Plant List for: Groundcover & Vines
Common Plant Name Latin Name Height Spread Evergn Decid Light Water Color Months Bloom Type Plant Wildlife Tx. Native Deer Res. Comments Maintenance
Artemisia Powis Castle Artemisia arborescens 1' 3-6' E Sun L     Ground Cover     √+ Aromatic, lace-like gray foliage. Provides nice contrast in garden. Prune, removing top half at end of May. Prune to a 3" height in mid-winter or after first frost browns leaves.
                             
Artemisia, Louisiana Artemisia ludoviciana 2' 1' E Sun/part shade L     Ground Cover     √+ This will take full sun, reflected heat, any soil and need no water. Aromatic leaves have an attractive white fuzziness. Use artemesia for its year-round color on a sunny slope with rocks. In a formal setting, make sure it is contained. To get the thick winter rosettes, you have to mow it in the fall.
                             
Blue Daze Evolvulus nuttallianus 6-18"   D Sun to light shade M Blue Spring to fall Ground Cover       Tender perennial that is good for hanging baskets. Fast growing. Needs moist soil high in organic matter for best growth. Poor flowering will result with drought stress or not enough light.  
                             
Coralberry Symphoricarpos orbiculatus 1.5-3' 3' D Part shade M Magenta berries Winter Ground Cover Bird √   Great ground cover under post oaks and good erosion control plant. Spreads by runners. Susceptible to powdery mildew. Prune after first frost
                             
Dalea, Gregg Dalea greggii 4-9" 1-2' E Full sun L Purple May-Sep Ground Cover   √ √ Grown for its silvery blue-green leaves. Primary bloom period in fall. It tolerates sites with full sun, lots of reflected heat and dry soil. A little shade & occasional water is still welcome if intense heat. If heavy winter rains, may get root rot. Prune, removing top half at end of May. Prune to a 3" height in mid-winter or after first frost browns leaves.
                             
Fern, River Thelypteris kunthii 2-3' 3' D Shade M     Ground Cover   √   Likes shady, moist areas. Will require fair amount of water if gets much sun. Best to prune to 6" above ground after first hard freeze and mulch well.
                             
Frog Fruit Phyla nodiflora 3-4" 1' E Sun to shade M White Spring-Fall Ground Cover Butterfly √ √ To maintain it as a thick ground cover, it must be watered. Tolerates minimal foot traffic so good between stepping stones. This can spread rapidly. The plant is a wetland indicator.  
                             
Frostweed Verbesina virginica 3' 2' D Part shade to Shade M White Fall Ground Cover Butterfly √ √+ Colonizes by rhizomes. As temperature falls a few degrees below freezing, the dead stems of Frostweed split at the base & extrude curling ice. Found near creeks or in shade of large trees. Prune to 3" height after first frost browns leaves
                             
Germander, Creeping Silver Teucrium crossonii 2-4"   E Sun   Pink Summer Ground Cover       Makes nice evergreen silver leafed ground cover for a small area. The leaves have a fruity fragrance and is used in potpourri. Prune unattractive foliage
                             
Golden Groundsel Senecio obovatus 14" 6' E Part shade   Yellow Spring Ground Cover   √   Colonizes by rhizomes Prune unattractive foliage
                             
Horseherb or Straggler Daisy Calyptocarpus vialis 8"-10" 1' E Part shade to Shade L Yellow Spring-Fall Ground Cover   √ √ Forms dense mats in the shade with little or no water & can take moderate amounts of foot traffic. Abundant in shady areas.  
                             
Ice Plant Delosperma herbeau 2-6"   E Sun L White Summer Ground Cover Butterfly   √ Low growing succulent foliage, excellent for rock gardens. Drought tolerant once established. Requires good drainage. Great for a rock garden. Native to Africa.  
                             
Missouri  Violet Viola missouriensis 2-6" 1' Green in winter, dormant in summer if dry Part shade M Purple Early spring Ground Cover   √   Colonizes by rhizomes and seeds. Grow with pigeonberry & wild columbine for continuous color.  
                             
Mountain Pea or Sampson's snakeroot Orbexilum pedunculatum 1-3'   E Sun to shade M Purple  Spring Ground Cover Bird √   May be native to E. Texas but under debate. Definitely native to North America. Substitutes well for Asian jasmine.  
                             
Oregano Origanum vulgare 4" 4' E Sun M White to pink Summer Ground Cover     √ Sprawling herb; flavorful leaves used for cooking Prune removing top half at end of May. Prune to a 3" height after first frost browns leaves.
                             
Pigeon Berry Rivina humilis 1' 2' D Part shade to Shade M Pink & white Spring-Fall Ground Cover Bird √ √ Colonizes by seed. Grow with Missouri violet & wild columbine for continuous color. Tolerates moist or dry soil. Berries are prized by birds. Prune for shaping but not required
                             
Plumbago, Leadwort Ceratostigma plumbaginoides 6-12" 3-5" E Sun/part shade L Blue Summer Ground Cover     √    
                             
Purple Heart Setcreasea pallida 1' 8+' E Sun/part shade L Purple leaves & flowers Summer Ground Cover   Louisiana   Colorful groundcover. Can become an aggressive spreader.  
                             
Sage, Lyre leaf Salvia lyrata 18" 1' E Sun/part shade M Blue April Ground Cover       Similar to Ajuja. Leaves can be brewed as a tea for laxative, colds, coughs and nervousness. Prune off unattractive foliage and seed heads  or leave seeds for reseeding.
                             
Sedum (Stonecrop) Sedum nuttallianum 6" 1' E Sun to shade L White Summer Ground Cover   √ √ Great rock garden plant  
                             
Sedum, Autumn Joy Sedum 'Herbstfreude' or Sedum 'Autumn Joy' 1-2' 1-2' D Sun to light shade L Deep pink turning red Late summer to fall Ground Cover Hummingbird, Butterfly     Great in mixed border planting.  
                             
Sedum, Brilliant Sedum spectabile 'Brilliant' 18-24" 18"   Sun to light shade LM Pink turning deep purple Late summer Ground Cover Hummingbird, Butterfly     Prefers excellent drainage in soil that is not too rich. Brighter flowers than "Autumn Joy' but a shorter bloom period.  
                             
Sedum, Dragons Blood Sedum spurium 6" 18"   Sun to light shade L Red to pinkish white June - July Ground Cover       Good in a rock garden setting.  
                             
Sedum, Hens & Chicks Sempervivum spp. 3"     Morning sun, afternoon shade L Yellow, red or pink   Ground Cover       Long-lived succulent. A large mother plant (hen) surrounded by smaller offshoots (chicks) gives these plants their common name. Hens and chicks have thick, pointed leaves forming a two to four inch tall rosette. The green to red foliage sometimes looks like it's covered in cobwebs. On occasion, a flower stalk may emerge from the center of mature plants topped by a cluster of yellow, red or pink flowers. After blooming, the mother plant may die, leaving her "offspring" to take her place. Hens and chicks perform well in pots and on rock walls.  
                             
Sedum, Jelly Bean Sedum rubrotinctum 6-8" 1' E Sun to light shade L Reddish yellow Winter Ground Cover       Leaves turn bronze red in the sun.  
                             
Sedum, Palmer's Sedum palmeri 6-12" 18" E Sun to light shade L Golden Yellow Winter to spring Ground Cover       Requires well drained soil. Looks good with red sedum  
                             
Sedum, Red Carpet Sedum spurium "Elizabeth Red Carpet' 3-4" 2' E Full Sun L Red May-Sep Ground Cover Butterfly     Foliage is a drak red with green & produces a wonderful fall color. It adaps to most soil types and grows fast.  
                             
Sedum, Tricolor Sedum spurium Tricolor 3-4" 12-15" E Sun to light shade L Pink Summer Ground Cover Butterfly     Drought tolerant once established. Requires good drainage. Good in hanging basket.  
                             
Silver Ponyfoot Dichondra argentea 2-4" 2.5' D Sun/part shade L     Ground Cover   √ √ Silver gray foliage on low growing runners. Make sure has good drainage. Keep confined by pruning
                             
Snakeherb Dyschoriste lineraris 12" 6" E Sun/part shade   Purple Jun-Oct Ground Cover       Found on rocky-grassy slopes or about caprock. Compact, mat-forming growth habit. Ideal ground cover. Heat and drought tolerant. Lovely mounding over the edge of a pot or hanging basket.  
                             
Snakeherb, spreading Dyschoriste oblongifolia 6-12" 6" E Sun/part shade   Purple Jun-Oct Ground Cover       Try on rocky slope.  
                             
Southern Dewberry or Zarzamora Rubus trivialis 1'     Sun/part shade M White Feb-Apr Ground Cover Bird, Small Mammals √   Fruit relished by humans and wildlife. Prune to control growth
                             
Thyme, Creeping Thymus serphyllum 3-8" 12"   Sun L     Ground Cover       Avoid excess moisture. Plant between stepping stones, rock. Use to flavor meat or vegetables.  
                             
Thyme, Provencal Thymus vulgaris 6-12" 10" E Sun L White Spring Ground Cover       Requires good well-drained soil. Use in French & Cajun dishes.  
                             
Vinca Major Vinca sp. 18"   E Light shade to shade M Lilac blue Spring Ground Cover     √ The periwinkle can become invasive in the shade with enough water. The lilac blue flowers occur mostly in the spring, but the shiny green foliage is an enjoyable ground cover. Shearing occasionally to bring out new growth.
                             
Wooly Stemodia Stemodia lanata or tomentosa 4-10" 2-3' D Sun or light shade L Purple Spring & after rain Ground Cover   √ √+ Ground cover with delicate blooms. Leaves are fuzzy like lambs ear.  Looks great under sotol, yucca, or prickly pear. The flowers appear in early spring or after rain. In the wild, the plant is found in deep coastal sands. It grows well in sandy soil that is fast draining. Prune to 3" height after first frost browns leaves
                             
Alamo Vine Ipomoea sinuata low to 10' 6-8' D Sun/part shade   White Afternoons, Apr-Nov Vine   √   The seed pods look like little tan flowers. This vine needs a fence or a trellis. It is very drought tolerant. Prune for shape only
                             
Carolina Jessamine Gelsemium semperviren Vine to 20' 8-10' E Sun/part shade M Yellow Early spring Vine Bird, Hummingbird, Small Mammals √ √ Can be aggressive vine. Pretty flower in early spring. Prune only to direct and control growth.
                             
Coral Honeysuckle Lonicera semperviren vine to 40' 6-8' E Sun/part shade M Coral   Spring to Summer Vine Bird, Hummingbird, Small Mammals √ √ Coral tubular blooms on evergreen vine. Can be used as a shrub. Shaping not necessary
                             
Coral Vine Antigonon leptopus vine to 35'   D Sun/part shade M White or pink Late summer and fall Vine Butterfly     Plants should be allowed to dry slightly in between watering. During the winter months, plants are watered only enough to keep the foliage from wilting. Plants top will die back and roots must be heavily mulched in zone 7. Rapid growing climber that holds on by tendrils. Quickly covers adjacent plants & structures. Prune after first frost
                             
Crossvine Bignonia capreodata vine to 50'   E Part shade to shade L Red & yellow Summer Vine Hummingbird √ √ Found in woods and creek bottoms. The tendrils will cling to stones & fences so it doesn't have to have a trellis. The blooming is timed with the arrival of the hummingbirds. The vine is very aggressive so prune annually. Prune only to direct and control growth.
                             
Globe or Cutleaf Globe Berry Vine Ibervillea lindheimeri or tenuisecta vine to 4'     Sun/part shade   Yellow green flowers Jun-Aug Vine   √   Very showy berries.  
                             
Grape Vine Vitis spp. varies 10-20' D Sun to shade L Fall foliage Fall Vine Bird √ √ Most varieties are large, vigorous and high climbing. Prune to control growth
                             
Honeysuckle, White Bush Lonicera albiflora 4-10' 4' D Sun/part shade M White Spring Vine Bird √   In the wild, usually found clinging to the edges of cliffs or twining into trees. Protected from deer, it will develop into a soft open shrub. It will need water in full sun. Overhead watering may cause powdery mildew.  
                             
Mexican Flame Vine Senecio confusus 8-10'   D Sun/light shade M Orange to red Spring -Summer Vine Butterfly, Bird     If not given support, it will support itself and grow in a confusion of stems to form a sprawling shrub. Can also be used as groundcover. Water until established and then becomes drought tolerant. Killed to the ground by frost but will recover. Unlike many other vines, the Mexican flame vine tends to be rather compact. Can prune to control growth or to cut back if killed by frost. Left unpruned, flowers & foliage accumulate at the top.
                             
Passion Vine Passiflora incarnata 6-7' 3-4' D Sun/part shade M Lavendar Mid-summer to Fall Vine Butterfly √   Starts fresh every year so never gets very big. It is often found sprawling on the ground. Larval food for zebra long wing & Julia butterfly caterpillars. Prune to control growth
                             
Snapdragon Vine Maurandya antirrhiniflora 3' 1'2' D Sun/part shade   Purple Spring to frost Vine   √   Delicate vine, good for hanging over a basket or stone wall. Seed germinates in the spring & the vine is blooming by spring.  
                             
Trumpet Vine Campsis radicans 20-30' 3-4' D Sun to shade L Orange / coral Summer Vine Hummingbird √   This plant can easily sucker so it is good for erosion control. It can be planted where suckers can be controlled by mowing or in contained areas for easy maintenance. Prune to control growth
                             
Virginia Creeper Parthenocissus quinquefolia to 25'+ 1' for ground cover, 8' for walls D Sun to shade L Fall foliage   Vine Bird √ √ Virginia creeper can be a good ground cover but must be pulled from the trees each year. Normally found at the edge and in open woodlands and on rocky banks. Best fruit and fall color in full sun. Prune to control growth