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Bee free evergreen vine other than ivy - is it possible?

16 years ago

Title says most of it. We just finished a 16'x16'x10' pergola and use it as an outdoor dining and entertaining space. We want to grow vines to cover the pergola, but since we will be using it for dining and entertaining we want something that is not bee friendly but will be there year-round.

I'd prefer against an invasive ivy as well as I don't want to have to battle the vine for control of our yard.

Ideas?

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Comments (5)

bullthistle
16 years ago
Here are three to start researching.

Hydrangea petiolaris (Climbing Hydrangea) These are extremely slow to get started, but there is nothing to beat the sight of a mature specimen in bloom. Climbing Hydrangea is a deciduous vine that clings with aerial roots. It needs solid support, like a wall, fence or even a large tree. They produce the lacy hydrangea flower heads in June. The dried flower head and peeling bark give it winter interest. Worth the investment in time. White flowers. 10 - 80' (Zones 4 - 7)

Passiflora incarnata (Passionflower, Maypop) There are over 400 varieties of passionflower, most of which are tender tropical evergreens. Passiflora incarnata is a deciduous species that can actually survive a bit of freezing temperature. In fact, itÂs native to the southeast U.S. ItÂs semi-woody, with large serrated and clings with tendrils. Like its cousins, maypop is prized for its complex and exotic looking flowers. Purple and white flowers15 - 20' (Zones 7+)

Campsis radicans (Trumpet Vine) A native American plant much loved by the hummingbirds and butterflies. Widely adaptable to heat and cold and an especially good choice as a perennial vine for Northern gardeners. Since they can get quite woody, their weight requires a strong support. Mature specimens make for nice winter interest, although they do require some maintenance pruning to keep them flowering at their best. Flowering can take a few years to start. Orange, Red and Yellow Flowers. Can grow to 40' (Zones 5 - 9)

Here is a link that might be useful: Propagating Perennials
pinkspoonbill
16 years ago
I knew someone who covered an outdoor area near the house with grapevines, then harvested the grapes. I do not know if bees go to grapes. Might have to investigate this. Even if they don't go to the flowers, they might go to the overripe grapes. But, you get something to eat if you plant grapes.

Many hardy Aristolochia vines attract pipevine swallowtail caterpillars. But, then you'd get chewed leaves and cater pillar droppings, so that might not be too good, either, unless you just love the butterflies.

Another unusual one I've never seen but would love to try is a hardy kiwi. You'd need a male and a female to get kiwis, and, again, don't know about the bee situation.

Cinnamon vine smells like cinnamon for a short time. This gets eaten by Japanese beetles, so if you have those, you might not want to try this one either.

Coral vine (antigonon, I think) gets beautiful pink flowers, but check the hardiness. It takes zone 8 for sure. Don't know about zone 7.

Clematis has beautiful flowers in a range of colors, and I've never seen bees at it.

Just some suggestions. If the trumpet creeper is rampant in your area, I've heard that the crossvine is very similar but better behaved. I don't know this personally, just heard it. The maypop is a beautiful flower, and that vine attracts the Gulf Fritillary caterpillar.

Good luck picking a vine.
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I have a young redbud, which is supposed to be an understory tree, planted near east fence where it gets too much sun, but has trees planted around it which in a few years WILL make the redbud an understory tree :-) A clematis that is using the fence has spread and is climbing up the redbud. I'm glad because the poor tree needs more shade. If the clematis growing in the redbud gets too thick in a couple years I'll prune the vine back. It's flowering now and looks good. When I first moved here in 1984 I lived for 2 decades as a 24/7 caregiver on lots of old huge estates where there were plethora of plantings, mature, all jumbled together in lush exotic beauty. And these estates, several acres each, employed nearly full-time gardeners that kept things in balance in a sort of controlled overgrowth that looked like a well-manicured jungle. That's what I'm aiming for and even though it is a lot of work it's pleasurable work (if it isn't too hot outside). I believe man is created with the spark of God's ideal for beauty, stewardship and creativity and if one is fortunate enough to own land, one owes it to oneself, his Maker and fellow man to create the most beautiful spot on the planet as possible.
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Sunlight Gardens, a mail-order nursery with a very good selection of regional natives, especially recommends the Dutchman's Pipe or Pipevine (Aristolochia macrophylla) for "screening" uses in a shady location. This vine will grow in sun or shade although probably not really deep shade. Not evergreen; however, the large, 6 to 12 inch, heart-shaped leaves, will effectively cover a fence or trellis during the growing season. The plant is named for the shape of the flowers. More description: "Dutchmans Pipe is a common vine in moist southern Appalachian hardwood forests in coves and along stream banks easily twining 20 to 30 feet high. It has been popular as a porch screen for ages because it is fast growing, has large heart shaped leaves, and has odd little flowers. The two inch pale brownish purple flowers are pipe shaped or s-shaped with a widely flaring triangular "mouth" perfect for catching careless flies. The curious looking early summer flowers are borne sparsely among the wide leaves. Try it on a trellis for screening or let it ramble among shrubs and trees. It likes good moist soil and can take either shade or sun." For even more information, see http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/Plant.asp?code=J410 "Will quickly provide dense cover for sun porches, verandas, pillars, posts, trellises, arbors, fences or walls. Has been used for many years to screen front porches, and is capable of creating a deep shade." And, as a further benefit, pipevine (Aristolochia) is the main host plant for the caterpillar of the beautiful pipevine swallowtail butterfly, described here. (So if you do plant this vine, and then eventually a weird looking black caterpillar with orange spikes all over its body shows up, please take good care of your "babies" and don't spray them!) http://www.fcps.k12.va.us/StratfordLandingES/Ecology/mpages/pipevine_swallowtail.htm Here is a link that might be useful: Dutchman's Pipe Vine available - Sunlight Gardens
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I'm doing the same "hide a fence" thing presently. If you want really cheap, fast and evergreen, you can use any of the cold hardy English Ivies in zone 6. I recommend 'Thorndale.' It's the hardiest with larger leaves for coverage. It's not invasive here in Utah and shouldn't be in PA either (but double check). I'm only using it because I have a very narrow planting area (12-inches). Most everywhere else I'm using 'American Pillar' Arborvitae (narrow, fast, dense, hardy and evergreen). It's cheaper than a privacy fence if you purchase starters and it's very fast growing for an arborvitae (up to 3' per year). However, it maybe overkill for what you want because it grows tall quickly (20' - 30'). You can find a cheaper Arborvitae for use as a shorter hedge. If you have a lot of snow on the ground during the winter, then you may just find a privet hedge will suite you fine. It's not evergreen from Christmas through March, but it's branches are pretty dense and no one's usually outdoors during that time anyway to really worry about it. However, unlike the 'American Pillar' Arborvitae, it'll need lots of pruning on both sides of the fence to keep in check. (My neighbor around the corner has it bordering the front of his property and it's a true beauty to behold. It would be my first choice except I need full privacy in the winter months due to my next door neighbor's windows being only a few feet from my windows and currently I have to keep my blinds closed all the time because they never do). Privet is super fast and cheap, but make sure to get the cultivar 'Cheyenne' as it is the most cold hardy variety. Those are your main options for cheap and fast, but their are a lot more options available for your area if you can move up in price and/or don't mind the speed. (ie. Hollies, Yews, Boxwoods, Firethorns, etc.). Good luck.
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Actually, Gelsemium sempervirens Margarita should be hardy for you - there's a Rhode Island gardener (6b) who has posted photos of its winter blooms on the New England forum. It has survived in my garden for 4 years, but has not done well; while Margarita is hardier than most Gelsemium sempervirens, my zone 5a is too cold for it to be happy. I may try it in a pot so I can give it some winter shelter. I found that Lonicera sempervirens 'Major Wheeler' retained some of its leaves for me last winter which was an unusually warm one for central NH, though usually it drops them all in late fall/early winter. Mine still has flowers on it now, though we have been having hard freezes for 5-6 weeks, so it might well bloom in winter for you. Mine blooms from some time in June until late fall with the most blooms in early summer, but it continues to push flowers on new growth. I don't know if all Lonicera sempervirens do this, but Major Wheeler is a very long bloomer. I'd start working on removing the ivy if possible.
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linccampbell
Original Author
16 years ago
Don't passionflower and trumpetvine both attract bees?

Of the vines suggested, are they all evergreen (meaning green foliage in north texas winters)?

Thanks for the help!
Josh
16 years ago
Asian Jasmine in the variegated form is a small glossy- leaved evergreen with sparse very small white flowers ...the only way I know it's blooming is a sweet scent if I pass close by. Never noticed a bee around it. Trachelospermum asiaticum variegatum has been disease and pest free, has small green/white leaves with added shades of red/burgundy in fall and winter. I've grown it on a trellis entryway and in pots. Will grow in full sun or part shade, it's fairly drought tolerant and easily controlled...just wind the growing tips back into the older growth. As to speading from roots, it will...but shallow rooted and easy to control...when someone admired it that's where I got already rooted bits to offer them...LOL

I can't promise "no bees" but since I'm fairly watchful for bees and wasps I would have never grown it in pots on porch or on entryway into garden if I'd ever noticed either. I've had pots of it since 1991, some non-variegated and a dwarf type. Can you tell I really like this plant? LOL josh
jlosc
16 years ago
I have a huge clematis, and the bees do not bother it at all. It flowers year round. I'm in zone 9. Once a year the frost gets it and I cut it right back to the ground, and every year, without fail, it grows quickly and beautifully. The flowers are gorgeous too.

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