Creeping Plants: Types and Uses

Creeping plants, or "creepers," are generally considered to be small vining plants that grow close to the ground and usually make good ground covers. They are also referred to as procumbent plants.

In cases where the vines are long enough, you can train creepers to grow up a support structure. But you'll need to attach the stems to the structure with twine or another material. In this sense, creepers differ from "climbers," which are another class of vines that tend to attach to structures on their own. Some plants with "creeper" in their name are actually vigorous climbers, including Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia). 

Examples of Creeping Plants

Many highly prized creeping plants are flowering ground covers. But some ground covers are grown for their leaves as much as for their blossoms. 

For example, creeping juniper (Juniperus horizontalis) is a ground-hugging shrub valued for its evergreen foliage and ability to curb erosion. Angelina stonecrop (Sedum rupestre 'Angelina') does flower, but most people don't grow it for the blooms (which they sometimes even remove). What gardeners adore about Angelina is its golden-chartreuse leaves. Moreover, spotted dead nettle (Lamium maculatum) is valued almost equally for its flowers and its variegated leaves.

If you want creepers with showy flowers for your landscape, take a look at these plants:

• Creeping phlox (Phlox stolonifera)
  
• Creeping thyme (Thymus serpyllum, for example)
• Bugleweed (Ajuga reptans)
• Creeping myrtle (Vinca minor)
• Dragon's blood sedum (Sedum spurium 'Dragon's Blood')
• Snow-in-summer (Cerastium tomentosum)

Invasive or Problematic Creepers

Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia) is considered an invasive plant in certain parts of North America, meaning it can be difficult to control its spread. To keep it within bounds, grow it in hanging baskets. Bugleweed and creeping myrtle also have been deemed invasive in certain areas.

In fact, many creepers are not necessarily desirable plants to grow. Some are among common lawn weeds. These include:

• Creeping Charlie (but the variegated Glechoma hederacea 'Variegata' is sold for landscaping use)
• Purslane (Portulaca oleracea)
• Bird's-foot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus)
• Clover (Trifolium spp.)

Opinions do vary widely, of course. For instance, many people would push back and say that clover is a desirable plant. It can make a good alternative to turf grass, and it attracts beneficial pollinators to the garden.

Landscaping Uses

The general use for a creeping plant is as a ground cover. Those that bloom heavily not only serve practical purposes (erosion control, weed suppression, and more) in this role but also add great beauty to the landscape. Creeping phlox, in particular, can furnish dynamic color displays. Many gardeners love the look of it cascading down a slope in the spring when it is in bloom. 

Creeping thyme is one of the shortest flowering creepers. Another is creeping speedwell (Veronica filiformis), which bears small blue flowers. Both are often 1 inch tall or less. Such plants are ideal for use around garden stepping stones or in other areas with foot traffic because walking on them occasionally won't damage them.

Because they stay low to the ground, other logical uses for creeping plants include:

• As edging plants
• In the front row of a flower border (because they won't hide the plants behind them)
• In rock gardens (as long as they can grow in that environment)