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vines to cover roof

18 years ago

fast growing vine for roof.

im looking for a super fast vine that grows by tendrils so it wont damage my roof. my bedroom gets so hot in the summer and i thought if i covered the roof with green vines it might help cool off the roof. BUT i dont want vines that will grow into the roof.

i was thinking of putting chicken wire a few inches off the roof for a trellis.

any ideas? FRUITING vines would be most desirable but any fast growing vines that reach a height of 10 or mor feet would be great.

i live in waco texas

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Comments (5)

gardengirlbrkn
18 years ago
i would use morning glory if i were you, it grows SO fast and won't damage anything as it will not put out roots or tendrils...
gordonhawk
18 years ago
Mother raises purple martins and back before the foam super gourd she would have the big bird gourds all across her roof... big leafed monster climbers.. there's a trumpet vine where I'm working on another garden... that's growing across a metal roof of a vent building.. I guess they make their own shade there and then it's not 1/2 as hot... a little progress at a time... Gordon
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Insurance companies hate vines that cover roofs, because they are fire hazards. My friend Jane just had to kill her bougainvillea to please Allstate. The potato vine was glorious, but it probably was a fire hazard. It was covering half of Mikey's office. I took this picture before it came down. I love the orchid colored violas. I go on a quest for them each year. I also like the deep red ones and the orange ones. I can't grow pansies very well, but I got that lovely rose and white one- just one six-pack. I have no place for them so I'll dump them on my mom :)
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Vines that twine or have tendrils are usually ok. Vines that send out roots that grab hold like english ivy are NOT ok. English ivy and other grabbing vines could literally lift up your shingles. One thing to consider, looking at your picture, once the vine hits those asphalt shingles they will probably stop because of the heat. Another thing to consider is if they do manage to survive the shingles and the heat, the shaded undersides of the plants will probably retain humidity which is not a good thing for a roof. BTW I too had doves nesting in a hanging basket. In subsequent years I tried to shoo them away, but finally gave up and always leave one basket for the birds. X
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It doesn't matter where you live, Boston ivy, Parthenocissus tricuspidata, IS deciduous. In fact, it is typically grown for the very intense scarlet color the leaves produce before they fall off. I would never recommend English ivy, Hedera helix, as it is far too invasive in many (even most) parts of the country and in those locations where it is NOT invasive, it is often killed back in the winter. Just not a good choice.
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patsy_b
18 years ago
Caerulea passifloras will grow fast and are evergreen in your area. Cross vines are also evergreen but are not nearly as fast growing. If you choose an evergreen perennial you will not have to replant each spring.

Patsy
utsharpie
Original Author
18 years ago
ive read morning glory seeds are hallucinogenic? is this true? should i be concerned with my cat?
LaurelLily
18 years ago
"Cross vines are also evergreen but are not nearly as fast growing. If you choose an evergreen perennial you will not have to replant each spring."

Good point about evergreens. I'm still new to crossvines (have only had one about 3 wks) but I can tell you that they're a native plant in Texas, which I would think would be a big plus because it would require very minimal care.

They're supposed to be hummingbird magnets, too.

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