By Jim McCausland, Sunset senior garden writer

Blue star creeper (Pratia pedunculata, aka Laurentia fluviatilis, and aka Isotoma fluviatilis) is one of the few ground covers blessed with sky-blue flowers—a rare thing in the plant world.

It's also very easy to grow if you live in a part of the West that has mild summers and mild winters, and has a long season of bloom (now through much of summer). I love it because it covers ground so well, and fills into the garden's cracks and crevices so well.

You can buy the sky-blue version, or darker blue versions such as 'County Park', 'Dark Blue', or 'Kelsey Blue', though the sky-blue forms seems toughest.

Plant in full sun or partial shade, keep it well watered, and you'll soon be seeing as much sky blue below your feet as above your head.