Sun Loving Perennial Vines

Clematis

• All the large-flowered clematis (Clematis hybrids) prefers full sun, although they like shade on their roots. Sweet autumn clematis (C. terniflora, also labeled as C. paniculata or C. maximowicziana) twines and rambles for 30 feet, producing a fragrant cloud of tiny, white flowers in the fall. The Texas clematis (C. texensis) has bell-shaped flowers; Duchess of Albany has large, reddish-rose blooms. Other clematis that thrive in the sun include golden clematis (C. tangutica), with bright-yellow flowers in June or July; and Armand's clematis, an evergreen species with fragrant, spring flowers. Clematis hardiness depends on species and cultivar, so carefully read the plant label.

Trumpet Vine

• The native trumpet vine (Campsis radicans) grows 30 to 40 feet tall and is hardy throughout U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 to 9. This deciduous vine climbs both by twining and with rootlike holdfasts. In midsummer, it's covered in clusters of orange-red, trumpet-shaped flowers up to 3 inches long. Trumpet vine grows well in full sun or light shade and produces flowers on new wood, so you can trim it back in early spring controlling its size.

Wisteria

• Japanese wisteria (W. floribunda) has 8- to 20-inch long clusters of intensely fragrant, lavender flowers that gradually open from the flowering stem’s base to the apex. Flowers on Chinese wisteria (W. sinensis) are violet-blue, less fragrant and borne in 6- to 12-inch-long clusters that open all at once. There are white cultivars of both species, as well as double-flowered forms. Wisterias are twining vines and need sturdy supports. Prune them hard after flowering, for both controlling growth and encouraging heavy flowering the following year. Wisterias need full sun and should always be planted as large specimens, since seed-grown plants do not bloom for up to 10 years. Japanese wisteria is hardy in zones 4 to 9 and Chinese wisteria in zones 5 to 8.

Other Flowering Vines

• Other sun-loving perennial flowering vines include crossvine (Bignonia capreolata), an evergreen vine with orange flowers suitable for warm climates; and Dutchman's pipe (Aristolochia durior), a 30-foot vine with yellow-green flowers. Several honeysuckle species (Lonicera spp.) are noninvasive and have tubular flowers that attract hummingbirds. Jessamines (Gelsemium spp.) have yellow flowers in the spring and autumn, while fiveleaf akebia (Akebia quinata) has small, purple blooms.

Foliage Vines

• Full-sun perennial vines grown primarily for their foliage include Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia), a native vine that turns deep wine-red in the fall; and its cousin the Boston ivy (P. tricuspidata), deciduous ivy with bright-orange and red fall color. Climbing fig (Ficus repens) is a fine-textured, evergreen vine for covering walls and fences in warm parts of the country. Wintercreeper (Euonymus fortunei) is normally sold as a ground cover but climbs 40 to 70 feet if given support. Both green and variegated cultivars are available. Wintercreeper is hardy in zones 4 through 9.