8 Vines That Double As Ground Covers To Suppress Weeds

Ground covers are a great help in any yard. Acting as a living mulch, they suppress weeds and create biodiversity, helping your garden stay healthy and happy. Filling in the gaps between bigger shrubs and flowers, ground covers spread quickly to create a cohesive, low-maintenance yard full of color, foliage, and beauty. There are loads of ground covers you can plant to help choke out unwanted weeds, but for a more interesting look, you may wish to use vines. Vines like star jasmine and trumpet creeper can work well as ground cover, quickly growing to create a carpet of greenery in your yard. 

Vines are usually associated with trellises and larger structures, where they creep up and spread. However, certain vines will be just as happy creeping along the ground as they are up walls! When picking the best vine to use as ground cover, consider whether you want to use an annual or a perennial. Annuals tend to grow quicker, but they won't come back the following year. You should also consider your climate, soil, and light conditions. A test to measure the pH of your soil can help you figure out the best vine for your garden.

With its stunning white flowers that bloom in spring, star jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides) is a great ground cover vine. As an evergreen perennial, this vine will bring color into your garden throughout the year while keeping the weeds at bay. You can grow star jasmine in USDA Hardiness Zones 8 to 10 in a sheltered spot. It thrives in fertile, well-drained soils and can do well in both full sun and partial shade. However, it tends not to grow that well if it is placed in a particularly shady location. 

Trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans) is a vine native to the southeastern U.S., suitable for growing as a perennial in zones 4 to 9. This vine is infamous for being fast-growing and aggressive, so it makes sense that it can work well as a ground cover in larger gardens. However, always keep an eye on it and cut back when necessary. Its scarlet blooms that appear in July attract hummingbirds and other pollinators, bringing more life into your garden. It is also a great ground cover for preventing soil erosion because of its rapid growth. 

Coral honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) is a perennial vine that can work well as a sprawling ground cover. It can be grown in hardiness zones 4 to 9 and thrives in a range of soils. Although it flowers better in full sun, you can grow coral honeysuckle in partial shade. Once established, it is a pretty tough and low-maintenance plant that is tolerant of drought. In May and June, beautiful, bright orange flowers decorate the foliage. As a semi-evergreen plant, it may keep some leaves during winter, depending on your location.

Usually grown as an annual, the black-eyed Susan vine (Thunbergia alata) is suitable for colder climates that have frost, as it can become invasive in warmer regions. It can be a great temporary ground cover to add over the growing season, with its vines twisting and twining around the other plants. The black-eyes Susan vine thrives in moist, rich soil under full sunlight, but can tolerate some afternoon shade. You usually find this vine with yellow flowers, but there are cultivars available that bloom in different colors.

Carolina jessamine (Gelsemium sempervirens) is a vine native to the southern U.S. that can create a bushy ground cover when left without support. It is hardy in zones 7 to 10 and grows and flowers best in the full sun, although it can tolerate some shade. From February to May, golden trumpet-like blooms decorate the plant, producing a delicate, sweet scent. If you do decide to use Carolina jessamine as ground cover, ensure that you are planting it well away from your home, as it is a very flammable plant. 

With its stunning purple blooms and intriguing bean pods, the hyacinth bean (Lablab purpureus) is a fantastic ornamental vine that is usually grown as an annual. However, as a heat-loving plant, it can be grown as a tender perennial in hardiness zones 10 to 11. When placed in a sunny location, it flowers profusely from June until the frost, making it a beautiful yet effective ground cover option. Hyacinth beans do well in well-drained soils and can be grown from seed in the spring, either by direct sowing or transplanting.

White-veined Dutchman's pipe (Aristolochia fimbriata) is a creeping perennial in the pipevine family that is usually used as ground cover. It can be grown in hardiness zones 7 to 9 and prefers rich, well-drained soil. The white-veined Dutchman's pipe is a great option for more covered areas, as it can do well in dappled sun or partial shade. If you are planting it in the full sun, ensure you are watering it regularly. With interesting, veiny foliage and small pipe-shaped flowers that appear in the summer, this vine is a fun addition to any yard. 

Virgin's bower (Clematis virginiana) is a native vine that produces clusters of white flowers in summer and fall. When used as cover, it sprawls along the ground to create a dense mat of foliage. You can grow virgin's bower in hardiness zones 3 to 8, and it does well in both full sun and partial shade. It prefers moist, rich soil. Virgin's bower does spread pretty rapidly, so keep an eye on it throughout the year. It can be helpful to cut it back considerably over the winter.