Groundcovers and Vines,
The Floors and Walls
Ed Skvarch,
Commercial Horticulture
Walls
VINE TYPES
• HARDY EVERGREEN – Keep leaves
and stems in winter
• HARDY DECIDUOUS – In the fall, lose
their leaves, but not their stems
• PERENNIAL – Die back to the ground
in winter, but grow back quickly from
crown in spring
• TROPICAL – Die totally in freezing
weather
• ANNUAL – Die, but reseed
Vine Types - Tendrils
• Tendrils - slim,
flexible, leafless
stems that wrap
themselves around
anything they
contact
• Grape vines
• Wire / Wood stakes
Vine Types - Twining
• Twining vines wind
their stems around
any available
support
• Climb best on
Trellises
• Constructed with
sturdy, durable
material
Vine Types – Clinging
• Small root like
holdfasts
• Trees, walls, rough
surfaces
• Do not place on
framed wall
buildings
WHY USE VINES?
• Screening a view
• Softening a hardscape
(i.e. chain link fence)
• Creating an entrance
• As a groundcover
• Fit into small spaces
• Attract wildlife
• Conserve energy
Oh yeah,
and for
swinging
Aristolochia grandiflora
Pelican Flower
• characterized by
the outlandish
shape of the
flower
• Attract insects
through scent
trapping them
and using them
for pollination
Bignonia “capreolata “
Cross Vine
•
•
•
•
Flowering Vine
Tendrils
Full Sun
Low amounts of
water
• Fast growing
Tangerine Beauty
Bougainvillea sp.
Bougainvillea
• Full sun
• Thorny
• Vigorous
grower
• Many flower
colors
Clytostoma callistegioides”
Purple Painted Trumpet Vine
• Drought resistant
and virtually pest
free.
• Bright sunlight or
filtered shade
Lonicera “sempervirens”
Red / Yellow Honeysuckle
• Twining or trailing
woody vine
• Prefers full sun, but
tolerates partial
shade.
• Drought tolerant
• Hummingbirds and
butterflies
• Native
Mandevilla splendens
Mandevilla
• Full sun to
partial
shade
• Long
blooming
period
• Moderately
salt tolerant
Passiflora incarnata
Passion Vine
•
•
•
•
Native
Full sun
Fast growing
Larval plant for
butterflies
• Large
purple/white
flowers
Petrea volbulis
Queen’s Wreath
•
•
•
•
Native to Caribbean
Needs support
Fast growing
Blooms oftenbest in spring
• Part shade/sun
• Blue/lavender color
resembling wisteria
Solanum jasminoides ‘’Variegata’
Variegated Potato Vine
• Rapid Growth
• Full to partial
shade
• Can’t climb on it’s
own
• Groundcover
• Rapid Growth
Trachelospermum jasminoides
Confederate Jasmine
• Full sun to partial
shade
• Low amounts of
water & fertilizer
• Trellis or fence
• Aromatic in spring
• Variegated variety
Thunbergia mysorensis
Clock Vine
• Full sun to partial
shade
• Fantastic for high
Pergola because
of how they drip
down
• Attracts
Hummingbirds
Thunbergia grandiflora
Bengal Clock Vine
• Full sun to
shade
• Needs water
and fertilizer in
the summer
• Vigorous
grower
Floors
Ground Covers
• Plants that grow up to
a height of several
inches to 3 feet and
that spread over the
soil area are
considered to be
ground covers."
• Prostrate in growth
• Clumping
• Low growing shrubs
Why Use Groundcovers?
• Turf Alternative
• Massing provides coverage for
large areas
• Inhibits weed growth
• Enhances beauty / usefulness of
the landscape
• Create interesting contrast in
texture / color
• Unifying element
Agapanthus africanus
Lily of the Nile
• Full sun
• 2’-3’ in height,
there are dwarf
varieties
• Flowers are
attractive to
wildlife
Aspidistra elatior
Cast Iron Plant
•
•
•
•
•
•
Dark green foliage
Excellent background
Variegated variety
Grows in shade
12” to 18” ht.
clumping
Bromeliaceae spp.
Bromeliad
• Some grow in
sun and some
need shade
• Well-drained
soil
• 2” – 36” in
height
Caladium bicolor
Fancy Leaf Caladium
• Tuberous,
upright spreading
perennial
• Full sun to partial
shade
• Bedding plant or
edging
Coreopsis leavenworthii
Tickseed
• 3 feet in height
• They do best in
full sun at the
edge of moist
areas.
• Bloom in spring &
summer
• Clumped in mass
Gaillardia pulchella
Blanket Flower
• 11/2 feet in
height
• Full sun
• Well drained soil
loves the beach
• Propagate by
seed, division or
clumping
Hemerocallis spp.
Daylily
• Great bedding
plant especially in
area that receives
no supplemental
irrigation
• Lots of varieties
• Rust
Juniperus spp.
Juniper
• Full sun
• Well-drained
soil
• Ranges in
height from 6”
to 18”
Liriope muscari
Lilyturf
• Full sun to
shade
• 12”-18” in
height
• Small flowers
in summer
• Use in mass
Salvia coccinea
Scarlet Sage
•
•
•
•
2’ to 4’ in height
Reseeds easily
Upright growth
Attracts
hummingbirds and
butterflies
• Full sun to partial
shade
Stachytarpheta jamaicensis
Dwarf Porterweed
• Sprawling Lowgrowing native
groundcover 2-3’
tall
• Native
• Full sun to partial
shade
Stokesia laevis
Stokes Aster
•
•
•
•
2 feet in height
Partial sun
Drought tolerant
Dead head to
keep blooming
Zamia floridana
Coontie
•
•
•
•
•
•
Native
Plant in Mass
Large female cones
Sun/shade
Well-drained soils
Slow growing
Thank you
Mondo
grass