Climbing Vines & Trellises in Zone 5

Rapid Growth

• Rapid growth is an asset when gardeners want to create privacy for their backyards or gardens. Fast-growing vines are also an asset when gardeners want to create a full-looking garden for a special occasion. Some vines grow fast enough to cover a large trellis in one season and provide that special look. Gardeners must exercise care, however, that fast-growing, hardy vines don't become invasive nuisances. Chinese wisteria (Wisteria sinensis) is somewhat less aggressive than Japanese wisteria (Wisteria floribunda).

Fragrance

• Growing vines up a trellis provides a good opportunity to introduce fragrance into your garden. Fragrant vines are particularly useful when the trellis stands close enough to the house that occupants can smell the flowers while inside. Sweet autumn clematis (Clematis terniflora) is popular because of its scent. It's also a vigorous grower, providing many flowers to increase the volume of fragrance.

Multiseason Interest

• Choose vines that provide multiseason interest with their flowers, foliage and fruits. The porcelain berry (Ampelopsis brevipedunculata) displays flowers continuously throughout summer, then in fall produces small, globular fruits on twisting vines. The color of the fruit transitions from green to chartreuse to lavender to porcelain blue. Beer brewers use the common hops (Hummulus lupulus "Aureus") in their creations, but common hops are also useful in the garden for the small conelike clusters of flowers they produce in summer, as well as their golden foliage in fall.

Trellis Types

• Choose your trellis based on how much weight you expect it to bear. A successful growing season for a heavy vine that grows quickly, such as wisteria, increases the stress on the trellis and may cause it to fail. Attach the trellis securely to a wall, or use a free-standing trellis with a sturdy frame. Reserve lightweight trellises for lighter-weight vines such as the balloon vine (Cardiospermum halicacabum).