20 Best Perennial Flowering Vines and Climbers (2024)

Gardening

• 01 of 20

  Clematis (Clematis spp.)

  

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  The Clematis genus includes roughly 300 species of woody-stemmed, profusely blooming plants. Most are climbing flowering vines, but there are also short and bushy types. It is the climbers that are most popular with gardeners, including dramatic hybrids 'Jackmanii 'and 'Nelly Moser', the dainty 'Betty Corning', or the robust sweet autumn clematis. You might need to help your clematis by wiring it to a trellis as itbegins to climb. But once it takes hold the twining plant will weave through the structure on its own. While there are evergreen clematis varieties like C. armandii, most are deciduous and leaf loss should be taken into consideration during placement.

  • USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 to 11 (varies by species)
  • Color Varieties: White, pink, purple, red, bicolor
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
  • Soil Needs: Medium moisture, well-drained

• 02 of 20

  Climbing Hydrangea (Hydrangea anomala ssp. petiolaris)

  

  Climbing hydrangea can grow as tall as 60 to 80 feet if it has a wall, fence, or large tree for its aerial rootlets to cling to. Unlike other aerial-rooting plants, climbing hydrangea grows slowly enough that controlling it is not very difficult. This is a good plant for shady locations, and it will tolerate full sun only if the soil is kept very moist. The flowers bear a resemblance to those of shrub hydrangeas, and the dried flower heads and peeling bark give the plant good winter interest.

  • USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 to 9
  • Color Varieties: White
  • Sun Exposure: Partial shade to full shade
  • Soil Needs: Rich, moist, well-drained

• 03 of 20

  Chocolate Vine (Akebia quinata)

  

  Chocolate vine is an April bloomer that produces spicy scented, brownish-purple blossoms that hang like pendants. Even after the flowers fade, the semi-evergreen foliage of the vine remains attractive with lush, oblong leaves usually grouped in leaflets of five. These flowering vines quickly grow to 30 to 50 feet, clinging to a support structure by twining. Investigate before planting it because its fast growth rate has categorized it as an invasive plant in some areas.

  • USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 to 9
  • Color Varieties: Brown/purple, white
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun to full shade
  • Soil Needs: Moist, well-drained, sandy or loamy

• 04 of 20

  Hardy Kiwi Vine (Actinidia arguta or Actinidia kolomikta)

  

  A cold-hardy relative of the plant that produces supermarket kiwis, hardy kiwi vine is grown for its distinctive foliage. There are two species that are called hardy kiwi vine: Actinidia kolomikta has variegated foliage while Actinidia arguta is a less vigorous grower. The flowers of kiwi vine are small, but they produce a fragrance similar to lily of the valley. The plants have a twining growth habit and need a sturdy support structure for vertical growth.

  • USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 9
  • Color Varieties: Green foliage; purple and pink highlights on Actinidia kolomikta
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
  • Soil Needs: Medium moisture, well-drained, loamy

  Continue to 5 of 20 below

• 05 of 20

  Purple Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata)

  

  Purple passionflower or Maypop is a semi-woody vine with large serrated leaves. It clings to supports with tendrils. These vines are prized for their complex and exotic-looking flowers, and many cultivars are available in a variety of colors. The vines grow to around15 to 20 feet long, and they can be kept in pots to overwinter the plants indoors in cooler climates.

  • USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 to 9
  • Color Varieties: White, pink, red
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
  • Soil Needs: Rich, moist, well-drained

• 06 of 20

  Trumpet Vine (Campsis radicans)

  

  Trumpet vine is a native Southeastern U.S. plant, with its summer flowers much loved by hummingbirds and butterflies. But it can easily become an aggressive grower, and in some areas, it is considered invasive. It climbs via aerial rootlets. Because trumpet vines can get quite woody and can grow to as much as 40 feet long, their weight requires strong support. They also require pruning to keep them flowering at their best and to control their spread.

  • USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 to 9
  • Color Varieties: Orange, red, yellow
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
  • Soil Needs: Well-drained

• 07 of 20

  Climbing Roses (Rosa spp.)

  

  Climbing roses are actually just large rose shrubs with long canes (stems) that are trained to grow up a trellis or other support structure. Varieties include 'New Dawn','Don Juan', and 'Lady Banks'. Once you have the support structure in place, the training process is quite simple. Tie the canes to the structure with strips of cloth as they grow, gently bending them to cover the structure. Try not to prune the plant until the canes have grown long enough to cover your structure unless you need to remove a misshapen, broken, or diseased portion.

  • USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 to 10 (varies by species)
  • Color Varieties: Pink, red, white, yellow, orange, purple
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
  • Soil Needs: Rich, well-drained

• 08 of 20

  Star Jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides)

  

  Star jasmine is a twining flowering vine that produces fragrant blooms in the late spring to early summer. Its long, oval, dark green leaves make the vine an excellent ground cover, but it also can grow up trellises and other structures. In cooler climates, it can be grown in a container and overwintered indoors, though some gardeners simply prefer to grow it as an annual and start with a fresh plant the next season.

  • USDA Hardiness Zones: 8 to 10
  • Color Varieties: White
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
  • Soil Needs: Loamy, medium moisture, well-drained

  Continue to 9 of 20 below

• 09 of 20

  Mandevilla (Mandevilla spp.)

  

  Also known as rocktrumpet, Mandevilla is a genus of tropical and subtropical flowering vines. They produce five-petaled flowers that are often large and fragrant alongside glossy green foliage. These fast-growing vines need lots of moisture to stay healthy, along with a sturdy support structure. They also grow well in hanging baskets.

  • USDA Hardiness Zones: 10 to 11
  • Color Varieties: Pink, red, white
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun
  • Soil Needs: Moist, well-drained

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• 10 of 20

  Bougainvillea (Bougainvillea spp.)

  

  Bougainvillea is a genus of woody tropical vines with brightly colored clusters of flowers. The vines can grow up to 40 feet long and can be trained to grow in a shrub form as well as around support structures. But be careful when working with them, as these vines do contain thorns. In cooler climates, they should be overwintered indoors.

  • USDA Hardiness Zones: 9 to 11
  • Color Varieties: Pink, purple, red, white, orange, yellow
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
  • Soil Needs: Rich, well-drained

• 11 of 20

  Moonflower (Ipomoea alba)

  

  Moonflower is a perennial flowering vine whose blooms open up at night, exuding their sweet fragrance into the air. Then, as the light of morning arrives, the flowers close up again for the day. These fast-growing vines reach around 10 to 15 feet long and can easily spread as a ground cover or grow on a support structure. They can be difficult to overwinter indoors, so if you live outside their growing zones you might want to treat them as an annual and start with a fresh plant each year. The seeds are easy to collect and start indoors for the new season.

  • USDA Hardiness Zones: 10 to 12
  • Color Varieties: White, purple
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun
  • Soil Needs: Moist, well-drained

• 12 of 20

  Cape Honeysuckle (Tecoma capensis)

  

  Cape honeysuckle can be trained both as a vine and a shrub, depending on your garden preferences. But it will grow more robustly as a vine to around 30 feet long. Its bright, tubular flowers produce a sweet nectar that’s known to attract hummingbirds. As a vine, pruning maintenance is fairly straightforward. Simply clip away any damaged, dead, or diseased portions, along with stems that are difficult to train on your support structure.

  • USDA Hardiness Zones: 9 to 11
  • Color Varieties: Orange, red
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
  • Soil Needs: Average, well-drained

  Continue to 13 of 20 below

• 13 of 20

  Japanese Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica)

  

  Japanese honeysuckle is a robust flowering vine with a long blooming period and fragrant flowers. In some areas it is considered invasive due to its vigorous growth, so be sure to check locally whether you can plant it. The vine twines easily around support structures. Prune after the plant is done flowering to keep its size in check.

  • USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 to 9
  • Color Varieties: White, yellow
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
  • Soil Needs: Loamy, moist, well-drained

• 14 of 20

  Black-Eyed Susan Vine (Thunbergia alata)

  

  Black-eyed Susan vine sports flowers that look similar to the popular black-eyed Susans. But instead, the plant is a climbing vine. It stays fairly small in size at less than 10 feet long. This makes the vine ideal for hanging baskets and other containers. If you live outside of the plant’s growing zones, you can overwinter it in containers indoors.

  • USDA Hardiness Zones: 10 to 11
  • Color Varieties: Yellow, orange, red, pink, white
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
  • Soil Needs: Rich, well-drained

• 15 of 20

  Cup and Saucer Vine (Cobaea scandens)

  

  Cup and saucer vine is a vigorous climbing vine that can quickly form a living privacy screen on a support structure with its lush bright green foliage. The vine’s cup-shaped flowers develop a sweet fragrance as they open. If you attach this vine to a support structure when it’s young, it won’t need much more help than that to continue to wind itself around the structure.

  • USDA Hardiness Zones: 9 to 11
  • Color Varieties: Purple, white
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun
  • Soil Needs: Moist, well-drained

• 16 of 20

  Bleeding Heart Vine (Clerodendrum thomsoniae)

  

  Bleeding heart vine is an evergreen twining vine with showy white flowers that have red accents. The vine can grow up to 15 feet long and can easily climb around a support structure. Keeping the soil consistently moist but not soggy is key for growing these vines. They also are heavy feeders and need regular fertilizer throughout the growing season.

  • USDA Hardiness Zones: 10 to 12
  • Color Varieties: White with red
  • Sun Exposure: Partial shade
  • Soil Needs: Moist, well-drained

  Continue to 17 of 20 below

• 17 of 20

  Snail Vine (Cochliasanthus caracalla)

  

  Snail vine is a perennial flowering vine that grows in climates without frost. Its petite blooms are said to resemble the curled shell of a snail. These vines grow to around 15 to 20 feet long. Regular light pruning to get rid of dead or scraggly portions will help to keep the vines healthy and robust.

  • USDA Hardiness Zones: 9 to 11
  • Color Varieties: Pink, purple, white
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
  • Soil Needs: Rich, well-drained

• 18 of 20

  Sweet Potato Vine (Ipomoea batatas)

  

  Sweet potato vine comes from the same family as edible sweet potatoes, but it is grown for its ornamental value. It features long tendrils that spill over the sides of containers, wind around support structures or creep across the ground. Frequent light pruning will help to keep the vine looking tidy and healthy.

  • USDA Hardiness Zones: 9 to 11
  • Color Varieties: Medium green foliage
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun
  • Soil Needs: Moist, well-drained

• 19 of 20

  Corkscrew Vine (Vigna caracalla)

  

  Corkscrew vine is a fast-growing, twining, perennial flowering vine with fragrant blooms. It gets its common name because its showy flowers grow in a spiral around the vine like a corkscrew. The vine will need a sturdy support structure, as it can grow up to 30 feet long. Prune the vine after it’s done flowering to keep it looking neat.

  • USDA Hardiness Zones: 9 to 12
  • Color Varieties: White, purple
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun
  • Soil Needs: Moist, well-drained

• 20 of 20

  Snapdragon Vine (Maurandya scandens)

  

  Snapdragon vines aren’t related to the typical garden snapdragons, though their flowers resemble one another. The trumpet-shaped blooms appear during the summer and are a favorite of hummingbirds. These vines stay relatively small, so they won’t take over a garden. They can grow as ground cover, in hanging baskets, and up supports. If you’re using a support structure choose one that’s thin, as the slender flowering vines can have trouble winding around thick posts.

  • USDA Hardiness Zones: 9 to 10
  • Color Varieties: Pink, blue, purple, white
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
  • Soil Needs: Rich, loamy, well-drained