Brighten Your Outdoor Space with These Versatile Trailing Plants
Imagine stepping onto a balcony where vibrant cascades of greenery overflow from containers, their leaves shimmering in the gentle morning breeze while a gentle rustle of leaves and a faint, earthy scent transport you to a haven of nature, just steps from your door.
That’s the work of leafy vines.
Foliage vines are a fantastic choice for adding colour, texture, and elegance to a garden space. Featured in combination with other foliage vines or flowering plants, their trailing habit adds interest, reduces bare spots, and enhances the overall look with lush, full displays.
The vibrant greenery not only provides instant curb appeal but offers a whimsical touch to your garden space. Plus, they’re forgiving and easy to grow, making them perfect for gardeners of all skill levels.
In this blog, we will take a look at some of my favourite foliage vines that thrive in container gardens and hanging baskets and won’t disappoint: Helichrysum, Lamiastrum, Lysimachia, Muehlenbeckia, Sweet Potato Vine, Nico, and Vinca.
1. Helichrysum (Licorice Plant)
Helichrysum vine, commonly known as Licorice Plant, is prized for its soft, silvery foliage and cascading growth habit.
Native to South Africa, this vine thrives in warm, sunny conditions and adapts well to a wide range of growing conditions.
In hanging baskets and containers, Helichrysum adds elegant texture, softens edges, and complements colourful blooms with its subtle, trailing appearance.
This drought-tolerant vine is ideal for mixed plantings where it can spill gracefully over the sides, providing visual interest throughout the growing season.
Helichrysum grows to lengths of 30–60 cm (13-24 inches) and spreads 30–45 cm (12-18 inches) wide, making it perfect for both small and large displays.
Popular varieties of Helichrysum vine include:
- Helichrysum petiolare ‘Silver Mist’ or ‘White Licorice’, known for its striking silvery leaves
- ‘Limelight’ or ‘Lemon Licorice’, which features chartreuse foliage
- ‘Variegatum’ or ‘Licorice Splash’, features a greyish-green interior with pale yellow or creamy exterior margins
- ‘Mini’ or ‘Petit Licorice’, a compact form suitable for tight spaces.
Helichrysum varieties are popular selections for container gardening and decorative arrangements.
2. ‘Jade Frost’ Lamiastrum (Deadnettle)
‘Jade Frost’ Lamiastrum vine is a versatile trailing perennial valued for its robust growth and attractive, silvery variegated leaf markings.
Native to Europe and western Asia, Lamiastrum thrives in all environments, from full sun to full shade, making its versatility ideal for any garden.
Lamiastrum grows 30–90 cm (24-36 inches) long and spreads 30-45 cm (12-18 inches) wide, allowing it to cascade beautifully from hanging baskets and containers.
Its vigorous growth fills out displays quickly, providing lush greenery and accenting colourful companion plants. In container gardening and baskets, ‘Jade Frost’ softens edges and pairs well with shade or sun-loving annuals and perennials.
3. Lysimachia (Creeping Jenny)
Lysimachia vine, often called Creeping Jenny, is a low-growing perennial prized in annual plantings for its unique, coin-shaped, vibrant foliage and trailing habit. Originating from Europe and temperate regions of Asia, Lysimachia thrives in moist, well-drained soils and adapts well to both sun and partial shade.
Lysimachia varieties grow 30–60 cm (12-24 inches) long and spread 30 cm (12 inches) wide in planters, making them ideal for hanging baskets and containers, where they can cascade over the edges and create a lush, flowing effect.
Its fast growth fills out displays quickly and pairs beautifully with bold blooms or foliage plants. In container arrangements, Lysimachia vine softens lines and adds a pop of colour, especially in shade or part-shade settings.
Popular varieties of Lysimachia vine include
- ‘nummularia’, a deep green leaved variety
- ‘Aurea’, known for its golden leaves and lengthy growth
- ‘Goldilocks’, which features a compact habit and intense yellow-green foliage
- ‘Hillier Sunburst’ boasts deep green-bluish leaves with dark veining
- ‘variegata’ or ‘Waikiki Sunset’, which features leaves with dark green centers surrounded by lime-yellow exterior margins with golden-yellow trumpet shaped flowers
- ‘Midnight Sun’, offers striking bronze-toned dark leaves with golden-yellow flowers.
It’s can be challenging to pick a single favourite from this collection because they all shine for their ornamental value and versatility in Canadian gardens.
4. Muehlenbeckia (Creeping Wire Vine)
Muehlenbeckia, often called Creeping Wire Vine, hails from New Zealand and Australia.
Muehlenbeckia’s wiry stems with small, shiny, rounded dark green leaves act like living lace trim, adding subtle, delicate texture and purpose to your display by framing and accentuating other plants.
Despite its dainty look, Muehlenbeckia is vigorous and relatively fast-growing.
Muehlenbeckia is valued for its resilience and ability to thrive in both sun and partial shade.
Mature plants trail 30-45 cm (12-18 inches), making them ideal for softening edges or adding texture to mixed arrangements in hanging baskets and containers.
Popular varieties of Muehlenbeckia include
- axillaris ‘Nana’ or ‘Small Leaf’, known for its tiny, glossy leaves and dense matting habit
- Muehlenbeckia complexa ‘Big Leaf’, which is especially vigorous and fast-growing.
5. Ipomoea (Sweet Potato Vine)
Ipomoea vine, often called Sweet Potato Vine, is an incredibly popular ornamental trailing plant known for its vibrant, lush foliage and fast growth.
Native to tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas, Ipomoea thrives in warm, sunny conditions and adapts well to Canadian summers. Despite its love for the sun, Sweet Potato Vine will thrive in all growing environments, from full sun to full shade.
Ipomoea can trail up to 2 m (6 feet) and spread 45-60 cm (18-24 inches) wide in planters, making it ideal for cascading from hanging baskets and containers. Its lush growth quickly fills out displays, providing dramatic colour and texture alongside flowering annuals or perennials. In container arrangements, Ipomoea vine softens edges and adds visual interest with its bold heart-shaped or deeply lobed leaves in hues of chartreuse, bronze, black, and variegated.
There is such a wide variety of Ipomoea that it can be hard to decide which one to grow!
When making a choice, consider factors such as the colour contrast with other plants, the vine’s growth rate, and the size of the container you plan to use, as these can significantly impact the overall aesthetic and maintenance of your display.
Look for these popular varieties of Ipomoea vine and others
- ‘Margarita’, with bright chartreuse foliage
- ‘Blackie’, featuring deep purple, almost black leaves
- The ‘Sweet Caroline’ series and ‘Illusion’ series, offered by Proven Winners, presents an extensive range of colours from lime to mahogany, bronze, black, and variegated ‘Shadow Storm’.
6. Plectranthus ‘Nico’
A member of the mint family with its square stems, Plectranthus ‘Nico’ vine is a decorative trailing plant valued for its rich, two-toned foliage of dark green oval-shaped leaves with purple-toned undersides.
Native to southern Africa and parts of Madagascar, this vine thrives in warm, partially shaded conditions and adapts well to Canadian summers when grown outdoors or in containers.
Plectranthus ‘Nico’ reaches lengths of 30–60 cm (12-24 inches) and spreads 45–90 cm (12-18 inches) wide in planters, making it ideal for cascading over the edges of hanging baskets and mixed planters.
Its lush habit softens container lines and pairs well with flowering annuals or shade-loving companions.
Vigorous and adaptable, ‘Nico’, with its distinctive velvety leaves and trailing growth, offers colour and leaf texture, highlighting its versatility and ornamental impact in garden arrangements.
7. Vinca (Trailing Periwinkle)
Vinca vine, also known as trailing periwinkle, is prized for its glossy green or variegated leaves.
Native to southern Europe and the Mediterranean region, this vine adapts well to temperate climates and all sun exposures from full sun to full shade.
Vinca vine grows 30–90 cm (12-36 inches) in length and can spread 25-30 cm (10-12 inches) wide in planters, cascading beautifully from hanging baskets and containers.
The vinca vine’s growth habit and drought tolerance make it ideal for softening the edges of planters and providing a lush backdrop for flowering annuals.
Common varieties include ‘Maculata’, boasting dark green and lime green leaves with chartreuse veining on pink stems, ‘Vinca Major Variegata’, featuring creamy white-edged leaves, and ‘Wojo’s Jem’, with creamy white centers and dark green outer leaf margins.
These cultivars are favoured for their ornamental appeal and versatility in both sun and partial shade container arrangements.
Unleash the Magic of Foliage Vines in Your Gardening Space!
These seven striking foliage vines, with their unique forms and bold tones, make it easy to create show-stopping arrangements. Mix and match to suit your style and space. Experiment freely; container gardening is an excellent opportunity to get creative and discover new favourites!
Looking for more tips on planning your container garden in Alberta? Check out our container garden blogs, or sign up today for our newsletter!
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© Sharon Wallish Murphy © Gardening with Sharon
