Good Vines for a Patio

Vines for Pots

• Coral honeysuckle and thunbergia have tendrils that climb up many kinds of supports, including lath lattice. Both of these plants grow well in hanging containers, also. They will form a lush hanging plant as well as grow up the hanging cords. Morning glory and clematis stems and leaves twin around supports so the support needs to be narrow, about a quarter inch or less. They will also grow around the stems of other plants.

Annual Vines

• Patios benefit from pots of annual vines that provide color and even food but die back in the winter, eliminating cold weather protection. Scarlet Runner Beans have numerous, bright red flowers and edible string beans. Colorful sweet peas bloom best in more moderate summers. They can be grown during late winter and spring in areas with moderate winters and hot summers providing color when other plants are not blooming.

Colorful Vines

• Larger patios or patios with open lattice style covering can support bougainvillea. Bougainvillea come in many colors and bloom over a long period but require more space as the plant becomes a large woody shrub. They will provide shade and tolerate hot, dry summers. Clematis jackmanii flowers are purple. Both of these plants must be pruned if space is limited. Bougainvillea especially will spread into all available space.

Aromatic Vines

• If the patio is used at night, plant night blooming jasmine for a beautiful fragrance. This plant grows best in mild winter climates. Pink jasmine is an easy to grow, scented vine that grows well in planters. Vining honeysuckles also grow fast and produce excellent scents. Wisteria has very large flower clusters of many colors and is scented. Wisteria plants require a larger space and will easily cover arbors and patio roofs.