20 Best Flowering Vines to Add Vertical Color to Your Yard and Garden
These eye-catching vines hide eyesores, attract hummingbirds, and more!
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You should consider infusing color and texture with flowering vines to overlooked parts of your garden and provide a bit of privacy and screening. There are plenty of options to consider. You can select annual, or perennial, and there are vines for practically every USDA Hardiness Zone (find yours here).
You'll learn the subtle art form of being patient when planting perennial vines. They typically take a few seasons to become well established. Be aware of how much sun or shade your plant requires to thrive. And you'll want a trellis (which you can buy or build yourself), or an other structure for the vines to find space to climb. Frequently, this essential tool is forgotten when building a backyard fit for a green thumb. It also adds function and a touch of style to your botanical spaces. To get them started, just gently place their tiny, curling tendrils on the trellis, and they will do the rest of the work with natural ease. Pro tip: install the trellis when planting your seeds so you don't have to disturb the roots later in the growing cycle.
Are you feeling adventurous and want to try building a practical helper for your flowering vines? If so, pull out your handy toolbox to explore a few of our DIY projects. Find a fitting design for your space in these DIY Garden Trellis Projects for All Your Climbing Plants and Flowers. However, you can save yourself some time and buy a beautiful trellis that's ready for you to install and plant your flowering vines without breaking a sweat. Regardless of your chosen garden accents, enjoy exploring this expansive list of 20 gorgeous flowering vines to add vertical color to your yard and garden!
Take a look at a few more helpful links to get your garden tools, garden beds, and vegetable options organized for the summer season too!
• Editors' Picks: Our Backyard and Garden Must-Haves
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• 11 Things Beginners Should Know Before Starting a Vegetable Garden
Cypress Vine
This beautiful fast-climbing annual is a hummingbird magnet! With delicate tubular flowers in red, pink, or apricot and feathery foliage, it is lovely on a trellis or arbor in full sun.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 11 to 12
Sun Exposure: full sun (at least 6 hours)
Soil Condition/pH: moist and well-drained / neutral to slightly acidic
Sweetpea
Sweet peas have a lovely, mild scent and come in colors ranging from white to pale pink to salmon to blue. Plant them in the spring from seed; they don't like super-hot weather, so they often fade by summer. They like full sun, especially in the Northern US, but some shade is tolerable, and possibly even preferable in hotter parts of the South.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 8
Sun Exposure: partial to full sun
Soil Condition / pH: nutrient rich, well-drained / neutral to slightly alkaline
Helpful Tips: High phosphorus fertilizer will increase flower production. The plant is toxic to humans and pets and avoid consuming any part.
Morning Glory
Morning glories live up to their name, opening in the morning sunshine. They grow quickly from seed. Pick off the dried seeds after they bloom if you don't want them to self-sow next year.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 2 to 10 as annuals, 8 to 12 as perennials
Sun Exposure: full sun (6-8 hours)
Soil Condition/pH: moist and well-drained / neutral
Virginia Creeper
Have an ugly wall that needs covered? Virginia Creeper is a fast-growing vine with beautiful red fall color. It's also not fussy about soil types so it's a good choice for problem areas.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 10
Sun Exposure: partial shade to full sun
Soil Condition/pH: moist and well-drained / neutral to acidic
Helpful Tips: Plant them in the spring and fall for optimal roots and production.
False Hydrangea Vine
Similar in appearance to climbing hydrangea, this vine actually is a different plant altogether! The brachts (petals) are single and come in pink or white, whereas climbing hydrangeas only come in white. This vine tolerates shade, though it needs some light to bloom.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 to 9
Sun Exposure: partial shade to full sun
Soil Condition/pH: moist and well-drained / neutral
Star Jasmine
This delicate-looking perennial vine has creamy white flowers with the most heavenly sweet scent! It's spectacular on a fence, arbor or wall—though it takes a few years to kick into high gear. It prefers full sun.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 8 to 10
Sun Exposure: partial shade to full sun
Soil Condition/pH: fertile and well-drained / slightly acidic
Helpful Tips: Place the plants in areas will good sun exposure (at least 2 to 6 hours) to encourage peak flower production.
Chocolate Vine
Clusters of delicate purple flowers cover this hardy perennial vine in early summer. Keep it in a pot, as it can become quite aggressive in the landscape.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 to 8
Sun Exposure: partial shade to full sun (at least 6 hours is optimal)
Soil Condition/pH: moist and well-drained / neutral to mildly acidic
Scarlet Runner Bean
This beautiful heirloom vine has gorgeous red blooms that attract hummingbirds. Even better, the beans are edible. You can eat them fresh (when small) or let them stay on the vine and get big, then harvest for drying at the end of the season. It's a fast-grower so give it plenty of room to grow. It needs full sun.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 7 to 10
Sun Exposure: full sun (at least 6 hours)
Soil Condition/pH: fertile and well-drained / slightly acidic
Helpful Tips: Consider planting in front of trellises and fences. These structures offer support for the plants to grow well vertically and showcases their beauty.
Caroline Jessamine
Beautiful, fragrant bright yellow flowers cover this hardy vine. It blooms in early spring, with some reblooming in fall. It's a fast-grower that works well to cover unsightly views. It needs full sun.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 7 to 9
Sun Exposure: partial shade to full sun
Soil Condition/pH: nutrient rich, moist, and well-drained / acidic to slightly alkaline
Mandevilla
Pink, red or white blossoms cover this tropical vine and last all summer long. It likes full sun but needs a little afternoon shade in hot climates. Mandevilla is considered an annual in temperate climates, but is an evergreen in warmer regions of the country. You can try to overwinter it indoors, but it will shed leaves daily, so be prepared for lots of cleanups.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 9 to 11
Sun Exposure: full sun (at least 6 hours)
Soil Condition/pH: well-drained / acidic to neutral
Helpful Tips: Regularly prune to encourage blooming during the growing season.
Firecracker Vine
This exotic-looking vine isn't well-known by most gardeners, but it should be! It tolerates heat and drought, and hummingbirds love it! It's considered an annual in most climates, but it may survive as a perennial in warmer regions of the country. It blooms all summer and enjoys full sun.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 10 to 11
Sun Exposure: full sun (at least 6 hours)
Soil Condition/pH: moist and well-drained / neutral to acidic
Climbing Hydrangea
This shade-lover boasts creamy white flowers all summer long. Its vines are very heavy, so it needs something sturdy to climb or lean against. It's super-slow-growing, so be patient as it can take years to establish.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 to 7
Sun Exposure: partial shade to full sun
Soil Condition/pH: moist, well-drained / slightly acidic
Helpful Tips: The plant bloom on the previous year's growth (aka old wood). Prune plants directly after reaching maturity.
Moonflower
Moonflowers are heirloom favorites that bloom in the evening with blossoms that are 6 inches wide! They also have a heavy scent, and pollinators adore them! They're annual in cool climates but perennial in mild zones. They need full sun.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 10 to 12
Sun Exposure: partial shade to full sun
Soil Condition/pH: evenly moist, well-drained / neutral to slightly acidic
Clematis
Many different kinds of clematis are available; some bloom in spring, some in the fall. And some types bloom all season long. The flowers come in every color from palest pink to deep purple. They like their heads in full sun but prefer their roots to be shaded, so plant other perennials at their base to help shelter the roots.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 to 9
Sun Exposure: full sun (at least 4 hours)
Soil Condition/pH: moist, well-drained / neutral to slightly alkaline
Helpful Tips: The top of plants should have good sun coverage. However, the roots should be planted deep enough to keep them shaded and cool.
Honeysuckle
This hardy perennial vine has gorgeous tube-shaped flowers. Pollinators such as hummingbirds and bees will flock to it! Make sure you choose Lonicera sempervivens or Lonicera periclymenum, not the invasive Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica), which will take over your entire garden.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 to 9
Sun Exposure: partial shade to full sun
Soil Condition/pH: nutrient rich, moist, and well-drained / neutral to slightly acidic
Bougainvillea
This perennial vine has papery brachts, or flowers, in electric pink or purple. It's evergreen in frost-free areas of the country, though it may need to be replanted in northern climes. It prefers full sun.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 10 to 11
Sun Exposure: full sun (at least 6 hours)
Soil Condition/pH: well-drained / slightly acidic
Helpful Tidbits: Avoid potting soil with peat moss because it retains moisture and will cause root rot.
Black-Eyed Susan Vine
The cheery blooms of this annual may be yellow, white, apricot or pink. It works well in pots and hanging baskets, as well as climbing a trellis. It's considered a perennial in hot climates. Give it full sun.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 10 to 11
Sun Exposure: full sun (at least 6 hours) with afternoon shade or partial shade
Soil Condition/pH: nutrient rich, moist / slightly acidic to slightly alkaline
Wisteria
Wisteria is cold-hardy perennial with lovely, draping flowers that resemble clusters of grapes. The lilac blue flowers are sweetly scented and appear in mid-spring. Be aware: They grow incredibly fast and need a lot of attention to keep from going into unwanted places.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 to 9
Sun Exposure: partial shade to full sun
Soil Condition/pH: well-drained / slightly acidic
Helpful Tidbits: Avoid Keep in mind the vine will grow in partial shade areas but will not flower without full sun conditions.
Hyacinth Bean
Hyacinth bean is a fast-growing ornamental vine with pretty pink or white flowers that thrive in heat. It needs a sturdy support as it can grow rapidly in one season. It likes full sun.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 10 to 11
Sun Exposure: full sun (at least 6 hours)
Soil Condition/pH: moist, well-drained / neutral to mildly acidic
Nasturtium
These cheery annuals are easy to grow from seed. (Soak them first overnight to help them sprout faster.) Their beautiful round leaves and cheery flowers work well in containers and beds, but they also can be trained up a trellis. Bonus: The leaves and flowers are edible!
USDA Hardiness Zones: 9 to 11
Sun Exposure: partial shade (3 to 6 hours) to full sun
Soil Condition/pH: well-drained / slightly acidic
Janece Maze is Associate Editor at Country Living, where she covers DIY projects, gardening, and travel. When she’s not in the kitchen creating a new recipe with farm fresh ingredients, you can find her on the road heading to a music festival or browsing a local consignment shop.
Arricca Elin SanSone has written about health and lifestyle topics for Prevention, Country Living, Woman's Day, and more. She’s passionate about gardening, baking, reading, and spending time with the people and dogs she loves.
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