Good Vines for Bricks

Adhesive Disks

• Vines with adhesive disks or suction cups, also known as holdfasts, climb up most available surfaces and rarely need additional support, unless they grow heavy with flowers or fruit. Japanese creeper (Parthenocissus tricuspidata) grows quickly to 60 feet long and has deciduous foliage that turns maroon in fall. It grows best in moist soil and produces blue-black berries. Cultivars come in a variety of colors and forms, such as Veitch’s Creeper, which has purple foliage, and Fenway Park, which has yellow-green leaves. The crossvine (Bignonia capreolata) also climbs with adhesive disks. This native vine attracts hummingbirds with its aromatic, orange-red flowers. It grows to 50 feet and has evergreen foliage that turns purplish in winter.

Aerial Rootlets

• Aerial rootlets emerge from the stem and allow the vine to cling to and climb on uneven surfaces, such as stone, masonry or brick. Avoid aerial root vines on wooden surfaces, as they tend to trap moisture under their roots, which can damage wood. The climbing hydrangea (Hydrangea anomala subsp. petiolaris) grows well on brick. This deciduous vine starts out slowly, but grows faster as it ages. It reaches lengths of 50 feet and produces showy clusters of white flowers in spring and summer. Climbing hydrangea thrives in sunny or shady sites. English ivy (Hedera helix) also grows well on brick. This evergreen grows up to 50 feet long and has dark, dense foliage. It produces blue-black fruits and comes in a variety of cultivars, from pointy to yellow to variegated foliage. English ivy prefers shady sites and tolerates drought.

Both Disks and Rootlets

• Very few vines use both adhesive disks and aerial rootlets to cling and climb, but those that do grow well on brick. The Virginia creeper or woodbine (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) uses both methods. This deciduous vine grows to 50 feet long and has five-leafed foliage that turns bright red in autumn. A native plant, the Virginia creeper produces blue-black berries that attract wildlife. It tolerates salt and can also be grown as ground cover.

Twining and Twisting

• Twining or twisting vines can be grown on brick with additional support, such as that provided by a trellis. Purdue University describes American bittersweet (Celastrus scandens) as “one of the most ornamental twining vines.” This deciduous vine grows rapidly to 25 feet long and attracts birds with its long-lasting red and yellow fruits. Plant a male and a female plant to ensure pollination. Honeysuckle (Lonicera spp.) also attracts birds. These vines come in evergreen or deciduous varieties and climb by twining. They produce trumpet-shaped, red, coral or yellow flowers with a sweet fragrance. Common varieties include trumpet (L. semperivirens) and Hall’s (L. japonica “Halliana”).