STONES FOR Landscaping

Depending on where you live, some types of stone may be more common than others. For the most natural appearance, choose stone native to your region.

• Bluestone A dense, hard, fine-grained sandstone or siltstone of medium to dark bluish-grey color that splits readily to form thin slabs. A variety of flagstone, bluestone is most common in New York and the mid-Atlantic, although it may be found in other regions.

• Cobblestone Naturally rounded or dressed rectangular stones, familiar from historic streetscapes, that make excellent pavers for driveways and paths.

• Field Stone Field stones are loose rocks separated from ledges by natural processes and scattered throughout fields; many are glacial in origin. They’re sized from small to house-sized and adapt to many uses.

• Flagstone Thin slabs of stone used for flagging or paving walks, driveways, patios, and more. Appearing all across the U.S., flagstone is made of fine-grained sandstone, bluestone, schist, quartzite, or slate.

• Granite A fine- to coarse-grained igneous rock formed by volcanic action and consisting of quartz, feldspar, and mica. Practically indestructible, granite is ideal for steps, plinths, and terraced walls.

• Limestone A sedimentary rock composed of calcium carbonate, including varieties hard enough to use in landscaping applications.

• Quartzite A compact granular rock composed of quartz crystals, firmly cemented together. Like granite, it has a high crushing and tensile strength and comes in a broad range of colorations.

• Sandstone A sedimentary rock consisting of quartz, cemented with silica, iron oxide, or calcium carbonate. Sandstone is durable, has a very high crushing and tensile strength, and a wide range of colors and textures. It makes an excellent material for steps.

• Schist A foliated metamorphic rock that splits readily into flat planes, making it a good choice for paving stones and patios.

• Slate A very fine-grained metamorphic rock derived from sedimentary rock shale. Like schist, it splits easily into relatively thin slabs ideal for paving, steps, and more.

FROM TOP TO BOTTOM Thick slabs of Massachusetts schist make sturdy steps down a low hill. • Reclaimed limestone plank pavers, imported from China, have a smooth to rough texture, ideal for walks or steps. • Arizona flagstones, in soft, bright pinkish orange hues, include this “buckskin” variety. • Rounded or roughly rectangular, cobblestones like these from Historical Bricks pave paths and drives and edge garden beds.