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