The Best Creeping Vines

Flowering Vines

• Clematis vines grow up to 9 feet tall if they have a support structure, such as a wire framework or trellis. The vines produce flowers in a wide variety of colors. Noninvasive honeysuckle vines bring attractive flowers and a sweet scent to the garden. Dropmore scarlet honeysuckle (Lonicera x brownii "Dropmore Scarlet") is cold-hardy and suited to northern gardens. Trumpet honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) is a nonaggressive, semi-evergreen honeysuckle vine that attracts hummingbirds. When grown in southern climates, trumpet honeysuckle will retain its green foliage year-round. Honeysuckle vines will grow on fences, buildings or trellises. Clockvine or black-eyed Susan vine (Thungerbia alata) has vivid, orange blossoms with black centers that resemble black-eyed Susan flowers. The vines are thin and densely covered with flowers during the summer. Because you must provide support for these creeping vines, you can exercise control over where they spread.

Foliage Vines

• Golden hops vine (Humulus lupulus "Aureus") has bright yellow-green foliage that shows best in sunny spots in the landscaping. Kiwi vine (Actinidia kolomitka) has green leaves with pink and silver edges. Male kiwi vines have the more vivid coloration. Gloryvine (Vitis coignetiae) produces bright red foliage in the fall. Dutchman's pipe (Aristolochia macrophylla) bears heart-shaped leaves that are so large they hide the small flowers that also grow on the vine. Dutchman's pipe is useful as screening.

Fruiting Vines

• Grape vines (Vitis) grow with spreading, climbing tendrils. The vines produce large leaves with their fruits. Scarlet runner bean (Phaseolus coccineus) has bright red flowers, with the bonus of edible bean-like fruit pods. Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata) also known as maypop, grows up to 15 feet tall. The purple and white flowers wilt away when the sweet-smelling fruits appear. Maypop vines wither and die to the ground at the onset of winter. The best fruiting vines produce fruits that are distinctive for their shape, color or smell.

Annual Vines

• Annual vines live for only one season, so they don't get a chance to become too invasive. Balloon vine (Cardiospermum halicacabum) produces tiny, white flowers that become decorative, balloon-like seed pods. Hyacinth bean (Dolichos lablab, Lablab purpureus) grows purple flowers that appear along the vines. The purple seed pods are an ornamental feature of the vine. Morning glory vines (Ipomoea tricolor, I. purpurea) come in a wide range of colors and can double as a groundcover.