English ivy (Hedera helix) used as a ground cover. Source: whangareiflora.weebly.com
Almost any climbing plant (vine) will make an excellent groundcover plant if you place it where there is nothing it can climb or cling to (tree, arbor, trellis, wall, etc.). And climbers cover a lot of space very quickly, much faster than more typical groundcover plants, meaning you need to buy fewer plants. For example, a single Virginia creeper plant can easily cover 100 square feet (10 m2) in only 2 years!
If climbers grown as creepers start to go too far, just trim their extremities… and this is doubly beneficial in that it will encourage them to fill in faster.
Here are few climbing plants you might want to consider for use as groundcovers:
Plants for Cold Climates
- Akebia (Akebia spp.)
- Boston ivy (Parthenocissus tricuspidata)
- Clematis (Clematis spp.)
- Climbing honeysuckle (Loniceraspp.)
- Climbing hydrangea (Hydrangea petiolaris)
- Climbing or rambling rose (Rosa spp.)
- Dutchman’s pipe (Aristolochia spp.)
- English ivy (Hedera helix)
- Everlasting pea (Lathyrus latifolius)
- Grapevine (Vitis spp.)
- Trumpetcreeper (Campsis spp.)
- Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia)
- Wintercreeper (Euonymus fortunei)
Plants for Moderate to Tropical Climates*
Morning glories (here Ipomoea tricolor ‘Heavenly Blue’) make wonderful, fast-growing groundcovers. Source: worldoffloweringplants.com
- Black-eyed Susan vine (Thunbergia alata)
- Blue pea (Clitoria terneata)
- Blue trumpet vine (Thunbergia grandiflora)
- Bougainvillea (Bougainvillea spp.)
- Clerodendrum (Clerodendrum spp.)
- Coral vine (Antigonon leptopus)
- Hyacinth bean (Lablab purpureus, formerly Dolichos lablab)
- Jasmine (Jasminum spp.)
- Mandevilla or dipladenia (Mandevilla spp.)
- Morning glory (Ipomoea spp.)
- Passion flower (Passiflora spp.)
- Rangoon creeper (Quisqualis spp.)
- Scarlet runner bean (Phaseolus coccineus)
- Star jasmine (Trachelospermum spp.)
