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 splendensMandevilla
• 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 volbulisQueen’s Wreath
• Native to Caribbean• Needs support• Fast growing• Blooms often-
best 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 grandifloraBengal 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 elatiorCast 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 leavenworthiiTickseed
• 3 feet in height• They do best in
full sun at the edge of moist areas.
• Bloom in spring & summer
• Clumped in mass
Gaillardia pulchellaBlanket 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 muscariLilyturf
• Full sun to shade
• 12”-18” in height
• Small flowers in summer
• Use in mass
Salvia coccineaScarlet Sage
• 2’ to 4’ in height• Reseeds easily • Upright growth• Attracts
hummingbirds and butterflies
• Full sun to partial shade
Stachytarpheta jamaicensis Dwarf Porterweed
• Sprawling Low-growing native groundcover 2-3’ tall
• Native• Full sun to
partial shade
Stokesia laevisStokes Aster
• 2 feet in height• Partial sun• Drought
tolerant• Dead head to
keep blooming
Zamia floridanaCoontie
• Native
• Plant in Mass
• Large female cones
• Sun/shade
• Well-drained soils
• Slow growing
Thank you
Mondo grass