Visiting a garden center in the spring can almost seem like ‘overload’ and this year perhaps even more so. Having endured the pandemic and the winter, and now that the sun is shining, it’s time to visit a garden center and see what’s new, what’s blooming, and what is a ‘must have’ plant. Most gardeners that I know, including myself, like to pretend that we can have restraint when it comes to buying plants, but I don’t think many of us do. And why restrain yourself when you are buying plants, consider it beauty, and there is always room for one more!
Perennial vines can be easily overlooked during this early season because they might just be waking up from the winter. If your garden has the space and a structure, most vines need some support to grow on. There is a wide choice to choose from, some vines are evergreen, some are deciduous, and others may die to the ground in the fall and reappear the following spring. The vines that I mention in the below listing, are all perennial. Some of these vines can grow into a shrub and in some cases, small trees. All should be considered as a permanent part of the garden so consider that when making a purchase.
A vine often seen planted in gardens of older homes is Wisteria, usually Wisteria sinensis. It is hard not to be enamored when seeing a Wisteria in full bloom with clusters of violet blue flowers, usually appearing before the leaves are out. A plant can be literally covered with these clusters of flowers. There is a white form called ‘Alba’.
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When selecting a wisteria, buy a cutting grown or grafted plant as those grown from seed can often take many years to bloom. Wisteria is not picky about soil, but it does need good drainage. It is an exceptionally vigorous grower; I would say rampant. It needs a heavy-duty structure to grow on and lots of room to spread.
I have one of the white forms that is growing on a heavy wooden structure in the front of our house, and I am often asked how often I prune it. My answer is “constantly”. A friend in Portland had one growing up the side of his house and he finally had to remove it because “it was taking over the house”. But if you have the space, Wisteria can be a spectacular plant when it blooms. A note about fertilizing, generally it is best to avoid fertilizer with nitrogen. Nitrogen encourages growth, which you probably will not need, and tends to discourage flowers.
Another vigorous vine that is often seen in gardens in our region is the Trumpet Vine, Campsis radicans. When this plant blooms, with clusters of brilliant red flowers that are shaped like trumpets, it creates an almost tropical look to the garden.
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The color shades of the flowers can vary, some red, some orange, and some yellow. This has growth similarities to the Wisteria, it is fast growing, needs sun, and very vigorous. The stems have aerial rootlets that will cling to wood, brick, and other surfaces so give it its own structure to grow on. In fact, the USDA lists it as an invasive weed. So, beware! However, on the plus side, the flowers are a superb hummingbird attractant and make a superb show in the garden.
A much more well-behaved vine, Star Jasmine, Trachelospermum jasminioides, is very well suited to the smaller garden. It adapts well in a pot on a deck or patio and with a trellis, it is a twining vine, and without support, it can be a spreading shrub that will spill over the side of a pot. It will take some pruning to keep it contained as a shrub, but it is easily done. This is an evergreen vine and blooms over a long period in the spring with clusters of star shaped white fragrant flowers. I have seen it growing in full sun, but I think it is happier with some afternoon shade. We have neighbors with Star Jasmine growing on a trellis in their entryway and not only are the clusters of flowers attractive, but the fragrance is delightful. It is a very welcoming plant by a front door.
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These are just three examples of vines that perform well and are permanent features for the garden. Check around your neighborhood and you will probably see at least one of these vines in a garden, and maybe all three.
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