Gardening with Vines

Growing vines is rewarding and easy. They are great for shade, privacy, ground cover, decoration & accent, beautiful flowers, fruits & berries, and for attracting birds and butterflies. WOW! What else can they do?

You can decide which type of vine to use by determining the purpose it will serve. Some examples of this are:

* If you are looking for height, there are climbing vines.

* If you want to add flowers there are many types of flowering vines.

* Some vines produce shade.

* Others are great for ground cover in stubborn areas or where you just don’t want grass.

Other Great Features of Vines:

• Privacy
• Shade
• Seasonal Color
• Fragrance
• Fruits & Berries
• Attracts Birds (& Hummingbirds) and Butterflies

Since most vines are climbers, you’ll need a support system like a trellis or arbor. You can also rely on existing fences, trees, or other structures on your property.

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Methods of Climbing: Vines have 3 different methods of climbing:

1- By Tendrils – Tendrils are part of the vine. They are small arm shoots that grow out of the vine at various levels and reach out and wrap around any nearby support.

2- By Twining – Twining vines climb by winding their stems around any available support.

3- By Clinging – Clinging vines climb by [1] tendrils that have disk-like adhesive tips that that attach themselves to a surface; or by [2] small aerial rootlets coming off the stems that attach themselves into crevices on structures.

*** SPECIFIC TYPES of VINES ***

Climbing Vines:

There are many varieties of climbing vines and they produce all different shapes, colors, and blooms. They can grow from 4+ feet to more than 80 feet depending on the variety and regional growing conditions.

Climbing vines generally require a lot of direct sunlight and plenty of water. They come in both perennial as well as annual types and will generally be at their best from spring until autumn. There will be a period in early spring where vines are getting going again after winter dormancy, but once they do… look out.

Flowering Vines:

There are numerous varieties of flowering vines with every color of flower imaginable. Vines are in general low maintenance and can be very hardy depending on the regional zone requirements of the particular vine. Some flowering vines do well in the colder regions while others only thrive in warmer areas or even in tropical conditions.

Various Flowering Vines:

Honeysuckle Vines:

This vine is a great addition to your flower gardens or surrounding property. It spreads very fast and makes a great covering for fences, walls, trellis, old buildings, or other fixtures in your garden. Honeysuckle can grow to heights of 25 feet and produces a very fragrant flower that is tube shaped.

Honeysuckle vines are great for attracting wildlife such as birds that eat the fruit produced, or butterflies and hummingbirds, and even deer. Honeysuckle generally prefers full direct sun and plenty of water.

Wisteria Vines:

This is one of the most fragrant of all the flowering vines. Its flowers grow in long clusters and come in a great variety of colors. The most common wisteria flower color is by far violet blue but they can also be found in white and pink.

Wisteria can take over an area by growing 15-30 feet and will spread very rapidly. You can see these vines taking over entire trees or old structures like a barn for example. It is really neat to see where they beautify an old dead tree with colorful flowers and their green leaves. It makes the tree literally come alive.

Passion Vines:

This vine can have a very fragrant bloom which is used for perfume production. It is native to the American tropics and comes in approximately 400 different varieties. With so many varieties there are many different traits as well. Some of the passion vine flowers are very fragrant, while others produce very little aroma.

This vine thrives in the warmer temperature zones requiring a lot of sun and plenty of water. It should also be obvious that the flowers form this vine will attract many types of bees, birds and butterflies.

Trumpet Vines:

This vine could also be known as the hummingbird vine because of its features. The flowers for this vine are a bright orange or red hue which hummingbirds are very attracted to. Furthermore, the trumpet shape of the flower is a perfect fit for the hummingbird’s long and slender beak.

Trumpet vines are great for walls, trellis, old structures on your property, and fences. They are aggressive and fast growing and can reach heights of 25-40 feet. This vine will bloom all summer long and can thrive in a wide variety of temperature zones.

Clematis Vines:

There are over 250 different varieties of this flowering vine. They are generally very hardy and perennial in nature lasting up to 20 + years in the right conditions. With so many varieties you have various shapes and sizes of both leaves and flowers.

Some clematis vines have flowers shaped like bells, others have random clusters of small white flowers, and some have flat broad blooms. This vine can grow to be anywhere from 12-30 feet depending on the variety. They grow best in partial shade but in the north they’ll handle direct sun.

Vinca Vines:

This is also called periwinkle flower and is a trailing vine with green and white leaves. It does not climb things on its own like other vines but can be strung over fences or wires to achieve a similar effect.

Vinca vines are fast growing and sometimes used as a grass substitute because it will naturally only grow about 6 inches off the ground. Their flowers are a delicate violet colored with a trumpet shape. Note: Although very pretty and functional, vinca vines are very invasive and can take over a flower garden or property if left unchecked.

Morning Glory:

These vines grow well in the full sun or partial shade. Morning glories have heart shaped leaves and its blooms open (as the name implies) in the morning and they then close back up by around noontime.

Cardinal Climber:

This vine is sometimes referred to as red morning glory. It will climb up to 20 feet and has smooth twisting stems. It produces 2 inch red flowers with white centers and blooms from summer to fall. Cardinal Climbers can grow in full sun or partial shade and prefer well drained soils. Note: They struggle in areas where they are exposed to strong winds.

Cypress Vines:

This vine has 20 foot stems and dark green and fernlike foliage. It produces 1-1/2 inch scarlet flowers that bloom all summer long. Cypress vines are a big hummingbird magnet. They do well in full sun or partial shade and prefer well drained soil.

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American Bittersweet:

This vine grows to heights of 20 feet. In the fall they produce orange-yellow fruit capsules that split open and revel bright red berries. Birds love these. When planting American Bittersweet make sure you have both a male and female plant because the male is needed to fertilize blossoms. Note: This vine is extra heavy and will need more sturdy support than other types.

Grape Vines:

People and birds love the fruits of these vines. Grapevines can live for more than 100 years and in maturity can produce up to 20 + pounds of fruit per year. Grape vines tend to thrive best in highly organic & sandy soils. Grapes colors come in green, deep red, pink and yellow.

Carolina Coralbead:

This is a smaller vine that grows to only about 12 feet which is plenty for most covering in the home garden. Carolina Coralbeads are native to America and produce red fruits that birds love to eat.

Virginia Creeper:

This is a vigorous and fast growing vine that climbs high if allowed to. In the fall Virginia creepers produce clusters of dark, shinny blue berries. These vines are hardy, grow thrive in full or partial sun, and tolerate most soils including dry soil (their favorite soil is rich, moist & well drained). Although these vines can climb, they also can be used as ground cover and will form a thick carpet up to 1 foot in height.

Wild Passionflower:

This vine makes a good nesting place for birds as well as producing sweet, oblong fruits.

Boston Ivy (or Japanese Creeper):

You may envision this particular vine when thinking of the New England scenes where they show ivy covered buildings. This vine does very well clinging to brick or stone and is capable of thriving in both seashore as well as city pollution conditions. Additionally, they will do well in most soils, direct sun or partial shade.

Additional Categories of Vines:

Other ways to classify vines are as follows:

• Deer Resistant Vines
• Fast Growing Vines
• Hanging Vines
• Deciduous Vines
• Heat Tolerant Vines
• Shade Vines
• Evergreen Vines
• Perennial Vines
• Annual Vines
• Vine Plants