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Climbing vines evoke images of arbors, of enclosures, and of secret gardens. They comprise the scenes of fairy tales and romance novels, twisting, tumbling, clinging, spilling, rambling, and reaching like no other genre of plants.

“Climbers embody romance and a romantic style, a letting go, a feeling of abandon,” says Gordon Hayward, garden designer and acclaimed author of ten books, including: Art and the Gardener: Fine Painting as Inspiration for Garden Design, to be published in December, 2008.

According to Hayward, climbers add “verticality” to the garden. The concept of verticality is included in most art and design, from painting on canvas to painting with plants. Verticality is inherent in the natural world (imagine a landscape without trees).

Vines, like trees and other vertical elements (sculpture, for example), are at home in every garden, large or small. Many vines can also be planted to spill over the rims of containers. Yet care should be taken when choosing the appropriate vine for your garden site. The following are a few of my favorites. 

Perennial Vines for Sun to Partial Sun
Climbing Roses are among the most beautiful and fastest-growing of all roses. And climbers, which require less pruning than other species, are one of the easiest roses to grow. Climbers thrive in at least six hours of sun per day, and well-drained, compost-rich soil.

Rosa ‘New Dawn’ is a deservedly popular climber, featuring double clusters of shell-pink flowers with a heavenly, light, spice-tea fragrance over glossy, green foliage. ‘New Dawn’ will climb a vertical structure or spill over a wall with abandon. It often blooms twice in one season.

Considered the “queen of all flowering vines,” Clematis is often the first plant to come to mind when one conjures images of climbers. And for good reason. Clematis is a genus of over 250 species and approximately 2,500 cultivars or varieties. There are evergreen, woody, twining and herbaceous Clematis. Many have large single or double flowers; others are smothered with diminutive, nodding bell or tiny tubular blooms. Most Clematis prefer full to partial sun and humus-rich soil, and all like their “feet” (the roots and base of the plant) shaded and cool.

Although Clematis ‘Jackmanii’–the purple-flowering fixture of the suburban mailbox—is hugely popular, I prefer ‘Niobe’ for a large-flowering variety. Clematis ‘Niobe’ is an elegant, single-flowering plant with carmine, velvety-pointed tepals (the flower) and yellow anthers (the center). It blooms early and throughout the summer, and is relatively compact, reaching only 6 to 10 feet tall. I like to let ‘Niobe’ drape over and down a stone wall, an obvious variation on the theme of verticality.

Perhaps no other vine evokes more romance than Wisteria, with its dripping blue, purple, or white grape-like flower clusters. Situated in the right spot (Wisteria must have a sturdy support structure and proper pruning to control growth and flowering), Wisteria exudes elegance.

Wisteria sinensis ‘Aunt Dee’ is one of the hardiest of all varieties. According to Gordon Hayward, ‘Aunt Dee’ blooms faithfully every year in his Vermont garden, producing at least 100 dreamy lilac flowers per plant.

Campsis radicans (Trumpet Vine), or Trumpet creeper, is not for the faint of heart. A native vine, Campsis radicans bears showy, trumpet-shaped dark orange-to-red or yellow flowers in late summer to early autumn. It is a hummingbird magnet, and if designer Hayward had his way, “no old-fashioned New England garden would be without it.”

Campsis is meant for a large garden or structure; it looks spectacular caressing the corner of a conservatory, for example. Because of its rampant growth habit, Trumpet vine produces root suckers that must be removed annually with a sharp spade. Left alone, the plant can survive decades abandoned along the side of the road.    

Perennial Vines for Shade
Shade is not an impediment to growing vines. While most flowers need sun to bloom, Hydrangea petiolaris (Climbing hydrangea) and Schizophragma hydrangeoides (Japanese hydrangea vine) are exceptions to the rule.

Hydrangea petiolaris is a vigorous, woody, deciduous vine that can reach 50 feet at maturity. The deep green leaves are heart-shaped and abundant; the flat-topped lacecap white flowers dress the plant.

Schizophragma hydrangeoides, like its counterpart, climbs the trunk of trees, walls, and fences. ‘Roseum’ is a fairly new variety, with feminine, soft rose-pink lacecap flowers and a slightly sweet scent.

Both vines perform well in partial shade; Japanese hydrangea vine also grows well in sun.   

Exotic Annual and Tropical Vines
Nothing says sultry more than an exotic or annual vine. The opportunity to experiment with exotic plants in a northern garden nearly compensates for winter. While I adore common Ipomea (Morning glory) in its many colors, I am especially drawn to a taste of the tropics.

Mandevilla (sometimes called Dipladenia, its synonym) is a genus of about 120 species that is becoming more available in New England nurseries. ‘Alice du Pont,’ with its large, bright-pink tubular trumpet flowers, is still the most prevalent of the cultivars, but yellow, white, and cherry-flowering varieties appear at fine garden centers.

Mandevilla is meant to be shown off. Plant it with an obelisk in the center of a container, or, better yet, frame an entire window with it. Mandevilla thrives in full sun and heat.  

Thunbergia grandiflora (Sky vine) is a little difficult to find, but worth the search. Sky vine is a twining, fast-growing climber teeming with 3 inch blue-purple trumpet-shaped flowers in the heat of summer.

Senecio confusus (Mexican flame vine), is a vibrant, vigorous vine smothered with orange-yellow or yellow flowers resembling small flames. It is positively scorching with hot-hued foliage and cascading Lantana.

Climber Combinations
For non-stop drama, try combining Clematis integrifolia, Clematis macropetala, and Clematis tenaguita. Each vine features bell-shaped flowers followed by unusual spider-like seed heads and will bloom at different times throughout the season.

Weave the three together over an iron gate or fence for a continuous show. Debuting in early summer in colors of cotton-candy pink, Clematis macropelata (called ‘Markham’s Pink’) is followed by the whimsical blue bells of Clematis integrifolia. In autumn the show concludes with the sunny yellow flowers and wispy seed heads of Clematis tanaguita. A brilliant performance that is sure to occasion an encore!