Versatile Vines (p.47)

By Cindy Lincoln

Vines serve many purposes in the landscape, but are often overlooked by homeowners. They can provide a quick-growing screen to cover fences or soften large areas of brick, climb up a trellis or over a pergola creating airy shade, or introduce a focal point to the garden and add color with beautiful blooms or even fragrance. Although most vines are easy to maintain, their natural habit is to grow rapidly, and annual pruning may be required to keep them from creeping, crawling, and climbing into unwanted areas of your yard.

Vines have three different methods of climbing: twining vines have stems that wind around supports; clinging vines grab onto solid surfaces using tendrils with adhesive tips or small aerial rootlets that sneak into tiny crevices; and vines that use tendrils, which are like small arms, reach out from along the vine’s length to wrap around whatever they touch. If you have a particular structure to cover, you might want to consider the vine’s method of climbing first before selecting one to plant.

There are two basic types of climbing vines: annuals and perennials. Annuals must be replanted every year, but they can add quick and long-lasting color from spring to autumn. Perennials return year after year and, in some cases, may be evergreen (hold leaves through winter). Here are a few of my favorite vines – they all perform brilliantly in this area and are easy to find at local garden centers.

Let’s start with annual vines. Because these vines die in the fall or winter, they allow you to try a vine in a particular area without much time or money invested.

Mandevilla (Mandevilla x amabilis; sometimes sold as Dipladenia) is a twining vine with exotic, tropical-looking blooms that can be up to two inches long; the most common flower colors are pink, white, or red. Mandevilla grows best in full sun and is perfect for covering a trellis or arbor, or can be grown in a large container if a plant support is provided.

There are three relatives of the common morning glory (Ipomoea tricolor) that are great annual vines for sunny spots. Moonflower (Ipomoea alba) is unusual because the vine’s very large (five to six inches across) white flowers open in the evening and are wonderfully fragrant. Cypress vine (Ipomoea quamoclit) is a twining vine with feathery foliage and small scarlet flowers that bloom all summer and attract hummingbirds like crazy. Although not a climber, Ornamental sweet potato vine (Ipomoea batatas) is a favorite for containers and annual flower beds, especially ‘Margarita’, with its bright, chartreuse leaves. Finally, Black-eyed susan vine (Thunbergia alata) is an easy-to-grow, sun-loving, twining vine that bears yellow-orange flowers with dark purple centers from summer to fall.

Now on to some top picks for perennial vines. Keep in mind that most of these will require yearly maintenance such as pruning to keep their growth in check.

There are three perennial vines native to the southeast that are fabulous for residential landscapes. Carolina jasmine or yellow jessamine (Gelsemium sempervirens) is commonly seen draped over mailboxes or arching over front doors in my neighborhood of Five Points. The bright yellow, fragrant flowers appear in abundance in early spring – full sun is needed for best blooming. This vine is a fast grower and the shiny, dark green leaves are evergreen, making this a perfect choice for screening. Crossvine (Bignonia capreolata) is another aggressive evergreen vine that climbs by clinging tendrils. The trumpet-shaped flowers open in spring and range in color from orange to red with yellow centers. This vine likes to flower at the top of its growth, so prune heavily after flowering to get the best display year after year. Unlike native honeysuckles, the twining Trumpet honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) is not invasive and, unfortunately, not fragrant. Although not an evergreen vine, it does produce leaves in very early spring, followed by blooms in late spring to summer. Flowers are typically coral, orange, or red on the outside and yellow to yellow-orange on the inside and attract hummingbirds.

If you have a partially shaded spot and still want to grow a blooming vine, Confederate or star jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides) is a great choice. This evergreen vine native to China produces small, star-shaped, very fragrant blossoms beginning in May. Confederate jasmine climbs by twining its stems around fences or trellises or by clinging to vertical surfaces with holdfast roots, but this vine can also be used as a groundcover.

Creeping fig (Ficus pumila) uses aerial rootlets to cling to, climb up, and completely cover any solid surface. The best way to use this vine is for covering brick walls, steps, or other masonry surfaces. It can be a little temperamental and needs to be grown in a sheltered area with consistent moisture and will be reliably evergreen if grown on “warm” walls with southern exposure.

A less commonly seen vine that is excellent for fences and arbors is Chocolate vine or Fiveleaf akebia (Akebia quinata). The name “chocolate vine” comes from the chocolate-vanilla fragrance produced by the vine’s tiny flowers in spring. Usually semi-evergreen in the Raleigh area, this twining vine really performs best in partial shade.

I need to end by mentioning four perennial vines that are real “bad guys”: English ivy (Hedera helix), Trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans), Chinese wisteria (Wisteria sinensis), and Sweet autumn clematis (Clematis terniflora) are highly invasive and their use should be carefully considered.

Cindy Lincoln, PhD is a freelance landscape designer and horticulturalist. She lives and gardens in the Five Points area of Raleigh and can be reached at cindylincoln@msn.com.