Growing Evergreen Vines

Growing vines is a great way to take advantage of vertical space in the landscape, especially in smaller areas. They also increase visual appeal, making them ideal for hiding unsightly views or creating privacy screens. Some can even be used as ground covers. Evergreen vines instantly add interest to nearly any home. There are numerous types to choose from including those with attractive spring or summer flowers and fall or winter berries.

Common flowering evergreens include the sweet potato vine (Solanum jasminoides) which produces attractive white flowers throughout much of the year. The cross vine (Bignonia capreolata)has semi-evergreen foliage and produces coppery orange blooms. Passion flower (Passifloraincarnata) is a popular flowering vine in the landscape and one of my personal favorites. It features exotic-looking purplish blooms amid its semi-evergreen foliage. This vine also produces edible fruits. Evergreen wisteria (Millettia reticulata) is another commonly seen vine but this one requires sturdy support and plenty of room to grow. If not pruned regularly, wisteria can get out of control. Nonetheless, its fragrant lavender blooms make it well worth the extra maintenance.

Pink jasmine (Jasminum polyanthum) has clusters of fragrant white flowers that emerge from showy pink buds in late winter and early spring. The golden trumpet (Allamanda cathartica) is a showy evergreen vine that features bright yellow to gold flowers and is easily supported by a trellis. Trumpet vine (Campsis radicans), also known as trumpet creeper, is a fast-growing evergreen vine. Its beautiful tubular flowers range in color from yellow to orange or red. A trellis, fence, or large pole works well as a support structure for this vine. Many Bougainvillea vines are great additions to the landscape with red, purple, white, pink or coral flowers from spring through fall.

Some great vines that are notable for their foliage or berries include American bittersweet (Celastrus scandens), a fast-growing evergreen vine that produces attractive orange or yellow berries in fall. This vine can also be easily trained to climb walls, trellises, and fences. English ivy (Hedera helix) is one of the most popular evergreen vines grown for its foliage. Many people grow this one as an attractive ground cover as well.

Whenever choosing vines for the landscape, however, you should always make sure to provide some form of support such as a fence, trellis, arbor, pole, etc. The type of support structure will usually be dependent on the type of vine your have chosen. For instance, evergreen vines that climb by tendrils normally do well when supported by fencing or trellises. Heavier vines, like wisteria, perform best on arbors or pergolas. It helps to thoroughly research vines beforehand so you know exactly what to expect and how to properly take care of them.

Complete Guide to Gardening, Susan Roth, Better Homes & Gardens 1997, Vines & Ground Covers, pgs 236-265