Best Terrarium Vines for Ground Cover, Climbing, and Trailing

Vines are one of the most useful plant categories to work with in a terrarium.

They can soften hard edges, add wild movement, and make everything feel more natural. A good vine can creep across the substrate, spill from a branch, or climb up the background and tie the whole scene together.

But not every so-called vine is a good terrarium fit.

Some grow far too fast, some get seriously huge, and some only really make sense in larger vivarium-style builds. The trick is choosing the right growth habit for the effect you want.

In this guide, I’ll walk through the best terrarium vines by use case, from creeping ground cover and hanging trailers to restrained climbers.

These are the plants I reach for when I want a terrarium to feel softer, wilder, and more connected.

Ficus pumila (Creeping Fig)

How else could I start but with the classic Ficus pumila?

Few plants create that grown-in, organic look as quickly. It roots readily in humid conditions, clings to hardscape, and before long, a tiny cutting can turn into a network of dainty leaves winding through the whole build.

It is a strong grower, so it will need trimming now and then. But if your goal is a terrarium that looks slightly unruly, and very much alive, this is hard to beat.

Pilea

Pilea includes some of the best small creeping plants for terrariums.

Pilea glauca is soft and airy, with silvery-grey leaves and pink stems that weave beautifully around moss and hardscape. Pilea depressa is denser and more compact, making it especially useful where you want tighter miniature texture and a more tangled, grown-in look.

Between them, they cover a lot of ground without ever feeling too heavy.

Selaginella

Selaginella is one of the terrarium world’s best-kept secrets.

It sits somewhere between a fern and a moss, but in a build it often behaves more like a creeping vine, forming a dense mat of foliage that softens everything around it. Selaginella uncinata is especially striking, with iridescent blue tones that catch the light beautifully.

It’s hardy, terrarium-friendly, and a great way to get that lush spreading effect without relying on moss alone.

These are the plants that really come into their own when allowed to trail from wood, rock, or an elevated planting point.

Dischidia

Dischidia is one of the easiest ways to get a true hanging effect in a humid terrarium.

As a natural epiphyte, it is happiest attached to a branch, rock, cork, or background where it can spill down naturally. It gives you all the appeal of a cute trailing succulent, but with the tropical suitability a closed terrarium actually needs.

Dischidia ovata is a great option if you want a slightly fuller trailing look, while Dischidia nummularia (String of Nickels) works beautifully too. Both are slower-growing than more aggressive trailers, which makes them much easier to live with long term.

Peperomia

Trailing Peperomia species are some of the best plants for adding fine detail without overwhelming a build.

Peperomia prostrata (String of Turtles) brings tiny patterned leaves and loads of character, especially in smaller terrariums where the finer details matter most. Pepperspot is more understated, with rounded leaves and reddish stems that work beautifully as a softer trailing accent.

They are not dramatic plants, but they bring a unique sense of ‘softness’ that I like.

Rather than creeping across the substrate or spilling down from above, these plants are best used to climb through bigger structural hardscape or scramble up a background.

Marcgravia

If you want a true climbing specialist, Marcgravia is one of the most satisfying options.

The vines cling tightly to backgrounds and hardscape in a way that feels almost purpose-built for humid terrariums and vivariums. It creates that beautiful shingling effect that makes a vertical build look mature and established very quickly.

It is more niche than most of the plants on this list but it’s also the only one that actually stays small in terrariums.

Syngonium

Syngonium is one of the more realistic climbing aroids for terrariums.

It’s the only one I regularly use in small to medium-sized terrariums.

Some particular varieties handle humidity well, stay smaller for longer, and bring more interesting leaf shapes and color than most creeping vines. They will still need trimming eventually, but they are often easier to live with than pothos or the more vigorous philodendrons.

Syngonium podophyllum ‘Pixie’ is my go-to species. It stays pretty compact, adds a creamy white/green note, and works well when a build needs a bit of lift without turning into a full takeover.

Philodendron

Vining philodendrons can be excellent terrarium climbers when there is enough height and structure to let them grow naturally.

They often look more elegant than pothos, but they still need choosing carefully. Even the better-behaved types can become a lot of plant in a smaller setup.

There are a few (rarer) cultivars that are actually small. But beyond those, most philodendrons are best saved for larger builds.

I break down the best philodendrons for different terrarium setups if you’re interested in exploring this genus.

Pothos

Pothos can work in terrariums, but they are better treated as vigorous climbers for larger builds than easy filler for smaller ones.

They root readily, tolerate humidity well, and can look great climbing through a background or trailing from hardscape. But most varieties grow too strongly to stay in scale for long.

Give them ideal conditions and they will usually take that as encouragement.

More compact cultivars like Manjula are easier to manage, but in general pothos are best saved for larger terrariums, vivariums, or setups where regular pruning is part of the deal.

Monstera

While most Monstera species are far too large for terrariums, a few climbing types can work well in the right build.

The best options are the juvenile forms that stay flatter, neater, and more manageable for longer. They still need vertical space and the occasional trim, but they can bring a more dramatic climbing habit than pothos or philodendron.

Monstera dubia is one of the best examples. In its juvenile form, it shingle-climbs tightly against a surface with neatly overlapping leaves, giving a very tidy, architectural look.

Monstera siltepecana is another good option, though it behaves more like a traditional climber than a true shingler. Its elongated silvery leaves give it a softer, more refined look, and it can work beautifully when given something to scramble up through the background.

When choosing a terrarium vine, think less about the plant label and more about the role you want it to play.

Ask yourself:

• Do I want it to creep across the ground?
• Do I want it to trail from hardscape or a raised point?
• Do I want it to climb and add height?
• Do I want something delicate and restrained, or something more vigorous?

Then think about growth speed.

A fast grower like Ficus pumila can make a new build look amazing very quickly, but it can also become the boss of the whole enclosure if left unchecked. Slower plants like Dischidia are easier to live with, but they will not give the same instant payoff.

Vining plants are a bit of a terrarium cheat code.

They soften hard edges, add movement, and stop a build from looking like a few isolated plants dropped into a jar. Whether you want a creeping carpet, a hanging trailer, or a climber working its way upward, there is usually a vine that can do the job better than almost anything else.

And once you start using them well, it is very hard to imagine building without them.

But vines are just one option. If you’re curious about the wider world of terrarium plants, our broader plant guide is a great place to explore.