Arbors are a beautiful and practical addition to any home or garden. While typically used to create entryways, define outdoor spaces, and offer privacy, many people love arbors for the flowering vines they can support. An arbor’s latticework or slats create the perfect home for a creeping, trailing vine to grow and cover the arbor with stunning flowers. You can also create a custom-designed arbor to suit your home’s style or specific location needs. Let’s take a look at some different flowering vines to adorn your arbor.
Flowering Vines Zones 3-5
Clematis (clematis spp.) Nelly Moser is one of the most popular varieties of this deciduous vine. It blooms with pink flowers in late spring/early summer and late summer/early fall. Nelly Moser loves moist yet well-drained soil and can thrive in full sun to partial shade.
Goldflame Honeysuckle (Lonicera spp.) is a twisty vine that creates spirals through a garden arbor. It boasts bright yellow and pink blossoms that will fill your yard with fragrance all summer. This non-invasive honeysuckle enjoys sun, partial shade, and well-drained, moist soil.
Climbing Roses (Rosa setigera) is a classic choice for any arbor. There are many varieties of climbing roses, with Rosa setigera being a popular choice. It likes full sun to part shade and well-drained soil that holds moisture.
Trumpet Vine (Campsis radicans) is a fast-growing woody vine that produces organic red trumpet-shaped blossoms that attract hummingbirds. It is fairly drought-tolerant and blooms best in full sun. It grows aggressively, so be sure to plan on regular trimming.
Silver Lace (Fallopia baldschuanica) is another fast-growing vine that requires some maintenance to control. However, it grows quickly, tolerates full sun to partial shade, and is prized for its shade and white, clustered flowers.
Flowering Vines Zones 4-7
Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) is a high-climbing, deciduous shrub vine that shows its color through vivid, changing fall leaves, small flowers, and a bluish fruit in the spring. With its adhesive tips, rather than rootlets, it’s safer for walls and stonework.
Sweet Autumn Clematis (Clematis terniflora) blooms with fragrant, small white flowers in late summer through the fall. Pretty seedheads are left behind after the flowers fall.
Wisteria (Wisteria spp.), specifically the American wisteria (Wisteria frutescens), is a native, woody vine known for its fragrant, purple/lilac clustered blossoms. It grows well on moist, swampy land or close to water. Full sun is preferred, and blooms are seen in mid-spring.
Arctic Kiwi (Actinidia kolomikta), or variegated kiwi vine, is a prized fast-growing plant that brings color to your garden with bright green, white, and blush pink leaves. Perfumed flowers bloom in late summer and early fall bringing pretty fruits on female plants that are safe to eat.
Flowering Vines Zones 5-8
Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata) is one of the most striking flowering vines you can choose for your arbor. Its alien, purple frilled flowers with white and green centers pop against dark green leaves and attract beneficial pollinators. Native to the south, it uses less water than many vines and prefers sun to partial shade.
Dutchman’s Pipe (Aristolochia macrophylla) is highly poisonous, but it is still a popular flowering vine that produces large, unique blossoms and deep green leaves. Plant it in well-fertilized, moist soil with excellent drainage, out of the wind’s path. Its full leaves make it a top choice for privacy coverage, though due to its flammability, it should be planted away from your home.
Chocolate Vine (Akebia quinata) is an easy-to-grow vine that does well in normal soil, as long as it’s well-drained. Big, purple reddish flowers show themselves in early spring and produce sausage-shaped purple fruits in the fall. It grows quickly and needs regular maintenance.
Carolina Jessamine (Gelsemium sempervirens) is a beautiful, although poisonous, flowering vine that remains evergreen throughout the winter months. It loves rich, moist, well-drained soil and full sun, though it can tolerate some shade. You’ll see sweetly scented, vibrant yellow flowers starting in early spring.
Flowering Vines Zones 6-9
Black-eyed Susan (Thunbergia alata) is a trailing, annually flowering vine that grows quickly in the correct conditions. Producing orange flowers with a black center, this lovely vine can take over in frost-free areas. Blooming from mid-summer until the first frost, this vine also produces showy seeds and fruit later in the seasons.
Bougainvillea (Bougainvillea spp.) is a classic choice for many gardens due to its prolific lilac, pink or red blooms. It is a woody vine that does have thorns. This showy vine needs full sun and well-drained soil.
Trumpet Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens), named for its tubular, red blossoms, is a high-climbing vine perfect for your arbor. Unlike many popular flowering vines, the trumpet honeysuckle isn’t terribly aggressive. It loves moist, well-watered soil and does well in full sun and partial shade.
Common Jasmine (Jasminum Officinale) is a striking, richly scented flowering vine that grows rich foliage and will be covered with small, fragrant white blossoms in the late spring and early summer months. Known for being extremely resistant to diseases and pests, it loves full sun, part shade, and rich, fairly moist soil. Choose a spot with good drainage and some shelter.
Morning Glory (Ipomea spp.) is an annual, fast-growing vine that thrives in warmer areas. Often confused with nuisance bindweeds, it provides trumpet-shaped flowers and lovely green foliage. Annual Morning glories thrive in full sun and well-draining soil.
Flowering Vines Zones 7-10
Cape Honeysuckle (Tecomaria capensis) is a tropics flowering shrub that flowers in regular bursts year round. Its showy blooms range from rich orange to red and yellow, which are adored by hummingbirds. Easy to cultivate, plant Cape Honeysuckle in full sun and water well until it’s established.
Star Jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides) is similar in appearance and scent to common jasmine. Its heavy mounds of forest green leaves lay a dramatic backdrop to small, striking white blooms. Plant in partial shade to full sun and enjoy blooms in spring and summer.
Allamanda (Allamanda cathartica) is a stunning flowering vine boasting bright yellow blooms with reddish/orange hearts. This beautiful vine loves a lot of light and humidity and is a hearty, fast-growing climber. Enjoy its trumpet-shaped blossoms in the summer and fall.
Blue Sky Vine (Thunbergia grandiflora) has groups of medium-sized blue-purple blossoms with lovely yellow centers and is considered an easy-to-grow plant. It tolerates a range of light from full sun to partial shade. Plant in richer soil that drains well; it does not like to be soggy.
Flowering Vines Zones 9-11
Mandevilla (Mandevilla spp.) offers a wide variety of colorful blooms, ranging from pink to red, white, and even apricot. Some will have a darker or yellow center. Perfect for warmer climates, mandevilla loves warmth and sunlight; they require 6 hours of direct sunlight, including the noon hour. They won’t bloom without this sunlight.
Bougainvillea (Bougainvillea glabra), if given full sunlight and well-drained soil, will bloom happily in sunny and dry conditions. It offers year-round cover, and you’ll enjoy the brightly colored bracts that cover small white flowers in pink, orange, purple, and white papery “petals.”
Golden Trumpet Vine (Allamanda cathartica) produces striking yellow flowers that bloom throughout the year in warmer climates. Gives this plant at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight to support flowering. Plant golden trumpet vines in rich, well-drained soil and water regularly until established.
Jade Vine (Strongylodon macrobotrys) is a truly showy, tropical vine with striking turquoise flowers that grow in clusters. Plant jade vine in a warm, humid climate and give it plenty of sun for the full effect of its cascading blooms.
Flame vine (Pyrostegia venusta) blooms in the later winter and early spring with rich orange blossoms. Give this beautiful tropical vine full sun, and it won’t be picky about its soil…as long as it’s well drained.
Explore High-Quality Arbors with Walpole Outdoors!
Walpole is pleased to offer a variety of beautiful arbors crafted from solid cellular vinyl. Whether you’re looking for something classic like our Arched Arbor or something more modern like our Pergola Style Garden Arbor, we’ve got a vast selection for you. These premium arbors are durable yet lovely and will look like new for years to come. Each high-quality arbor comes in different widths, so you can find one that fits your space. Or, for more unique spaces, consider a custom-designed arbor from the experts at Walpole. Reach out to schedule your complimentary custom arbor design consultation.