(Image credit: Alina Lebed)

Whether you’re short on space, need to add privacy or hide unsightly views, take advantage of your vertical space with flowering vines. 

Hardy perennial vines can be grown in the ground with a trellis, fence or arbor for support. Annual vines are best enjoyed for the season in containers on the patio. 

Top 10 Flowering Vines

  1. Clematis (Clematis) - This queen of flowering vines is available in a wide array of flower colors, shapes and bloom times. All varieties of clematis prefer to be grown in full sun to partial shade
  2. Mandevilla (Mandevilla) - The heavy flowering mandevilla vine adds a tropical flair to the patio or landscape. Grow mandevilla in the ground or in a decorative container with a tall support structure. Give this vine full sun and regular fertilizer for all summer long blooms.
  3. Black-Eyed Susan Vine (Thunbergia alata) - This fast-growing, continuously flowering vine is easy to grow from seed, but is also commonly available at garden centers in shades of yellow, orange, pink or white. This tender perennial is usually grown as an annual in colder zones. Place Black-Eyed Susan vines in full sun with afternoon shade if possible while providing a trellis to support the plant. 
  4. Firecracker Vine (Ipomoea lobata) - The brilliant red blooms mature to pale yellow, creating a gradient of color, somewhat resembling a firecracker. A relative of morning glory, firecracker vine can be grown in the ground or large container in full sun.
  5. Passion Flower Vine (Passiflora spp.) - This vine, resembling something straight out of the tropics, can actually be grown just about anywhere, including much colder areas. Grow passion flower vine in the ground or in a container in full sun to light shade. 
  6. Trumpet Vine (Campsis radicans) - This fast-growing perennial vine with tubular flowers ranging from yellow to orange to red, are attractive to hummingbirds and bloom from summer into fall. Be aware - many gardeners consider trumpet vine to be invasive.
  7. Scarlet Runner Bean (Phaseolus coccineus) - Grown for its pretty red flowers that bloom all summer long plus attractive seed pods, this vigorous climbing vine can reach upwards of 20 feet (6 m) within one growing season. In zones 7-11 scarlet runner bean can survive as a short lived perennial. 
  8. Snail Vine/Corkscrew Vine (Cochliasanthus caracalla, formerly Vigna caracalla) - This unique and attractive vine is hardy in USDA zones 9-11. In colder regions, however, snail vine can be grown as an annual or brought indoors for the winter. 
  9. Hyacinth Bean Vine (Dolichos lablab or Lablab purpurea) - This vine will add color and interest to any garden from mid summer until fall with its beautiful pinkish-purple sweet-pea-like flowers and interesting glossy purple seed pods. Hyacinth bean vine is a vigorous grower, making it a popular choice for those that need quick cover on an arbor or fence.
  10. Bougainvillea (Bougainvillea) - While bougainvillea offers a long summer bloom, the typical pink or purple flowers are actually not flowers at all! They are leaf bracts that surround the actual tiny white flowers. Place woody bougainvillea vines in a site that receives full sun. 
Amy Draiss
Digital Community Manager

Amy Draiss, Digital Community Manager at Gardening Know How since 2021, seamlessly blends her hands-on gardening experience with a digital green thumb. With roots in family landscaping and management at a garden center, Amy has cultivated expertise in plants, supplies, and customer relations. Residing in the Midwest, Amy tends to her two-acre haven, showcasing a diverse range of trees, shrubs, and perennials. As the Hydrangea Queen, she shares her love for these blooms and imparts gardening wisdom through videos and social media. Beyond gardening, Amy enjoys quality time with her family, travel, and theme parks. Amy's mission is to inspire and advise plant enthusiasts, fostering flourishing gardens for both seasoned and budding gardeners alike.