Choose the
Right Vine
Vine-covered arbors are beautiful, but large, woody ones, like wisteria, can crush a small arbor in a few years. Meet clematis and three other vines perfect for most arbors.
Vine-covered arbors are beautiful, but large, woody ones, like wisteria, can crush a small arbor in a few years. Meet clematis and three other vines perfect for most arbors.
Clematis likes its “head in the sun, feet in the shade,” as the old saying goes. So plant it in full sun, and place a 2-in.-thick layer of mulch over the roots to keep them cool.
Type Perennial
Blooms Flowers in white, yellow, pink, red, blue or purple in spring, summer or fall
Light Full sun to part shade
Size 1 to 30 ft. tall
Cold-hardy USDA zones 3 to 9
Heat-tolerant AHS zones 9 to 1
This vine stretches up so quickly you can almost see it growing! Sow one or two seeds on each side of your arbor and watch it go.
Type Tender perennial
Blooms Purple or white flowers in mid- to late summer; magenta stems and pods
Light Full sun
Size 10 to 20 ft. tall
Cold-hardy USDA zones 10 to 11
Heat-tolerant AHS zones 10 to 1
On cloudy mornings you might get a few extra hours from flowers before they droop, but normally moonflower blooms last just one night.
Type Tender perennial
Blooms Fragrant white flowers open at night from midsummer to frost
Light Full sun to part shade
Size 10 to 15 ft. tall
Cold-hardy USDA zones 10 to 12
Heat-tolerant AHS zones 12 to 1
Plant these seeds after danger of frost is past directly in the garden. Morning glories reseed readily — pull unwanted seedlings before they start to twine around other plants.
Type Tender perennial
Blooms White, pink, red, blue or purple flowers from midsummer to frost
Light Full sun
Size 6 to 10 ft. tall
Cold-hardy USDA zones 10 to 12
Heat-tolerant AHS zones 12 to 1