Vines For Your Garden
Vines are climbing or trailing plants that must have support to grow vertically. They may be annual or perennial, evergreen or deciduous, herbaceous or woody. Vines can fit into the tiniest spaces , provided their roots are firmly planted in the soil, and grow vertically and/or horizontally with great flexibility.
Clinging Vines
Clinging vines can attach themselves almost anywhere by one of several means. Boston ivy has disk like suction cups that allow it to attach itself to almost any surface without damaging it. Climbing hydrangea, English ivy , creeping Fig, Winter creeper, and Trumpet vine, all with their small root-like holdfasts, thrive growing up slightly rough surfaces like bricks, stone or wood. For the gardener, the advantages of these self-clinging vines is that they will grow straight up a vertical surface effortlessly, and require only minimal support to get started. They are a superb way to make and unattractive or downright ugly wall appear lovely.
Non-Clinging Vines
Non-clinging vines have several distinct growth habits. Twining vines spiral their stems skyward around a support, trellis, pole, string or wire. Most require a fairly slim support. Twining vines curl either clockwise or counterclockwise by nature. Trying to persuade a right-curving vine to turn left is an exercise in futility and frustration; let it twine the way it want to!
Grapes and Passionflowers have tendrils; Clematis, Kiwi, Dutchman’s pipe, and Morning glory have leaf stems that function as tendrils. Some vines, such as Bougainvillea, climb by means of hooked thorns but still need additional support and plant ties to be kept within the bounds of order. The Wisteria vine is stunning, but needs a mate to flower properly, and it is a vine that needs very strong support or it will pull a weak support down.
Annual Vines
There are many lovely annual vines depending on where you live. In cooler climates there is the Morning glory, unsurpassed for late season color, and the yellow Canary vine is quite lovely as well. You may also want to try the Cup and Saucer vine with large cup-like blooms. There’s the Hyacinth bean and the Scarlet runner bean (the fruit on this one is edible), the Firecracker vine, and who could overlook the wonderful Sweet Peas that produce a scent that lingers in the air? There are many more vines to try and enjoy.
Designing Your Garden with Vines
Growing vines on a trellis or arbor is most popular in many gardens, and you can also grow them on a tomato cage or through a fence. Some large clematis, such as the Prairie Clematis, grow very vigorously and should be placed with care, as it may outgrow its original spot.
You can also allow vines to trail along the ground, in your garden beds among other plants. This is a lovely way to cover over bare ground, and if you have a slope in your garden, try growing Sweet peas and let them cascade down the slope. There is an Everlasting Sweet pea which is a perennial, but has very little scent. However, it will come back every year bigger and better and will provide lovely blossoms for several weeks in the summer. Do not attempt to dig up or split this vine or you will destroy it, as it has tap roots and does not take to being moved.
Vines are a necessary part of a English-style country garden, as they lend grace and color to your garden landscape. Best of all, they need very little maintenance. Happy gardening!
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