Vine Time: Twisting, Turning, Spiraling Upwards...

Flowering Vines captivate;

stretching, reaching for the heavens
achieving wonderous heights;

trailing cascading flowers

punctuating their climb.

~ RCB

For many years, my favorite climber was the glorious Morning Glory. It is so easy to grow; produces prolific flowers right up to frost; fresh flowers every day; a joyful climbing vine...

My favorite...that is, until I fell in LOVE with Black Eyed Susan Vine (Thunbergia)! Who can resist their perky golden flowers?

Luckily, this charming vine is an annual in New England. In warmer climates, Black-Eyed Susan Vine has the same reputation as Bittersweet does around here: It thrives too well.

Black-Eyed Susan Vines use their stems to twirl around as they climb (photo right).

Another vine with eye-catching flowers is the exotic Passion Flower Vine (along with cucumbers, peas and grape vines) have thin, curly tendrils that spiral around and around until they touch something they can hold onto (photo left).

Bower Vines (photo left) have glossy leaves and fragrant white and pink trumpet-shaped flowers. They also have tendrils that coil around, seeking support, as do peas (photo right).

Twining Climbers, like Wisteria, Honeysuckle and Clematis can grow quite large and heavy so they must have good strong support since they have been known to pull down arbors and even porches.

Locally, Bittersweet is a vine that often chokes out native plants, overtake nearby shrubs and strangling young trees. Trumpet Vine is such a vigorous grower that the utility company cuts ours back each year just around the time it reaches the top of our telephone pole. Friends of ours trim their Trumpet Vine back to the same height each year so that it now looks like a small topiary. Neatly kept in check, it is a glorious sight in bloom.

Climbing Hydrangea is an often-overlooked plant that deserves greater attention. It can be planted near a tall tree or brick wall. Although not a sprinter right out of the gate, each year your climbing hydrangea will pick up more speed. When in bloom, it puts on quite a show.

To hide an unsightly chain-link fence or create a privacy screen: Plant your vine, then select 3 or 4 evenly spaced main stems that you can fan out to secure to the fence. Trim the rest. If your vine has a single main stem, once the plant is planted, cut back the main stem to promote re-growth from the base of the vine. As the vine becomes established, selectively cut back crowded stems to promote growth in other areas.

If you are interested in adding some height to your garden with cascading blooms of flowering vine, please stop by Woodbridge for a good selection of climbers. Ask one of our friendly associates to help you find: Wisteria, Hydrangea, Bower Vine, Passion Flower, Grape, Morning Glory...and of course, Black-Eyed Susan Vine.

Enjoy!

Article compiled by Renee C. Brannigan

for Woodbridge Greenhouses 2010

All Rights Reserved