What Is a Scandent Shrub? Shrubs That Sprawl or Lean
The short answer
A scandent shrub is a woody plant with long stems that climb, sprawl or lean like a vine while still growing as a shrub. The Purdue Arboretum defines scandent as climbing, as in the case of a vine. Winter jasmine and bougainvillea are examples. Grow them as a mound, train them up a trellis or let them spill over walls.
What is a scandent shrub?
It describes habit. The Purdue Arboretum Explorer glossary defines scandent as climbing, as in the case of a vine. A scandent shrub sits between shrub and vine. Left alone it forms a loose shrub, but given a wall, fence or neighbor plant, its long stems arch, scramble and lean on the support.
NC State Extension describes winter jasmine as a sprawling, deciduous shrub with long arching branches and willowy stems. It grows up to 4 feet tall as a shrub, but grown as a vine it reaches 10 to 15 feet tall. Bougainvillea is described as a woody vine with a scrambling habit that can be trained to grow more like a shrub in containers. To learn how plant parts are named, read cannabis leaf anatomy.
How is a scandent shrub different from a vine?
| Plant | Habit | Garden use |
|---|---|---|
| Winter jasmine | Sprawling, arching shrub or trailing vine | Slopes, banks, walls, trellis |
| Bougainvillea | Woody vine with a scrambling habit | Trellises, fences, containers |
Sources: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox.
The line is blurry, and that’s the point. The same plant can be a mound in an open bed and a climber against a structure. Winter jasmine forms a dense green mound in summer, yet NC State says it can be used on a terrace or stone wall as a trailing vine or trained on a trellis or pergola. Bougainvillea is often planted along trellises and fences, and its stems carry long thin thorns. For more ideas on guiding stems, see the art of cannabis trellising.
How do you grow scandent shrubs?
Sun first. NC State says winter jasmine prefers full sun to partial shade and flowers less in heavy shade. It adapts to many soils, even poor ones. Bougainvillea wants full sun and sandy or loamy acidic soil with good drainage, and it tolerates drought, heat and salt.
Pruning sets the shape. NC State says winter jasmine colonies look messy if unpruned and can be renewed by hard pruning after flowering. Its flowers form on last year’s growth, so timing counts. Bougainvillea blooms on new growth. Both take training, so decide early if you want a mound, a cascade or a climber. For cutting basics, read pruning marijuana plants.
How to: step by step
- Pick a sunny site with good drainage.
- Decide on a habit, such as mound, cascade or climber.
- Add a trellis, fence or wall for climbing forms.
- Tie long stems loosely to the support as they grow.
- Let stems trail over walls or slopes for a cascade.
- Prune winter jasmine right after it flowers.
- Remove stems that root where you do not want them.
Troubleshooting
Stems flopping on paths: no support. Tie stems to a trellis or cut them back.
Plant rooting where stems touch: NC State says winter jasmine roots easily where arching branches touch soil. Lift or cut the new plants, or let them fill a slope.
Sparse flowering on winter jasmine: pruning at the wrong time. Flowers form on old growth, so prune after bloom.
Few flowers in shade: NC State says winter jasmine flowers less in heavy shade. Move it or thin nearby plants.
Sprawl with a plan
A scandent shrub gives you a choice of shape, from loose mound to trailing wall cover. Explore more plant terms on the Kind Seed Co blog.
Sources
- Scandent (definition), Purdue Arboretum Explorer
- Jasminum nudiflorum (winter jasmine), NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
- Bougainvillea, NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
FAQ
Is bougainvillea a vine or a shrub?
Both, in practice. NC State Extension describes bougainvillea as a woody vine with a scrambling habit, traditionally planted along trellises and fences. It adds that the plant can be trained to grow more like a shrub in containers.
Does winter jasmine climb?
It can. NC State Extension calls winter jasmine a sprawling shrub up to 4 feet tall, but grown as a vine it reaches 10 to 15 feet tall. Train it on a trellis or pergola, or let it trail over a terrace or stone wall.
Can scandent shrubs cover a fence?
Yes. NC State Extension says bougainvillea is traditionally planted along trellises and fences. Tie the long stems to the fence as they grow and give the plant full sun and well drained soil for good bloom.
Are scandent shrubs good for slopes?
Some are. NC State Extension suggests winter jasmine for mass plantings as a ground cover on slopes or banks. It roots easily where arching branches touch the soil. This helps it spread across a bank over time.
What does scandent mean?
The Purdue Arboretum Explorer glossary defines scandent as climbing, as in the case of a vine. In a shrub, the term points to long stems that climb, scramble or lean on nearby supports.
