For some reason, gardeners in the South have sadly overlooked the almost endless possibilities of climbing plants, especially the permanent ones.
Practically all vines are graceful, informal, and airy and lend an air of fascination and allurement to any situation.
Somewhere around our home grounds are situations where the careful use of vines may improve.
Old trees, stumps, garages, and walls may need screening; over pergolas and trellises, vines furnish inviting shade; over doorways and gateways, they give an air of welcome. They go a long way in softening harsh architectural lines.
Here in the South, we have much material to make our selections. Down in the Rio Grande Valley, in the New Orleans area along the Gulf Coast to Pensacola, and across Florida, several tropical and semi-tropical species form an interesting segment of the available ornamental plant material.
Popular Climbers: Bougainvillea
One of the most popular climbers in this area is the bougainvillea. It grows to great heights, and its glamorous flowers never fail to command attention.
The purple form seems to be a bit hardier and stands colder than the magenta-flowered type.
In the Mid-South, where the plants are not entirely hardy, they are usually grown in containers, so they may be cut back and moved indoors for the winter.
Antigonon or Coral Vine
Another vine that is very much like in the Deep South is the antigonon or coral vine. This is a light, airy, graceful climber that will reach up to the second-story windows without difficulty.
Through many weeks in summer and fall, it is covered with flowers of the loveliest pink, which fit well into any type of floral arrangement. In the Mid-South, the coral vine may be killed back in winter but will grow out again in spring.
Confusion Over Bignonia
There is considerable confusion in the South (and elsewhere as well) over the name of Bignonia.
The deciduous type is a rampant grower with large, trumpet-shaped flowers of orange and red, formerly called Hignonia in the South, and has now been placed in a group termed campsis.
It attaches itself to aerial roots and can climb anything. You’ll like this vine if you want something vigorous, strong, and quite showy when in bloom.
The true Bignonia is evergreen and is a much lighter, more graceful vine than the campsis. It secures itself by terminal tendrils and will reach up to 50’ feet or more.
Its yellowish flowers in late spring or early summer are showy and arresting.
Ficus Pumila
Practically everyone who has ever visited the Vieux Carre in New Orleans has been impressed with the great green blankets covering many of the ancient walls enclosing the charming patio gardens in that area.
This vine is one of the figs—Ficus pumila (formerly called Ficus repens) and is one of the best covers for stone brick and concrete walls. This ficus has close-clinging stems, and although it may become a bit coarse with age, it is yet one of the neatest of all the evergreen wall covers.
It gives an air of stability, age, and grace. It is not a vine for trellises and pergolas, but if you have any kind of wall to be covered. This fig is certainly worth considering for this particular purpose.
English Ivy and Its Variations
Used alone, the word “ivy” now refers to the genus Hedera, which includes the evergreen English ivy (H. helix) and its several varying forms.
Almost everyone who gardens in the South is familiar with this type, as it has been used extensively for covering walls, tree trunks, and buildings of different kinds.
Where conditions are favorable, English ivy is a rampant grower – it likes deep, rich moist soil and does better in shade.
If the standard form is too heavy for your use, numerous smaller-leaved forms are now available at your florists’ and the ten-cent stores.
Most of them are perfectly hardy, neater, and more desirable for use with small properties than the common, vigorous type.
Virginia Creeper and Boston Ivy
Both the Virginia creeper and the Boston-ivy have been placed in the Parthenocissus group. The former, (P. quinquefolia) is a handsome native that climbs walls, and tree trunks and makes an excellent coverage for steep banks.
The Boston-ivy is a close-clinging vine from the Orient. It makes a dense, patterned covering for brick and stone walls.
Both of these vines are deciduous and considered safer on walls than the evergreen ivies, which tend to hold moisture too long and may cause damage.
Before losing their leaves in the fall, both the Virginia creeper and Boston ivy turn to brilliant colors and are quite attractive for weeks before they finally fall from the vines.
Bittersweet and Sarsaparilla Vine
Bittersweet (Celastrus scandens), so popular in some areas, has never been widely planted in the South. This native climbs to about 20’ feet.
The flowers are small and not conspicuous, but the orange-yellow fruits with their crimson seeds persist practically all winter and make the vine one of the showiest of our fruiting plants.
Few vines are more striking in late fall and early winter than the sarsaparilla vine (Schisandra).
It is especially effective when draping fences and deciduous trees – after the leaves have fallen, the small, bright red fruits make quite a show.
It is dioecious (the male and female flowers being borne on different plants), and both sexes must be planted to ensure a good fruit crop.
Wisteria: A Familiar Perennial Vine
Of the perennial vines, the wisteria is one of the best known. It is an exceptionally heavy, coarse vine; when planted, one should be prepared to give it strong, solid support.
It will soon crush a weak trellis. Too, it has a bad habit of spreading out everywhere and taking over the entire property.
On small properties, the tree form is preferred to the vine. A tree wisteria can make a stunning accent on the lawn and when planted in a formal setting or near a garden pool or other landscape features.
Timing For Planting Vines
In most sections of the South, this month marks the beginning of the planting season. With the preceding notes as a guide, select your vines so you can start enjoying them in your garden.
44659 by Ben Arthur Davis