20+ Colorful Flowering Vines and Climbing Plants to Transform Your Outdoor Space
Embrace the arrival of spring by exploring the world of flowering vines and climbing plants! These stunning additions to your garden not only bring delightful fragrances and vibrant hues but also serve as captivating features for dull walls, fences, and other outdoor structures. They have the power to attract charming hummingbirds and butterflies while creating an enchanting ambiance in your outdoor sanctuary.
Having had the privilege to design and visit numerous gardens, I am forever captivated by the magical moments spent meandering through tunnels of magnificent climbing roses or taking respite beneath arbors draped in the sweet-scented jasmine vine's blooms.
Now, let's delve into a collection of my favorite climbing vines that are not only easy to cultivate but also offer year-round beauty. Discover fast-growing flowering vines, fragrant climbers, and an array of colorful climbing plants that will transform your landscape. For even more inspiration, explore our curated selection of 52 best landscaping ideas and designs for both front and backyard gardens.
I have seen Wisterias blooming in so many climates from Boston to San Diego ( USDA hardiness zones 5-10 ). One of the first perennial vines to flower in early spring, the Wisteria is a fast growing flowering vine that is also very fragrant.
If you have a small garden, keep the Wisteria in a pot, as the plant can get huge! ( Source: 1 | 2 )
Bougainvillea is a thorny vine, yet it’s one of the most popular flower vines in warmer climates ( hardiness zone 9-10 ) because of the stunning flowers and long blooming season.
If you live in a colder climate, the Flame Honeysuckle / Lonicera heckrottii and many other varieties such as Japanese honeysuckle is cold tolerant even in USDA hardiness zone 4, but still has the tropical look. ( Source: 3 | 4 )
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21 beautiful DIY arbors, trellises and vertical garden structures.
Pyracantha is an evergreen vine or shrub that can be trained on a wall or column. It has very pretty white flowers in spring and early summer, the clusters of red berries and the bright green foliage bring vibrant colors to the garden in late autumn and winter.
Different cultivars have either red, orange, or yellow berries. ( Source: 5 | 6)
Beautiful and delicious – just look at these showy flowers and seed pods of the Scarlet Runner Bean and the Hyacinth Bean! While most flowering vines in this article are perennial vines, beans and some squash and gourds are great annual vines for an edible garden or backyard farm! ( Source: 7 | 8)
Other delicious fruiting vines you can plant are kiwi vines, passion flower vines, and of course, grape vines!
Arbors and pergolas add so much character to a garden, porch or patio, especially when they are planted with flowering vines. While climbing Roses ( “Zephirine Drouhin” Climbing Rose shown here ) need full sun to bloom profusely, the Climbing Hydrangea / Hydrangea petiolaris thrives in both sun and part shade. ( Source: 9 | 10)
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It has been recorded that a single Rosa banksiae, common name Lady Banks’ rose, can have as many as 50,000 bright yellow flowers! A great companion plant would be the Lilac Vine / Hardenbergia, which is evergreen, and has contrasting lavender color flowers. ( Source: 11 | 12)
Clematis is a vigorous vine covered with a profusion of large flowers in almost any color you desire, with varieties that bloom at different times of year from spring to fall. Train them on a garden gate or a fence for a beautiful focal point. ( Source: 13 | 14)
Two of my favorite Clematis with the prettiest pinks – Clematis armandii ‘Apple Blossom‘ and Clematis montana ‘Elizabeth‘. ( Source: 15 | 16)
The elegant Star Jasmine / Trachelospermum jasminoides is surprisingly tough: it is heat tolerant to over 100° F and frost hardy to around 10° F. The unforgettably fragrant star-shaped white flowers bloom from spring to fall. Another great fragrant flowering vine is the honeysuckle. ( Source: tunnel | wall )
Both trumpet vines, Red Trumpet Vine / Campsis radicans and Lavender Trumpet Vine / Clytostoma callistegioides, are great plants for covering a fence and training along a wall, overhead arbor or pergola. Hummingbirds will be visiting you! ( Source: 18 | 19)
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The final group of favorite flowering vines are some very beautiful and fragrant climbing roses.
Constance Spry Climbing Rose ( source ) | Strawberry Hill Climbing Rose ( source )
Sally Holmes Climbing Rose ( source ) | St. Swithun Climbing Rose ( source )
Crown Princess Margareta Climbing Rose ( source ) | Wollerton Old Hall Climbing Rose ( source )
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