The right selection of plants can shape and transform the appearance of a home and garden. It can also dramatically improve the form of a fence, making it a lush, vertical paradise that provides privacy, protection, visual interest, and services to wildlife. Vines are among the most ideal plants for fences as they have adaptations for winding through supporting structures. These versatile creepers can spread quickly as they effortlessly grow in an upward manner.
Flowering vines should be selected based on the climate conditions of your area, their compatibility with your property’s substrate type and sources of moisture, the longevity and peak season of their blooms, and their light requirements. Some vines are able to flower multiple times a year in tropical locations, whereas they may be less generous in temperate zones. Moreover, some may grow increasingly woody over time, eventually becoming too heavy for fragile fences to bear.
The right vine is one that will flower vigorously, attract pollinators, and manage to reach the top of your fence with minimal assistance. To encourage bloom production, it should be provided with enough space and support to send out new stems prior to the flowering period. These plants will have your fences sprawling with texture and color in no time!
1) Mountain clematis (Clematis montana)
Named for its tendency to thrive best in mountainous areas, C. montana is a deciduous, flowering vine. As its stems can grow to a full height of about 39 feet (12 meters) when they are provided with ample support, they can be relied upon to eventually cover tall fences and walls. Due to their ease of care, lengthy bloom period, and potential for hiding unsightly structures, many of its popular cultivars are recipients of the RHS Award of Garden Merit.
Mountain clematis blooms appear in pink and purple masses, providing swathes of color over a backdrop of deep green leaves. The bloom period usually lasts from late spring to early summer, though some varieties may have blooms that crop up once more in fall. The aesthetic flowers measure around 2 inches (5 cm) across. Their sweet fragrance is often likened to that of vanilla.
This member of the Ranunculaceae family thrives best on fences receiving full sun to partial shade. Its young plants should benefit from additional support as they amble upwards along the lower rungs of a lattice or plank. Once they are well-established, they should twine around intersecting wires without any help.
2) Trumpet honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens)
As a self-twining climber, the trumpet honeysuckle can vigorously grow around a fence. It can thoroughly encase vertical structures in its network of rapidly lengthening stems and branches. A single specimen may boast heights of up to 20 feet (6 meters) and cover a width of around 3 – 6 feet (0.9 – 1.8 meters). Semi-evergreen, it may provide textural foliage for privacy all through spring and fall.
The eye-catching inflorescences of the trumpet honeysuckle occur on the tips of its young stems. For this reason, it would be best to avoid pruning new growths prior to the flowering period. The tube-shaped flowers, which are typically deep red and have bright yellow interiors, are known for attracting hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees. Once they are pollinated, they develop into late summer berries.
Providing this vine with a nitrogen-rich fertilizer may boost the production of new leaves while reducing its bloom rate. An organic and well-balanced mixture of nutrients would be preferred if you intend to maximize its flower production. Hardy to USDA zones 4 – 9, this species should be rooted into well-draining and regularly moistened substrates. While it does tolerate partial sun, full sun should bring out its best features.
3) Japanese morning glory (Ipomoea nil)
This species’ common name is a bit of a misnomer as it isn’t naturally found in Japan. Though it has been introduced as an ornamental vine into many parts of the globe, its wild populations are fairly restricted to Mexico and other tropical regions in the Americas. Equipped with twining stems that grow up to 16 feet (5 meters) long, this creeper can quickly make its way to the top of a fence, sending out multi-lobed, green leaves to cover gaps in the structure.
Japanese morning glory is typically found along mountainous slopes and over fields. Its escaped stands can sprawl over enriched, loamy substrates or trail above shrubs as they make their way toward exposed locations. Of course, their blooms look like visual masterpieces as they are laden with some of the most striking blue and purple hues. These practically glow under full sun, mesmerizing both passersby and potential pollinators.
If this species is not available in your area, you may have better luck with its close relatives. I. hederaceae, another type of morning glory that shares a fair portion of its natural range and has very similar features. I. alba and I. purpurea are also fantastic on fences, though do note that all of these species may spread aggressively and have toxic properties.
4) Climbing hydrangea (Hydrangea petiolaris)
The climbing hydrangea is undoubtedly one of the most elegant flowering vines for walls and fences. Its clusters of cream-colored inflorescences have a timeless allure. These are made of two types of blooms – tiny, fertile flowers surrounded by larger, sterile ones. Given their bouquet-like appearance and their backdrop of deep green foliage, they can dramatically transform cottage gardens and planted landscapes.
Unsurprisingly, this ethereal vine is a recipient of the RHS Award of Garden Merit. With stems that can grow to a full height of about 30 – 40 feet (9 – 12 meters), it is a fantastic choice for naturalizing tall structures. In the absence of vertical support, the stems may naturally create mounds that grow to about 4 feet (1.2 meters) tall. Do note, however, that the right conditions are crucial in their early stages of growth.
Compared to other hardy vines, this deciduous climber may mature at a slower pace. Once the roots are well-established, the stems are able to spread vigorously. Worth the patience, it will have your fences looking great all year round. Yellow leaves in fall, followed by the rustic appearance of bare bark in winter, add to its charm.
5) Purple passionflower (Passiflora incarnata)
Also known as wild apricot and maypop, the purple passionflower looks great as a wild vine and as a trained climber on fences. Hardy to USDA zones 5 – 9, this sun-loving plant is especially spectacular in late spring to summer. Once temperatures are quite warm, its lengthy stems begin sending out unique blooms. Anyone who sees a passionflower for the first time finds themselves in awe of its unusual yet beautiful features.
This vine’s blooms have evolved to attract carpenter bees, bumblebees, and many other nectar-loving insects. Once they are pollinated, they develop into fleshy berries. These are known as “maypops” because they make a distinct popping noise when they are crushed or stepped on. The edible fruits are consumed as a nutritious snack by many herbivores.
Purple passionflower is ideal for fences that are around 6 – 8 feet (1.8 – 2.4 meters) tall. Its stems cling to structures using their tendrils, so they are unlikely to cause significant damage to fencing materials. When cultivated under full sun and in well-draining substrates, this vine can quickly send out arching branches. Many blooms are likely to occur on stems that droop from a considerable height.
6) Rock trumpet (Mandevilla spp.)
The most popular rock trumpet vines for ornamental use are hybrids of three Mandevilla types – M. splendens, M. x amabillis, and M. sanderi. These trailing plants thrive best in warm habitats, where they may maintain an evergreen habit as they twine over shrubs and make their way towards overhead branches. Due to their capacity to reach heights of up to 10 – 15 feet (3 – 4.6 meters), they can be trained as vertical accents.
These tropical hybrids are known for producing funnel-shaped blooms. These typically occur in clusters of 3 – 5 flowers, are relatively large, and are most abundant through summer. Depending on the cultivar, the flowers may boast bright pink hues or creamy pastel tones. Their yellow throats may attract butterflies and birds. Showy, they can enliven just about any type of vertical structure.
Do note that rock trumpet vines favor high temperatures and are not cold-hardy. In temperate zones, they may be cultivated as annual vines. As they contain toxic properties, they may not be the safest option for fences that enclose pet-frequented gardens.
7) Star jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides)
For a multi-sensorial display of eye-catching blooms, try covering a fence with sprawling stands of star jasmine. This remarkable plant is set apart by its intensely fragrant blooms. Walking past its twining stems, particularly during a spring evening, can figuratively transport one to a perfumery. The scent emitted by the blooms, generated by a diversity of aromatic compounds, can be described as lush, fruity, and sensual.
Star jasmine flowers are quite small, measuring only an inch across. In optimal environments, they can densely coat well-established stems to significantly alter the look of the entire vine. They pop over a backdrop of darker, glossy leaves. Though partial shade is tolerated, full sun should bring out the shoot’s best features. As imperfect conditions are unlikely to harm well-established specimens, this species is often recommended to inexperienced gardeners.
Hardy to USDA zones 8 – 10, star jasmine is best cultivated in regions experiencing mild to warm winters. When temperatures don’t severely fluctuate throughout the year, the leaves may remain evergreen. They are thus used to increase privacy and to naturalize vertical structures in tropical to subtropical locations.
8) Bougainvillea (Bougainvillea spp.)
Bougainvillea vines are versatile, evergreen ornamentals. These plants are often used to cover wire fences and to create visual complexity around posts, trellises, and garden arches. As they grow increasingly woody over time, they provide lasting structure and are reliable as natural screens for privacy. In the right habitat, their inflorescences can dramatically change the appearance of a simple fence, turning it into a summer flurry of warm colors.
The actual flowers of a bougainvillea vine are tiny, white, and somewhat inconspicuous. It’s the specialized bracts – basically modified leaves – surrounding them that develop striking pigments in shades of deep red, pink, peach, and purple. The bracts of some cultivars are cream-colored, giving fences a more classy appearance – one which tends to be compatible with all sorts of lower-growing shrubs.
B. glabra, B. spectabilis, B. peruviana, and their hybrids are some of the more popular types of bougainvillea vines in cultivation. These may commonly be referred to as “paper flowers” due to the delicate and papery feel of their bracts. Adequate rainfall, sunshine, and nutrients ensure that their tough, sometimes thorny, stems can grow towards the top of a fence and branch out on their own.
9) Snail vine (Cochliasanthus caracalla)
A flowering plant with fascinating inflorescences, the snail vine is also known as the corkscrew vine. Named for the shape of its curled flowers, it is a perennial, non-invasive legume. It can be trained to elegantly grow over fences and latticework. This delightful plant thrives best in tropical, humid environments, but it can also be grown in subtropical regions with warm winters. In temperate zones, horticulturists tend to re-plant it year after year as an annual.
As a heat-loving plant, the snail vine may require supplementary moisture to keep its roots healthy. The soil should be kept moderately damp, especially through the warmest months of the year, to encourage flower and pod production through spring and fall. In optimal conditions, the stems may send out inflorescences that gracefully droop from heights of 15-20 feet (4.6-6 meters)!
It’s important to note that this species is often confused with Phaseolus giganteus (syn. Sigmoidotropis speciosa), another vining plant with shell-shaped flowers. The latter is seldom recommended as a wildlife-friendly fence vine because it is more likely to become invasive.
10) Cup & saucer vine (Cobaea scandens)
A recipient of the RHS Award of Garden Merit, the cup and saucer vine deserves a sunny spot in every subtropical garden. This showy plant rapidly grows in USDA hardiness zones 9 – 11, where warm winters rarely threaten the survival of its tender shoots. In cooler areas, it may be grown as an annual or as a container plant. In optimal environments, its stems can grow to heights of more than 20 feet (6 meters) as they vigorously send out tendrils that cling to vertical support.
This lovely vine owes its common name to the shape of its summer blooms, which are attached to arching floral stalks. Solitary and fragrant, they resemble inverted cups with a set of sepals (a “saucer”) protecting the base of the corolla. Typically deep-violet or white in color, these have a knack for attracting bats as pollinators. Fertilized flowers develop into seed-filled capsules.
This is a great option for gardeners wishing to quickly naturalize a meshed or wire fence. Its seedlings can be outplanted and situated around vertical support as soon as the final frosts have passed in spring. When provided with ample fertilizer and sunlight, the stems can lengthen by as much as 10 feet (3 meters) within a single growth season.
If you have had success growing any of these vines, feel free to share your advice and experiences!