In this new day of earth friendly gardening vining or climbing plants certainly have a role to play. Flowering vines can bring us a vibrant wall of color during the blooming seasons. Whether it’s tumbling over a fence or creeping up over a pergola or arch they can add shade and a feeling of privacy, helping turn an open space into a quiet nook without disrupting the flow of your landscape. And many are super easy to care for. A lot of vining plants grow quickly and love the sun, though there are some partial shade choices too. They can act as a natural insulator diffusing the heat from western facing walls in summer months as well as helping to insulate outside walls against the cold temperatures of winter.

Another plus for vines is the pollinators that they attract. As host plants vines offer food, shelter, water as well as a haven for reproduction. An example of this is seen in the passion vine and the Gulf fritillary butterfly. The female will lay her eggs on all parts of the vine, stems and leaves and tendrils. When the eggs hatch the caterpillars begin feeding and growing. They rely solely on the Passiflora species to complete their life cycle without whom they would not exist. There are numerous examples of these kinds of relationships in nature so when selecting a species for your garden consider the types of pollinators you want to attract.                                                                                                                                                              

Also consider how much garden or yard space you are willing to dedicate. Some species can be overly aggressive and take over in places you would prefer they didn’t. Try some of the species that are tagged as Texas Superstar such as Tangerine Beauty Crossvine or Yellow Butterfly Vine and enjoy the show!

Smith County Master Gardeners are volunteer educators certified and coordinated by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service.

Rick Cole
Smith County Master Gardener