Annual Vines for North Carolina

Common Name

Scientific Name

Exposure

Height (Feet)

Climbing Method

Flower Color

Comments

Bitter melon, Luffa, Sponge gourd; Balsam apple Momordica balsamina, Luffa aegyptiaca Sun 10 to 20 Tendrils Small yellow flowers; fruits turn yellow-orange Edible but bitter fruit.

Black-eyed Susan vine Thunbergia alata Morning sun and afternoon shade 6 to 8 Twining stems Yellow, white, orange Start seedlings indoors in warm moist soil (germinates in 10 to 21 days); perennial grown as an annual.

Canary creeper; Canary bird flower Tropaeolum peregrinum Sun to partial shade 8 to 10 Twining stems Yellow Edible flowers produced from July to frost.

Cardinal climber Ipomoea x multifida Sun to partial shade 10 to 20 Twining stems Red Seeds should be scarified and soaked in water for 12 to 24 hours to aid germination.

Chilean glory flower Eccremocarpus scaber Sun 10 to 12 Twining stems Orange, yellow, red, bicolors Start from seeds; does not transplant well; thrives on heat; tubular flowers all summer.

Cup-and-saucer vine; Coral bells; Cathedral bells; Mexican ivy Cobaena scandens Sun 30 Tendrils White, purple, lavender, violet Flowers from early summer to mid-fall; flowers have an unpleasant odor when they first open.

Cypress vine Ipomea quamoclit Sun to partial shade 15 to 20 Twining stems Red Seeds should be scarified and soaked in water for 12 to 24 hours to aid germination.

Firecracker vine; Spanish flag Mina lobata, Ipomoea lobata Sun to partial shade 10 to 20 Twining stems Reddish-orange fading to orange, yellow, and white Seeds should be scarified and soaked in water for 12 to 24 hours to aid germination.

Hyacinth bean Dolichos lablab Sun 15 to 25 Twining stems Pink-purple, white, lilac Produces purple, edible beans; rapid grower.

Mandevilla Mandevilla x amabalis Sun; will tolerate afternoon shade 8 to 10 Twining stems Pink Tender vine can be brought indoors in the winter.

Moonflower; Moonvine Ipomea alba Sun 10 to 30 Twining stems White Large, fragrant flowers open in late afternoon and close at dawn; 8" leaves.

Morning glory Ipomea purpurea Sun 10 Twining stems Blue, pink, lavender, white Can be invasive; many improved cultivars are available; seeds should be scarified and soaked in water for 12 to 24 hours to aid germination.

Nasturtium Tropaeolum majus Sun 6 to 8 Twining stems Yellow, orange Tender annual.

Orange clockvine Thunbergia gregorii Sun 20 Twining stems Orange Flowers from spring to fall.

Scarlet runner bean Phaseolus coccineus Sun 8 to 20 Twining stems Red, white White-flowering cultivars available; edible beans; pollen not viable when temperatures are above 90°F.

Sweet potato vine Ipomoea x multifida Sun 6 to 10 Needs training Grown for the foliage 'Blackie' - purplish red foliage; 'Sulfur' - lime green/chartreuse foliage; 'Pink Frost' - tricolor (green, white, pink).

Sweet pea Latyhrus odoratus Sun to partial shade 4 to 7 Twining stems, tendrils Red, mauve, peach, lilac, white, pink, scarlet Prefers a cool climate or afternoon shade; heat resistant cultivars are available; keep plant moist.

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© Erv Evans, Consumer Horticulturalist
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Common Name	Scientific Name	Exposure	Height (Feet)	Climbing Method	Flower Color	Comments
Bitter melon, Luffa, Sponge gourd; Balsam apple	Momordica balsamina, Luffa aegyptiaca	Sun	10 to 20	Tendrils	Small yellow flowers; fruits turn yellow-orange	Edible but bitter fruit.
Black-eyed Susan vine	Thunbergia alata	Morning sun and afternoon shade	6 to 8	Twining stems	Yellow, white, orange	Start seedlings indoors in warm moist soil (germinates in 10 to 21 days); perennial grown as an annual.
Canary creeper; Canary bird flower	Tropaeolum peregrinum	Sun to partial shade	8 to 10	Twining stems	Yellow	Edible flowers produced from July to frost.
Cardinal climber	Ipomoea x multifida	Sun to partial shade	10 to 20	Twining stems	Red	Seeds should be scarified and soaked in water for 12 to 24 hours to aid germination.
Chilean glory flower	Eccremocarpus scaber	Sun	10 to 12	Twining stems	Orange, yellow, red, bicolors	Start from seeds; does not transplant well; thrives on heat; tubular flowers all summer.
Cup-and-saucer vine; Coral bells; Cathedral bells; Mexican ivy	Cobaena scandens	Sun	30	Tendrils	White, purple, lavender, violet	Flowers from early summer to mid-fall; flowers have an unpleasant odor when they first open.
Cypress vine	Ipomea quamoclit	Sun to partial shade	15 to 20	Twining stems	Red	Seeds should be scarified and soaked in water for 12 to 24 hours to aid germination.
Firecracker vine; Spanish flag	Mina lobata, Ipomoea lobata	Sun to partial shade	10 to 20	Twining stems	Reddish-orange fading to orange, yellow, and white	Seeds should be scarified and soaked in water for 12 to 24 hours to aid germination.
Hyacinth bean	Dolichos lablab	Sun	15 to 25	Twining stems	Pink-purple, white, lilac	Produces purple, edible beans; rapid grower.
Mandevilla	Mandevilla x amabalis	Sun; will tolerate afternoon shade	8 to 10	Twining stems	Pink	Tender vine can be brought indoors in the winter.
Moonflower; Moonvine	Ipomea alba	Sun	10 to 30	Twining stems	White	Large, fragrant flowers open in late afternoon and close at dawn; 8" leaves.
Morning glory	Ipomea purpurea	Sun	10	Twining stems	Blue, pink, lavender, white	Can be invasive; many improved cultivars are available; seeds should be scarified and soaked in water for 12 to 24 hours to aid germination.
Nasturtium	Tropaeolum majus	Sun	6 to 8	Twining stems	Yellow, orange	Tender annual.
Orange clockvine	Thunbergia gregorii	Sun	20	Twining stems	Orange	Flowers from spring to fall.
Scarlet runner bean	Phaseolus coccineus	Sun	8 to 20	Twining stems	Red, white	White-flowering cultivars available; edible beans; pollen not viable when temperatures are above 90°F.
Sweet potato vine	Ipomoea x multifida	Sun	6 to 10	Needs training	Grown for the foliage	'Blackie' - purplish red foliage; 'Sulfur' - lime green/chartreuse foliage; 'Pink Frost' - tricolor (green, white, pink).
Sweet pea	Latyhrus odoratus	Sun to partial shade	4 to 7	Twining stems, tendrils	Red, mauve, peach, lilac, white, pink, scarlet	Prefers a cool climate or afternoon shade; heat resistant cultivars are available; keep plant moist.