20+ Favorite Flowering Vines and Climbing Plants

To celebrate the arrival of spring, let’s talk about flowering vines and climbers!

Flowering vines and climbing plants are such important garden elements: they provide shade and colors, beautify boring walls and fences, provide sweet fragrance, attract hummingbirds and butterflies, and create enchanting outdoor spaces.

Among the hundreds of gardens I have designed or visited, I will never forget those sweet moments of passing through a tunnel of glorious climbing roses, or sitting under an arbor covered with fragrant jasmine vine blossoms…

Let’s check out some of my favorite easy-to-grow climbing vines for year-round beauty, including fast growing flowering vines , fragrant flowering vines , colorful climbing plants,, and more!

1 & 2. Wisteria vines are the dreamiest flowering vines.

I have seen Wisterias blooming in so many climates from Boston to San Diego. One of the first to flower in early spring, the Wisteria is a fast growing flowering vine that is also very fragrant.

If you have a small garden, keep the Wisteria in a pot, as the plant can get huge! ( Source: 1 | 2 )

3 & 4. Tropical vines

Bougainvillea is a thorny vine, yet it’s one of the most popular flower vines in warmer climates because of the stunning flowers and long blooming season.

If you live in a colder climate, the Flame Honeysuckle / Lonicera heckrottii is hardy even in USDA zone 4, but still has the tropical look. ( Source: 3 | 4 )

Need some trellis ideas? Here are  21 beautiful DIY arbors, trellises and vertical garden structures.

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5 & 6. Climbing vines for year round color

Pyracantha is an evergreen vine or shrub that can be trained on a wall or column. It has very pretty white flowers in spring and early summer, the berries bring vibrant colors to the garden in late autumn and winter.

Different cultivars have either red, orange, or yellow berries. ( Source: 5 | 6)

7 & 8. Colorful climbing vine tunnels

Beautiful and delicious – just look at these showy flowers and fruits of the Scarlet Runner Bean and the Hyacinth Bean! ( Source: 7 | 8)

9 & 10. Cottage charm: Climbing Roses and Hydrangea vines

Arbors and pergolas add so much character to a garden, especially when they are planted with flowering vines. While climbing Roses ( “Zephirine Drouhin” Climbing Rose shown here ) need full sun to bloom profusely, the Climbing Hydrangea / Hydrangea petiolaris thrives in both sun and part shade. ( Source: 9 | 10)

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11 & 12. Flowering vines for fence and pergolas

It has been recorded that a single Rosa banksiae, common name Lady Banks’ rose, can have as many as 50,000 flowers! A great companion plant would be the Lilac Vine / Hardenbergia, which is evergreen, and has contrasting lavender color flowers.  ( Source: 11 | 12)

13, 14, 15 & 16. Gorgeous Clematis Flowering Vines

Clematis is a vigorous vine covered with a profusion of large flowers in almost any color you desire, with varieties that bloom at different times of year from spring to fall.  Train them on a garden gate or a fence for a beautiful focal point. ( Source: 13 | 14)

Two of my favorite Clematis with the prettiest pinks – Clematis armandii ‘Apple Blossom‘ and Clematis montana ‘Elizabeth‘. ( Source: 15 | 16)

17. Fragrant flowering vines

The elegant Star Jasmine / Trachelospermum jasminoides  is surprisingly tough: it is heat tolerant to over 100° F and frost hardy to around 10° F. The unforgettably fragrant star-shaped white flowers bloom from spring to fall. ( Source: tunnel | wall )

18 & 19. Hummingbirds love Trumpet vines

Both trumpet vines, Red Trumpet Vine / Campsis radicans and Lavender Trumpet Vine / Clytostoma callistegioides, are great plants for covering a fence and training along a wall, overhead arbor or pergola. Hummingbirds will be visiting you!  ( Source: 18 | 19)

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20 & more: Must have climbing roses

The final group of favorite flowering vines are some very beautiful and fragrant climbing roses.

Constance Spry Climbing Rose ( source ) | Strawberry Hill Climbing Rose ( source )

Sally Holmes Climbing Rose ( source ) | St. Swithun Climbing Rose ( source )

Crown Princess Margareta Climbing Rose ( source ) | Wollerton Old Hall Climbing Rose ( source )

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Happy spring!

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27 Comments

  1. Such beautiful flowering vines with names and growing info, just what I need to make our ugly fence disappear!

  2. These plants are beautiful, but most are from Japan or China. Consider planting natives for the native pollinators. Coral honeysuckle and trumpet vine are two beautiful vines to consider and you’ll attract hummingbirds, bees, and other lovely pollinators! Native plants don’t usually become aggressive and out of control.

    • hi glenda! thank you so much for the very good point! 🙂 i actually designed with CA natives for many years, but have not thought much about it since our readers are from all over the world now! 🙂 i will definitely add a note and think about some native plant articles!

  6. I love everything about gatdening and decorationg. Happy to find this site at this early morning hour. Not a heavy sleeper. True geniuses do not requure a lot of sleep. Bring in all the udeas and suggestions. Now, go conquer your day. CBF.

  7. Wow. Such beautiful pictures, and lots of inspirations for gardeners.
    Thank you so much, has certainly given me ideas, if only one could reproduce it over night !

  9. EYE CANDY!!!
    all you lucky people thinking of the beauty in your own gardens.
    I am in Canada. Still have 4 feet of snow on the ground.Looks like we getting ready for next winter. Where is winter

  10. Wow! All of these are so pretty. Wish I had a green thumb and a place to grow flowers. Would love to have some of these.

  11. I know from experience that trumpet vine is invasive. It will put out runners and pop up in the lawn, other flower beds, neighbor’s yard. Best if one can give it plenty of growing room. It is a lovely native plant in the right location.

    • thank you so much joan for sharing! i agree and will add this tip to the red trumpet! the pink trumpet is a better choice for small gardens for sure! 🙂

  13. So beautifull…Clematis,roses and other climb over…I love..So romantic..tenderness… Il love flowers all over us …Theu are so beauty..
    Have a nice day Ananda and take care of you always…

  18. Now you have inspired me. I love the Clematis. It’s something I can grow here in the North and would be so striking where I’d like to put it. I was thinking that until its established I might mix in some morning glories or maybe some red runner beans to fill out the trellis until these are established. I think I’m going to have to dig out a fair amount of soil to replace with something better to support the Clematis long term. I can’t wait for Spring now….something I fear might happen one day in June (I live in NH and we just had 18 or so inches of snow dumped on us the other day)

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