing a LOT of careful watering. I have just done another plant order and have gone against my usual rules (to buy the smallest possible plant) just because June planting is doable but stressy. I am hanging on to all my other little potted seedlings until autumn as at least they are in my back garden and not a bike ride away at my allotment. Mind, even though the UK is mild and temperate, no-one is doing much winter planting in clay apart from woody bare-roots maybe, (but I have sand so workable at any time).

In truth, it is hardly ever helpful being too prescriptive...as well as our unique gardens and climates, I honestly have to take my competence and mind-set into account too - one years great success is next years dismal fail (and I fear boredom and idleness plays a largish part in survival statistics).

Thanks so much everyone! Lots of good food for thought here.

Gardengal 48 - can I please ask your favorite walkable groundcover?

Leptinella squalida, aka New Zealand brass buttons. Not overly drought tolerant but it will withstand modest foot traffic. And feels wonderful to walk on barefoot!!

btw, despite what you may read, this is fully evergreen in my climate.

Leptinella squalida 'Platt's Black'

Solid green version also available, as is a dwarf/miniature form, L. gruveri.

Leptinella squalida in green is growing well in my backyard in Oregon. It grows in clay type soil as well.