Creeping Plants

These creeping plants grow differently from other types of plants, growing out rather than up, spreading along the ground and taking root as they travel. There are many varieties to suit all sorts of growing conditions.

Some creeping plants spread by sending runners out from the parent plant. When a leaf node or stem touches the ground, roots start to grow.

Others have foliage that has roots already growing along the stems and need only to make contact with soil to root.

Growing Creeping Plants

Start with cuttings or divisions that have been rooted from a nursery or garden center.

If starting with seeds, start indoors and wait until seedlings can be transplanted easily without damage to roots.

Plant them a few inches apart and cover with a thin layer of mulch. Water daily until the plants become established.

Creepers for Sun

Many of the culinary herbs we are familiar with are available in creeping varieties. Golden oregano (Origanum vulgare), creeping thyme (Thymus X citriodorus), and prostrate rosemary (Rosemarinus officinalis) are popular choices to plant in the herb garden or along edges of flowerbeds.

They produce fragrant, delicate flowers along with edible culinary herbs.

Planted between stepping-stones or in rock gardens on a slope, these creeping plants grow only a few inches tall. For a carpet of gold, try Japanese bloodgrass (Imperata cylindrica).

Creepers for Shade

Golden creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia) enjoys a shady area, even boggy conditions. Growing roots along its entire stem, it quickly fills in large areas, choking out weeds along the way.

It has yellow-green leaves that compliment darker plants. Peacock moss (Selaginella uncinata) has delicate, fernlike leaves in an aquamarine blue, grows four to six inches tall and is semi-evergreen.

Eco-lacquered spider plant (Chrysogonum virginiarum) glows with metallic blue-green leaves and inch-wide daisy shaped flowers. In winter, the foliage turns shades of purple.

Creepers for Sun or Shade

Creeping raspberry (Rubus pentalobus) has beautifully textured, rounded leaves that are dark green on top and bronze underneath. It produces flowers in spring, berries in summer and a beautiful color display in fall.

Blue star creeper (Laurentia fluviatilis) is a tough plant that resembles baby's tears. It produces blue, star-shaped flowers and bright green leaves. It is beautiful under trees and between stepping stones in a path.

Mazus reptans is a quick grower, producing lance-shaped leaves and snapdragon-like blue flowers with yellow and red spots. This plant will fill in large areas quickly.

Creeping plants may be the finishing touch to a completed flowerbed or the focal point of a rock garden or slope. However used, these plants will complete the look of any landscape design.