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