15 Different Types of Runner Plants For Your Garden

For anyone who spends time in the garden, it’s essential to understand the types of plants you’re working with. Knowing what you’ve planted helps you care for them properly and anticipate how they will grow and spread. While many plants grow upright in a contained space, others send out shoots that sprawl along the ground, quickly spreading to new areas. These are known as runner plants.

In the guide below, we’ll take a closer look at 15 common runner plants, what makes them unique, and how their growth patterns can shape your garden.

What is a Runner Plant? 

A runner has a specialized stem that grows horizontally along the ground, forming part of a plant’s propagation system. These could be stolons, rhizomes, or simply adventitious roots of herbaceous plants. A single plant could have a combination of these too. Unlike roots that grow downward, these grow parallel to the soil surface, sending out new roots and shoots at intervals along their length. These points, known as nodes, are where vertical growth occurs, producing new stems, leaves, or flowers.

Nodes often develop in response to stress, like a lack of light, nutrients, or water, but they also appear naturally as part of a plant’s strategy to reproduce vegetatively. If a running root detects damage in part of the plant, it may produce a new shoot at a nearby node to replace lost growth.

Some plants, like strawberries, grow their runners from the base of the plant. These above-ground roots, called stolons stretch out and then send down roots into the surrounding soil, forming new clones of the parent plant. This sprawling behavior helps runner plants cover ground quickly, much like ground covers, even if their shoots originate above rather than below the surface.

15 Different Types of Runner Plants 

Contrary to popular belief, runner plants come in a wide variety of forms, including flowering ornamentals, fruits, vegetables, and even some weeds. While it may be difficult to identify a runner plant at first glance, recognizing their distinct growth habits or knowing which species are prone to spreading this way can make it much easier to spot them in your garden or home.

Strawberries 

Strawberries are one of the most universally beloved fruits, enjoyed fresh or used in everything from preserves and jams to salads and desserts.

They’re also one of the most recognizable runner plants. Strawberries spread using horizontal stolons that grow along the surface of the soil. At intervals along these runners, new plants form, each eventually developing roots and becoming self-sufficient. These new shoots typically begin as leafless stems near the mother plant, developing small tips known as internodes before continuing their outward spread.

Peppermint 

Peppermint runner plants are often called “mint creepers” because of how quickly and quietly they spread. Their stolons can extend up to 5 inches in a single month, making peppermint one of the more aggressive and invasive plants in a home garden.

Because peppermint tends to take over any open space, it’s important to keep it in check. Regular trimming and removal of creeping stems will help prevent it from spreading uncontrollably. For an easier solution, consider growing peppermint in containers, where its growth can be better contained and managed.

Here are a few simple steps for propagating your peppermint from its runners or stolons: 

1. Uncover a few runner roots by taking away the top level of the peppermint’s soil. 
2. Trim off a runner or stolon that has at least two stems facing completely upright.
3. Do not trim more than five. 
4. Get a small pot with soil and plant the runner only 1 inch deep in the potting soil. 
5. Water the plant occasionally and wait for shoots to come out. 
6. Enjoy your new peppermint runner plant! 

Trout Lily

Trout lilies are commonly found across Canada and the United States and are sometimes referred to as dogtooth violets. They’re a classic example of a flowering runner plant, easily recognized by their distinctive mottled leaves that resemble the speckled skin of a trout.

These plants grow large, waxy leaves up to 20 centimeters long and tend to form dense colonies. One bulb can produce multiple single-leaved offshoots through its stolons. While many of these offshoots are sterile, at least two will be fertile, helping the colony continue to grow and reproduce.

Unlike many runner plants, trout lilies aren’t grown for their fruit or vegetables, but they are edible and have medicinal properties. With a slightly sweet, cucumber-like taste, they’ve traditionally been used as an emetic and can be roasted or brewed into tea for various remedies.

Spider Plant

Spider plants are one of the most recognizable runner plants, especially common as indoor houseplants. Known for their long lifespan and ease of care, they thrive in hanging pots or on high shelves, where their stolons, or runners, can drape downward and develop new growths.

These plants are highly adaptable and will conform to the space available. When given room to hang, their runners grow long and spaced apart. When closer to the ground, the runners cluster, creating a fuller, bushier shape. This versatility allows you to shape the plant based on your aesthetic preference.

A mature, healthy spider plant can produce several runners that form baby plants (often called “spiderettes”) throughout the year. These are essentially miniature versions of the mother plant attached by a slender stem. Once spiderettes reach about an inch in size, they’re ready to be trimmed and propagated.

Propagating spider plants not only expands your collection but also supports the health of the original plant, keeping it vigorous and full.

Purple Queen 

If you walk into a home filled with lush greenery and jewel-toned foliage, there’s a good chance you’ve stepped into the domain of propagated purple queens.

Known scientifically as Tradescantia pallida, the purple queen is a type of spiderwort and one of the easiest plants to propagate. Even gardeners without much experience can have success with this adaptable and vigorous runner.

Purple queen nodes are easy to spot. The plant is prone to breakage, but that fragility is part of its strategy. Snapped stems quickly root and spread across the soil. With enough space, light, and water, the plant becomes thick and bushy, sending out runners from almost every node.

Indoors, purple queens are known to reach across neighboring pots, rooting into the soil of other plants regardless of species. In low light or dry conditions, they often shed stems on purpose, allowing those pieces to root where they land or be placed in water to grow anew.

Ginger 

Ginger is a plant that has made its way from Southern China, India, West Africa, and Indonesia into the hearts and homes of people across the world. A flowering plant used for cooking and medicinal purposes, ginger’s scientific name is Zingiber officinale. 

Ginger is considered a herbaceous perennial and has rhizomes that grow both pseudostems and branches from the base of its leaves. It also has horizontal root systems that allow the ginger to propagate itself in colonies. 

Ginger grows both pseudostems and true stems, each reaching up to three feet tall. These tall stems have narrow leaves that are sometimes referred to as “blades.” 

Crocosmia

The crocosmia flower is a beautiful orange bloom that closely resembles the lily. Referred to by its scientific name, Montbretia, it belongs to the iris family, Iridaceae, and is considered a runner plant. 

Crocosmia originated in the grasslands of South Africa, eastern Africa, and Sudan. It has also made its way to Madagascar and is now commonly grown in North America.  

A hardy plant that is still prone to breakage, crocosmia handles damage by sprouting horizontal runners to continue growing. Though these form small bulb-like corms, the corms are connected by stolons, and form colonies over time. Crocosmia prefers more acidic and nutrient-rich soil.

Bermuda Grass 

While it is unknown to many, bermuda grass makes up most front lawns of households across Canada and the United States. Like its runner cousin zoysia grass, bermuda grass can form a good, even spread of soil coverage thanks to its ability to send out runners quickly. 

Bermuda grass has a very intricate rhizome and fibrous root system (underground and above-ground stems and roots) compared to other grasses. It can grow both horizontally and vertically, making it an excellent option for those looking to cover large areas with grass. 

However, this fast-growing runner plant can be a major nuisance for anyone trying to remove it from their garden or property. The most effective way to eliminate bermuda grass is to kill the entire runner plant, including all stolons and roots.  

Bermuda grass can be choked and solarized or targeted with a natural herbicide. While spot treating is an option, the grass is likely to regrow if any root systems remain.

Potatoes 

Potatoes are a quintessential example of a runner plant because they grow on vines. They begin tubers that extend into the soil, forming external roots where the actual potato (the part most people recognize) multiplies underground.

The potato itself is part of the larger plant known as Solanum tuberosum. Originally from the Americas, this root vegetable now grows widely in Canada, the United States, Chile, and Peru. It is a perennial in the nightshade family and is typically planted in spring or summer once the threat of frost has passed.

If left unpruned, potato plants will spread both horizontally and vertically. Their growth enables them to fill every available node with new stems and roots that have the potential to form more potatoes.

Philodendrons 

Philodendrons encompass a variety of different species, including over 600 wandering plants. A sizeable flowering genus in the Araceae family, almost all philodendrons are runners that spread quickly and vigorously across any accommodating ground and soil.

For almost anyone, philodendrons are the perfect houseplant. They are easy to care for and can live and even thrive in varying humidity and light conditions. You can keep them in your bathroom, bedroom, or living room without issue.

Philodendrons are runners that love to spread via fibrous and/or aerial roots. A plant kept in the same pot and location for a few years is likely to grow arms of up to six feet. This makes them perfect decor plants and a cost-effective alternative to other more finicky houseplants.

To propagate a philodendron that has a breakage, do the following: 

1. Fill a clear jar or bottle with cool water. 
2. Place the broken arm or branch into the water. 
3. Set the vessel on a sturdy surface with some light exposure. 
4. Wait for fibrous roots to appear and plant! 

Irises

Iris flowers are striking runner plants with over 300 species in the Iris genus. These perennials can reach about 3 feet tall and self-propagate through vertical shoots that emerge from their corms, bulbs, or rhizomes depending on the species.

Recognized for their six-petaled blooms, irises feature three distinctive “falls”, the lower petals that create their signature shape and elegance.

Runner iris varieties typically bloom in early summer and continue into the hottest part of the season. They attract pollinators like hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies and will gradually spread into small, natural-looking clumps if left to grow freely.

To propagate an iris, take the following steps: 

1. Unearth the roots of your iris after it has finished blooming. This usually occurs in late summer to early fall. 
2. Look at the root system and locate divisions. This is the space between where nodes or leaves sprout.
3. Using your hands, gently pry apart the roots taking care not to damage them in the process. 
4. If you live in a warm climate, replant these divisions in other areas of the garden. If you live in an area with cold winters, store them in a perforated box until the spring. 
5. If you stored your roots, plant them after the threat of frost has passed. Then wait for your flower to bloom in the springtime! 

Wild Roses

Wild roses are sprawling plants, meaning they develop their own root systems without the need for grafting while still spreading extensively. These resilient plants thrive with little intervention, sending out runners from each available node shortly after forming.

Their untamed growth habit makes wild roses an ideal low-maintenance choice for gardeners looking to introduce a touch of natural beauty and whimsy to the landscape.

Sprawling Ivy 

Sprawling ivy is often referred to as Hedera helix or English ivy, named for its origins along the English countryside. While some may confuse it with poison ivy, the two are entirely different plants.

This evergreen perennial is known for its vigorous climbing, trailing, and stretching growth along any available surface. Although its rapid spread is a problem for ecosystems, when allowed to roam, English ivy can create a lush, storybook effect in the garden.

Its rhizomes grow both horizontally and vertically, with vertical stems producing small green and yellow flowers. These blooms appear rounded or pointed, depending on the climate and overall health of the plant.

For those wanting to guide its growth, English ivy can be easily trained to climb indoors with a bit of support.

Lily of the Valley 

Lily of the valley is a flowering plant that spreads via rhizomes. It originates in the woodlands of Asia and Europe and has become invasive in parts of North America due to its unchecked growth.

This white, bell-shaped flower carries symbolic meaning in various religions. In Christian tradition, it is said to have bloomed where the Virgin Mary’s tears fell during the crucifixion, lending it a reputation as a graceful and meaningful garden plant.

However, lily of the valley is highly toxic. Its growth can crowd out other plants, and all parts of the plant are poisonous if ingested, especially dangerous for children and pets. It may also cause skin irritation or dermatitis, so be sure to wear gloves when handling it.

Orchids 

Orchids are runner plants known for their striking, delicate blooms, but they can be notoriously difficult to care for. Despite their reputation for being finicky, they remain a favorite among indoor plant lovers for their beauty and elegance.

Most orchids (but not all) propagate naturally in the wild by producing aerial roots and stems from nodes or breakages. Orchids spread by sending out small horizontal runners, allowing them to climb trees and rocks.