Growing Vines

Most vines are described as woody or semiwoody climbing or trailing plants, however some vines are annuals and have herbaceous stems. Each species and cultivar of vine possess distinctive characteristics which make it suitable for a specific location. Some vines are valued for the shade they provide when trained over an arbor. Others add interest when trained against the wall of a building or when used to frame a doorway. Vines can be used to relieve the monotony of a large expanse of fencing or to hind a chain-link fence with a mass of green foliage. Vines such as ivy, Memorial rose, and wintercreeper euonymus can be useful on steep banks. Perhaps the greatest asset of vines is the small amount of ground space they require.

When selecting vines consider hardiness and light requirements. The amount of sunlight can be critical to survival, or it may just reduce flowering and fruiting. Most vines are tolerant of a variety of soil types.

Most vines grow towards light by elongating their stems and attaching themselves to whatever support is available. Climbing roses are not true vines; they have no means of attachment and must be tied to a support. Vines are generally divided into groups based on their method of climbing. Some plants climb by attaching small appendages as a means of support. Boston ivy has modified tendrils with small, circular discs at the tips; English ivy and wintercreeper form small rootlets along the ste. This type of vines should not be allowed to grow on wood houses or wooden parts of brick houses (window frames, eaves). Vines with rootlets growing on tree trunks do not harm the tree unless they cover the tree's foliage. Vines, such as ivy, can be successfully grow on trees with light to moderate shade.

Vines, such as clematis and grape, climb by winding tendrils or leaf-like appendages which act as tendrils around the object on which they are growing. The largest group of vines climb by twining stems. As the growing tips elongate the stem coils around the nearest vertical support. Avoid planting twining vines near small trees and shrubs because they may become difficult to control. Vines such as bittersweet and wisteria climb by twining. All vines do not twine in the same direction. For example, bittersweet twines by climbing from left to right. Hall's honeysuckle twines by climbing from right to left.

Growth rate and sun exposure requirements should be considered when selecting vines. Some vines, such as oakleaf hydrangea, grow slowly and are good when only small areas need covering. Virginia creeper and Boston ivy are rather fast growers and should not be selected for small areas.