Photo of fall foliage of Virginia creeper. Trees in New England are bathed in the dark red to reddish-orange of Virginia creeper during autumn....

Virginia creeper will climb buildings and trees but is also a vigorous ground cover. Ever thought in terms of a "fall foliage ground cover?" Well, that's precisely what Virginia creeper can serve as, although I don't necessarily recommend it. I have some of these vines serving that function currently on my own property, but, frankly, it's just an area I've neglected, and I'll probably eventually remove the Virginia creeper -- pretty colors in fall or not!

There are many flowering ground covers that are better choices as landscaping plants than this vigorous vine, which may rapidly spread out of control and cause you headaches in yard maintenance.