Common Name
Hardiness Zone
Groupb
Growth Ratec
Exposure
Texture
Climbing Habit
Height (feet)
Landscape Remarks
Scientific Name
Akebia, Five-leaf Akebia quinata 6, 7, 8 D to semi-E Rapid Sun to shade Fine to medium Twining 30 Graceful foliage in clusters of five leaflets; small, purple, fragrant flowers in mid-spring.
Bittersweet, American Celastrus scandens 6, 7, 8 D Rapid Sun to partial shade Medium Twining 20 to 25 Native to southeast; red seeds inside orange capsules; requires male and female vines; tends to be invasive.
Bittersweet, Oriental Celastrus orbiculatus 6, 7, 8 D Rapid Sun Medium Twining 30 to 60 Yellow capsules with scarlet seeds.
Bush ivy x Fatshedera lizei 7, 8 E Rapid Partial shade to shade Coarse Vine-like shrub; needs support 10 Very tolerant to adverse conditions; good in planters; plant in shade or north exposure for winter protection.
Clematis, Anemone; Indian's virgin's bower Clematis montana 6, 7, 8 D Rapid Sun; shade for roots Medium Twisting petioles; twining 20 to 30 White flowers; var. Rubens has fragrant strawberry flowers in May; blooms on previous season's growth.
Clematis, Armand Clematis armandii 7b, 8 E Rapid Sun Coarse Twisting stems and petioles 15 to 25 Cool shade over roots; white, fragrant flowers in late spring; several named cultivars are available; blooms on old wood, so prune after flowering.
Clematis, Hybrids Clematis hybrida 6, 7, 8 D Moderate to rapid Sun; shade for roots Fine to medium Twisting petioles 5 to 20 Weak climber; long flowering season; many cultivars.
Clematis, Italian Clematis viticella 6, 7, 8 D Rapid Sun; shade for roots Medium Twisting petioles; twining 15 to 20 Lavender-blue to purple flowers in mid- to late summer; several cultivars available; blooms on new wood.
Clematis, Jackman Clematis jackmanii 6, 7, 8 D Rapid Sun; shade for roots Coarse Twisting stems; twining 15 Rapid-growing hybrids; purplish-violet, large flowers all summer on new growth; pink cultivars are available.
Clematis, Scarlet leather Clematis texensis 6, 7, 8 D Rapid Sun; shade for roots Medium Twisting petioles; twining 5 to 10 Better density than most clematis; scarlet, bell shaped flowers from summer to frost on new growth.
Clematis, Sweet autumn Clematis paniculata or C. maximonowicziana 6, 7, 8 D Rapid Sun Medium Twisting petioles and twining stems 30 White, fragrant flowers in August and September; easy to grow; reseeds; blooms on new growth.
Clematis, Virgin's Bower Clematis virginiana 6, 7, 8 D Rapid Sun to partial shade Fine Twisting petioles; twining 18 Native to western NC; white flowers in late summer to fall.
Cross vine Bignonia capreolata 7, 8 E to semi-E Rapid Sun to light shade Medium Tendrils 30 to 50 Native; orange-red flowers in mid-spring; leaves take on a purplish color in winter; 'Tangerine Beauty' is a JC Raulston Arboretum Selection.
Dutchman's pipe Aristolochia durior 6, 7, 8 D Rapid Sun to light shade Coarse Twining 30 Primarily grown for foliage: foot-long, heart shaped leaves; inconspicuous mahogany and cream flowers in late spring.
Euonymus, Wintercreeper Euonymus fortunei 6, 7, 8 E Rapid Sun to partial shade Fine to medium Aerial roots 5 to 10 Emerald Leader and Emerald Beauty cultivars recommended; variegated cultivars available; can get euonymus scale.
Everlasting pea; perennial pea Lathyrus latifolius 6 D Rapid Sun Fine to medium Tendrils; twining 6 to 10 Wildflower in western NC; rose-pink, white, or red flowers.
Fig, Climbing Ficus pumila 8b E Rapid Sun to shade Fine to medium Aerial roots 30 Good climber; not hardy in most of the state.
Grape, Muscadine Vitis rotundifolia 6, 7, 8 D Rapid Sun to partial shade Fine to medium Tendrils and twining stems 15 to 30 Needs a male and female or perfect flowering cultivar to produce fruit; yellow fall color.
Honeysuckle Lonicera japonica 6, 7, 8 D Rapid Sun to partial shade Fine to medium Twining 20 to 30 Naturalized, rampant vine; invasive; white, fragrant flowers; cultivar: Hall's.
Honeysuckle, Brown's Lonicera x brownii 6, 7, 8 D Rapid Sun to partial shade Fine to medium Twining 8 Red flowers in summer.
Honeysuckle, Goldflame Lonicera x heckrottii 6b, 7, 8 Semi-E to D Rapid Sun to partial shade Fine to medium Twining 10 to 15 Red and yellow flowers in spring; repeats in summer; thin foliage.
Honeysuckle, Hall's Lonicera japonica Halliana 6, 7, 8 D Rapid Sun Fine to medium Twining 10 to 15 Fragrant yellow and purplish-red flowers most of the summer.
Honeysuckle, Trumpet Lonicera sempervirens 6, 7, 8 E to D Rapid Sun to partial shade Medium Twining 15 to 25 Coral to red, trumpet-shaped flowers mid-spring to fall; native; cultivars: Sulfurea (yellow), Superba, Magnifica, John Clayton, Cedar Lane, Alabama Crimson.
Hydrangea, Climbing Hydrangea anomala subsp. petiolaris 6, 7 D Initially slow Partial shade Medium Aerial roots 40 to 60 White flowers in late spring to summer; yellow fall color.
Hydrangea-vine, Chinese Schizophragma integrifolium 6, 7a D Initially slow Sun to shade Medium Aerial roots 50 Produces 10 to 12" white flowers; especially tolerant of long, hot, summers; less cold hardy than H. anomala subsp. Petiolaris.
Hydrangea-vine, Japanese Schizophragma hydrangeoides 6, 7 D Initially slow Sun to shade Medium Aerial roots 50 Small white flowers; tolerant of hot, wet summers; cultivars: Roseum, Moonlight.
Ivy, Algerian Hedera canariensis 8 E Moderate to rapid Shade Coarse Trailing vine; aerial roots 30 May be used as ground cover; need to confine; salt tolerant.
Ivy, Boston Parthenocissus tricuspidata 6, 7 D Rapid Partial shade Coarse Tendrils with adhesive tips 30 to 60 Excellent on masonry walls; withstands adverse conditions; burgundy fall color.
Ivy, Chochis; Persian ivy Hedera colchica 8 E Rapid Sun to partial shade Coarse Aerial roots 30 to 50 Large-leafed ivy.
Ivy, English Hedera helix 6, 7, 8 E Moderate to rapid Partial shade to shade Medium to coarse Climbing, aerial roots 50+ Many small-leaved cultivars available; very hardy.
Jasmine, Carolina Gelsemium sempervirens 7, 8 E Moderate to rapid Sun to partial shade Fine to medium Twining 10 to 20 Yellow flowers in spring; native; foliage bronzes in winter; all parts of the plant are toxic; 'Pride of Augusta' has double flowers.
Jasmine, Confederate; Star jasmine Trachelospermum jasminoides 8 E Rapid Sun to partial shade Medium Twining vine with holdfast roots 10 to 15 Good foliage; white, fragrant flowers in spring; subject to winter kill to the ground when grown in sun; cultivar Madison is more cold hardy.
Jasmine, Swamp Gelsemium rankinii 7, 8 E Rapid Sun to shade Fine Twining 10 to 21 Yellow flowers in spring and fall.
Jasmine, Yellow star Trachelospermum asiaticum 7, 8 E Slow to moderate Partial shade Medium Twining 12 Yellow, fragrant flowers; more cold hardy than Confederate Jasmine.
Kadsura Kadsura japonica 7b, 8 E to semi-E Moderate Sun to partial shade Medium Twining 8 to 15 Glossy, dark green foliage; small yellow flowers in mid-summer; scarlet fruit on female vines; male and female plants needed for fruit; burns in cold weather.
Kiwi; Kolomikta vine Actinidia kolomikta 6, 7, 8 D Rapid Sun Medium Twining 15 to 20 Variegated leaves: green, white, pink, rose, red.
Passion vine; Maypop Passiflora spp. 7, 8 D Rapid Sun Fine Tendrils 20 Blue-white flowers; dies to the ground in the winter; edible fruit.
Porcelain vine Ampelopsis brevipedunculata 6, 7, 8 D Medium Sun to partial shade Medium Twining tendrils 10 to 20 Blue, green, pink, and lavender berries borne in clusters in late summer and fall; 'Elegans' has variegated foliage.
Rose, Cherokee Rosa laevigata 7, 8 Semi-E Rapid Sun Fine to medium Needs training 15 White, single flowers in spring.
Rose, hybrids Rosa spp. 6, 7, 8 D Medium to fast Sun Medium Needs training 10 to 20 Many cultivars and colors.
Common Name Scientific Name Hardiness Zone Groupb Growth Ratec Exposure Texture Climbing Habit Height (feet) Landscape Remarks
Rose, 'Lady Banks' Rosa banksiae 6b, 7, 8 Semi-E Rapid Sun to partial shade Fine Needs training 10 to 15 Yellow or white flowers in spring; does not have thorns.
Rose, Memorial Rosa wichuraiana 6, 7, 8 Semi-E Rapid Sun Fine Needs training 15 to 20 White flowers mid-summer to fall.
Silverlace vine; Fleece vine Polygonum aubertii 6, 7, 8 D Rapid Sun Medium Twining 20 to 25 White flowers in summer.
Smilax Smilax lanceolata 6, 7, 8 E Rapid Sun to shade Medium Twining tendrils 30+ Bright green foliage for cutting; excellent on trellises.
Trumpet creeper Campsis radicans 6b, 7, 8 D Rapid Sun to partial shade Coarse Aerial roots but needs additional support 20 to 40 Thrives on neglect; orange-red flowers July to frost; spreads by underground runners and can become invasive.
Trumpet vine; Chinese trumpet creeper Campsis grandiflora chinensis 7, 8 D Rapid Sun Coarse Needs support 20 Large, scarlet flowers July to frost; 'Madame Glen' has salmon-red flowers;
Trumpetvine, Chinese Campsis garndiflora 6, 7, 8 D Rapid Sun Coarse Needs support 15 to 20 Does not have aerial roots; large apricot flowers in summer; 'Morning Calm' has coral flowers with a yellow throat; both are JC Raulston Arboretum Selections.
Trumpet vine Campsis x tagliabuana 6, 7, 8 D Rapid Sun Coarse Aerial roots but needs additional support 30 Darker green foliage and less aggressive than C. radicans; coral-red flowers all summer.
Virginia creeper Parthenocissus quinquefolia 6, 7, 8 D Rapid Sun to partial shade Coarse Tendrils with adhesive tips 30 to 50 Native; five leaflets; excellent red fall color; salt tolerant.
Wisteria, Chinese Wisteria sinensis 6, 7, 8 D Rapid Sun Medium Twining 30 to 50 Very fragrant blue-violet or white flowers; growth can girdle trees; has 11 leaflets; prune back old growth to three to four buds in late winter.
Wisteria, Japanese Wisteria floribunda 6, 7, 8 D Moderate to rapid Sun Medium Twining 30 Longer bloom period than Chinese wisteria; bluish-purple, white, pink flowers (9 to 20 inches long); has 13 to 19 leaflets.

b E = Evergreen, D = Deciduous
c Growth rate will vary with cultivar, weather, and site conditions.

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