Pennsylvania gardeners don’t need sprawling backyards to enjoy lush, climbing plants. Containers are more than enough to create a vertical garden full of color and charm.
With the right choices, these plants can thrive and transform patios or porches. Here are some of the most stunning climbers Pennsylvania gardeners can grow in containers.
1. Morning Glory
Fast-growing annual vines that Pennsylvanians adore for their heart-shaped leaves and trumpet-shaped blooms in vibrant blues, purples, and pinks. They climb eagerly on any support structure you provide.
In Pennsylvania’s climate, these beauties flower from summer until first frost, needing minimal care beyond regular watering. Just plant seeds directly in containers after the last spring frost for a spectacular vertical display.
2. Clematis
Known as the queen of climbers, clematis produces spectacular star-shaped blooms in nearly every color imaginable. Pennsylvania gardeners appreciate its adaptability to both sunny spots and partial shade.
Many varieties thrive in the Keystone State’s climate, with some blooming spring through fall. Plant with the crown just below soil level in a large container with good drainage and a sturdy trellis for support.
3. Climbing Roses
Romantic and fragrant, climbing roses create a dramatic focal point when grown in containers. They perform beautifully in Pennsylvania’s climate when positioned in sunny spots that receive 6+ hours of direct sunlight.
Choose disease-resistant varieties like ‘Zephirine Drouhin’ that handle Pennsylvania’s humidity with grace. Provide a sturdy support structure and regular feeding throughout the growing season for abundant blooms.
4. Honeysuckle
Sweet-scented honeysuckle vines attract hummingbirds and butterflies to Pennsylvania gardens while providing a cascade of tubular blooms. Native varieties like coral honeysuckle thrive in the state’s growing conditions with minimal fuss.
Place your container in a spot with morning sun and afternoon shade. Pennsylvania gardeners love that honeysuckle tolerates some drought once established, making it perfect for busy people who might occasionally forget to water.
5. Black-Eyed Susan Vine
This cheerful annual climber sports bright yellow flowers with distinctive dark centers that bloom prolifically all summer long. Pennsylvania gardeners love how it quickly covers trellises, creating a sunny vertical accent in any container garden.
In the Keystone State’s growing season, these vines thrive with regular watering and occasional fertilizing. Their trailing habit also works beautifully in hanging baskets where they can cascade over the edges with their sunny blooms.
6. Mandevilla
Tropical-looking mandevilla produces glossy leaves and trumpet-shaped flowers in shades of pink, red, and white. Pennsylvania gardeners treat this tender perennial as an annual or bring containers indoors during winter months.
They flourish in the Commonwealth’s warm summers when placed in bright, indirect light. Provide a trellis or other support and watch as these elegant climbers create a vacation vibe with minimal care beyond regular watering.
7. Jasmine
Intoxicatingly fragrant, jasmine transforms Pennsylvania patios into aromatic retreats during summer evenings. Star jasmine and summer jasmine varieties adapt well to container culture when given proper support to climb.
Pennsylvania’s climate requires these containers be moved indoors during winter. Place in a sunny spot with afternoon shade, and enjoy the sweet perfume that drifts through the air when these delicate white blooms appear.
8. Sweet Peas
Delightfully fragrant sweet peas produce butterfly-like blooms in a rainbow of pastel colors. They love Pennsylvania’s cool spring temperatures, making them perfect for early season container displays before summer’s heat arrives.
Gardeners across the Keystone State start seeds in early spring for best results. Provide a decorative trellis or teepee of bamboo stakes, and these nostalgic climbers will reward you with armloads of cut flowers and sweet perfume.
9. Hyacinth Bean
Bold and dramatic, hyacinth bean vines feature purple-tinged foliage, violet flowers, and showy purple seed pods. These vigorous climbers thrive in Pennsylvania’s summer heat and humidity while providing striking vertical interest.
Gardeners throughout the Commonwealth appreciate their fast growth and exotic appearance. Plant in a sunny spot with good air circulation, provide a sturdy support, and prepare for compliments from neighbors as these unusual climbers put on their show.
10. Passionflower
Exotic-looking passionflowers feature intricate, almost alien-like blooms that stop Pennsylvania garden visitors in their tracks. Their complex structure and unusual coloring make them a fascinating addition to container gardens.
Hardy varieties like Passiflora incarnata can survive Pennsylvania winters with protection. Position in a sheltered spot with morning sun and provide a trellis for these vigorous climbers to showcase their otherworldly blooms that attract butterflies.
11. Nasturtium
Spicy-sweet edible flowers in sunset hues of orange, yellow and red make nasturtiums both ornamental and useful in Pennsylvania container gardens. Their round leaves and trailing habit create a waterfall effect when grown in hanging baskets or allowed to spill over pot edges.
Pennsylvania gardeners appreciate that they actually bloom better in poor soil with minimal fertilizer. Plant seeds directly in containers after frost danger passes for months of cheerful blooms that can garnish summer salads.
12. Cardinal Climber
Feathery foliage and brilliant red, star-shaped flowers make cardinal climber a hummingbird magnet in Pennsylvania gardens. This annual vine grows quickly, reaching 10-20 feet in a single season when given proper support.
The Keystone State’s summer conditions provide perfect growing weather for this native North American vine. Plant seeds directly in containers after soil warms, or start indoors 4-6 weeks before last frost for earlier blooms.
13. Thunbergia
Commonly called black-eyed Susan vine or clock vine, thunbergia produces masses of cheerful blooms in yellow, orange or white with dark centers. This fast-growing annual quickly covers trellises in Pennsylvania container gardens.
Gardeners across the Commonwealth enjoy its non-stop flowering from summer until frost. Plant in a sunny location with afternoon shade and regular watering for best performance in Pennsylvania’s climate conditions.