11 Flowering Vines That Are Perfect For A Vertical Garden

Creating a vertical garden filled with flowering vines can be a great way to add the beauty of ornamental plants to your garden. Vertical gardens create a different dimension and add depth to your garden. Climbing plants grow beautifully on architectural structures and enhance their appearance. These flowering climbing plants come in various colors, from annuals to perennials.

Moreover, smaller varieties of these flowering vines can be grown in hanging baskets, window sills, or containers. Flowering climbing plants are also very easy to grow and care for. In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about flowering vines and how you can grow them in your vertical garden.

What Are Flowering Vines?

Flowering vines are plants with long, elongated stems that can climb over various structures. They can also trail along a surface, producing beautiful flowers. However, unlike most shrubs or trees, flowering vines need support to climb upwards, such as pillars, trellises, fences, etc.

Different types of flowering vines –

• Annual Vines – These flowering vines complete their life in one cycle offering fast growth and vibrant flowers.
• Perennial Vines – Unlike annual flowering vines, perennials live for many years and rebloom each spring.
• Trailing Vines – These vines need to be tied to a structure to help them trail.
• Climbing Vines – Flowering climbing plants feature tendrils or adhesive pads that help them climb over any structure without much support.

11 Flowering Vines For Gardens

Here are some of the best flowering climbing plants that you can easily grow in your vertical garden –

1. Bougainvilleas

These sun-loving plants are famous for their papery, vibrant blooms that grow nearly year-round. Bougainvilleas are fast-growing, easy-to-care-for flowering vines in a variety of colors, including red, pink, crimson, orange, white, and many more. You may find these flowering climbing plants growing in many public gardens over various structures. The woody vines of Bougainvillea require regular pruning to keep the control growth.

2. Passionflower Vines

The multi-layered and vibrant blooms of these tropical flowering vines will create an enchanting display in your garden. The unique appearance of passionflower features a base of rounded petals, under a cluster of thin filaments with an antenna-like center, which is great to use to cover fences. Moreover, these flowering climbing plants are also pollinator-friendly and attract many types of bees to your garden.

3. Star Jasmine 

The fragrant flowers of these vines are late-summer flowers and are also known for their beautiful white star-shaped blooms and glossy dark green leaves. These perennial flowering climbing plants are great for fences, walls, or sturdy arbors that are strong enough to hold their weight. Star Jasmine has a sweet scent that also has therapeutic benefits as it helps in reducing stress.

4. Chocolate Vine

These flowering vines got their name due to the clusters of dark purple flowers that release chocolate-like fragrances. Chocolate vines have deciduous woody foliage and their flowers bloom from early to mid-spring. These aggressive flowering climbing plants need regular and extensive pruning with strong support to grow.

5. Climbing Hydrangea

Popularly grown as flowering shrubs, Hydrangea, also comes in climbing varieties. The delicate white blossoms of these flowering vines bloom all summer. However, the heavy and dense vines of these flowering climbing plants need lots of space and a strong structure to support their growth. You may grow these vines on a large tree or strong fences. Also, prune these vigorous growers regularly.

6. Wisteria

The grape-like flower clusters of Wisteria produce a sweet scent. These flowering vines are considered to be the best and their pea-shaped flowers come in a variety of colors such as lavender, blue, purple, or white. Wisteria are vigorous flowering climbing plants that need strong support to grow. Moreover, you need to regularly monitor these fast-growing plants to prevent them from overgrowing in unwanted places.

7. Morning glory

The funnel-shaped flowers of Morning Glory are popularly grown in cottage gardens. Moreover, the heart-shaped leaves create a beautiful display in the backdrop. These flowering vines bloom from early summer to first frost with each flower only lasting only a day. Ideal for growing on walls or fences and for screening on trellis or arbors, these flowering climbing plants are easy to grow from seeds and can self-sow for the next year.

8. Clematis 

These hardy and versatile perennial flowering vines can be grown in most regions and come in a range of varieties with different colors, shapes, and sizes. Depending on the type, Clematis can bloom from early spring to fall. These flowering climbing plants like to be planted in the full sun, however, they prefer shade over the roots.

9. Mandevilla

The trumpet-shaped blooms of these flowering vines come in a variety of colors such as red, white, pink, or even apricot. In warmer climates, Mandevilla can bloom all year long. The aromatic and colorful booms of flowering climbing plants are perfect for hanging baskets, trellises, patios, or decks. Mandevilla thrives in full sun but also needs some shade in the afternoon.

10. Honeysuckle

These pollinator-friendly flowering vines produce very aromatic tube-shaped flowers that come in many colors such as white, yellow, orange, or bi-colored. Depending on the variety, Honeysuckle can be deciduous, evergreen, or semi-evergreen and can bloom from spring to fall. However, some varieties can be invasive as well. Choose a large enough structure for these flowering climbing plants that can also support their weight.

11. Trumpet Vine

Also known as the cow-itch vine, hummingbird vine, and trumpet creeper, these flowering climbing plants feature attractive foliage that blends well in the backdrop of the trumpet-shaped flowers. The Trumpet Vine can be used as screening on pergola or arbor that are sturdy enough to hold its weight. These flowering climbing plants can produce beautiful blooms throughout the summer.

How To Care For Flowering Vines?

Here are some of the basic plant care needs for flowering vines that you should keep in mind to take better care of your plants –

• Watering – Water the newly planted flowering vines thoroughly to help them establish. Reduce the frequency of watering once the plants are established.
• Pruning – Pruning is an important task for most flowering climbing plants as they can grow vigorously and enter unwanted spaces.
• Support – Most flowering vines need support and training to help them climb various structures. This can involve tying the plants from structure so you should avoid damaging them.
• Pest & Diseases – Regularly monitoring your plants can help you prevent and manage pest infestation and also spot plant diseases.
• Feeding – Fertilize your plants using a balanced fertilizer during the growing season to encourage healthy growth.

Choosing The Right Flowering Vines

Many factors can play a role in choosing the right flowering climbing plants for your garden. Let’s have a look at some of them –

• Local Climate – Your local climate can influence your decision to choose the right flowering vines. Select the plants that can easily thrive in your local climate.
• Plant Care – Some plants can demand more than others and require regular maintenance. Therefore, choose these types of flowering climbing plants if you are up to the challenge.
• Free Space – Flowering vines require more space than other plants so you can select between the normal or dwarf varieties based on the availability of free garden space.

These are some of the many factors that you need to consider when choosing the right type of flowering vines for your garden.

Conclusion

Flowering vines can be a fantastic addition to any vertical garden as they offer beauty, and versatility, and can be grown easily. With the right knowledge, even beginners can grow flowering climbing plants and create a vertical garden. So make sure to add these flowering vines to your list and diversify your plant knowledge and gardening skills. Use the Plantora app to explore more such plants and their care needs.