Vines and Ground covers If you live in the warm SOUTHERN STATES

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.

Vines and ground covers These plants are for the SOUTHWEST

EVERGREEN CLEMATIS – This broad leaved vine is interesting used along a fence oron a roof gable where its leaves can hang down. Known scientifically as Clematis Armandi it grows to 20 feet in any average soil and prefers a sunny location. Buy strong well-developed plants as buds on weak, small plants are apt to be blind, producing flowers but no growth.

CATS-CLAW – A fast growing rampant vine, Doxantha Unguis”cati has broad evergreen leaves and clings to masonry. Give it a hot sunny location in any garden soil and it will cover a bare wall quickly.

CAROLINA YELLOW JESSAMINE – This vine might be used as a ground cover but is beautiful hanging on a trellis. It likes frequent irrigation and, when well watered, blooms intermittently all year round. Any average soil will do, but give it sun. Youll find it listed as Gelsemium sempervirens.

STAR JASMINE – Once established this plant has remarkable heat and cold resistance. It demands water and may be used as a vine or ground cover. Its small white flowers in spring are intensely fragrant. Known as Trachelospermum jasminoides it will grow in sun or shade in any good garden loam.

Here are some good vines and ground covers for you to use in the NORTHWEST

BEARBERRY – A low dense mat like broad-leaved evergreen thrives in sun or shade and prefers a sandy soil. It is a native plant and may be collected from the wild; however, nursery-grown plants establish more easily. Its scientific name is Arctostaphylos Uvaursi.

DWARF HOLLY-GRAPE – A native plant, known as Mahonia repens, creeps by underground roots and forms a good cover to 10 inches high. Its broad leaves are handsome, and it will live in any soil if it has sun or part-day shade.

CLEMATIS – There are many species and in the Northwest Clematis paniculata is a semi-evergreen and vigorous vine. If permitted, it will reach 30 feet. It likes an alkaline soil and full sun. It produces fragrant white flowers in fall.

COMMON PERIWINKLE – A popular ground cover with pale blue flowers in early spring, Vinca minor will thrive in sun or part shade. Because it will grow in an acid soil it is frequently used as a broad leaved cover between acid-loving rhododendrons and is useful beneath trees where a lawn is difficult to maintain. It grows 10 inches high.