Groundcovers & Vines

When you need something for a plant or vine to climb on, there are many things you can use. You just need to use some creativity to find a captivating place for it to mature. So many, many ideas...

Vinca minor, also called periwinkle and creeping myrtle, is a creeping ground cover used to prevent erosion on slopes and to cover bare areas under trees and shrubs and around flowerbeds. Vinca...

Thunbergia plants are native to Africa but can grow in the U.S. Hardiness Zone 7, from Virginia south to Georgia and west through Arkansas and Texas. They are perennial vines but can bloom...

Creeping Charlie, also commonly called creeping Jenny, is a ground ivy with bright green leaves. It was originally brought over from Europe to be a ground cover. However, since it was introduced...

Traditionally, liriope, or "monkey grass," has been used as a border for lawns and gardens, but it can create a lovely, practical ground cover. It spreads easily, is drought tolerant and requires...

Asiatic jasmine is a ground cover, much like kudzu. Instead of being beautiful, most people see Asiatic jasmine as a weed and a problem that needs to be solved quickly, especially if it is...

Although many people think of bougainvillea as a beautiful flowering plant, it is actually part of the vine family. They are wonderful climbing plants to grow along trellises, pergolas and other...

Creeping charlie (Glechoma hederacea) is aptly named. This invasive weed rapidly spreads along the ground, taking over a flower bed or even a grassy yard in just one summer. Creeping charlie is...

Irish moss is a lovely little plant, a thick green carpet that lends a cozy appearance to a landscape, or softens the sharp edges of paving stones or rock fences. When it comes to easy care...

Ferns provide the perfect complement to California redwood trees by providing shade and protection for smaller understory plants. They also help keep moisture in the soil, adding to the overall...

Wisteria are very dramatic and beautiful plants. They are blooming vines that are colorful and very to care for. Depending on your gardening needs, you can use wisteria as a vine, a shrub, or a...

The hosta, sometimes called the Plaintain Lily, is a herbaceous perennial plant, native to China and Japan. Cultivated as a ground cover, it is shade-tolerant and generally disease free. The...

If you are looking for a plant that you can throw out in the yard and forget about, Sedum spurium "Dragon's Blood" could be the plant for you. It can tolerate both the heat and the cold; even poor...

Mint and daylilies in moderation can make attractive ground cover plants; however, when they overtake a garden they become annoying weeds. Both plants are quite hardy, grow quickly, are drought...

Ivy propagation is a cost-efficient method for increasing your number of ivy plants. Use ivy clippings for indoor houseplants or outdoor ground cover by cutting growth from established plants and...

Muscadine grapes are among the most plump, pleasantly sour and delicious grape varieties in the world. Unlike many grape varieties, the Muscadine grapevine is one of the simplest to propagate, by...

Vanilla planifolia variegata is a member of the orchid family native to Central and South America. When the beans of a mature Vanilla planifolia variegata are cured, they produce vanilla...

For many years, geraniums were typically grown from cuttings, rather than from seeds. However, with the recent creation of various hybrid geraniums, with superior disease resistance and more...

If you spend a lot of time in your yard on lazy summer evenings, the sweet scent of star jasmine makes a nice companion. Also known as confederate jasmine, star jasmine is a woody vine with...

Barnyard grass (Echinochloa) is a type of grass common throughout North America. The grass can reach a height of 5 feet and spreads by surface runners and seeds. Barnyard grass can be found...

Irish moss is easy to grow, and once it's started, it will gradually develop a thick, green carpet that will require virtually no maintenance. It can soften the edges of paving stones and give...

Loofah (Luffa cylindrica) is a fast-growing vine that produces gourds with a fibrous interior that is dried and used as a sponge. The shiny, dark brown seeds are found in the fibrous material when...

Hosta grows abundantly in beds and borders and provides collars of beefy foliage at the base of trees. For subtle garden structure, hosta is an indispensable perennial favorite. Dividing and...

Wild grapes can be found growing in many forests and backyards throughout North America. Though the fruit is edible, wild grapes can quickly become a tangled mess and take over your landscape. The...

If someone asks you if you can grow an old man's beard, run and find a sunny spot in the garden, for this is the nickname of one of the most popular plants known to gardeners: clematis. One of the...

Niva orchard grass originated in Europe. It was produced during a breeding program that promoted disease-resistance and late dry matter yield. This grass grows in clumps, is drought-tolerant and...

Glechoma hederacea, also known as the creeping charlie vine or weed, is an evergreen creeper that occurs in southwestern Asia, Europe and North America. It can be an invasive ground vine that is...

Ivy can provide groundcover to your lawn or garden outside, or thrive as a potted plant inside your home. When it stays where you want it to be, ivy can provide visual stimulation to your yard and...

Vinca, or periwinkle, is an evergreen ground cover especially useful in shady areas. It spreads by long shoots that root wherever they touch the soil, making new plants. The flowers may be purple,...

Most fruit trees and vines need to pruned regularly for optimum fruit development, and grape vines are no different. Growing grape vines can be a rewarding task, but may also be frustrating and...

Rhodochiton atrosanguinea is more commonly known as Purple Bell Vine. The plant is a native of southwest Mexico and is recommended for growing in gardening zones 9 and 10 in the United States....

The sweet potato plant is an important commercial crop and is also popular among home gardeners. The stems form a creeping vine and the leaves of the sweet potato are a dark purple, which is...

Grapevines are easy to grow and maintain, providing a thick natural barrier or privacy screen while producing delicious fruit that you can harvest and eat. Trellises are used to support these...

Acanthi plants flourish as ground cover all across the United States, characterized by their ability to spread. While a variety of different acanthi exist, all of them are to some degree...

Topiaries make gorgeous indoor and outdoor decorative pieces. The art of topiary design has been around since ancient times. Today, you don't need to create a topiary out of a living plant,...

Vinca---also known as Vinca minor, periwinkle flowers and creeping myrtle---is a popular ground cover that gets more popular every year. Established in-ground plants require little or no...

Vinca minor is in the evergreen family. It's a splendid ground covering that produces purple, white or bluish flowers as early as March. It's best grown in outdoor areas that have covered paths or...

Passion flowers are a climbing vine. Most species of the passion flowers are tropical with dramatic, long-blooming flowers. Passion flowers are highly fragrant and use tendrils to cling to...

Vines that cling along the exterior siding of a house are corrosive and problematic despite their pleasing aesthetic. Clinging vines discolor the exterior siding, weaken the integrity of the...

Sea oats grass, scientifically called uniola paniculata, is a tall beach grass that grows on sand dunes. Sea oats are native to southern Gulf and Atlantic coasts from Texas to Virginia. They are...

The group pterophyta represents over 12,000 species of ferns, seedless vascular plants. Ferns have existed for millions of years and are well represented in the fossil record. They are found in a...

Grapevines may be nice to look at, and they provide shade on a trellis, or cover lots of ground, providing cheap and relatively lush landscaping materials. But they creep and intertwine themselves...

A bougainvillea is a thorny, vine-like bush with mainly bright red or purple bracts (blooms). Bougainvilleas are a crawling plant, and are often used to adorn trellises, the outside walls or...

Mandevillas are stunning ornamental plants that will adorn a fence or trellis with sturdy vines and brightly-colored blooms all summer long. Mandevilla is native to South America, and will be at...

Growing your own large gourds is an easy project that even a novice gardener will have success with. The fruits of your labor can be used in many craft projects, such as making bird houses. When...

The mandevilla is a beautiful vine with large, trumpet shaped flowers that are enhanced by large, glossy puckered leaves To keep your mandevilla blooming there are a few requirements.

The honeysuckle vine is a very hardy plant that does well in almost any soil, except clay-based or heavy clay dirt. However, there are still some diseases and pests that you need to look out for...

Raspberries grow in full sunlight within average to poor soil. They grow 4 to 6 feet high and 2 to 4 feet wide. Raspberries can be trained to grow up grapevine-like supports.

The Helianthemum Mutabile is a perennial, evergreen shrub that is native to the Mediterranean, but is commonly grown throughout the United States. Helianthemum Mutabile is synonymous with...

Grapes leaves, along with their delicious fruit, have inspired artists and craftsmen for centuries. Grape leaves are used in the Mediterranean as food. They are stuffed with foods, rolled and...