If you live in the warm Southern states here are a few selections for Vines and groundcovers in your landscape.
CAROLINA YELLOW JESSAMINE – Is a showy twining vine reaching 30 feet in length with yellow flowers in spring and wine-red foliage in winter. While it will grow in sun, it prefers some shade and a slightly acid soil. Look for it under the scientific name of Gelsemium sempervirens.
CREEPING FIG – Found clinging to walls of old New Orleans buildings this handsome vine is favored for modern gardens too. Nurseries list it as Ficus pumila. It likes a slightly acid soil, and thrives in sun or shade.
SOUTHERN SMILAX – Tendrils support this vine on arbors where it may be kept in bounds by pruning. Fruit clusters last well into the winter, and the foliage is sought for Christmas decorations. Botanically minded people call it Smilax lem- ceolutcz. It likes a moist, acid soil and some shade, but does well in ordinary garden soil and in the sun.
ENGLISH IVY – Called Hedera Helix, this vine and ground cover has many varieties some with variegated foliage and most of which are hardy outdoors in the South. It forms a low mat-like cover in sun or shade and some varieties reach 50 feet in height climbing a wall or tree.
CROSS-VINE – Red brown flowers in May distinguish this handsome vine whose tendrils secure it to a fence or trellis. Give it acid soil and either shade or sun. Its scientific name is Bienonia capreolata.
CARPET BUGLE-WEED – In spring spikes of blue flowers appear on this ground-hugging plant, which thrives in the shade but which also does well in sun. Its only demand is a friable and fairly fertile soil. It is listed in catalogs as Ajuga reptans.
COMMON PERIWINKLE – A dependable ground cover for sun or shade, Vinca minor has good blue flowers in spring. Any soil seems to please it and it rarely grows over 6 inches high. Use it beneath trees, under shrubs or in difficult to mow areas.
CONFEDERATE JASMINE – A strong grower, Trachelospermum jasminoides twines on fences and pergolas in the lower and mid-South but needs protection in the colder areas. Its white spring flowers are sweetly scented, and its foliage is glossy green. Plant it in a neutral or acid soil in sun or partial shade.
JAPANESE PACHYSANDRA – For large shaded areas this coarse textured ground cover 8 to 10 inches high is ideal. It likes an acid soil well supplied with humus. Nurseries sometimes list it as Pachysandra terminals.
LILY-TURF – ln any good garden soil in sun or shade this low growing grass-like ground cover finds a home. Known almost equally as well as liriope, there are several varieties worth investigating: Liriope exifiora, Liriope japonicus, Liriope muscari var. Majestic. All have good lavender flowers and may be used to border walks or beds, or cover banks.
