Perennial Climbing Vines for the Top of an Arbor

Evergreen

• Evergreen climbing vines keep their foliage year round. Flame vine (Pyrostegia venusta) is a fast-growing climbing vine with woody stems. During winter and spring, pendulous orange-red blossoms grow on the flame vine. This evergreen vine attracts hummingbirds. English ivy (Hedera helix) is an evergreen climbing vine that uses aerial rootlets to remain upright. This herbaceous vine grows to lengths of 65 to 99 feet. In late summer through fall, small, inconspicuous greenish-yellow flowers grow on the vine.

Deciduous

• Deciduous climbing vines lose their leaves during the winter. Dutchman's pipe (Aristolochia durior) is a member of the Aristolochiaceae plant family, with deciduous dark-green heart-shaped leaves. This 30-foot-long climbing woody vine has rapid growth and a twining formation. Climbing hydrangea (Hydrangea anomala subs. petiolaris) is a strong deciduous vine that supports itself with aerial rootlets. This native Asian woody vine has red-hued bark and wide, dark-green heart-shaped foliage that changes to yellow in the fall. In mid-June, white flowers start blossoming on the climbing hydrangea.

Thorny

• Thorn-bearing vines have sharp barbs on their stems or leaves. Greenbriar (Smilax rotundifolia) is a climbing woody vine indigenous to eastern regions of the United States. This 30-foot-long vine forms heart-shaped, leathery, dark-green foliage. A member of the Smilacaceae plant family, greenbriar has tough stems covered with thorns. Bourgainvillaea (Bougainvillea spectabilis) is a 3-foot- to 20-foot-long climbing vine with a spread of 6 to 8 feet. This native of South America has thorn-covered woody stems.

Flowering

• Flowering climbing vines grow showy blossoms. Chinese wisteria (Wisteria sinensis) is a strong climbing vine that has a vigorous twining growth pattern. This Fabaceae plant family member has pinnate leaves. During May, this wisteria vine develops clusters of bluish-violet-hued scented flowers that are 7 to 12 inches in length. Creeping trumpet vine (Campsis radicans) is an herbaceous vine with a shrubby appearance that climbs via aerial roots. In the middle of summer, this flowering vine flourishes with eye-catching orange-scarlet flowers. This vine requires extra support due to the heaviness of the plant.