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Cottage Gardens

Arbor flower suggestion?

Lilyfinch z9a Murrieta Ca

14 years ago

Thanks everyone for the help earlier about my fence. The other day i was at kmart and got a wrought iron arbor that is perfect for the entrance to my garden ( it was only 40 bucks!!!). Im trying to find something to grow on it. The only thing is i cant use wisteria (have a puppy and read that its very poisoness) and i would like something to bloom alot. Im interested in clematis, or roses, but cant think of anything else so what do you suggest? Thanks so much!!! Full sun btw, and i dont care for red, or orange

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Comments (9)

louisianagal
14 years ago
I had a pretty large wooden arbor that husband built in Louisiana, and I had one climbing pinkie rose planted on each side and it covered it every year. Not sure how large and sturdy your arbor is but there are many climbing roses for it, I have New Dawn that I am training up a brick wall.
As for another suggestion, you might try an annual vine if ok for your zone, would only be in bloom in summer, like blackeyed susan vine, hyacinth bean, Tangerine Beauty (is that bignonia?), what about coral honeysuckle? Some honeysuckle are evergreen. What about morning glories they are annual but prolific, and then moonvine I grew in La. it opened and bloomed in evening.
lavender_lass
14 years ago
My Mom put morning glories on her arbor and they are beautiful. They also stay against the arbor, so you can walk through easily.

I did read somewhere that moon flowers and morning glories were poisonous to dogs, but I'm not sure about that. I would check with you vet to make sure any vine you're planting is okay for your puppy.
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How sturdy is your arbor? Some of them are full-blown heavy construction and some are more delicate -- that might make a difference in what you plant. The first thing I thought of was clematis. The big trick is to give them sun and keep the roots cool -- seems contradictory but itÂs what they like and it works. The sweet autumn ones are one of my favorites (just be advised they attract lots of insects, if this is a place you'll be sitting). But there are lots of other lovely ones. I know care can sound confusing but it's just a question of getting the "type" clematis you want to care for -- I've included a link below that might help, or do a search on "clematis groups" for lots of information. You could even plant a couple of types -- a spring flowering one, and a summer flowering one, for example -- for more bloom. If you do go with clematis, just be sure to mulch them heavily. They like cool roots and with that afternoon sun they'll grown well but appreciate the mulch. I grew Clematis 'Jackmanii' and 'Ramona' and against the recommendations, never pruned either one. They were both beautiful and thrived and bloomed heavily every year for over 15 years. I never fertilized, either. The only care I gave them was to water the first year, and to mulch the roots. Another vine that would do really well is the perennial (not the annual) sweet pea (Lathyrus latifolius). It takes the hot sun and loves to climb and blooms all summer until after frost. Comes up every year and except for a small amount of training and tying to support, requires no care. I love these and had one on my fence in hot sun and also up a trellis by a west-facing window. They attract bees so if thatÂs an issue you might not want them. I also thought of trumpet vine but it tends to get huge, given the chance, and will send shoots up EVERYwhere, so if you decide to go with that, be sure you have a sturdy trellis and be prepared to mow down or cut down the dozens of shoots coming up all over the yard. One summer I grew morning glory up a bird feeder post and it was gorgeous Â it twined all over and bloomed like crazy. It would like your nice warm location, too. You might want to mix it with moonflowers for evening bloom if youÂll be enjoying the arbor late in the day. There are other fun annual vines, too Â hyacinth bean and cardinal climber are two that come to mind, and scarlet runner bean, and also the tall (not the short) nasturtiums. A fun project Â enjoy! Here is a link that might be useful: clematis info
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Try dropmore scarlet honeysuckle. Blooms reliably in the shade and is hardy to zone 3. Mine hasn't gown all that fast, but has pretty blooms, attracts hummers, is in shade, and gets nice new growth each year. I think this is my second spring with that one. Melinda Myers recommends it in her Wisconsin Gardening book.
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I'm having the same problem with my arbor. The morning glories have been less than impressive and at this rate, they might look good and bloom a week before frost. Instead, I've decided to put in clematis vines. They're sitting on the porch right now, until it cools off enough to go dig :) I'm putting two purple and two white, to replace the morning glories and moonflowers I tried earlier...the moonflowers didn't even sprout. Disappointing, but gardening is all about learning what will do well in your area. Canary vine is pretty too (and non-toxic) but also takes a long time to get started, at least in zone 4. Sorry I don't have better ideas for an annual vine, but would clematis or honeysuckle work in the space? Maybe luffa on one side of the arbor, with perennials on the other?
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I'd put in some Clematis. Try several different kinds to spread out the blooming season. Finish up with Sweet Autumn Clematis (I love that. Smells wonderful). Moonflower vine is another vigorous sun lover but I think it's an annual. I lived in a house in Washington, D.C. that had an amazing Wisteria vine growing up the front. It was wonderful when it bloomed, except that it attracted an amazing number of bees. The rest of the year it was a pain. That stuff grows faster than Kudzu and is just as invasive. It doesn't get the bad press because it's prettier.:)
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User
14 years ago
If you look at Brushwood..they have an amazing collection of vines. I have ordered from them and the plants are always a lovely size and good prices. They are also very reasonable on shipping. They have climbing roses too. c

Here is a link that might be useful: Brushwood Nursery
gldno1
14 years ago
If you do roses, I would try to get a fairly thornless one if you will be using the arbor. I planted Awakening on the front porch much to my great sorrow. I can't keep ahead of the long ramblers and they are very thorny. I am thinking of moving it.
kathi_mdgd
14 years ago
Thunbergias grow really fast and are very good on arbors.Right now we have a white bleeding heart vine growing on ours and it's in full sun all day.
Kathi
janroze
14 years ago
Agree with everything, but you also might consider growing a variety of clematis. Be sure to several for each side of the right ht and that need pruning at the same time or not at all. Also select ones that bloom at different times. If you buy ones that can handle severe pruning to the ground, mix them with the roses--it is the most gorgeous solution of all.
gramma jan
gldno1
14 years ago
Look for a clem that will bloom the longest time. So far, for me, it is Huldine. A single plant could cover the arbor. I do have another that is reblooming now, but for good foliage too, Huldine wins hands down.

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kathi_mdgd
14 years ago
That clematis is Gorgeous!!!
Kathi
Lilyfinch z9a Murrieta Ca
Original Author
14 years ago
Thank you for the wonderful suggestions! I love the picture of the clematis you posted, i ill look for it at my nursery, but just ondering what the other clematis is that reblooms well for you?
I would love roses, but i am heartbroken by the recent foilage loss of the lavender simplicity roses i have, so i need something that is pleasant to walk through and wont break my heart! :)

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