Since it's east Asian in origin maybe it turned out to not like the dry summers or soils there. Otherwise it amounts to a big growing grape vine with nice leaves that color well in fall - maybe another kind of grape would work for you.

Hi Ronoldjohn,

I had never heard of that so I googled it, and it looks like it might work here along the Front Range. This site is from the UK, so, clearly different growing conditions, but from the info it sounds like a possibility, and I've run into other things on this site that seemed accurate to me.

http://www.pfaf.org/user/plant.aspx?latinname=vitis+coignetiae

I wasn't looking for this, but also happened to notice a mail order place in CA that's selling it. There are likely other online places that sell it. [I don't know anything about Digging Dog Nursery!]

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=4&ved=0ahUKEwicl_SB75jMAhVkkoMKHbRjDnsQFgg5MAM&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.diggingdog.com%2Fpages2%2Fplantpages.php%2FT-0233&usg=AFQjCNHe55ub8CgZWWvEEfoKjPNuz36bTQ&sig2=Tvsc0CehhZMbYxlnO8a2LQ

But! Have you ever considered just putting in some nice variety of "real" grape? They grow fast, they get long, and you'd also get something you could actually eat! I have a 'Reliance' grape which is a small red/pink table grape. No seeds, and sweet--when the squirrels don't get them first!

Just something to consider!

Welcome to RMG,

Skybird

Another vine to look into is Kintzley's Ghost honeysuckle. A Plant Select verified variety which means its probably a great choice for the Front Range

My patio is 30 x 15 and most of the vines (honeysuckle, coral honeysuckle, five-leaf akebia, clematis, trumpet vine) . I do have a clematis with hanging, yellow bell shaped flowers that does supply some shade. I also have two grape vines and virginia creeper growing on chain link fencing in other areas of the yard. The only reason that I did not originally plant those vines on my patio was that I was hoping to use flowering vines. A;so, my honeysuckle does not seem to flower abundantly.

Kintzley's Ghost honeysuckle is a very interesting plant which I may find a space for but it also does not grow more than 15" max.

Too small then. Hmmmm....

One thing to keep in mind, without excessive pampering, most plants in Colorado will be less "vigorous" (for lack of a better term) than they will further east where the soil is richer and there's more water.

Even the natives show this "regional dimorphism," side oats grama grass is a perfect example. In parts of Oklahoma, it can be close to 3' tall, here I have never seen one taller than 10". Similarly, big bluestem in Nebraska can reach heights of up to 8', specimens here top out at around 5' if it's in a really good spot. Garden plants we have a little more control over, but even so, to get them to reach their full potential takes significantly more effort than it does elsewhere, we just have a lot more limiting factors.

How true! East to West the prairie is classified as Tall-Medium-Short.

I think that I tend to take water saving to an extreme as it kind of bothers me to see lawns watered multiple times a week when mine is going dormant. My landscape plants could also benefit from additional water. I often forget about them as long as they are green.

Perhaps it is time to plant another grape and in a few years maybe I can count on some shade!

I don't really like "pampering" plants either. I plant a lot drought tolerant natives, but, the thing with that is, in this harsh environment "smaller is better" prevails, giant, lush plants are less likely to survive on the limited resources of food, water, and warmth.

There is one native vine I am thinking of, I have always just called it "virgin's bower" but apparently that's ascribed to Clematis virginiana, an eastern plant. So, I guess it is WESTERN virgin's bower (C. ligusticifolia). In any case, I have seen this guy climbing right up monstrous cottonwoods along the South Platte, definitely more than 15' tall. If you could somehow get a hold of one, it might be just what you need... with the caveat that it is riparian species, so, it likes wetter conditions. I am unaware of it being commercially available, but you might be able to find seeds from some of the native specialty sources (or just go hiking around streams and rivers and look for the tell-tale clematis seed heads in a long vine). Be careful though, Clematis orientalis (the yellow flowered Chinese clematis) is a noxious weed that might be found in the same area.

The tag for my yellow climatis is missing and I have wondered if it is the noxious variety but I just found this information...

• Deciduous vine that grows as a climber or scrambling shrub that attaches itself by way of tendril-like stems
• Mine does not have tendrils and has never sprouted from seed. It may be Clematis tangutica
• I will look for the WESTERN virgin's bower

If you bought it, which I'm guessing since it had a tag) a REPUTABLE place won't sell noxious weeds. And it has been on the list for a while now I believe, so, it's not it would have caught any (again reputable) retailer by surprise.

Though, mistakes happen, and there are plenty of places that don't care. Theres a seed outfit that sells dames rocket/purple loosetrife seeds. Now, there is some debate as to the actual "noxiousness" of this plant, but, it is listed in most states nonetheless. If if an outfit is okay to sell this one, they are likely okay to sell others that are VERY noxious, and indeed I believe I did see several. I wish I could remember, it was one of the "native" specialty websites.

ANYWAYS, enough of that tangent...

C. tangutica is a commonly sold yellow, bell-flowered clematis. To me, they are very similar to the C. orientalis, one ofthe main difference is: you are likely to find C.t. in a nursery or garden center, while are are highly unlikely to find C.o. I would guess you have C.t.

I planted maybe four varieties of euphorbia about a decade ago and one of them still pops up in my yard! It sure looks like leafy spurge!

I steer clear of the euphorbias for that very reason, I don't trust them haha.