Ohio State University Extension Bulletin

Native Plants of Ohio

Bulletin 865


Vines and Groundcovers (See herbaceous list for additional groundcovers.)

Scientific Name Campsis radicans Clematis virginiana Gaultheria procumbens Lonicera sempervirens Parthenocissus quinquefolia
Common Name trumpet creeper virgin's bower checkerberry or creeping wintergreen trumpet honeysuckle Virginia creeper
Height 30-40' 12-20' 6" 10-20' 30-50'
Ohio Distribution widespread widespread east scattered widespread
Habitat open fields, waste places wood borders, open woods and moist places acidic soils, slopes woods, wood borders moist, shaded areas
Features Aggressive vine with showy flowers. Tolerates a wide range of soils. *(hb) *(bf) *(be) Climbing vine with fragrant, white flowers in many clusters. Autumn fruits are silvery grey, feather-like plumes, 3-6" long. Contact with plant may cause a skin rash. Creeping, evergreen woody groundcover. Leaves turns reddish white in fall, red fruit persists. Rapid-growing, twining vine with showy trumpet-like flowers, red berries. *(hb) Brilliant fall foliage with blue/black berries; vigorous grower in sun or shade. Very adaptable; can be invasive. *(bd)
Availability trade   trade trade trade
Flower Season and Color/Fall Foliage Color flower: summer; orange-red flower: summer/autumn; white flower: spring-summer; pink/foliage: red flower: spring; red foliage: red

KEY: = RED denotes plant is toxic to humans. Features: *(x) = a food or cover benefit for...*(bf) = butterflies, *(bf-l) = butterfly larvae, *(w) = wildlife; *(bd) = songbirds; *(be) honeybees; *(hb) = hummingbirds. "Do not disturb in the wild." = plant is endangered (!!), threatened (!), or potentially threatened (.)


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