Thousands of green plants ennoble our gardens and surprise us with their unusually elegant beauty. Among them, vines are especially popular - perennial or annual “climbing”, climbing flowers, and shrubs.
It is impossible to take your eyes off the amazing, voluminous multi-colored carpet, spread out on fences, walls of houses, gazebos, on lawns and lawns, in places exposed to the sun and in the shade. With their help, a person embodies the most daring ideas in the design of a site, its landscaping, and the creation of recreation areas.
The choice of plant depends on many factors necessary for its cultivation, as well as on the goals and practical applications in the garden.
First of all, you need to decide whether a perennial or annual plant is more suitable for solving your problems.
Decorating an arch with flowering vines
Varieties of vines for the garden
Lianas grow mainly in tropical forests, where, spreading from tree to tree, they form impenetrable thickets. In areas with a temperate climate, they are more often found not in the natural environment, but in the landscape of private and botanical gardens and parks. All vines cultivated in gardens are divided into two groups : perennial plants with woody trunks that overwinter without shelter, and herbaceous plants with thin stems that in most cases die off in the winter.
Woody vines are evergreen , which do not shed their leaves in the cold season, and deciduous . Evergreens rarely have good resistance to sub-zero temperatures, so their list is much shorter than deciduous ones. Some vines are valued for their decorative foliage, which takes on a beautiful shade in the fall, while others are valued for the splendor of their blooms. Some plants produce edible berries (grapes), so they are grown for their fruits.
Annual climbing plants stand out as a special group . They propagate by seeds and are used in landscaping private plots of land along with their perennial relatives.
How to choose the right one for yourself?
When choosing an indoor vine, first of all, you should decide what you like best - original foliage of different colors or beautiful flowering.
- In the first case, it is better to choose decorative deciduous vines: scindapsus, cissus, philodendron, syngonium or ivy.
- In the second case, flowering indoor vines are suitable: hoya, passionflower, stephanotis.
In addition, if you do not have time for complex care for a capricious vine, it is better to choose something more unpretentious, such as ivy, scindapsus or cissus.
Using vines in the garden landscape
Since the stems of vines are unstable, their use in landscape design is somewhat limited. They are grown where there is support: near the walls of buildings, near fences, sheds. Pergolas are also specially built to support long lashes.
Pergola for climbing plants
The flexibility of vine-like vines can be used to create a picturesque arch over a gate, porch, or entrance to a gazebo.
Arches with clematis
By constructing a simple canopy from vertical posts and several horizontal crossbars, you can create a green roof instead of a roof. Of course, it will not save you from heavy rain, but it will provide shade on a hot day.
Maiden grapes gazebo
Climbing plants are also used as hedges for zoning a site. Their whips are directed along lattice fences and chain-link mesh to protect the yard or resting place from prying eyes.
Morning glory as a hedge
Another area of use of liana-like plants is the creation of colorful carpets on the soil. The scourges simply float along the ground without support, quickly grow and fill the empty space.
Ivy carpet
Proper care
Dolichos climbing lilac is not demanding in terms of care; on fertile lands it usually requires only watering, but if the soil is poor or heavy, it will require fertilizing or constant loosening of the soil.
Watering is carried out once every 3-4 days, the volume is adjusted depending on the height and growth of the bushes. At the initial stage - 2-3 liters per bush, then up to 2 buckets. Around the bushes you can mulch with sawdust or dry grass so that the moisture evaporates less, then watering can be reduced.
Fertilizer is applied complex or phosphorus-potassium, it promotes the formation of buds and lush flowering.
If dolichos fruits are to be eaten, it is better to apply organic fertilizers and stop adding them 20-30 days before harvesting.
Removing weeds and loosening the soil is an important procedure for growing dolichos. Weeds suck all nutrients from the soil, so they should be removed as often as possible. Loosening increases the air permeability of the soil, which has a beneficial effect on plant growth; it is carried out 1-2 times in 10-12 days.
Pinching the top of the shoots promotes the formation of side branches, which means the bush will be more lush. If you tear off part of the shoot above a blooming flower, the seeds will form and ripen faster.
Preparation for winter is not required, since the bushes are grown as annuals; the root system does not withstand frost. You can trim the stems, leaving 10-15 cm, dig up the root, replant it in a pot and put it in a cool, dark room, and plant it next year if you can save it. The roots go deep into the soil, so they often break off when digging, which negatively affects their further storage.
Perennial deciduous vines
This is the most numerous group of all types of vines. Their advantage is unpretentiousness, ease of care, and large annual growth. Under favorable conditions for development, in 2-3 seasons, some deciduous climbing plants are able to completely weave a fence, gazebo or wall of a house. The disadvantage of most of them is their ability to form shoots, which can be difficult to deal with. To control the growth of the root system, it is recommended to fence each plant with a border dug to a depth of 30 cm.
Vineyard aconitifolia
Ampelopsis (vineyard) aconite-leaved, is a vine that reaches a length of 8 m. During one growing season it adds up to 3 m. The advantage is its beautiful, deeply dissected leaves. The vineyard is especially magnificent in the fall, when the foliage takes on a rich golden color.
Small berries hanging in beautiful clusters, resembling multi-colored beads when ripe, are also decorative. The liana is resistant to diseases and pests and tolerates pruning well. For landscaping, it is enough to use 1 plant for every 4 m of fence.
Maiden grapes
The most common in temperate latitudes are five-leaf and attached maiden grapes. It grows quickly, does not react to dusty air, and is almost not damaged by pests and diseases. If you need an unpretentious plant, it is better to opt for the five-leaf subspecies. It grows in almost all types of soil and is tolerant of soil freezing. A striking representative of the five-leaf grape is the variety "Murorum" . It is distinguished by strong foliage of the vine and a more uniform (compared to species-specific maiden grape) surface coverage. In autumn, the foliage takes on a rich red color and a glossy shine.
The advantage of the attached maiden grape is its unique ability to climb a flat vertical plane without the use of support.
The flattened tendrils literally dig into the surface, securely holding the vine under the strongest gusts of wind. But it is worth noting that this type of virgin grapes is demanding on the soil: it must be loose, drained and light. The plant tolerates drought more easily than heavy soil with stagnant moisture.
Clematis vinifolia
An unpretentious liana-like shrub that forms a lush, impenetrable curtain. Grape-leaved clematis (clematis) blooms profusely and for a long time: from late June to August. Numerous white or milky flowers are collected in fluffy inflorescences. Climbing branches do not need tying, since the plant clings to the supports with long leaf petioles.
Clematis vinifolia can grow in open sunny areas, but will show itself in all its glory in light partial shade. Loves moderate watering, well-drained soils. It tolerates gas and dust well, so it is often used as a hedge on the side of a busy road.
Common hop
Hop vines are covered with small thorns, thanks to which the plant quickly climbs nearby supports and forms continuous green walls.
The plant has two disadvantages. Firstly, the constantly growing root system is rapidly occupying new territory. Secondly, the shoots that have grown during the season die off in the winter. Because of this, hops are not suitable for decorating ugly fences and old, unsightly-looking buildings, since in the winter they become bare and look untidy.
Calistegia
Calistegia (or povoy) is a climbing plant that has more than 5 species. Gardeners most often grow hairy and fluffy (terry) calistegia on their plots. Calistegia fence, also known as “birch”, despite the beautiful white and pink flowers, is considered a malicious weed and is difficult to remove from the site.
Calistegia is easy to care for, but loves well-drained, fertile soil. This plant has a deep root system, so young shoots can appear far from the planting site.
| Vine length (m) | Flowering time | Soil type | Peculiarities |
| 0,8-4 | June August | Loose, fertile | Does not tolerate transplants well, does not like excess moisture |
Perennial evergreen vines
Late autumn comes, and all the beauty of deciduous plants disappears - only bare branches remain. This is not the case with evergreen vines; they retain their color all 24 months of the year. Of course, there are not so many of them in comparison with deciduous ones, but they are able to enliven the garden at any time.
Ivy
The most common representative of evergreen vines is common ivy.
A plant dug up in natural conditions easily takes root in a garden plot. Unlike deciduous vines, it grows somewhat more slowly, but is distinguished by good frost resistance and highly decorative leaves. The plant is capable of climbing to great heights using aerial roots. They grow into wood, plaster, brickwork seams, and firmly hold the plant on sheer walls. Under natural conditions, ivy grows in shady forests, so it is advisable to provide the plant with at least diffuse shade in the garden plot.
There are several varieties of ivy, differing in leaf shape and color. Particularly decorative is Colchis ivy, which has variegated foliage. But it is less frost-resistant and grows more slowly than a species plant. In addition, young shoots need a garter.
Important. Colchian ivy should be planted in sunny areas, since the variegation of foliage decreases in the shade.
Akebia
The heat-loving southern liana began to be grown in temperate latitudes not so long ago. In its natural habitat it is a hardy evergreen plant reaching a length of up to 10 m . Akebia is quite frost-resistant, surviving temperatures down to 200 below zero . The disadvantage is that the vine sheds its leaves in harsh weather conditions and develops like an ordinary deciduous plant. The climate, unusual for the southern liana, also affects flowering - it is significantly reduced. Racemose drooping inflorescences have a pleasant chocolate smell, for which the plant received its second name - chocolate vine .
Advice. To make akebia feel more comfortable in the middle regions, it should be grown near a wall on the south side of the house, where it will receive enough sunlight. For the winter, the vine should be covered with construction insulation and sprinkled with a layer of snow on top.
Honeysuckle honeysuckle evergreen
Honeysuckle honeysuckle is a shrub with straight shoots reaching a length of 6 meters . The leaves are small, leathery, dark green, rich in color. The flowers are tubular, collected in racemes of red, yellow or orange (depending on the variety), odorless. Flowering is long-lasting, from late spring to early autumn. The small red berries are also valuable from a decorative point of view.
The species is frost-resistant. Sometimes, at prolonged low temperatures, annual shoots may freeze. But this does not cause irreparable harm to the plant, since after spring pruning it quickly recovers. Honeysuckle prefers to grow on fertile soils and loves sunny places.
Conditions for Campsis
In order for the liana to feel comfortable, it is necessary to create certain conditions for its life and development. These are, first of all, soil, sun, ambient temperature, care. Campsis is an unpretentious plant, but when good conditions are created, it responds gratefully with massive flowering and growth.
Place on site
We should not forget that despite adaptation to cold temperatures, this is a southern plant. Therefore, the area where the vine will grow must be sunny and protected from drafts. It is necessary to take into account the purpose for which the plant is planted and be sure to provide the vine with a place for weaving. This could be a fence, wall, pillars, special devices. Otherwise, it will creep along the ground, crawl through trees and bushes.
The soil
The plant grows absolutely calmly on any soil, even on poor calcareous ones. But the result is important - the vine will not bloom on them. Here, after planting Campsis, it needs fertilizing, which is carried out with mineral fertilizers. Organic supplements will also help in this case. On good soils, the plant will grow actively and bloom without them.
Temperature
For central Russia, winter hardiness of Campsis is not high. The plant tolerates temperatures down to –20 degrees. without any shelter. Even if part of it is frozen, the plant will quickly recover. But under more severe conditions, it must be insulated. The vine tolerates heat well, but watering must be daily.
Blooming decorative vines
In cases where you need to create not just a hedge of vines, but a vertical flower arrangement, beautifully flowering climbing plants are used. They are more capricious than hops or virgin grapes, and require more attention. But we should give them their due, because with good care they can form a chic flower garden in a small area.
Hydrangea petiolate (climbing)
This is a type of garden hydrangea that develops not as a shrub, but as a vine. It has dark green leaves and fragrant shield-shaped inflorescences that are white with a pink tint. It grows slowly, but is capable of climbing to a height of up to 25 m and weaving around a fairly large area. Young seedlings need winter shelter, but mature plants with a woody trunk can withstand severe frosts without obvious damage.
Petiolate hydrangea is moisture-loving, but does not tolerate stagnant moisture. Prefers acidic (pH 5.0) soil and easily tolerates light shade, although it develops better in open, sunny areas.
Popular varieties of petiole hydrangea:
- Petiolaris. The tallest variety, forming a lush green mass without gaps;
- Cordifolia. The variety is endowed with large inflorescences, consisting of flowers of different sizes, and has a strong aroma;
- Curly. Abundantly flowering variety with umbrella-shaped wide inflorescences of white color;
- Miranda. The scourge reaches length 10 m, light veins are clearly visible on the dark green leaves.
Kampsis
A beautiful and strong plant with large tubular flowers, collected in clusters of several pieces. The flowers come in red and orange colors, they form from June to August, and during this period the vine is most attractive. But even after flowering, Kampsis is quite decorative thanks to its large odd-pinnate leaves with a serrated edge.
Existing types and characteristics of lianas
To landscape the garden and harmoniously transform the local area, you can select different types of vines that differ in external characteristics. In addition to ornamental and flowering plants, in modern nurseries and on specialized websites it is easy to select plants, conventionally divided into three main groups:
- creeping. Such plants rise upward exclusively on a pre-arranged support and without its arrangement, their climbing branches will cover the entire area allocated for planting with a green carpet (climbing rose and euonymus);
- climbing. On the stem of climbing vines there are small and quite tenacious suckers; such shoots provide reliable adhesion of the plant to any support with a different rough surface (hydrangea and maiden grapes);
- clinging. Lianas of this species have thin and fairly strong tendrils; they help the plant, during the growth process, to anchor itself on a supporting structure and raise the stem to a certain height (ornamental grapes and ampelopsis).
Climbing vines should be selected based on their characteristics and focus on the created conditions and agricultural technology necessary for their growth.
Before doing landscaping and designing the planting of a vertical carpet, you will have to carefully study all the factors of growth and normal flowering of liana crops.
Annual liana-like plants
Annual climbing plants that bloom all summer are used to create bright floral arrangements. just 2-3 weeks they entwine supports up to 3 meters . A striking representative of the bindweed is morning glory.
Multi-colored “gramophone” flowers bloom every day from June to September . The morning glory stem finds support on its own and wraps itself around it. If you need to plant a wall or a solid fence, vertical strings are stretched, along which the plant can easily climb up.
Dolichos purpurea (hyacinth beans) is of interest for creating landscape scenes. The irregularly shaped flowers are collected in large, showy inflorescences and have a rich, persistent aroma. Flowering lasts from May to September , and in warm autumns until October. Starting in August, no less attractive purple pods with beans appear on the vine, hanging in large clusters.
The lashes of decorative beans grow up to 3 m in length per season. The flowers flash against the background of green foliage like fiery red lanterns throughout the summer. The plant tolerates shaded areas well, which is not typical for most annual vines.
If you need to decorate a low hedge, you can use sweet peas. It clings to the fence with long curling tendrils, blooms almost continuously, and fills the garden with a pleasant aroma that evokes nostalgia for childhood.
Advice. Perennial vines may need time to take root and acclimatize immediately after planting. While they are growing shoots, it is recommended to plant annual vines next to them. They will make up for the temporary lack of green mass of their woody relatives.
Classification of annuals
This type includes:
- Echinocystis, popularly called “mad cucumber” and until recently considered a weed;
- sweet pea, a bindweed from the legume family with an attractive scent and bright colors;
- Basella alba, or Malabar spinach, which has medicinal properties and is eaten in southeast Asia;
- dolichos, a vine from the legume family, reaching 3 meters in length, characterized by rapid growth, unpretentiousness and decorativeness;
- climbing kobeya with bell-shaped flowers;
- nasturtium with large fragrant flowers of bright orange color and rounded leaves;
- quamoclite, an unpretentious annual from which Christmas tree figures are formed;
- rough ellipse, beautifully blooming with bright buds from mid-summer to the end of the autumn season;
- azarina, or maurandia, which blooms for several months;
- thunbergia with heart-shaped leaves and large 5-centimeter flowers in snow-white, beige and other colors with a dark center.
Many flowering vines for the garden in their homeland, in the tropics, grow for more than one year, but in our climate, gardeners plant them as annuals.
Actinidia kolomikta
Actinidia kolomikta can grow in one place for up to 50 years. Prefers a sunny location, but also grows in partial shade. Fruits only in well-lit areas. Delicious, aromatic berries are rich in vitamins. It is attached to the support with the help of shoots that wrap around it counterclockwise.
Actinidia kolomikta
Location on the site
Liana-like plants do well on the sunny side. It is better to plant them in well-drained soil. If crops are planned to be placed along the walls of a house, they should not be rooted close to the building so that the foundation does not interfere with the development of shrubs. The ideal distance for indentation is 50 cm.
In the first years, perennial garden vines will have to be supported from wooden posts or metal rods. The shoots are tied with thin pieces of fabric so as not to damage the stem. As they develop, flowering vines cover a wall or fence, and it turns into a real work of landscape design.
