8 Romantic Spring-Flowering Vines to Cover a Trellis
Whether planted to drape over an arbor, climb a trellis or frame a doorway, flowering vines increase the charm and romance factor of a garden. If spring is just beginning in your region, now’s a perfect time to plant. If you live in a warmer climate, enjoy the peak of spring blooms now and make note of any flowering vines you’d like to add to your garden, waiting to plant either this fall or early next spring. Among the many spring-lowering vines to choose from, here are eight top performers for beautiful blooms, intoxicating fragrance, benefits for pollinators and overall ability to add romance to a garden.
1. Wisteria (Wisteria spp.)
With a spectacular display of pea-like blossoms in pendulous clusters of white, purple, violet or pinkish blooms in spring, wisteria is a top choice for adding romance to a spring garden. Chinese wisteria (Wisteria sinensis) is more commonly grown in gardens than Japanese wisteria (W. floribunda), and it produces a more dramatic show of blooms, as flowers open almost all at once. The flowers of Japanese wisteria open more gradually from the base to the tip of its 1½-foot-long clusters and, hence, have a longer overall bloom period. American wisteria (W. frutescens) is an alternative to Chinese and Japanese wisteria and is native to North America. While its flowers are smaller, it’s also a much less aggressive plant.
As a deciduous vine, wisteria loses its leaves in winter and is reduced to woody trunks. Use this to your advantage by planting wisteria over a trellis where you can appreciate blooms in spring, leafy shade in summer and exposed sunshine on a seating area in winter. Caution: All parts of the vine are poisonous if ingested. Origin: Varies by species Where it will grow: Varies by species Water requirement: Moderate Light requirement: Full sun Mature size: 4 to 8 feet wide and 10 to 25 feet tall When to plant: Spring or fall
2. Climbing Roses (Rosa spp.) Climbing roses are really more sprawling shrubs than vines, but they can be used in the same way to cover an arbor or train up around a window. With a rainbow of colors and blossom forms to choose from, climbing roses can complement your home and other colors in the garden.
Top choices for climbing roses include: Pale pink ‘New Dawn’ (pictured), ‘Climbing Cécile Brünner’, ‘Eden’ and ‘Sally Holmes’; white-flowering ‘Climbing Iceberg’ and ‘Claire Austin’; apricot-colored ‘Bathsheba’; yellow-flowering Lady Banks’, ‘Autumn Sunset’ and ‘Golden Showers’; and red-flowering ‘Crimson Sky’, ‘Blaze Improved’ and ‘Lady in Red’. Where it will grow: Hardiness varies by species, but most species fall into the range of zones 4 to 10 Water requirement: Moderate Light requirement: Full sun to light shade, depending on variety Mature size: Varies by variety; many reach up to 10 feet tall When to plant: Plant bare-root roses in late winter or early spring
Clematis ‘Jackmanii’
3. Clematis (Clematis spp.) Spring-flowering clematis is a favorite vine for twining up over a pergola or porch, or training along a fence. Smaller hybrids can be used to add height to containers. Large-flowered clematis have the showiest blooms and generally flower in two waves: the largest one in spring on the old growth and again in late summer or fall on new wood.
For a classic spring pairing, try planting clematis alongside climbing roses to cover a trellis. Choose varieties of clematis and roses that will bloom at the same time or sequentially. Clematis in the Montana group are good bets for consistent mid- to late-spring flowering and work well with ‘New Dawn’ roses for coordinated bloom time. Caution: All parts of the vine are poisonous if ingested.
Where it will grow: Hardiness varies by species; many fall into zones 5 to 9; some varieties are cold-hardy down to zone 3 Water requirement: Moderate Light requirement: Full sun to partial sun Mature size: Size varies by species; many can reach 20 to 25 feet tall When to plant: Spring or fall
4. Pink Trumpet Vine (Podranea ricasoliana) Pink trumpet vine — also called Port St. John’s creeper, Queen of Sheba or Zimbabwe creeper — is well-adapted to dry summer climates. Large bunches of fragrant pinkish-purple foxglove-like flowers start blooming in spring and continue throughout the summer. Plant pink trumpet vine in a spot where it will receive full sun and have its roots in quick-draining soil. Despite the delicate appearance of its flowers, the vines can tolerate baking heat exposures. Pink trumpet vines add softness and romance to areas like a hot, south-facing wall or porch. Its flowers attract hummingbirds and other pollinators. Origin: Native to South Africa Where it will grow: Hardy to 10 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 12.2 degrees Celsius (zones 8 to 12) Water requirement: Moderate; low once established Light requirement: Full sun Mature size: Up to 20 feet tall When to plant: Spring or fall
5. Sweet Pea (Lathyrus odoratus) Beloved for their pretty flowers and often nostalgic fragrance, sweet peas are a perfect addition to any spring garden. They’re grown as an annual and easy to start from seed. In mild climates, plant sweet peas in the fall so they can slowly grow over a cool winter and begin blooming in early spring. In colder climates, start seeds in a greenhouse in early spring or sow outdoors in spring when soil temperatures are above 55 degrees Fahrenheit, or 12.8 degrees Celsius. Sweet peas grow best when their tops are in the sun and their roots are in cool, damp soil. Choose a spot that receives full sun, but keep soil moist. Sweet peas attract bees, butterflies and other pollinators. Origin: Native to the Mediterranean Where it will grow: Often grown as an annual; hardy to minus 5 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 20.1 degrees Celsius (zones 6 to 11) Water requirement: Moderate to regular; keep soil moist Light requirement: Full sun to partial sun in hot inland regions Mature size: 6 feet long and up When to plant: Spring or fall
6. Carolina Jessamine (Gelsemium sempervirens) Carolina jessamine is a woody perennial vine that forms a cascade of dark green leaves and, in spring, bright yellow trumpet-shaped flowers with a sweet fragrance. The substantial vines can grow up to 20 feet long and require sturdy support. Try training them over a pergola or up over the roof of a garden shed. For maximum flowers, plant in full sun. Plants can tolerate partial shade but bloom less and have a leggier growth habit. Caution: All parts of vine are poisonous if ingested. Origin: Native to the southeastern U.S. Where it will grow: Hardy to 0 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 17.8 degrees Celsius (zones 7 to 10) Water requirement: Moderate; drought-tolerant once established Light requirement: Full sun to partial shade Mature size: About 20 feet tall When to plant: Fall
7. Crossvine (Bignonia capreolata) Crossvine, with its brilliant red-orange flowers, is a hummingbird magnet in the garden. The clusters of trumpet-shaped flowers open in mid-spring and continue to bloom throughout the season, flowering intermittently through summer. The vine is deciduous in cold-winter climates but will hold onto its leaves throughout the year in mild areas.
Without pruning, the vines can quickly outgrow most gardens, reaching up to 50 feet long. Prune just after spring flowering to keep crossvine’s size in check. Origin: Native to eastern U.S. and parts of Canada Where it will grow: Hardy to minus 5 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 20.1 degrees Celsius (zones 6 to 9) Water requirement: Moderate Light requirement: Full sun to light shade Mature size: 6 to 9 feet wide and 30 to 50 feet tall When to plant: Spring or fall
8. Confederate Jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides) Confederate jasmine is a commonly grown vine that is especially fragrant, producing a profusion of tiny star-like white flowers that have a strong, heady fragrance. Blooms begin in spring, lasting through summer and intermittently into fall. Plant vines over an arbor, or train on a wall trellis to add sweet perfume to a garden room. Evergreen in mild climates, the vine, with its glossy leaves, forms an attractive green backdrop throughout the year. Caution: Confederate jasmine can be considered invasive in warm, humid climates and is best used in arid gardens. Origin: Native to eastern Asia, including Japan, Korea, southern China and Vietnam Where it will grow: Hardy to 10 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 12.2 degrees Celsius(zones 8 to 11) Water requirement: Moderate; regular in hot climates Light requirement: Full sun to light shade Mature size: 1 foot to 2 feet tall and 6 feet wide when grown as a ground cover; 15 to 20 feet tall when grown as a vine When to plant: Spring or fall
Dunec Hoang, Lauren. "8 Romantic Spring-Flowering Vines to Cover a Trellis." Houzz. 29 April 2018. https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/108067574?utm_source=Houzz&utm_campaign=u7901&utm_medium=email&utm_content=gallery14&newsletterId=7901
