Creeping plants spread their shoots over the ground and underground, forming the so-called living carpets, woven from stems, aerial roots and flowers. Such plants are often called ground cover plants, although their diversity is not limited to this type.
There are many varieties of creepers, but there is no official classification. They can be conditionally divided into:
- plants with or without aerial roots;
- bindweed.
Bindweed, in turn, are:
- lash-like;
- mustache;
- decorative;
- feed.
For some species of such plants, a support (spacer) is required, for which they can catch on, while others are sufficiently dense soil, which they penetrate with shoots or aerial roots, as, for example, ivy does.
It is worth recalling that such plants grow not only on the ground or specially installed supports, they also grow in swamps and lakes.
Ivy
Perhaps the most famous of the creeping plant family is the common ivy, some varieties of which reach 20 meters in length or width. Ivy is often used as a hedge, because with its leaves it grows tenaciously and occupies the entire area allotted to it. Ivy roots do not need frames, but if the shoot is young, it is better to fix it on prepared stands.
Grape
One of the favorite species of creeping plants with tendrils among gardeners is the wild grape. It can reach a height of up to 15 meters, but when it is very small, it will also need a support, which is removed only after six months of plant growth (a sign of maturity is the appearance of a tree skin around the shoots, lumbering of the lower branches).
You can also decorate the balcony with wild grapes if you put it in pots and make the foundations on which it will anchor and grow up.
Clover
There are also forage species of creeping plants, such as, for example, clover. Clover has a branched root system, a stem that is adorned and protected by leaves, and at the top of the clover there is a white or pink flower head. Inflorescences have a spherical shape with a diameter of about 2 centimeters, rather loose in composition.
Clover is a melliferous plant: from one hectare sown with it, you can collect up to 100 kilograms of honey. It is often used as livestock feed, as it increases the fat, phosphorus, potassium and calcium content of milk and meat.
Vines
Pay attention to the coral vine - this creeping plant spreads itself along the ground if it does not find support. This plant is native to Mexico, it is often called a coral liana, in Russia you can find it under the name of antigonon.
This type of plant is fast-growing, its height can reach 8 meters, and has a tuberous root system. The coral vine is decorated with heart-shaped leaves and bright pink flowers.
