Landscapers keep saying that trellises are must-haves in every yard. And yes, I agree, but choosing the flowering plants for these structures can be tricky. This especially refers to impatient gardeners such as myself.
I mean, how many plants can reach over 10 feet in a short period of time? But never forget how rich the plant world is and that there’s always a species for every purpose.
When I was looking for new green buddies that would adorn my trellises, these were my requirements:
✔️ Fast growth rate
✔️ Prolific bloomer
✔️ Suitable for my growing zone
It wasn’t hard to find a flowering vine to grow here in Florida, but if you live in cooler zones, please pay attention to its hardiness.
Don’t worry, I’ll help you to narrow down your choices! Here are my 10 favorite blooming vines perfect for trellises and their temperature preferences:
1. Carolina Jessamine For An Elegant Trellis
When I first heard of Carolina Jessamine, I wasn’t sure if it was a person or a plant. Don’t get me wrong, plants have different names but this sounded too elegant.
And once I saw the plant, that was my exact thought: pure elegance. This plant features stunning evergreen foliage but the true magic begins when Carolina Jessamine opens its trumpet-shaped yellow blossoms in spring!
The cascading vines can reach up to 20 feet, surrounding your trellis at top speed.
Carolina Jessamine is perfect for USDA zones 6 through 9. Even though many gardeners claim that it thrives only in full sun, mine is healthy and happy in partial shade!
2. Get A Tropic Vibe With Mandevilla
Here’s another trumpet-shaped bloomer! But instead of elegance, this time you get a colorful tropical touch!
Red, pink, or white blooms appear on 10-foot-long vines and last all summer long. Believe it or not, it can flower year-round in warmer climates!
If you live in zones 10 through 12, Mandevilla is definitely the best choice for your trellis. Make sure you plant it in fast-draining soil and give it plenty of sun.
3. Climbing Roses Are Always Trendy
A list of flowering vines without climbing roses? Not a chance. They’re true showstoppers and their long and flexible canes are perfect for trellises!
Don’t worry my friends from Montana and Minnesota, climbing roses can survive those low temperatures. So, if you live in USDA zones 4 and above, you can attach these plants to your vertical structures.
For larger trellises, opt for Cécile Brunner or other varieties that can grow over 20 feet.
If you decide on these species, you’ll need to follow the standard rose care routine: full sun and moist but quick-draining soil!
4. Trumpet Creeper For Unique Design
Some gardeners may be shocked to see trumpet creeper on this list. If you aren’t familiar with this plant, let me explain briefly.
This is actually a notorious flowering vine because it spreads aggressively and can take over your trellis (and your yard) quickly. The vines can reach up to 40 feet!
Why on earth would you grow a plant with such a bad reputation? First, it looks breathtaking, and second, keeping it under control isn’t rocket science.
I simply couldn’t resist this plant and here’s what I did. I planted it near the area in my garden that I mow regularly. Plus, I chose a less invasive variety, Apricot, and I prune it frequently.
If you live in zones 4 through 10 and like a challenge, trumpet creeper can be your next plant. All the hard work will pay off and you’ll be rewarded with dozens of orange blooms!
5. Add A Dramatic Touch With Climbing Hydrangea
And here’s another garden classic! These hydrangea types are renowned for their prolific blooming and showy white blossoms.
It’s labeled as an extremely fast-growing plant but there’s a catch. It grows super slow at the beginning and can take from 3 to 5 years until fully established. I know that this is anything but fast.
However, once it’s established, your climbing hydrangea literally won’t stop growing and you’ll have a wonderful flower display every summer. The time quickly passes and you’ll end up with 50-feet long vines!
Climbing hydrangeas have a good tolerance for cold and can be grown in zones 4 through 8.
6. Bougainvillea Will Steal The Show
If you want to make your neighbors green with envy, just plant Bougainvillea. No one is immune to its breathtaking colorful blossoms! They come in red, pink, yellow, purple, and white. How impressive!
Under optimal conditions, the Bougainvillea can reach 40 feet in both height and width. This means you need to ensure super sturdy support!
These beauties are native to dry and sunny regions, which are exactly the conditions you need to mimic. They grow best in warmer zones, 9 through 11.
A combination of sandy soil and full sun will help your Bougainvilleas to thrive.
7. Honeysuckle For Pollinators
This is one of those plants you can’t go wrong with! Honeysuckle has it all: it produces lovely blooms, grows quickly, and is a true magnet for pollinators.
The flowers are tubular and combine perfectly with shiny foliage that stays evergreen in warmer climates.
The one thing you should be careful of when choosing a honeysuckle is the hardiness of the selected variety.
For instance, the 15 feet tall Goldflame can be grown in zones 5 through 9.
On the other hand, the Coral honeysuckle is a bit hardier and tolerates a wider range of temperatures. You can grow it in zones 4 and above. It can reach up to 25 feet but if that’s too large for you, regular pruning can keep the size in check.
8. Subtle Yet Powerful: Clematis
The blossoms of clematis plants may look delicate but there’s more to them than meets the eye.
Clematis plants grow well and flower abundantly in zones 4 and above. They come in multiple colors and they can bloom from late winter to early fall, depending on the variety.
Some clematis varieties are native to the US, which means they’re well-adapted to our conditions.
I have a Virgin’s bower with splendid white blossoms and the standard purple clematis, both native.
Ensure a lot of full sun and keep your clematis in loamy and quick-draining soil type!
9. Wisteria For Brave Trellis-Owners
Remember the trumpet creeper I mentioned above? Well, the wisteria plant has an even worse reputation. But, here’s the thing. The common Japanese and Chinese wisteria are indeed very invasive and I didn’t dare to plant them even with my pruning skills.
If you’re brave enough and have experience, you can grow them and have a breathtaking bloom display.
So, what about us, the less courageous? Well, we can grow our native species: American wisteria. It isn’t as massive as the Asian ones but in my humble opinion, 30 feet is still pretty large!
All wisteria types are suitable for zones 5 through 9 and they enjoy fast-draining growing mediums and can tolerate both full sun and partial shade.
10. Jazz Everything Up With Purple Passionflower
And the last fast-growing blooming vine (and you won’t see this one in many gardens) is an unusual yet beautiful purple passionflower.
The tendril vines can reach up to 20 feet, making the plant perfect for trellises and arbors. The blooming season typically starts in mid-summer and extends through early fall.
Each blossom lasts for a day only but the plant is a prolific bloomer, so you won’t even notice this odd phenomenon.
Some of you may know that passionflower species aren’t really hardy. But this doesn’t apply to the purple passionflower. This is our native species and will easily grow in zones 7 and above.
Are you ready to get a colorful bloom display on your trellis? Grab your gardening gloves and plant any of these 10 beauties!