Vining plants are some of the most beautiful kinds of plants you can grow. The way they look climbing your trellis or posts looks like something out of a fairytale.
Likely, you want to grow plants that are easy to grow with minimal work. Thankfully, there is an abundance of vining plants that are easy to grow at home.
Vining plants may look intimidating – after all, they can grow to large sizes and span the height of a building. In reality, many vining plants are a simple grow-project that anyone can tackle in their own backyard.
Vines That Are Easy to Grow Fast
If you’re looking for some fast growing flowering vines, here is a list of vine plants you can choose:
Clematis
Clematis plants are some of the fastest-growing vines and will provide optimal coverage in a short amount of time.
Clematis are very versatile, and it doesn’t take much to encourage them to grow. Sunny locations are ideal for many clematis types to grow to its full potential, but partially shady areas should also suffice.
Wisteria
Wisteria is another vining flower that can reach great heights, generally around 30 feet. Wisteria is a very hardy vine that doesn’t require much help when it comes to growing.
In fact, wisteria vines will grow anywhere they can reach, and occasionally take over other plants. If you are looking for a vine to cover a fence or trellis, wisteria will get the job done with little effort.
Trumpet Vine
Trumpet vines are a good choice for any location around your home. These vines will grow in full sun, partially shaded areas, mostly shaded areas, and in nearly any temperature conditions, making them a popular choice among many. This is another vine that is quick to take over any area it can reach, so be careful where you plant it.
Boston Ivy
If you want a vine that will grow up nearly any surface, Boston ivy may be a good choice. Its leaves are green in the summer months, and turn a nice reddish color in the fall.
Boston Ivy is known for climbing the sides of buildings, particularly brick buildings where there are small ledges to cling to. Boston Ivy requires little to no care to grow, but you may need to keep it trimmed back if there are certain areas where you don’t want it growing.
English Ivy
English Ivy is another vine that is easy to grow at home. English Ivy is evergreen, so it will provide nice green leaves and cover all-year-round.
English Ivy is not only known for its vertical vining but for its ability to cover large areas of ground as well. English ivy vines have been known to grow out of control, but with some trimming, they are a very easy vine to grow.
Types of Vines
There are three main types of vines when it comes to the way they climb.
The first, twining vines, do best when growing on poles or other thin structures.
Next are tendril vines, which shoot off thin, almost string-like, tendrils that grab onto anything they can find and establish growth in those directions.
Last are clinging vines, which use above-ground roots to cling to straight surfaces, such as building walls.
How To Grow and Care for Vines
Here are some important things you need to know when it comes to growing climbing vines.
Training Vining Plants
As mentioned previously, some vining plants will grow aggressively and may reach undesired areas. Some people like the look of an untamed vining plant it can add character to your home but others would prefer to keep their vines nicely manicured.
The first step in training a vining plant is to establish where you want your vines to grow. This may be on a trellis, pergola, pole, wall, fence, or other location. Wherever you want your vine to grow, you will want to plant it near the base of the desired object. Once your plant has sprouted, or if you start with a vine that is already sprouted, you can carefully start to manipulate its direction of growth.
Depending on the structure your vine is climbing, you may be able to loop the ends of the vines through holes, like with a trellis. Simply looping the ends of your vines through these slots should be enough for them to catch on and continue growing in that direction.
If your vines don’t hold or are too heavy to hold, you may need to use some twine or twist-ties to hold the ends in place while the vines take hold on their own.
Another way to train your vines is to prune off side segments to force lateral growth. By eliminating the vine segments that are growing in a direction you don’t want, the plant will put more energy into other areas of growth.
Growing Vining Plants for Privacy
One popular reason for growing vining plants is to create a privacy barrier between neighbors. Vines such as Ivy and trumpet vine will grow quickly and can cover large areas. These are popular choices for growth on fences or trellises that divide property lines.
One note on growing vining plants to divide property lines is that you should talk with your neighbor beforehand. Many vining plants can become invasive and will grow in undesired areas. Discussing who will trim the vines back and control growth is important before planting your vining plants.
Caring for Vining Plants
One of the most important care tips for vining plants is proper pruning. As mentioned above, pruning can encourage growth in desired directions. For vertical growth, it is also recommended to pinch off new growth every 6 inches for flowering vines to encourage both height and new blooms.
Different vines are going to require different amounts of water. As a general rule, new growth will require extra water to become established. A fully established vine should not require daily watering, and should only need to be watered if there’s a long period of time without rain, or if it’s exposed to too much direct sunlight.
When choosing what vines to plant, do some quick research ahead of time to determine any sunlight exposure criteria that your desired vines may have. Know where you plan to plant your vines and plant accordingly.
Also, check these Vines With Purple Flowers and indoor vines you can grow.
*Photo by depositphotos.com/dianazh
