Good Vines to Grow on Wood Columns

Jasmine and Jessamine

• Jasmine and jessamine are different plants. Confederate jasmine is the common name for Trachelospermum jasminoides and is neither a true jasmine nor a Southern native. It is an evergreen twining vine that displays tiny, white pinwheel flowers that are very fragrant in spring. Carolina jessamine (Gelsemium sempervirens) is the state flower of South Carolina. This vine is covered in spring with single yellow trumpet-shaped flowers. Pride of Augusta is a double-flowered cultivar with an extended bloom time. T. jasminoides Madison and G. sempervirens Pride of August are Georgia Gold Medal plant winners.

Native Wisteria

• Asian wisteria varieties are vigorously invasive vines that are difficult to eradicate, often taking 10 years before blooming. Native wisteria vines are more restrained in growth and bloom the second year after planting. One cultivar of native wisteria is Amethyst Falls, another Georgia Gold Medal plant winner. Horticulturists at the University of Georgia say Amethyst Falls is a perfect choice for pergolas, trellises or fences. North Carolina University calls Amethyst Falls a “showstopper plant” because of its fragrant lavender flowers that cover vines and cascade like waterfalls.

Passion Flower

• Passiflora species, commonly called passion flower, include 400 varieties. Maypop (P. incarnata) is a native passion flower, hardy to U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zone 6, which uses tendrils to grasp and hold supports as it climbs. For training on wood posts or columns, twine or mesh is affixed to posts allowing points of attachment for passion flower tendrils. Vines bearing fringe-skirted flowers send up multiple stems that completely cover wooden posts. Maypops are host plants for Gulf fritillary butterflies, which lays eggs on leaves that hatch into leaf-eating caterpillars.

Vegetables

• Urban agriculture methods maximize space in small subdivision lots by growing vertical crops. The University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension suggests growing vining fruits and vegetables on fences, trellises and posts. Pole beans, cucumber vines, pumpkins, watermelons, winter squash, gourds and tomatoes will grow on wood columns. Tacking twine, wire or hardware cloth to columns offers an easy assist to young vines as they start climbing. Some gardeners fashion slings attached to columnar supports to hold large fruits, such as watermelon and pumpkins, so that vines do not break under the weight.