Vines

Easy to grow and able to solve perplexing landscape problems, vines deserve liberal use in the care-free garden. Employ a roaming vine to disguise a chain-link fence or hide a tree stump, or use a vine-covered trellis to add instant height to any scene. Vines may be annual or perennial, evergreen or deciduous, and grown for flowers or foliage alone.

Vines vary in how they cling and climb. Most twine around a support, twisting their way skyward. Boston ivy and climbing hydrangea attach to a wall or tree trunk by means of little aerial roots called hold-fasts. Some, such as clematis, ascend using twisting leaf stems, while others cling with curling tendrils.

Perennial vines may seem like a major commitment, but they aren't the only route for those who want to try a rambler. Start with an annual vine like morning glory or sweet pea that adds beautiful flowers to the scene for a season, then allows you to change your mind next year. When you find a spot that seems incomplete without a vine, consider a permanent perennial species.

Vines are available for almost any garden situation, whether sunny or shaded. Some can reach for the sun they require. In fact, the "roots in the shade and head in the sun" description suits several vines, particularly clematis, honeysuckles, and sweet peas. Climbing roses and wisteria need more sun, while others like Boston ivy need a half day of shade. You can use sun-loving vines to create shade by training them to grow overhead on a pergola or arbor to create a shady summer seating area on a patio.

While vines often do need pruning to show them the way you want them to grow or to control their size, they are basically low maintenance. Look for vines that will thrive in the areas you have to offer. Also consider scale, because the most successful way to grow vines is to fit them to the site. You'll find that the contributions care-free vines make to your garden will soon have you looking for places to grow more.

Fundamental Facts

HARDINESS: Zones 4 to 8
PREFERRED SOIL pH: Adaptable
PREFERRED SOIL TYPE: Fertile, moist, well-drained
PREFERRED LIGHT: Sun to partial shade
ATTRIBUTES: Vigorous vine with fragrant (lowers; for shade, screening, or privacy
SEASON OF INTEREST: Spring through fall
TYPE OF VINE: Semi-evergreen perennial; climbs by twining
FAVORITES: Two species: Five-leaf akebia (A. quinata) and A. trifoliate
QUIRKS: Plants resent root disturbance and will not grow well if transplanted
GOOD NEIGHBORS: Grow as a background for perennials or annuals
WHERE IT GROWS BEST: Widely adaptable to soils and sites with sun to partial shade
POTENTIAL PROBLEMS: Will outgrow a small, confined space
RENEWING PLANTS: Lives many years; prune to the ground in late winter to rejuvenate
CRITTER RESISTANCE: Excellent
SOURCE: Bedding plants
DIMENSIONS: To 30 ft (9.1 m) long

Fundamental Facts

HARDINESS: Zones 4 to 9
PREFERRED SOIL pH: Slightly acid
PREFERRED SOIL TYPE: Average
PREFERRED LIGHT: Partial shade
ATTRIBUTES: Shade-tolerant vine with lobed leaves and fall color; for covering walls
SEASON OF INTEREST: Spring to late fall
TYPE OF VINE: Deciduous perennial; climbs with adhesive holdfasts
FAVORITES: Compact 'Lowii; vigorous 'Robusta'; 'Veitchii' for foliage color
QUIRKS: Can attach to almost any surface; very vigorous
GOOD NEIGHBORS: Provides a textured, colorful backdrop for any shade-tolerant plant
WHERE IT GROWS BEST: Fertile, moist soil in partial shade
POTENTIAL PROBLEMS: Can cause structural damage to wood surfaces and roofs
RENEWING PLANTS: Lives for years; renewal not necessary
CRITTER RESISTANCE: Excellent
SOURCE: Bedding plants
DIMENSIONS: To 60 ft (18.3 m)

Fundamental Facts

HARDINESS: Zones 7 to 9
PREFERRED SOIL pH: Acid
PREFERRED SOIL TYPE: Average
PREFERRED LIGHT: Sun to partial shade
ATTRIBUTES: Evergreen (eaves and fragrant yellow flowers; for arbors or groundcover
SEASON OF INTEREST: Year-round evergreen foliage where hardy; flowers in spring
TYPE OF VINE: Woody evergreen perennial; climbs by twining
FAVORITES: G. sempervirens and double-flowered 'Pride of Augusta'
QUIRKS: Poisonous if eaten
GOOD NEIGHBORS: Spring-blooming snapdragons, lungwort, primroses, sweef woodruff
WHERE IT GROWS BEST: In warm climates, in sun or partial shade
POTENTIAL PROBLEMS: Rapid growth requires shaping to control size
RENEWING PLANTS: Lives many years; prune back hard in summer if the vine is top-heavy
CRITTER RESISTANCE: Excellent
SOURCE: Bedding plants, cuttings
DIMENSIONS: To 20 ft (6.1 m) if unpruned; may be pruned to 10 ft (3 m)

Fundamental Facts

HARDINESS: Zones 4 to 8
PREFERRED SOIL pH: Near neutral
PREFERRED SOIL TYPE: Moist, fertile, well-drained
PREFERRED LIGHT: Foliage in sun, roots in shade
ATTRIBUTES: Blue, purple, red, pink, yellow, or white flowers; tor trellises, thin supports
SEASON OF INTEREST: Spring through fall
TYPE OF VINE: Deciduous perennial; climbs by clinging with twining tendrils
FAVORITES: C. x jackmanii, 'Henryi', 'Nelly Moser", 'Betty Corning', C. terniflora
QUIRKS: Grows best with foliage in sun and roots in shade
GOOD NEIGHBORS: Azaleas, hydrangeas, bulbs, evergreen shrubs, roses, small trees
WHERE IT GROWS BEST: In sunny sites with moist, organically rich soil
POTENTIAL PROBLEMS: Clematis wilt, a soil-borne disease that enters plants through injuries
RENEWING PLANTS: Vines live many years; prune in summer or winter, depending on variety
CRITTER RESISTANCE: Good
SOURCE: Bedding plants, cuttings
DIMENSIONS: 6-25 ft (1.8-7.6 m); flowers to 8 in (20.3 cm)

Fundamental Facts

HARDINESS: Zones 4 to 8
PREFERRED SOIL pH: Acid
PREFERRED SOIL TYPE: Fertile, moist
PREFERRED LIGHT: Partial shade
ATTRIBUTES: Deep green foliage and deep green lacy while flower clusters; for walls, buildings, frees
SEASON OF INTEREST: Year-round
TYPE OF VINE: Deciduous woody perennial; climbs by clinging with aerial rootlets
FAVORITES: H. petiolaris
QUIRKS: May not bloom for several seasons after planting; needs early training
GOOD NEIGHBORS: Rhododendron, azalea, perennial geranium, iris, ornamental grasses
WHERE IT GROWS BEST: Partial shade in acid soil high in organic matter
POTENTIAL PROBLEMS: Yellowing leaves when grown in alkaline soil
RENEWING PLANTS: Vines live many years without rejuvenation
CRITTER RESISTANCE: Excellent
SOURCE: Bedding plants
DIMENSIONS: Up to 65 ft (19.8 m) long

Fundamental Facts

HARDINESS: Zones 4 to 9
PREFERRED SOIL pH: Neutral to slightly acid
PREFERRED SOIL TYPE: Average, well-drained
PREFERRED LIGHT: Sun
ATTRIBUTES: Stately plants with red, pink, yellow, or white flowers; for trellises
SEASON OF INTEREST: Late spring to early summer, often with repeat bloom in late summer
TYPE OF VINE: Deciduous, long-limbed shrub grown as climber
FAVORITES: 'Golden Showers', 'Blaze', 'America', 'Lady Banks', 'Dortmund'
QUIRKS: Canes don't actually climb, and must be tied to a support
GOOD NEIGHBORS: Catmint, clematis, daffodils and other bulbs, perennials
WHERE IT GROWS BEST: Fertile, well-drained sites in sun
POTENTIAL PROBLEMS: Blackspot, powdery mildew; Japanese beetles
RENEWING PLANTS: Lives many years; prune annually to maintain plant health and size
CRITTER RESISTANCE: Good except for deer
SOURCE: Nursery plants
DIMENSIONS: 7-20 ft (2.1-6.1 m) fall, 4-10 ft (1.2-3 m) wide

Fundamental Facts

HARDINESS: Zones 4 to 8
PREFERRED SOIL pH: Neutral to slightly acid
PREFERRED SOIL TYPE: Moist, fertile, well-drained
PREFERRED LIGHT: Partial shade to sun
ATTRIBUTES: Bold foliage and yellow pipe-shaped blooms; for shade, privacy
SEASON OF INTEREST: Spring to fall
TYPE OF VINE: Woody perennial vine; climbs by twining
FAVORITES: Available by species name only
QUIRKS Needs ample water, but dislikes soggy soil
GOOD NEIGHBORS: This is a stand-alone plant, or use as a background for perennials
WHERE IT GROWS BEST: In partial shade and moist soil enriched with organic matter
POTENTIAL PROBLEMS: So vigorous it can crush a trellis that is not sturdy
RENEWING PLANTS: Lives years; if needed, cut back in spring
CRITTER RESISTANCE: Good except aphids or spider mites
SOURCE: Bedding plants
DIMENSIONS: 15-30 ft (4.6-9.1 m) long

HARDINESS: Zones 4 to 9
PREFERRED SOIL pH: Neutral to slightly alkaline
PREFERRED SOIL TYPE: Fertile, well-drained
PREFERRED LIGHT: Sun to partial shade
ATTRIBUTES: Summer and fall foliage, fruits, and woody trunks; for shade, privacy
SEASON OF INTEREST: Year-round
TYPE Of VINE: Woody deciduous perennial; climbs by clinging with tendrils
FAVORITES: Seek locally adapted cultivars
QUIRKS: Aged trunks have a treelike quality
GOOD NEIGHBORS: Bugleweed or ostilbe as a groundcover beneath the vines
WHERE IT GROWS BEST: In sun and fertile, well-drained soil
POTENTIAL PROBLEMS: Fungal leaf spot diseases; Japanese beetles
RENEWING PLANTS: Vines live many years; prune back to the main trunk in early spring
CRITTER RESISTANCE: Good except for deer
SOURCE: Bedding plants, cuttings
DIMENSIONS: To 50 ft (15.2 m) long; leaves to 12 in (30.5 cm)

Fundamental Facts

HARDINESS: Zones 4 to 9
PREFERRED SOIL pH: Slightly acid
PREFERRED SOIL TYPE: Average
PREFERRED LIGHT: Partial shade to sun
ATTRIBUTES: Fragrant, trumpet-shaped flowers in red, yellow, white, pink; for trellises
SEASON OF INTEREST: Spring to fall
TYPE OF VINE: Deciduous or evergreen perennial; climbs by twining
FAVORITES: L. x heckrottii 'Gold-flame', L periclymenum 'Serotina Florida'
QUIRKS: Re-blooming depends on pruning and culture
GOOD NEIGHBORS: Makes a good background for sun-loving perennials
WHERE IT GROWS BEST: Sites where roots are in shade and the foliage is in partial shade or sun
POTENTIAL PROBLEMS: Neglected vines may overgrow their supports
RENEWING PLANTS: Vines live many years; prune back hard in midsummer or early spring
CRITTER RESISTANCE: Excellent
SOURCE: Bedding plants
DIMENSIONS: 10-45 ft (3-13.7 m) long

Fundamental Facts

HARDINESS: Zones 5 to 9
PREFERRED SOIL pH: Near neutral
PREFERRED SOIL TYPE: Fertile, well-drained
PREFERRED LIGHT: Partial shade to sun

Hops in the Landscape

Humulus lupulus is the vine whose fruits are used in making beer. While the species holds little interest in the garden, the gold-leaved cultivar 'Aureus' is a striking accent for partial shade. Established plants send their twining shoots climbing 15 ft (4.6 m) in a single season, even in cold climates where frosts cut the stems to the ground in winter.

Fragrant flowers appear in midsummer, enlarging to form 1-2 in (2.5-5.1 cm) long, greenish white, papery cones, or "hops," that mature to brown color. They make lovely cut flowers and have a fresh, woodsy smell.

Another garden-worthy variety is the variegated Japanese hop (H. japonicus 'Variegata'). With lobed green leaves streaked in white, it is a perennial often grown as an annual that reaches 25 ft (7.6 m) long. Use either vine to camouflage buildings or grow it anywhere a vigorous vine is wanted. Hops can be interplanted with other flowering vines, such as annual morning glory or cardinal climber for a dense screen with colorful accents.

Growing Hop Vines

Sow seeds in spring directly in the garden. Or start seeds indoors 6 weeks before your last frost, sowing them over moist soil and pressing them in lightly. Keep the soil evenly moist and at about 70°F (21°C) until the vines are established. Then plant them outdoors after danger of frost has passed.

Set out container-grown vines in spring. Choose a site with partial shade, because the leaves have the best color when they receive some shade in summer. Before planting, have a support in place that can hold this big vine. A sturdy wooden trellis, an arbor, or a well-secured piece of landscape netting tacked to a wall will do. Prepare a planting hole enriched with compost, and set the plant at the same depth at which it grew in the pot.

Gently train by winding young stems around the support. To prevent wilting, water as needed, which may be twice a week in hot weather. In winter, trim off dead shoots. To identify live stems, gently scrape the bark with your thumbnail. Live shoots are green beneath the bark; dead shoots will be brown and brittle. In early spring, fertilize with a balanced granular fertilizer as directed on the label.

While hops are largely trouble free, Japanese beetles will chew the leaves. The beetles prefer feeding in
full sun, so planting hops in partial shade is a deterrent. Or protect the vine with a botanical, neem insecticide registered for hops, and apply the biological insecticide milky spore disease to nearby lawns in early spring to control emerging beetle grubs.

Increasing the Bounty

Take cuttings in midsummer, taking shoots with 5-7 pairs of leaves. Remove foliage from the lower half of the shoot, dip the cutting in commercial rooting powder, and insert the leafless portion of shoot into a damp mixture of sand and peat moss. Shoots will also root in a vase of water. When the cutting develops new growth it can be planted in the garden.

Fundamental Facts

HARDINESS: Tender
PREFERRED SOIL pH: Acid
PREFERRED SOIL TYPE: Fertile, moist
PREFERRED LIGHT: Sun
ATTRIBUTES: Reddish Foliage; lilac or white dowers, red-violet pods; for trellises
SEASON OF INTEREST: Summer to frost; it is evergreen in warm-winter climates
TYPE OF VINE: Tender perennial; climbs by twining around its support
FAVORITES: 'Giganteus' for large white flowers; 'Ruby Moon' for lilac flowers
QUIRKS: Grows poorly in soggy soil and cool summers
GOOD NEIGHBORS: Marigolds, petunias, salvia, shrubs, small trees, sunflowers
WHERE IT GROWS BEST: Sun in fertile, warm, moist soil
POTENTIAL PROBLEMS: Fatal root rot when grown in wet soil
RENEWING PLANTS: If evergreen, cut back in spring; otherwise reseed
CRITTER RESISTANCE: Good except for rabbits
SOURCE: Bedding plants
DIMENSIONS: To 18 ft {5.5 m) long

Fundamental Facts

HARDINESS: Tender
PREFERRED SOIL pH: Neutral
PREFERRED SOIL TYPE: Average to poor
PREFERRED LIGHT: Sun
ATTRIBUTES: Fast-growing foliage, and trumpet-shaped flowers; for trellises, fences
SEASON OF INTEREST: Summer
TYPE OF VINE: Annual or tender perennial; climbs by twining
FAVORITES: 'Heavenly Blue', 'Scarlett O'Hara', 'Pearly Gates', I. alba, I. x imperialis
QUIRKS: Flowers open in the morning and close by mid-afternoon
GOOD NEIGHBORS: Makes a good background for flowering annuals and perennials
WHERE IT GROWS BEST: Sun and well-drained, average to poor soil
POTENTIAL PROBLEMS: Beetles; blooms poorly when grown in shade
RENEWING PLANTS: Sow seeds in spring
CRITTER RESISTANCE: Good
SOURCE: Seeds
DIMENSIONS: 3-15 ft (1-4.6 m) long

Fundamental Facts

HARDINESS: Tender
PREFERRED SOIL pH: Neutral to slightly alkaline
PREFERRED SOIL TYPE: Average, well-drained
PREFERRED LIGHT: Sun
FUNDAMENTAL: FACTS
ATTRIBUTES: Fast grower with scarlet blooms, edible beans; for fences, trellises, pots
SEASON OF INTEREST: Summer
TYPE OF VINE: Tender perennial; climbs by twining
FAVORITES: 'Scarlet Emperor', 'Painted Lady', 'Albus', 'Dwarf Bees'
QUIRKS: May temporarily stop blooming in very hot weather
GOOD NEIGHBORS: Blue-flowered ageralum, while begonia, while sweet alyssum
WHERE IT GROWS BEST: In sun and moderately fertile sail
POTENTIAL PROBLEMS: Seeds will rot if planted in cold, wet soil
RENEWING PLANTS: Grown as an annual; sow seed in spring
CRITTER RESISTANCE: Poor; plants vulnerable to rabbits, deer, and woodchucks
SOURCE: Seeds
DIMENSIONS: 2-12 ft (0.6-3.7 m); pods to 12 in (30.5 cm)

Fundamental Facts

HARDINESS: Tender
PREFERRED SOIL pH: Near neutral
PREFERRED SOIL TYPE: Fertile, moist
PREFERRED LIGHT: Sun to partial shade
ATTRIBUTES: Delicate foliage; dainty, fragrant flowers; for trellises, cut flowers
SEASON OF INTEREST: Spring to summer
TYPE OF VINE: Tender annual; climbs by clinging with tendrils
FAVORITES: 'Winter Elegance' for hot climates; Old Spice hybrids for fragrance
QUIRKS: Sweet peas expire in hot weather and foil to thrive in dry soil
GOOD NEIGHBORS: Lobelia, pansies, or sweet alyssum
WHERE IT GROWS BEST: Areas with mild winters, cool springs, or consistently cool summer nights
POTENTIAL PROBLEMS: Heat stress, aphids
RENEWING PLANTS: Reseed each year
CRITTER RESISTANCE: Poor; shoots vulnerable to deer, rabbits, and woodchucks
SOURCE: Seeds
DIMENSIONS: Annual 4-6 ft (1.2-1.8 m); perennial 10 ft (3 m)

Fundamental Facts

HARDINESS: Zones 5 to 9
PREFERRED SOIL pH: Neutral to slightly acid
PREFERRED SOIL TYPE: Average
PREFERRED LIGHT: Sun to partial shade
ATTRIBUTES: Trumpet-shaped flowers in yellow or red; for trellises, pillars, walls
SEASON OF INTEREST: Spring to fall
TYPE OF VINE: Woody perennial; climbs by clinging with aerial rootlets
FAVORITES: C. radicans 'Flava'; 'Madame Galen'; 'Coccinea'; C. grandiflora
QUIRKS: With age, can become top-heavy, with bare stems at the base
GOOD NEIGHBORS: Blanket flower, butter daisy, coreopsis
WHERE IT GROWS BEST: At the edge of wooded areas or in a partly shaded garden
POTENTIAL PROBLEMS: Suckers can become invasive if not controlled
RENEWING PLANTS: Lives many years; prune overgrown vines in late winter to 2-3 buds
CRITTER RESISTANCE: Excellent
SOURCE: Nursery plants
DIMENSIONS: To 30 ft (9.1 m)

Fundamental Facts

HARDINESS: Zones 5 to 9
PREFERRED SOIL pH: Slightly acid
PREFERRED SOIL TYPE: Average
PREFERRED LIGHT: Sun
ATTRIBUTES: Fragrant, drooping flower clusters; tor trellises, arbors
SEASON OF INTEREST: Late spring to early summer
TYPE OF VINE: Hardy woody perennial; climbs by twining around a support
FAVORITES: W. floribunda, W. frutescens, W. sinensis
QUIRKS: Vines on some species twine clockwise, others twine counterclockwise
GOOD NEIGHBORS: Wisteria is best grown as a specimen plant
WHERE IT GROWS BEST: In sun and slightly acid, well-drained soil
POTENTIAL PROBLEMS: Vines can grow out of control or bloom poorly if not pruned regularly
RENEWING PLANTS: Lives for decades; prune back overgrown vines with a saw
CRITTER RESISTANCE: Excellent
SOURCE: Nursery plants
DIMENSIONS: Vines 30 ft (9.1 m) long; clusters 2 ft (0.6m) long