Landscape Alternatives
Similar to Hedera helix L.
These native plants are suitable substitutes for Hedera helix in the landscape.
Climbing Hydrangea or Woodvamp (Decumaria barbara) is a vine with fragrant white flower clusters and shiny leaves that are tardily deciduous. It needs moist soil and shade to grow well.
Supplejack (Berchemia scandens) is a vine with shiny leaves and blue-black fruit. It will grow in sun or shade and tolerates dry soil.
Crossvine (Bignonia capreolata) is a semi-evergreen vine with shiny leaves and large, showy red and yellow flowers attractive to hummingbirds. There are cultivars.
Partridgeberry (Mitchella repens) is a small, evergreen, creeping vine with little, shiny dark green leaves, fuzzy white flowers in summer, and bright red fruit. It needs shade and acidic soil.
Wintergreen or Teaberry (Gaultheria procumbens) is an evergreen groundcover with shiny leaves, white flowers, and red fruit. It needs shade and acidic soil. Best is East Tennessee.
Allegheny Spurge (Pachysandra procumbens) is an herbaceous groundcover with yearlong foliage that mottles in winter and fragrant flowers. It needs moist shade and a more neutral soil.
Wild Ginger (Asarum canadense) is a decidious groundcover that grows very well in shady moist soil statewide.