Is Creeping Wire Vine A Good Grass Alternative?

Do you have a shaded area in your yard where the lawn is patchy and doesn't really grow all that well? Or, perhaps you'd rather spend your weekends following more interesting pursuits than constantly mowing and caring for a labor-intensive lawn. If this is the case, you might well be looking for a good eco-friendly grass alternative as a friendly option for your lawn, one that looks attractive but is also relatively functional. One such plant you may be considering is the creeping wire vine (Muehlenbeckia axillaris). But is it a good grass alternative?

This species is native to Central and South America, as well as Australia, New Guinea, New Zealand, and islands dotted around the Indian Ocean. It can be grown in USDA hardiness zones 6 through 11, and will do well in both shaded areas and those in full sun. Although this plant is not listed as invasive in North America, it should be noted that it can grow quite vigorously and needs to be maintained to control its spread. The lush green growth that forms dense mats, and its fairly low-care requirements, make creeping wire vine an excellent turf alternative. That is, as long as you're prepared to manage its spreading habit, and can prevent it from growing into areas it's not welcome or scrambling over the taller plants in your yard. In fact, not controlling their spread is one of the mistakes everyone makes when growing ground cover plants. 

One of the things you'll love about creeping wire vine is that, although it looks quite delicate, it's actually tough and resilient. It has small dark green leaves and thin, reddish-brown stems. It's these stems that will spread out over the ground quickly and produce roots as they go. But, the stems can also scramble over other plants in your garden and may even end up smothering and killing them if left unchecked. On a more positive note, this plant can make an excellent ground cover and can handle moderate to heavy foot traffic. Plus, it's superb at suppressing weeds.

The other thing you're going to have to watch is that creeping wire vine has a tendency to increase in height due to the build-up of matted, leafless stems under the surface layer. But, this can be easily managed by giving it a trim at least once a year. When grown as a ground cover, you can cut back the growth to one or two inches thick all over. You'll also want to keep an eye on the edges of your "lawn" area and just trim the spreading stems back regularly. As long as you monitor the plant and cut back any wayward growth, you'll find that creeping wire vine takes much less time to look after than a lawn. Plus, its drought-tolerant nature means you won't need to water it constantly either. To that end, you might also be interested in other drought-resistant grass alternatives for your yard.