Online Only: Stepables Tough Ten

No one in our industry arguably has more fun marketing plants than Stepables founder Fran Hopkins, who came up with yet another creative way to highlight the brand this year.

“We spent some serious time really thinking about how we could impact that split-second consumer impression and turn it into a sale,” Hopkins says. “We knew our message needed to be simple, focused and fun. Stepables are extremely resilient. The word ‘tough,’ however, seemed easier to digest.”

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Now, Stepables is taking its “Tough Ten” to the market. The “Tough Ten” are particularly favored by Stepables growers, and they’re consistently among the brand’s best sellers. All 10 varieties will be featured in marketing and point of purchase materials throughout 2009 featuring the muscular “happy guy.” Here’s a look at the varieties that made the cut:

Sagina subulata Irish Moss
With dense tufts of slender stems that grow tightly together, Sagina Irish Moss forms a lush carpet of soft, green foliage on the ground. Perfect between rocks and stones, this is an ideal groundcover for large areas in zones above -30°F. Small, white, star-shaped flowers bloom in spring.

Sagina subulata ‘Aurea’ Scotch Moss
Another moss that delivers, Sagina ‘Aurea’ grows quickly to cover an area with golden, turf-like stems, making it an excellent selection for lawn replacement. This Scotch Moss is perfect for areas with heavy foot traffic and blooms in spring with hundreds of tiny, white flowers. It is best suited for areas with part shade to partial sun, and should maintain a regular watering schedule until established.

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Isotoma fluviatilis ‘Blue Star Creeper’
Isotoma ‘Blue Star Creeper’ remains the best-selling Stepables to date. Easy to grow and low maintenance, this creeping perennial is perfect between stepping stones, under roses and around ponds. Ideal for areas with full sun, this plant can tolerate heavy foot traffic and zones above -20°F.

Mazus reptans ‘Purple’
Brilliant color envelopes this low-growing groundcover during spring with purples, whites and yellows. Mazus ‘Purple’ never grows above 2 inches and fills in a space quickly. Great for full sun to part shade, this Stepables is a great option for zones above -30°F.

Thymus praecox Pseudolanuginosis Wooly Thyme
Wooly Thyme’s roots grow tight together blocking out weeds, offering a low-maintenance option for landscapers and homeowners. The dusty-gray foliage of this thyme is a great fit for slopes and containers, bringing pink flowers to bloom in mid-summer. Wooly Thyme tolerates heavy foot traffic and is ideal for zones above -10°F.

Thymus serphyllum ‘Elfin’
This miniature thyme forms a very low, solid, versatile mat of gray-green foliage that is perfect for dry slopes and between stepping stones. During mid-summer, it blooms light-pink flowers until fall. Ideally planted in full-to-part sun, Thymus ‘Elfin’ is hardy above -30°F and only grows to 1 inch.

Lysimachia nummularia ‘Aurea’ Golden Creeping Jenny
An excellent performer, Lysimachia ‘Aurea’ is a popular choice for its bright golden color and low-maintenance performance in shady areas. This dependable creeping perennial is a perfect addition for walls and containers, as it spills gracefully over the edge. Golden Creeping Jenny is hardy for USDA Zones above -30°F.

Sedum spurium ‘John Creech’
This succulent naturally deters weeds and grows tight to the ground, providing consumers a low-maintenance option for full-sun areas. ‘John Creech’ grows much tighter than most other spuriums, so its bright green stems are a perfect addition to pathways and rock gardens. A great performer, this low-growing perennial is hardy to zones above -30°F.

Ajuga x ‘Chocolate Chip’
The versatile, variegated, chocolate foliage of Ajuga ‘Chocolate Chip’ grows thick across the ground at a moderate speed. Perfect for part shade areas, this small plant blooms blue flower spikes during spring and autumn. A great performer in areas where little else will grow such as under trees, this Ajuga is best suited for zones above -30°F.

Lotus corniculatus ‘Plenus’
The dark green, tiny leaves of Lotus ‘Plenus’ form a dense mat perfect for areas in full sun such as between stepping stones or as a full lawn substitution. Large, double, yellow flowers bloom in early summer to provide an extra burst of color on the ground. Perfect for zones above -40°F, this creeping perennial is extremely hardy but needs great drainage.

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