Vines Grow Best in What Soil?

Moist Soil

• Plant moisture-loving vines in sites receiving regular irrigation. The bitter melon (Momordica balsamina) is an annual that quickly grows 10 to 20 feet long. Bitter melon vines climb with tendrils and produce edible yellow, green-and-orange fruits. They bloom with small, yellow flowers and prefer light, moist soil. The cruel vine (Araujia sericifera) is hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture Plant Hardiness Zones 8 to 9 and grows up to 30 feet long. This twining evergreen blooms from summer through the fall with aromatic, pink-and-white flowers. It grows best in moist soil and light shade. Move the cruel vine inside for the winter in cool climates.

Moist Well-Drained Soil

• Some vines prefer moist soil but also require efficient drainage. Allamanda or golden trumpet (Allamanda cathartica) is a tropical, tender perennial grown as an annual. This vine grows well in containers and reaches lengths to 8 feet. Golden trumpet prefers full sun and moist, well-drained soil. It requires tying and blooms with showy yellow flowers from summer through autumn. The blue pea or butterfly pea (Clitoria ternatea), a perennial grown as an annual vine, reaches lengths of 10 to 15 feet. This fast-growing vine requires regular irrigation and moist, well-drained soil. Blue pea vines bloom with small, blue, yellow and white blossoms from summer to fall followed by fuzzy fruit pods.

For Well-Drained Soil

• Well-drained soil does not retain moisture. Black-eyed Susans (Thunbergia alata) are perennials grown as annuals. This 8 foot long vine grows best in sites with well-drained, light soil with morning sun and afternoon shade. This twining vine blooms with white, yellow and orange flowers from summer through the fall. They rapidly grow and have glossy, deep-green foliage. The cape leadwort (Plumbago auriculata) prefers well-drained soil, especially during winter months when it requires little irrigation. This evergreen vine grows 15 feet long and has arching branches requiring support. Cape leadworts produce light blue flowers from summer through autumn and are hardy to USDA zone 9.

For A Range of Soils

• Some vines adapt to a range of soil types. American bittersweet (Celastrus scandens) grows rapidly up to 25 feet long. This deciduous vine is hardy in USDA zones 3 to 8 and prefers sun to partial shade. It tolerates a range of soils except for wet sites. American bittersweet blooms with white-to-green flowers followed by long-lasting orange-and-red fruits. This Southeastern U.S. native attracts birds. Cape honeysuckle (Tecomaria capensis) is hardy in zones 8 to 9 and grows to 20 feet long. This deciduous vine prefers full sun to light shade and tolerates a variety of soils including dry, sandy, poor and salty, as well as sites with drought, wind and heat. Cape honeysuckle blooms from summer through autumn with bright red-to-orange flowers.