Difference Between Vines and Creepers

Vines

• Plants that pop to mind when we hear the word "vine" are often vigorous climbers with tendrils, including peas, sweet peas, passionflowers and grape plants. Tendrils, thin but strong whip-like plant structures, are modified leaves in the case of peas and passionflowers and modified stems in grapevines. Vine tendrils grab onto fences, wire, plant stems or whatever else is available and attach tightly -- offering firm support for the plant's continued climbing. But other vine climbing adaptations are equally viable. Vining plants that are creepers, clingers and twiners are vines first and foremost.

Creepers

• Vines that creep or crawl across the ground include wild yam, Virginia creeper and trumpet creeper. All creepers will "attach" to the soil and send down roots as they crawl across the ground, rooting wherever there is adequate soil moisture to take in both additional water and nutrients -- thus fueling continued expansion. Poison ivy and poison oak, alas, are creepers, though they will twine too if there's something to climb. Some elegant antique roses, including the pale yellow-flowered Lady Banks rose, can grow well as creepers, both stabilizing soil and creating a stunning spring display on steep hillsides.

Differences

• The category "vines" includes creepers, and all creepers are vines. But not all vines are creepers. Vines include all plants that need external or outside structural support. The vine subgroup of creepers describes the main support strategy these vines demonstrate. Though creepers will sometimes adopt other vining strategies if the opportunity presents, only creepers will create "support" out of the ground itself, sprawling or crawling across flat or nearly flat surfaces.

Twiners & Clingers

• Twining vines climb vigorously to supports, with or without the aid of tendrils. The vine stems create the same sturdy attachment to supports that tendrils do by spiraling around the support, a phenomenon first scientifically reported by Charles Darwin. All climbing bean plants, hops, bittersweet, honeysuckle, morning glory and wisteria are twiners. Vines that climb by clinging to brick, stone, adobe or plaster do so with the aid of adhesive disks or pads created by a cement-like substance the plants secrete. Clingers include noted creepers English ivy, Boston ivy and both Virginia creeper and trumpet creeper, which secrete a substance through their tendrils that creates cement-like attachment pads.