Native Vines and Groundcovers
Key:
- F=full sunlight
- P=partial shade
- S=shade
- H=hydric; wet, periodically or often inundated by water
- M=mesic; moist, adequate soil moisture retention all year
- S=sub-xeric; moist to dry, seasonally moist, periodically dry
- X=xeric; dry and drought resistant, little moisture retention, excessively drained
NAME |
LIGHT
|
MOISTURE |
HEIGHT |
COMMENTS |
Common
|
Scientific |
|
Running serviceberry
|
Amelanchier stolonifera
|
F,P
|
M
|
2’
|
Stoloniferous groundcover; forms thickets
|
|
Bearberry
|
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
|
F,P
|
S,X
|
6”
|
Best in poor, sandy, very acid soils; salt-tolerant; groundcover
|
|
American bittersweet
|
Celastrus scandens
|
F,P
|
M,S
|
--
|
Climbing vine; separate male and female plants; tolerates alkaline soil
|
|
Virgin’s bower
|
Clematis virginiana
|
F
|
M
|
--
|
Climbing vine; white flowers in late summer; best in alkaline soil
|
|
Bunchberry
|
Cornus canadensis
|
P,S
|
M
|
6"
|
Spreading groundcover; white flowers in spring; red fruit in fall
|
|
Checkerberry, Wintergreen
|
Gaultheria procumbens
|
P,S
|
M
|
6"
|
Evergreen groundcover; leaves fragrant when crushed; reddish in fall
|
|
Creeping juniper
|
Juniperus horizontalis
|
F
|
M,S,X
|
1'
|
Adaptable; tolerates hot, dry sites and alkaline soil; evergreen
|
|
Partridgeberry
|
Mitchella repens
|
S
|
M
|
2"
|
Delicate plant; red fruits persist into winter
|
|
Woodbine, Virginia creeper
|
Parthenocissus quinquefolia
|
F,P,S
|
M,S,X
|
--
|
Vigorous vine; tough; maroon fall color; tolerates alkaline soil
|
|
Lowbush blueberry
|
Vaccinium angustifolium
|
F
|
M
|
2'
|
Slow; good for edible or wildlife landscapes; requires acid soil
|
|
Cranberry
|
Vaccinium macrocarpon
|
F
|
H,M
|
6"
|
Slow; good for edible or wildlife landscapes; requires acid soil
|
|
Fox grape
|
Vitis labrusca
|
F
|
M
|
--
|
Handsome foliage; good vine for arbors and fences
|
It was made possible by Friends of Acadia, Garden Club Federation of Maine, Josselyn Botanical Society, Maine Natural Areas Program/Maine Department of Conservation, Maine Department of Agriculture, Maine Landscape and Nursery Association, Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, National Park Service, Native Plant Conservation Initiative, The Nature Conservancy, University of Maine Cooperative Extension, University of Maine Horticulture Club and the USDA Forest Service.
