These Flowering Vines Will do Best in Your Southern California Garden
One of the most difficult skills for gardeners to learn is integrating climbers into their landscapes.
You’ve probably seen annuals before. They’re those colorful flowers that bloom once every year. But what about perennials? These plants live for two seasons or longer and grow bigger each year. Some are hardy, meaning they’ll survive through cold weather; others require warmer temperatures. And some are beautiful additions to any yard. So why not try growing your own? Here’s how to choose and plant your favorite perennials.
These are several best perennials Flowering Vines for your garden in Southern California.
Clematis (Clematis spp.)
The Clematis genera contain approximately 300 kinds of wooded, profusely blooms plants. Most are climbering flowers; however, there are also short and bushily types. The climbers are most popular with gardeners, including dramatic hybrid Jackmanii and Nelly Moser, the delicate Betty Corning, or the sturdy sweet autumn clematis.
You may need to help your clematis by wiring it to an arbour as it starts to climb. However, once it takes root, the twining flower will weave through the structure on its own. While there are deciduous clematis types such as C. armandii, most are deciduous, so leaves must be considered during installation.
- USDA hardiness zones: 4 to 11 (depending on the plant).
- Several colour varieties are available, including white, pink, purple, and red.
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade.
- Soil needs: medium moisture, well-draining.
Climbing Hydrangea
Hydrangea (Hydrangeaceae) is an evergreen perennial flowering plant native to eastern North America. Its common name comes from the Greek word hydros, meaning water, referring to the presence of glands on the underside of petals that produce nectar. The genus name Hydrangea derives from the Ancient Greek ὕδρος (hydros), “water”, and γνῶσις (gnosis), “knowledge”.
- USDA Hardiness Zone Map: 5 to 9
- Color Varieties: White,
- Sun Exposure: Partial shade to full shade
- Soil needs: rich, moist, well-drain soil.
Chocolate Vine
Chocolate Viner is an April bloomer producing spicy scented, brown-purple blossoms hanging like pendants. After the blooms fade, the semi-evergreen foliage of the Viner stays attractive with lush, oblate leaves usually clustered in leaflets of 5. These flowering plants quickly grow to 30 to 60 feet, clinging to a supporting framework by twisting. Investigate before growing it because its rapid growth rate has classified it as an invasive plant where you live.
- Color Varieties: Brown/purple, white.
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to full shade.
- Soil needs: moist, well-draining, sandy or loamy.
Hardy Kiwi Vine (Actinidia Argutea or Actinidia Kolonika)
Most people know that kiwifruit comes from New Zealand, but did you know that kiwi vines also come from China? They’re not related to kiwifruits at all! Kiwi vines are a type of berry bush that grows wild in China. These bushes are known as “kiwi” because of the fruit they bear. Kiwi berries are round and greenish-yellow in color, and they taste sweet and tart.
Kiwi vines can grow up to 20 feet tall and have large leaves resembling those of grapevines. Kiwi vines are often used as living fences to keep animals out of gardens. In addition, these plants make great houseplants because they require little care and thrive indoors during the winter months.
- USDA Hardiness Zone Map: 3 to 9.
- Color varieties: green foliage; purple and pink .
- Soil needs medium moisture, well-drained, loam soil.
Climbing Roses
Roses are popular garden plants because of their beauty, ease of care, and low maintenance requirements. They also make good hedges, as they are easily trimmed into shape. Most varieties require little water during hot weather, so they do best in dry climates. In areas where winters are cold, hardy varieties may survive temperatures down to -20 degrees Fahrenheit.
Rose bushes should be planted in full sun and thrive in soil rich in organic matter. A general rule of thumb is to allow about one inch between each bush; however, if you live in an area with extreme winter winds, consider planting two or three bushes together.
- USDA hardiness zones vary from five to ten depending upon which plant species they’re talking about.
- There are several varieties of color, including pink, red, white, orange, purple, and yellow.
- Soil Needs: Rich, well-drained.
Star Jasmine (Trachelospermum Jasminoides)
Star Jasmine is a climbing vine that flowers in the late spring to mid-summer. It has long, dark green, oblong-shaped, glossy green foliage. It grows best in full sun and well-drained soil. For winter protection, it can be planted in a pot and placed outdoors during colder months.
- USDA hardiness zones range from 8 to 10.
- Soil Needs: Loamy, medium moisture, well-drained.
- Keep going until you reach the end of the list.
Bougainvillea (Bougainvillea spp.)
Leticia Almeida is a genus of flowering plants native to South America. They are commonly grown as ornamental houseplants due to their colorful blooms and attractive foliage. Bougainvilleas are also used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species, including common rose butterflies.
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 9 to 11.
- There are several varieties of pink, including light pink, dark pink, rose pink, magenta.
- Soil needs: rich, well-drained.
Moonflower (Ipomoea Alba)
Moonflower is a perennially flowering vine whose blooming opens at night, expelling its sweet scent into the atmosphere. Then, as the daylight of dawn arrives, the flower closes up again for the rest of the night.
These fast-growing plants reach about 10 to 15 feet long and can easily spread as a floor covering or grow on a support frame. They can be difficult for indoor gardeners to overwinter, so if you live outdoors, you may want to consider treating them as an annual and starting with a fresh plant each spring. The seed is easy to collect and starts indoors for the new growing seasons.
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 10 to 12.
- Color Varieties: White, Purple.
- Soil Needs: Moist, well-drained.
Cape Honeysuckle (Tecoma Capensis)
According to your gardening preferences, cape honeysuckles can be trained either as a bush or a climber. However, they will grow better as a climber to about thirty feet tall. Their bright, tube-shaped flowers produce a sweet nectarine that attracts hummingbirds. As a climber, pruning is fairly simple. Just trim off any damaged, dead, and diseased branches, along with those that are difficult to train onto your trellis.
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 13 to 20
- Color Varieties: Orange, red
- Soil Needs: Average, well-drained
Japanese Honeyscale (Lonicera Japonica)
Japanese honeycreeper is an evergreen shrub with glossy green leaves and clusters of yellowish-white flowers. Its name comes from the shape of its fruit, which resembles a honeycomb. Honeycreeper is also known as honeysuckle because of its sweet scent. It grows best in full sun and well-drained soil. Prune after the plants’ flowers to maintain a compact bush.
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 14 to 20.
- Color Varieties: White, yellow.
- Soil Needs: Loamy, moist, well-drained
Thunbergia Alata
Thunbergia alata is a climber that grows between 6 and 12 inches tall. Its leaves grow in opposite pairs along each stem. Flowers bloom red, orange, pink, white, purple, yellow, lavender, blue, and green. When planted outdoors, it requires full sun and regular water. In colder regions, it can survive temperatures down to 15 degrees Fahrenheit. The vine does not require pruning once established.
- Colors: yellow, orange, red, purple, white
- Soil Needs: Rich, well-drained
Sauce Vines (Cobaea Scandenis)
Cobaea Scandenis is an evergreen climbing plant that can quickly grow into a living screen. It has large glossy leaves and fragrant white flowers bloom from May through July. Attaching this plant to a sturdy pole will provide plenty of room to climb up and cover it with its attractive dark green leaves.
- Color Varieties: Purple, white.
- Soil Needs: Moist, well-drained
Bleeding Heart (Clerodendrum Thomsonii )
Clerodendrum Thomsonii is a bleeding heart vine is a deciduous shrub native to eastern Asia. The plant grows to about 4 meters tall and produces small yellow flowers in springtime. The leaves are dark green, glossy, and oval-shaped and come in three clusters. These plants require full sun and good drainage to thrive. In addition, they do best if fertilized regularly during the growing season.
- Red with white.
- Sun Exposure: Partial shade.
Corkscrew Vine (Vigna caracalla)
A corkscrew vine, corkscrew flowers, or snail flowers (Vigna caracalla) is an annual plant native to India and Sri Lanka. It grows rapidly. It has also become naturalized in some regions of California.
It’s an evergreen, deciduous plant grown in cold-free zones and is known for its attractive ornamental appearance. Its showy flowers spiral tightly around the stem, making them a corkscrew. Because of this, they’re often called “corkscrews.”
During the summer months, from June through September, the corkscrew flower grows in large clusters called racemes. These racemes can reach up to a foot long. Each leaflet has three lobes. They grow in upright clusters, usually at an angle from the stem.
The flowers are surrounded by a hanging, narrow bean-like pod that is six to seven centimeters long and one centimeter wide and contain round blackish-brown seed.
Its vine-like structure makes it relatively easy to propagate from seeds, but it needs some supporting structure on which to climb. It can be grown as either a perennials or an annual, and it can be used to create a climbing plant screen or trellis.
Be careful not to let the corkscrew vines overtake your yard. They’re quite invasive and could easily take over everything else in your yard.
These are not associated with serious insect or disease problems and are well-liked by both bees and butterflies. Ants pollinate their flowers.
- Corkscrew vines will grow best when planted under bright light. They can also be grown in particularly shaded conditions.
- Soil should be fertile, moist and well-draining for cork screw vines.
- Water the vines only if they’re dry, and let any extra water drain afterwards.
- These plants need warm weather and lots of moisture.
- You don’t need to fertilize the corkscrew vines, but you can if you want to.
- You can start growing them from seeds, but they’re easier to grow from cuttings.
- Seeds will need 6–10 hours of sunlight per day to sprout.
Snapdragon Vine (Maurandya Scandens)
Although not directly connected to the traditional snapdragon flower (Antirrhinums), the flowers of Maurandya Scandens resemble those of the popular perennial. That is the only reliable thing about the name of this flowering herb because it is also known by several other common names, including creeping snapdragon, vinaigrette, and trailing snapdragon, so it can be hard to tell what kind of snapdragon you’re getting.
Native to Mexico and Central America, this climbing snapdragon is making a big splash in gardens everywhere. Its showy, bell-shaped flowers (a favorite of hummingbirds) add an old-time charm to any yard or border. And its shiny, arrowhead-shaped leaves make a great backdrop for smaller plants. It looks almost too delicate to stand upright, but don’t worry. This sturdy climber is a survivor. Climbers grow anywhere they can find sun and water. They bloom year-round in colors ranging from purple to yellow.
Snapdragon vines are usually grown from seed in the spring. They take a long time to produce flowers, but they cover their support structure quickly when they bloom.
- Snapdragons need something to cling to for their tendrils to grip onto. They prefer to hang off things thinner than one inch in diameter.
- Snapdragon vine is very flexible, featuring repeat blooms throughout the summer. You can use it as a low-growing ground cover or in pots.
- The current palette leans towards the cool end, pairing nicely with silver or grey-foliaged plants such as Artemisia, Russian Sages, and Lavender.
- Snapdragons are virtually pest-free. They require sunlight, regular watering, and good drainage for optimal growth.
- Snapdragons prefer full sun to partial shade. If you live in an area that gets hot during the day, put them near some shade.
- Snapdragons can grow in almost any garden, but they do best in full sun and fertile soils.