Writing about plants often emphasizes problems resulting from insects and diseases and undesirable aspects of plants, including weeds. Although plants have pests, the plants solve many problems in our land-scapes and are often the best solutions to our needs.
Some of the best problem-solvers are vines. These flexible annual or perennial plants don't stop growing in height or length. Most vines require support to avoid becoming a sprawling mess or groundcover. This ability to wander, yet take direction from the gardener, creates screens from the wind, sun or undesirable views. The vines emphasize or mask architecture lines, and many excel as purely decorative accents.The four categories, depending on their method of climbing are: tied, climbing, tendril and twining vines. Vines that must be tied have no way to attach themselves and are fastened to supports. Climbing roses fit this category and must be continually reattached to a trellis.
Clinging vines have special stems that attach to a flat surface. Some use tendrils with small discs at the ends. Others have hooklike claws on tendrils that hook into small crevices on the climbing surface or small roots along the stem. These work well on vertical surfaces but are a permanent fixture as the roots or discs remain even after the vines are removed. Virginia creeper, Boston ivy and English ivy all fall into this category.
Some vines have long tendrils that reach out and wrap around whatever is available. Wires, ropes, branches and fences all become climbing surfaces. Tendrils grow straight until they contact another surface, then they curl into a spiral spring around that surface. Grapes are a good example of a tendril vine.
Twining vines produce new growth that twists or spirals as it grows. These vines twist around themselves or nearby plants and require guidance to be an effective landscape addition. They do not twine around large supports such as posts but do best with cords or wires. Morning glory is a twining vine.
Vines grow horizontally or vertically, and don't overlook the beauty of a cascading vine over a wall or a bank. Many ornamentals and even vegetables make suitable vines. Cucumbers, gourds, pole or runner beans, and even melons or squash, are useful if the fruit is supported.
Vines are most expressive when planted to solve problems. Hot west-facing exposures can be quickly shaded through use of temporary or permanent vines. Likewise, temporary windbreaks or screens of undesirable views are easily accomplished.
Drawbacks include some that have an aggressive growth habit. Put them where they can grow without interfering with other plants. Some aggressive vines creep under wood siding or soffit and do substantial damage. Trimming is necessary to keep them confined to their space. Occasionally, radical pruning is needed to get rid of stems that are no longer attractive or useful. Keep in mind that you own the vine, it does not own you, so keep it under control.
As I have grown different vines in the garden, I have learned to tolerate some, eliminate others and prize a select few for the problems they solve. Choose them carefully, and your reward is a unique, problem-solving landscape plant. Make a wrong choice and the fight is a never-ending battle against aggressive plants that try to dominate the landscape.
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Vines for Utah landscapes
Annual vines
Cup and saucer vine (Cobaea scanders)
Hops (Humulus lupulus)
Morning glory (Lathyrus)
Woody vines
American Bittersweet (Celastrus scandens)
Boston ivy (Parthenocissus tricuspidata)
Clematis (Clematis jackmani and others)
Clematis (Sweet autumn (Clematis paniculata)
Dutchman's pipe (Aristolochia durior)
English ivy (Hedra helix)
Grape (Vitus vinifera)
Honeysuckle, Halls Japanese (Lonicera japonica)
Honeysuckle, Trumpet (Lonicera sempervirens)
Roses (Rosa)
Silverlace vine (Polygonum auberti)
Trumpetcreeper (Parthenocissus quinquifolia)
Winter creeper (Euonyus radicans vegetus)
Wisteria (Wisteria sinesis)
HOW IT CLIMBS
Tendrils
Twining
Twining
Tendrils
Twining
Aerial rootlets
Twining
Twining
Twining
Aerial rootlets
Tendrils
Twining
Twining
Must be tied
Twining
Twining
Aerial rootlets
Creeping
Twining
FLOWERS
White, violet or purple
White flowers
Blue, white or magenta
Many colors
Yellow to orange fruit
Not showy
Pink, violet, rose, white
White
Yellow-green
Not usually present
Not showy
White flowers
Orange flowers
Many kinds
White flowers
Orange flowers
Not showy
Small white
Lavender or white flowers
TOLERATES SHADE
X
X
X
X
X
X
X