Do you plan to grow some flowering vines but aren’t sure which to choose? Picking the ideal climbing plants for your garden can be tricky, as there are many to select from. Adding climbing vines to a landscape is often one of the most intricate skills you must learn as a gardener.
Climbing plants with flowers to your garden adds texture and color to your outdoor spaces. Once the perfect spot is chosen, you can grow vines that climb trellises, up trees, or even dangle as a container plant.
This article will highlight 30 of the most popular climbing plants with flowers for your landscape.
Jump to:
- Most Popular Climbing Plants with Flowers
- 1. Trumpet Vine (Campsis radicans)
- 2. Clematis (Clematis spp.)
- 3. Climbing Hydrangea (Hydrangea anomala ssp. petiolaris)
- 4. American Bittersweet (Celastrus scandens)
- 5. Black-Eyed Susan Vine (Thunbergia alata)
- 6. Chocolate Vine (Akebia quinata)
- 7. False Hydrangea Vine (Schizophragma hydrangeoides)
- 8. Purple Bell Flower (Rhodochiton atrosanguineus)
- 9. Jasminum nudiflorum
- 10. Dutchman’s Pipe (Aristolochia macrophylla)
- 11. Purple Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata)
- 12. Bleeding Heart Vine (Dicentra scandens)
- 13. Bittersweet (Celastrus scandens)
- 14. Climbing Roses (Rosa spp.)
- 15. Blue Moon Kentucky Wisteria (Wisteria macrostachya)
- 16. Cape Honeysuckle (Tecoma capensis)
- 17. Star Jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides)
- 18. Boston Ivy (Parthenocissus tricuspidata)
- 19. Heavenly Blue (Ipomoea tricolor)
- 20. Spanish Flag (Ipomoea lobata)
- 21. Honeysuckle Vine (Lonicera selections)
- 22. Variegated Kiwi (Actinidia kolomikta)
- 23. Rock Trumpet (Mandevilla spp.)
- 24. Cup & Saucer Vine (Cobaea scandens)
- 25. Dipladenia (Dipladenia)
- 26. Bougainvillea (Bougainvillea spp.)
- 27. Moonflower (Ipomoea alba)
- 28. Purple-Leaf Grape (Vitis vinifera ‘Purpurea’)
- 29. Perennial Sweet Pea (Lathyrus latifolius)
- 30. Trailing Lily (Bomarea multiflora)
- Conclusion
Most Popular Climbing Plants with Flowers
1. Trumpet Vine (Campsis radicans)
You can add some summertime blend of orange, red, or yellow to structures with gorgeous trumpet vine. This stunning plant will color any hot and dry spot and thrives in full sun. It is a rapid-growing plant that can reach up to 30 feet and draw hummingbirds to your garden.
Again, the trumpet vine is a drought-tolerant plant that can survive neglect. However, it will do best in soil without many nutrients. Hardy in zones 5 to 9, its native species can sprawl aggressively via underground stems and may turn weedy in a garden unless in a place it can be controlled.
2. Clematis (Clematis spp.)
Clematis consists of about 300 species of woody-stemmed, heavily flowering plants. Many are vining blooming species, but short and bushy ones are also available. You can tie this plant to a trellis as it starts climbing.
But immediately, it takes hold; it will begin weaving through the structure. This colorful clematis thrives in full sun to part shade.
3. Climbing Hydrangea (Hydrangea anomala ssp. petiolaris)
Another flowering climbing plant in our popular list is the climbing hydrangea, which can reach up to 60 to 80 feet with a wall, fence, or large tree with aerial rootlets to grab.
Unlike other aerial-rooting species, climbing hydrangea grows gradually enough that you can control it. Hardy, in zones 5 to 9, is a shade-loving plant that can survive full sun and moist soil.
4. American Bittersweet (Celastrus scandens)
American bittersweet plant is a perennial hardy vining specie that produces colorful flowers that can beautify any landscape. It can survive shade but will bloom more in sunny conditions and grow up to 15 to 20 feet.
It is particularly famous for its ornamental berries during autumn, and several decorators utilize its autumn berries in fall arrangements.
5. Black-Eyed Susan Vine (Thunbergia alata)
Are you looking for the perfect plant for hanging baskets? Look no further than black-eyed Susan vine. It thrives in full sun to part shade and can reach 3 to 8 feet tall and 3 to 6 feet spread.
Its flowers are not just attractive, but they are easy to care for and grow fast. At initially look, you’ll confuse them for daisies thanks to their colored petals and dark center.
6. Chocolate Vine (Akebia quinata)
The chocolate vine is an April flowering plant that produces spicy-scented, brownish-purple blooms like pendants.
It is a semi-evergreen foliage plant that will reach almost 30 to 50 feet, wrapping itself to a support structure by curling on it. It thrives in full sun to full shade and moist, well-drained, sandy, or loamy soil.
7. False Hydrangea Vine (Schizophragma hydrangeoides)
This plant is commonly called false hydrangea vine due to its resemblance to climbing hydrangea. However, it features more colorful blooms with large white bracts looking like giant petals, even though you can also find some types in pink bracts.
False hydrangea vine thrives in part or full shade and well-drained soil. Hardy, in zones 5 to 9, can climb up to 40 feet.
8. Purple Bell Flower (Rhodochiton atrosanguineus)
Purple bell flowering plant is a beautiful specie that grows gorgeous blooms along the length of its climbing stems and thrives along horizontal twigs or branches.
The best time to grow this vining specie is late April or August, and overwinter it in a frost-free period. It requires bright, indirect sunlight and moderate watering.
9. Jasminum nudiflorum
Another climbing plant with flowers is the Jasminum nudiflorum. It is often forced to assume the likeness of a vining plant through training and pruning back immediately after blooming.
Given some freedom, this winter plant will bloom sufficiently during winter and early spring and hardy in zones 6a to 9b.
10. Dutchman’s Pipe (Aristolochia macrophylla)
Native to North America, the dutchman’s pipe features heart-shaped leaves that can reach 10 inches wide. It also produces stunning, pipe-shaped purple blooms in spring, even though they are often hidden under attractive foliage.
Hardy in zones 5 to 8, it thrives in both sun and shade but will bloom more in full sun and requires soil with proper drainage.
11. Purple Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata)
Also called Maypop, the purple passionflower is a semi-woody climber featuring large serrated leaves. It wraps itself to tendrils for support.
These vines are more enticing for their complex and exotic-looking flowers. In zones 5 to 9, the purple passionflower does best in full sun to partial shade and rich, moist, well-drained soil.
12. Bleeding Heart Vine (Dicentra scandens)
It is called a bleeding heart vine because of its heart-shaped flowers. It is the climbing version of the popular bleeding-heart plant and is hardy in zones 6 to 9.
Native to Asia, it is an herbaceous perennial that can reach 6 inches to 3 feet tall and 1 to 3 feet wide and will reach maturity in two months. It doesn’t need too much sunlight in the summer.
13. Bittersweet (Celastrus scandens)
Bittersweet is a favorite of fall crafters and a rapid-growing vine featuring slender yellow leaves in fall and yellow-orange berries with bright red seeds that dry well.
This climbing plant is easy to grow in full sun and well-drained soil but requires a male and female vine to bear fruit. In zones 3 to 8, bittersweet can grow up to 30 feet.
14. Climbing Roses (Rosa spp.)
Climbing roses are typically huge rose shrubs featuring long stems trained to climb a trellis or other support structure. With the required support structure, every care process is made easy. It thrives in full sun to partial shade and rich, well-drained soil.
These roses come in different colors, including pink, red, white, yellow, orange, and purple, and don’t prune unnecessarily.
15. Blue Moon Kentucky Wisteria (Wisteria macrostachya)
Native to North America, the blue moon Kentucky wisteria is a flowering perennial climber that can reach 15 to 20 feet long. It features bright flowers alongside shades of light and dark lavender, depending on its season.
It can easily cover structures like a pergola to provide additional shade to your garden. Hardy in zones 4 to 8, this plant thrives in full sun.
16. Cape Honeysuckle (Tecoma capensis)
Cape Honeysuckle grows in warmer climates and can reach more than 30 feet long. Native to South Africa, this climbing plant produces flowers with trumpet shape of apricot, yellow, or red color.
Hardy in zones 9 to 11, the Tecoma capensis is a perennial evergreen flowering vine that loves full sun to partial shade and will only need monthly watering.
17. Star Jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides)
Star jasmine is a blooming twinning climber producing fragrant flowers in the late spring to early summer.
It features long, dark green leaves, which make the plant an excellent ground cover, but it can also clamber onto trellises and other structures. Hardy to zones 8 to 10, the star jasmine can thrive in full sun to partial shade and loamy, medium, well-drained soil.
18. Boston Ivy (Parthenocissus tricuspidata)
If you are looking for a vine that displays its fall color in the autumn, you can look forward to purchasing the best in the business, Boston Ivy.
It features three-lobe leaves turning fiery red at the end of the season. It is closely related to grapes and bears clusters of small purple fruits, which draw birds at season end. Hardy, in zones 4 to 8, can reach 60 feet.
19. Heavenly Blue (Ipomoea tricolor)
Heavenly blue is a perennial flowering vine in a Mediterranean climate. It can produce bountiful blooms to make its presence felt from a late April planting without creating too much nuisance.
It tends to bloom until frost cuts it down. It thrives under bright, indirect light and moderate watering.
20. Spanish Flag (Ipomoea lobata)
The Spanish flag is a stunning member of the bindweed group. It features flowers that are simultaneously a bold orange and yellow during its early budding stage, then matures into a cream color.
This plant is excellent for drawing wildlife into the landscape. Plant Ipomoea lobata once all frost danger is past.
21. Honeysuckle Vine (Lonicera selections)
Do you plan to make your garden a haven for butterflies? You should consider growing honeysuckle vine.
It is a flowering climber that is easy to maintain and can’t grow very large or rampantly as a trumpet vine, making it a perfect option for more miniature space landscapes. It has tube-shaped blooms in summer shades of red, orange, and yellow.
22. Variegated Kiwi (Actinidia kolomikta)
You can beautify your landscape with variegated kiwi. It is a climbing plant with green starting green but turns pink and white with maturity.
It’s a vigorous grower producing fragrant white blooms in early summer. Variegated kiwi thrives in full sun or part shade and prefers loam soil with good drainage.
23. Rock Trumpet (Mandevilla spp.)
Mandevilla specie is a genus of tropical and subtropical blooming climbers. It features five-petaled blooms, usually large and fragrant with glossy green foliage.
It is a rapid-growing climber that requires enough moisture to keep it healthy alongside a solid support structure. It does best in hanging baskets, in full sun, and is hardy in zones 10 to 11.
24. Cup & Saucer Vine (Cobaea scandens)
The cup & saucer is a perennial or annual vine that is significantly native to Mexico and can reach up to 10 to 20 feet long and 3 to 6 feet wide.
It features thin leaves and cup-shaped flowers that start with a light green color and mature into purple or white. In zones 9 to 11, this climber thrives in full sun and can reach 40 feet in its natural environment.
25. Dipladenia (Dipladenia)
Another lovely flowering perennial climber is the Dipladenia plant. It is a warm-weather perennial with rapid growth and produces lots of blooms throughout the season.
It shares several similar features with its relative, Mandevilla. Native to South America, Dipladenia thrives in full sun and can reach 10 feet tall and 3 feet wide.
26. Bougainvillea (Bougainvillea spp.)
Hardy to zones 9 to 11, the bougainvillea is a genus of woody tropical vines featuring brightly colored clusters of blooms. The climbers can reach up to 40 feet long, and you can train them to grow in a shrub form and around support structures.
They thrive in full sun to partial shade conditions. They need well-drained soil, and in cooler weather, overwinter them indoors.
27. Moonflower (Ipomoea alba)
Moonflower is another popular climbing plant with flowers that open up at night and emit sweet scents around its area. It will then close up again for the day as the morning comes.
It is a rapid-growing vine that can grow up to 10 to 15 feet long and tend to quickly spread as a ground cover or clamber onto a support structure. It thrives in full sun and well-drained soil.
28. Purple-Leaf Grape (Vitis vinifera ‘Purpurea’)
The Vitis vinifera ‘purpurea’ is a grape but not ideal for consumption. It is a lovely plant that produces purple-flushed foliage during spring or summer that changes to screaming shades of red in the fall season.
It is a rapid-grower that thrives in full sun and well-drained soil. Hardy to zones 6 to 9, the purple-leaf grape can climb to about 25 feet.
29. Perennial Sweet Pea (Lathyrus latifolius)
With perennial sweet peas, you can brighten your small spaces throughout the summer season. It is a flowering climber that is easy to maintain and can reach around 6 feet tall and produce pink or white non-fragrant blooms all summer.
It uses suckers to spread, which is why some gardeners find it pesky. The plant thrives in full sun and well-drainage soil to avoid rot.
30. Trailing Lily (Bomarea multiflora)
Bomarea multiflora is a twining herbaceous climber closely related to the Alstroemeria specie that grows from a tuber.
Also known as trailing lily, this specie survives the winter protected by a thick mulch. In USDA zones 10a to 11, this flowering climber requires proper care to stay healthy and attractive.
Conclusion
When choosing your climbing plant, you must consider the space you have and how you want to use your plant.
As we stated, a climbing plant with flowers can add attractive features to your garden space, and you have so many out there to select from. Once you’ve picked the right spot, you can expect your vines to climb up any structure in your garden.
