Climbing vines

**tinman** · #1 01-14-2010, 02:20 PM

I am just about finished building a pergola over my patio in the back yard and my bride wants to plant some kind of climbing plant to afford more shade under it.
We would like to have something that is evergreen, but does not cling to what it is climbing on. Some of them are almost impossible to pull off.
We would also like it to be fast growing, and have flowers if possible.
I have been told that there are some types of Jasmine that will do the things we are looking for, but I really don't know.
If anyone can give me some good ideas, I'll dance at your next wedding.
Thanks,

Tinman

**Rockin'2** · #2 01-15-2010, 10:17 AM

I have a red honeysuckle on a trellis I built in mid summer that has reached about 8 feet tall. No blooms yet but, the freeze didn't kill it.

**baitkiller** · #3 01-15-2010, 12:23 PM

There are some pretty hearty varieties.

Dancing will be easier after a good harvest.

**Charlie2** · #4 01-17-2010, 04:05 PM

Honeysuckle comes to mind. Pretty to look at and smells good!

My neighbor gave me a vine that she calls 'South Carolina' that grows like a weed and survives anything; cold, drought and whatever.

I have to cut it back sometimes because it tries to climb through my roof vents into the attic. C2

**Tortuga** · #5 01-17-2010, 07:54 PM

Might look into Confederate Jasmine...or Carolina Jasmine... Both grow fast and thick and freezes don't seem to hurt them.. Easy to keep trimmed to whatever shape you want...Does need trellis (or pergola). Both have flowers and smell great when they are blooming.

**Charlie2** · #6 01-18-2010, 11:39 PM

What color and how many flowers??

This thing that I have has a myriad of small yellow flowers. Has to be trimmed or it will take over. C2

**Tortuga** · #7 01-19-2010, 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charlie2

What color and how many flowers??

This thing that I have has a myriad of small yellow flowers. Has to be trimmed or it will take over. C2

You've got the Carolina Jasmine, Charlie.. Literally thousands of little yellow flowers when it blooms. Blooming doesn't last too long (mebbe a week or two) but looks and smells great when it happens.. Do require a lot of trimming but grows into a great green mat that will cover everything around it...

The Confederate jasmine is the same, but it has thousands of little white flowers and the same aroma...

**huntinguy** · #8 01-19-2010, 09:05 AM

X2 on what Tortuga said.

Get either one and you won't be sorry.

**cobrayakker** · #9 01-19-2010, 12:08 PM

We have trumpet vine growing on ours. I think the freeze hit it pretty hard, but I think it will come back OK. I will load up with peach colored blooms several time a year. Very easy grow, just give it plenty of water and some fertilizer a couple times a year. Does well in sun or shade probably better in a little shade.

**NaClH2O** · #10 01-20-2010, 03:10 PM

I would recommend staying away from any kind of grapes if you plan to have the vine crate a natural ceiling. It looks great, but when they start to produce fruit, thousands of them drop from the ceiling. They stain whatever is beneath them and they attract bees and wasps by the hundreds. A flowering vine like jasmine, honeysuckle or trumpet vine may attract some bees, but they will stay around the vine. With grapes, they go where the grapes go, which is everywhere.