Vines

The Butterfly Vine, Stigmypllon ciliatu, is a vigorous twining vine attaining heights up to 25'. It's called Butterfly vine due to the unusual and large seed pods formed after the small yellow flowers have bloomed. The seed pods look like chartreuse butterflies and are between 1.5-3" wide! The pods turn a brilliant orange by autumn and persist throughout the winter turning brown as they age. The dried butterflies are gorgeous in floral arrangements. Evergreen to at least 20 degrees in many climates. My big one froze for the first and only time at 16 degrees but pushed back out immediately along the stems. Drought tolerant once established, plant in sun or part shade on a fence, pergola, large trellis or tree, in fertile to moderately fertile well-drained soil. Can be grown in a large pot but would take some serious pruning and training to keep it tidy unless allowed to grab a tree, fence, or large trellis. Sold in a 4" pot.

Tetrastigma voinieriana, syn. Cissus v, 'Chestnut Vine' or more appropriately 'Giant Grape Ivy' fits it perfectly. This vine is not for the feint of heart as it gets HUGE, with thick ropey stems and tough tendrils that will grab anything standing still. The large leaves are composed of 4 or 5 leaflets and adult leaves can measure over 12" across. A vigorous grower to 25-30' in frost free areas, shorter if frozen back in the winter. Mine is hardy here in zone 8b so far.

Coral Honeysuckle, Lonicera sempervirens, is a wonderful, well behaved honeysuckle with bright coral red flowers that have yellow interiors and often produces bright red berries that are decorative all winter. A twining climber, grows up to 12', evergreen in mild climates including here in zone 8b, deciduous in cold climates, and often blooms in January. Not aggressive...more....

Coral Vine, Antigonon leptopus, a fast growing climber with heart shaped leaves, growing 15-20',loves hot weather, tolerates humidity, and is drought tolerant once established but is happy with water. Blooms from summer to frost. This is the red flowering variety, seedlings of 'Fandango' with deep scarlet blooms. Plant in full sun to part shade. Grow in moderately fertile well drained soil. Best on a fence, large trellis or arbor or even up a big tree. Tends to grow in straight lines with some branching so doesn't overwhelm trees or other structures. Hardy in zones 7-11 but can be grown in a large pot and brought inside once it goes dormant for the winter. Sold in 4" pots.

A Texas native, the hardy Cross Vine (Bignonia capreolata) is a wonderful climbing vine, producing an abundance of 3" red-orange tubular flowers with yellow throats. Fragrant! Grows to 30 ft. but is not aggressive, drought and heat tolerant once established. Evergreen in at least zones 6-9, tolerant of nearly any soil.

Honeysuckle 'Halliana', Loncera japonica 'Halliana', is a vigorous vine up to 30'. Small, bright oval leaves are a great backdrop for the white
flowers that age to a golden yellow. Heavily perfumed, loved by Hummingbirds. This variety has been used in Chinese medicine since 659 ad.
Hardy in zones 4-10 and extremely drought tolerant once established.

Passiflora 'Incense' is a delightful vigorous vine growing up to about 20' in length. It produces an abundance of large purple flowers with a highly fragrant smell of sweet peas. Root hardy to at least 15 degrees with light mulch, and evergreen in warm climates above 30 degrees. Will cover a fence, trellis, tree, or pergola in one season! Like it's mother, P. incarnata, in the south this vine attracts the endangered Gulf Fritillary Butterfly and all butterflies enjoy it's nectar!

The most widely used spice in the world! Piper nigrum is where black pepper comes from when the seeds are finely ground. A woody climber to about 20' bearing tiny white flowers on long spikes in the summer, followed by round red fruit. Available at the end of April.

Solandra maxima, "Golden Chalice Vine", "Cup of Gold", "Hawaiian Lily", etc. A giant climber from Mexico, valued for its huge flowers and ability to cover very large areas, this woody vine can grow to 30' in frost free climates and requires a sturdy support. Potted it stays much smaller and is more of a shrub to about 4'. The fragrant yellow flowers can be up to 10" across with a purple stripe down the center of each petal.