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Native vine for fence

16 years ago

I am looking for a native vine to grow on a fence at the back of our yard. I have looked at Lonicera flava, Native Yellow Honeysuckle Vine but am unsure if it will grow in Wisconsin. The other vine I had found that might work is American Bittersweet. Anyone have any suggestions or experiences to share??

Thanks!

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Comments (2)

loris
16 years ago
I haved Lonicera sempervirens (not sure which cultivar if any) here in NJ and I really like it. Lonicera sempervirens 'Flava' is a cultivar and I think that's the plant you have in mind. L. sempervirens isn't native to Wisconsin but it is hardy to zone 4. I get hummingbirds at my L. sempervirens, and from a quick look L. 'Flava' does attract hummingbirds despite not being red.

If you want to get a Wisconsin native, see if Parthenocissus quinquefolia (Virginia Creeper) would work for you. L. sempervirens is prettier in my opinion and Virginia Creeper isn't evergreen, but it has good fall color and birds like the berries.

I've heard you need to be very careful when buying American Bittersweet because often Oriental Bittersweet gets labeled as it, and they're not that easy to tell apart. If I were buying it and wasn't sure I could tell the difference (if my memory's right it's a matter of where the fruit shows up) I'd want to get it from a very reputable nursery which specializes in natives. Otherwise I'd worry about get the wrong plant possibly due to an honest mistake.
lycopus
16 years ago
American and oriental bittersweet are pretty easy to tell apart based on leaf shape, although the leaves can be variable. The leaves of American bittersweet are typically narrower than those of oriental bittersweet.

American bittersweet

Oriental bittersweet

Another vine you might consider is Virgin's Bower (Clematis virginiana) for something relatively robust and easy to grow provided the soil is not too dry. Groundnut (Apios americana) might work as well.
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