Home Gardening Outdoor Gardening 25 Flowering Vines to Add Beauty (and Privacy) to Your Backyard These climbing flowers will help your garden reach new heights. By Debbie Wolfe Debbie Wolfe Debbie Wolfe is an author and freelance writer who specializes in home and garden, food and cooking, parenting, and travel topics. She is also an accomplished photographer and is currently the senior visual editor for Dotdash Meredith. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines and Lisa Milbrand Lisa Milbrand Lisa Milbrand has more than 20 years of experience as a lifestyle writer and editor, writing thousands of articles on topics that help people live better and healthier lives for Real Simple, Parents, and dozens of other top publications. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Updated on March 27, 2024 Everyone can use a bit of shade and privacy in the backyard. Luckily, flowering vines are an excellent way to add color and texture while creating a living privacy screen. Most climbing flowering vines grow fast and require little maintenance. Round out your garden's design with a vertical element by planting and caring for one of these gorgeous climbing flowers. 20 Impossible-to-Kill Outdoor Plants 01 of 25 Climbing Roses Masako Ishida/Getty Images If you're looking for a classic flower to add a little privacy to your garden, a climbing rose may be the perfect choice. The Blaze Improved Climbing Roses have bold red double blooms and grow up to 15 feet tall and eight feet wide. Zones: 5 to 9 The Best Time To Plant Roses for a Blooming Garden 02 of 25 Wisteria Natalia Ganelin/Getty Images Reliably cold-hardy to zone 4, First Editions Summer Cascade Wisteria is a fast grower and can quickly cover a pergola, fence, or garden feature with lovely lilac-purple flowers in June. If you're looking for that early-season color followed by lush summer foliage, attractive seedpods, and stunning fall color, Summer Cascade is an easy-to-grow, purple flowering vine. Zones: 4 to 8 03 of 25 Clematis R A Kearton/Getty Images Clematis is a favorite perennial vine because it scrambles up trellises and climbs over arbors and fences year after year, weaving a rich tapestry of color and texture. The Sparky series is an early-blooming clematis that embraces the season with fabulous, spiky flowers, and it's durable and easy to grow. This spring bloomer doesn't even need pruning—plant it on a trellis, railing, or other structure and enjoy the show. The vine is available in three colors: Sparky Pink, Sparky Purple, and Sparky Blue. Zones: 5 to 8 04 of 25 Black-Eyed Susan Proven Winners If you are interested in a fast-growing annual vine that will give you color all summer long, Lemon A-Peel Black-Eyed Susan Vine will not disappoint. This vigorous grower will happily climb up whatever support you give it and deliver fun, bright yellow blooms until the first frost. The vine is hardy in zones 10 to 11 but can be grown annually in all zones. Zones: 10 to 11 05 of 25 Bittersweet First Editions First Editions Autumn Revolution Bittersweet is a cultivated native, self-fruiting North American species. While many bittersweet varieties require a pollinating partner plant, Autumn Revolution has "perfect" flowers, meaning it can create fruit all on its own. Although this flowering vine has beautiful blooms, most people are interested in its vibrant orange berries, which are showstoppers in the fall and winter months. The foliage is gorgeous and disease-resistant, and the fall color is lovely. Zones: 2 to 8 06 of 25 Mandevilla Proven Winners The Sun Parasol Apricot Mandevilla is a continuously blooming tropical vine that grows best in full sun. You may be able to overwinter this plant indoors in cooler climates. Zones: 10 to 11 07 of 25 Holboellia Vine Monrovia Heavenly Ascent Holboellia features glossy foliage and large, white, highly fragrant flowers in spring. It is a fantastic evergreen vine for adding privacy, beauty, and scent to the backyard. It reaches up to 20 feet tall with support. Zones: 8 to 10 08 of 25 Climbing Hydrangea Getty Images Hydrangeas are beloved for their lovely, large blooms and lush foliage. Although most people are familiar with the shrub variety, Hydrangea anomala petiolaris (climbing hydrangea) will easily cling to surfaces by aerial rootlets, creating a romantically lush garden wall fit for any cottagecore garden. Climbing hydrangeas feature a slow-growing, shrubby habit until established, then become quite vigorous, producing long, fast-growing stems. Zones: 4 to 9 09 of 25 Trumpet Vine wulingyun/Getty Images This climbing deciduous vine is a hummingbird magnet. Balboa Sunset Trumpet Vine features clusters of large, tubular, deep reddish-orange flowers that create a dramatic show all season long. The vine grows vigorously and blooms profusely with near neglect once it's established. Use as a ground cover or for screening a lattice or fence. Zones: 4 to 11 10 of 25 Honeysuckle bironsabine73/Getty Images Major Wheeler Coral Honeysuckle is a vigorous, fast-growing vine that's perfect for covering a fence post, arbor, or trellis in a season. This variety thrives in high humidity and is mildew-free. Its blazing red and gold blooms appear all summer long and last well into autumn. The stems are often red to purple, turning greenish brown with age, offering visual interest in the fall and winter. Zones: 4 to 8 How to Grow a Year-Round Garden With Color and Interest Every Season 11 of 25 Carolina Jessamine Campwillowlake/Getty Images Carolina Jessamine is renowned for its spectacular display of fragrant, bright yellow flowers and emerald-green foliage. It climbs beautifully on a trellis, arbor, or over fences and walls without smothering surrounding trees and shrubs. The vine can be evergreen to semi-evergreen (depending upon the hardiness zone), creating visual interest during the winter. Zones: 7 to 9 12 of 25 Fiveleaf Akebia igaguri_1/Getty Images Also known as chocolate vine due to its dangling stalks of chocolate-scented, deep purple flowers, Fiveleaf Akebia is a vigorously spreading and climbing vine that features attractive, blue-green foliage. It's semi-evergreen in zones 5 to 9 and deciduous in less temperate regions. If another fiveleaf akebia vine is planted nearby, this plant can produce edible seedpods that taste similar to tapioca pudding. Zones: 5 to 9 13 of 25 Star Jasmine Cris Cantón/Getty Images If you're looking for a fragrant addition to your garden that provides a little privacy, these tiny blooms on lush greenery may be the perfect choice. The Star Jasmine is tolerant of both hot and cold climates and can grow up to 20 feet tall. Zones: 8 to 11 14 of 25 Morning Glory YangYin/Getty Images Like its related bloom, the moonflower, morning glories only bloom at a certain time of day—morning. The Heavenly Blue Morning Glory blooms in early fall with unique, bold blue blooms that'll be a showstopper in the garden. They'll bloom in warmer climates as perennials but can be annuals in cooler climates. Zones; 2 to 11 15 of 25 Bougainvillea The magenta-hued flowers that Alexandra Bougainvillea produces bloom year-round, and bougainvilleas actually thrive on neglect—so it's great for beginner gardeners. The plant grows best in hotter climates (zones 10 and 11) but can be planted in containers elsewhere. Zones: 4 to 11 The 14 Best Climbing Plants for Your Trellis or Pergola 16 of 25 False Hydrangea Proven Winners Flirty Girl False Hydrangea is another climbing hydrangea that's perfect for shady areas where you're seeking a little privacy. This vine can grow up to 50 feet high. The bold, creamy white blooms appear in summer. Zones: 5 to 9 17 of 25 Cypress Vine Burpee The Red Cypress Vine is a hummingbird magnet, that features red star-shaped blooms and fern-like foliage. It can grow more than 15 feet tall and is an easy-to-grow vine. Zones: 6 to 11 18 of 25 Moonflowers Burpee If you're looking to plant something that'll wow in the evenings, moonflowers are the way to go. The Giant White Moonflower's six-inch blooms only open at night, and can grow quickly to 10 feet tall. Zones: 3 to 12 19 of 25 Sweet Pea stocknshares/Getty Images Some varietals of sweet peas don't become climbing vines, so be especially cautious about choosing one that will provide you with the privacy you need. Eckfords Finest Mix Sweet Pea features an array of colors and can grow up to five feet tall. It's an annual plant, that can grow in nearly every hardiness zone. Zones: 2 to 11 20 of 25 Cup and Saucer Vine Marcelle Aguiar Mineiro/Getty Images Cobaea scandens (also known as the Cup and Saucer Vine) is a fast-growing vine that blooms in late summer and attracts hummingbirds to its blooms. Zones: 9 to 11 21 of 25 Blue Sky Vine Jayantibhai Movaliya/Getty Images. A cousin of the lovely Black-Eyed Susan, the Blue Sky Vine (also known by its scientific name Thunbergia grandiflora) is an evergreen vine that can grow up to eight feet in one season. It prefers warm or mild climates and produces stunningly large bright blue cup-like flowers, hence the name. Zones: 10 to 11 Here's a Full Guide to the USDA Gardening Zones 22 of 25 Canary Creeper weisschr/Getty Images A pollinator favorite that attracts butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds, the Canary Creeper (Tropaeolum peregrinum) is a sunny yellow like its name suggests and produces beautiful yellow flowers in summer that (if you squint) look like the wings of a canary. They stand out against its dark blue-green leaves and make for a colorful addition to any backyard, though they prefer mild climates. Zones: 9 to 10 23 of 25 Spitfire Jacky Parker Photography/Getty Images Also called Climbing Nasturtium, Spitfire produces daring red blooms from spring to fall. The perfect addition to shorter trellises or tripods, their fiery flowers are a great way to generate privacy or hide muddy corners of your backyard. For an additional bit of fun, all parts of the plant except for the roots are edible, add a pinch of honey and the flowers and leaves will taste a bit like watercress. Zones: 9 to 11 24 of 25 Cross Vine Angelafoto/Getty Images Named because it tends to create crisscross patterns as it grows, the cross vine (also called Bignonia capreolata) is a fast-growing vine native to the central and southern United States. With large evergreen leaves and vibrant red, orange, and yellow blooms that appear from spring through summer, this vine has the potential to grow up to 50 feet, so you’ll certainly get your privacy here. Zones: 5 to 9 25 of 25 Firecracker Vine Alex Manders/Getty Images With daring blooms that open red and eventually fade to orange and yellow, the Firecracker Vine’s flowers remind us of little flames and can add some steam to your backyard. Also called the Spanish Flag Vine (or Ipomoea lobata) the blooms, which appear in mid-summer and stay until the first frost, attract all kinds of pollinators and can grow up to 16 feet tall. If you live in a warmer climate, it will come back every year, but it doesn’t do well in cold winters so you may have to replant it if you live somewhere chilly. Zones: 10 to 11 What Is an Annual Plant? Here's Why You Should Plant Some Frequently Asked Questions 1. What is the easiest flowering vine to grow? Most flowering vines grow beautifully after they've been established. Choosing what is easiest to grow depends on what your concerns are. For instance, climbing roses don't grip onto the structure, so you don't risk damage to your trellis or wall. Clematis requires no pruning, and honeysuckle can thrive even in poor soil. 2. What flowering vines grow the fastest? Many of the vines on the list grow quickly—but wisteria, clematis, climbing roses, and trumpet vine are known for growing especially fast. 3. What is a perennial vine? Perennial vines vary by which hardiness zones you live in. Many of the biggest flowering vines are perennial only in the warmest climates, while in other regions, you may need to replant every year (or self-seed from last year's seed pods to grow new each year). 4. What flowering vines grow best in sun vs. shade? If you're looking for a flowering vine for a sunny spot in your garden, you can't go wrong with:BougainvilleaSweet peaBittersweetWisteriaMorning gloryJessamineCypress vineHoneysuckleClimbing rosesCup and saucer vineMoonflowerSome vines will work in full sun or in partial shade:Black-eyed susan vineClematisJasmineTrumpet vineMandevillaFiveleaf akebiaAs for shade-loving vines, try these: False hydrangeaClimbing hydrangea How do you train a flowering vine? Start with the largest stems available and gently tie them to the closest point on your trellis with fabric ties, twist ties, or plant ties. Make sure not to go too tight so the plant still can still stretch and grow. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit