Contact: Diane Relf, Extension Specialist, Environmental Horticulture
Posted April 1997
Vines serve many useful landscaping purposes. Where space is limited, vines may be used as dividers or barriers. They can screen unsightly views or provide privacy for the patio or porch. The monotony of a long fence or blank wall may be broken with vines. They can soften harsh structural lines and blend the structure with other plantings. On steep banks and in other areas where grass is difficult to establish and maintain, vines may be used as ground covers. They can be established on trellises against buildings to provide shade, thereby improving energy efficiency for cooling.
Selection of a suitable vine depends on its intended use, location, soil adaptability, and type of support. Dense, coarse foliage is desirable if a screen is needed. A fine-textured, slow-growing vine should be selected to add pattern and interest to a stone or brick wall. A decorative vine should possess desirable flowers, fruit, or foliage for seasonal interest.
Recommended Vines:
Clematis are among the most decorative and spectacular of all the flowering vines. A wide range of color and flower shape may be found in the many varieties and species offered for sale. The large-flowered clematis hybrids are the most widely used. These hybrids are deciduous vines that climb by twining stems, which act as tendrils. They attain a height of 8 to 10 feet. Flowering time varies according to variety but may be from late spring until frost.
The Sweet Autumn Clematis (Clematis dioscoreifolia robusta; C. paniculata), is a more vigorous species that grows to 20 or 30 feet. It is an easy vine to grow and is popular for the masses of fragrant, white flowers produced in late August and September. Clematis grow well in full sun or partial shade. Preferably, the foliage should be exposed to full sun and the soil kept cool and shaded by low ground-cover plants or mulch. Vines grow well on the east side of a wall, but not on the north. Protection from strong winds is also desirable. Clematis prefer a light, loamy, well-drained soil with a pH between 6.5 and 7. Lime should be added if soil pH is below 6.5. They require constant soil moisture.
When planting, the crown of the plant should be set 2 inches below the soil surface. Support, such as a bamboo stake, must be provided immediately to prevent breakage of the brittle stems. A light lattice trellis is one of the best supports for clematis.
Proper pruning time depends upon variety. Those which bloom on previous year's wood should be pruned immediately after flowering. Most types bloom on growth made during the current year and should be pruned in early spring before new growth starts. Pruning is usually not necessary during the first two years after planting.
English ivy is a handsome evergreen vine, climbing by attaching itself to rough surfaces by very short aerial rootlets. It may attain a height of 20 to 50 feet.
The rich, leathery, dark, shiny leaves hold their color all winter if protected from winter sun and wind. North- or east-facing walls are the most satisfactory locations. English ivy prefers a shady location with a fairly moist soil, well-supplied with organic matter. As a ground cover in the shade or under trees and shrubs, it is an excellent broadleaved evergreen. On vertical, flat surfaces, interesting patterns are formed during its first few years of growth. (It is not suitable for covering walls with a southern exposure because of the intense summer heat and winter sun.)
Baltic English Ivy (Hedera helix 'Baltica') is a hardy variety recommended for its ability to withstand winter conditions.
Boston ivy is one of the best vines for covering structures or supports quickly. It is a fast-growing, close-clinging vine which climbs by means of adhesive disks that have the potential to damage masonry walls and buildings. Boston ivy grows to a height of 50 to 60 feet. When given free rein, the vine will cover windows, doors, or other objects in its path. It requires annual pruning.
Boston ivy is easily transplanted and tolerant of many soil types. It grows in full sunlight or in shade and should be started with two-year-old plants.
Its bright-green leaves stand out and overlap on long stalks. Leaves turn rich tones of scarlet, orange, or purple in the fall. The new growth in spring is reddish-bronze. The flowers are inconspicuous but attract a large number of bees. The bluish-black berries are attached to the vine in grape-like clusters and persist after the leaves have fallen. The vine is well-adapted to city conditions.
VIRGINIA CREEPER OR WOODBINE (Parthenocissus quinquefolia)
Virginia creeper is a native, deciduous vine which climbs both by tendrils with adhesive disks that adhere to brick, stone, or tree trunks, and by aerial rootlets which attach only to rough surfaces. It grows 30 to 50 feet tall and has a loose, open growth pattern.
The leaves of Virginia creeper are five-parted and stand out on slender, drooping, side branches. They open purplish in the spring, remain a dull, deep green throughout the summer, and turn brilliant scarlet or crimson before dropping in the fall. It is one of the first of all woody plants to display fall color. Inconspicuous, greenish flowers develop into clusters of bluish-black, pea-sized berries in September and October. The berries either fall before winter or are eaten by birds after the leaves drop.
Virginia creeper will grow in a variety of soils and is considered to be a very drought-resistant plant. Thriving either in a sun or shade exposure, Virginia creeper is valued for producing a pleasing pattern on large, blank walls; for covering rustic structures; and for covering rocky banks.
CLIMBING HYDRANGEA (Hydrangea anomala petiolaris)
An excellent landscape vine with very showy, flat-topped flower clusters in summer; glossy, dark-green leaves; and exfoliating winter bark, it is slow to establish but once well-rooted grows rapidly with clinging roots that will attach to structures and supports. It may grow 60 to 80 feet, so use a sturdy support. It may have difficulty in the Tidewater area due to heat and drought; use on a northern or eastern exposure.
(Originally published as "Selecting Ornamental Vines," by Diane Relf, Extension Specialist, Consumer Horticulture, and Bonnie Appleton, Extension Specialist, Nursery Crops, in The Virginia Gardener Newsletter, Volume 8, Number 7.)
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