8 Essential Flowering Vines for the Southeast
These native vines have eye-popping flowers and provide food for bees and birds
Falon Mihalic
September 18, 2016
Houzz Contributor. Landscape Architect in Texas and Florida and owner of Falon Land Studio LLC. Through landscape design, I create spaces for quiet reflection and lush gardens using native plant palettes and sustainable stormwater techniques. I'm a contributing writer to Houzz so that I can be active in the conversation about sustainable design for residential projects. Learn more about my company's work at falonland.com
Houzz Contributor. Landscape Architect in Texas and Florida and owner of Falon Land... More
Vines can grow in the narrowest spaces and climb and twine in ways other plants simply cannot. The most vigorous vines can reach heights of 30 feet or more, and flowering types can cover pergolas and walls in fragrant blooms that attract bees and hummingbirds. These eight vines native to the southeastern U.S. have showy blooms that attract garden wildlife, including bees, birds and butterflies.
Not in the Southeast? Browse plants native to other regions of the U.S.
Not in the Southeast? Browse plants native to other regions of the U.S.
Each vine grows by one of three ways: twining, clinging or tendrils. A twining vine needs a support to wrap around, a clinging vine uses aerial roots to attach to a surface, and tendrils are little coils that grow outward in search of something to grasp.
Due to their growing nature, vines can be aggressive — they tend to attach to and wrap around anything nearby, like a hedge or tree. Plant your vines at the base of a wall, trellis or pergola so that they will be less likely to escape where you don’t want them to grow.
American Wisteria
(Wisteria frutescens)
Native to the southeastern and south-central U.S., from East Texas up to New York
The native wisterias, including American wisteria, are less aggressive than the nonnative species from Asia. As with other wisterias, the flowers are garden showstoppers. They occur in spring on new growth once the leaves have appeared. Plant American wisteria in a sunny location with rich soil, where it will twine to a height of 15 to 30 feet.
‘Amethyst Falls’ has been bred for more restrained growth and has the same complex lavender flowers hanging from the vine in clusters.
Due to their growing nature, vines can be aggressive — they tend to attach to and wrap around anything nearby, like a hedge or tree. Plant your vines at the base of a wall, trellis or pergola so that they will be less likely to escape where you don’t want them to grow.
American Wisteria
(Wisteria frutescens)
Native to the southeastern and south-central U.S., from East Texas up to New York
The native wisterias, including American wisteria, are less aggressive than the nonnative species from Asia. As with other wisterias, the flowers are garden showstoppers. They occur in spring on new growth once the leaves have appeared. Plant American wisteria in a sunny location with rich soil, where it will twine to a height of 15 to 30 feet.
‘Amethyst Falls’ has been bred for more restrained growth and has the same complex lavender flowers hanging from the vine in clusters.
Woolly Dutchman’s Pipe
(Aristolochia tomentosa)
Native from East Texas to the East Coast and north to Illinois and Indiana
Woolly Dutchman’s pipe is the larval host plant for the pipevine swallowtail butterfly and makes a great addition to a butterfly garden. It requires moist soil and is best planted where the roots will be shaded and the vine can grow up toward sunlight. It twines to a height of 10 to 15 feet.
The unique flowers in early summer are small compared to the large heart-shaped leaves, which make a lush cover for a pergola.
(Aristolochia tomentosa)
Native from East Texas to the East Coast and north to Illinois and Indiana
Woolly Dutchman’s pipe is the larval host plant for the pipevine swallowtail butterfly and makes a great addition to a butterfly garden. It requires moist soil and is best planted where the roots will be shaded and the vine can grow up toward sunlight. It twines to a height of 10 to 15 feet.
The unique flowers in early summer are small compared to the large heart-shaped leaves, which make a lush cover for a pergola.
Crossvine
(Bignonia capreolata)
Native from East Texas to Florida in the south and to West Virginia and Maryland in the north
Crossvine is a vigorous vine suitable for robust support structures where it has room to grow. Crossvine, like the other vines with red trumpet-shaped flowers, is an excellent hummingbird attractor. Its fragrant flowers appear in spring at about 2 inches long, followed by long seedpods in late summer. Its flowers can be deep orange-red to a pure red and are visible at a distance.
It climbs by tendrils to a height of 30 to 50 feet and should be planted in full sun to partial shade.
See how to grow crossvine
(Bignonia capreolata)
Native from East Texas to Florida in the south and to West Virginia and Maryland in the north
Crossvine is a vigorous vine suitable for robust support structures where it has room to grow. Crossvine, like the other vines with red trumpet-shaped flowers, is an excellent hummingbird attractor. Its fragrant flowers appear in spring at about 2 inches long, followed by long seedpods in late summer. Its flowers can be deep orange-red to a pure red and are visible at a distance.
It climbs by tendrils to a height of 30 to 50 feet and should be planted in full sun to partial shade.
See how to grow crossvine
4. Coral Honeysuckle
(Lonicera sempervirens)
Native to the East Coast from Connecticut west to Ohio and Oklahoma, south to Florida and Texas
Coral honeysuckle is a vigorous, easy-to-grow vine. It twines to a height of 10 to 15 feet, growing in conditions with full sun to partial shade.
Coral honeysuckle’s red tubular flowers make it a great attractor of hummingbirds, who will visit during the spring migration, depending on where you live. The flowers are not particularly fragrant, but they attract many bees and butterflies too.
See how to grow coral honeysuckle
(Lonicera sempervirens)
Native to the East Coast from Connecticut west to Ohio and Oklahoma, south to Florida and Texas
Coral honeysuckle is a vigorous, easy-to-grow vine. It twines to a height of 10 to 15 feet, growing in conditions with full sun to partial shade.
Coral honeysuckle’s red tubular flowers make it a great attractor of hummingbirds, who will visit during the spring migration, depending on where you live. The flowers are not particularly fragrant, but they attract many bees and butterflies too.
See how to grow coral honeysuckle
5. Trumpet Creeper
(Campsis radicans)
Native to eastern Texas and the southeastern U.S.
Trumpet creeper is a robust and easy-to-grow vine. It will cover an ugly wall, fence or other structure in one growing season. It climbs by aerial roots to heights of 30 to 40 feet and will grow in the toughest spots. Red summer flowers attract hummingbirds.
It grows in any soil and is very drought-tolerant, preferring full sun to partial shade. Because of its aggressiveness, trumpet creeper should be treated like a perennial — cut it back to the main trunk each spring and let it regrow through the summer. If you want a vine with less maintenance, consider coral honeysuckle instead.
(Campsis radicans)
Native to eastern Texas and the southeastern U.S.
Trumpet creeper is a robust and easy-to-grow vine. It will cover an ugly wall, fence or other structure in one growing season. It climbs by aerial roots to heights of 30 to 40 feet and will grow in the toughest spots. Red summer flowers attract hummingbirds.
It grows in any soil and is very drought-tolerant, preferring full sun to partial shade. Because of its aggressiveness, trumpet creeper should be treated like a perennial — cut it back to the main trunk each spring and let it regrow through the summer. If you want a vine with less maintenance, consider coral honeysuckle instead.
6. Carolina Jessamine
(Gelsemium sempervirens)
Native to the southeastern U.S., from East Texas to Florida and north to Virginia
Carolina jessamine is the harbinger of spring, often blooming in the South before deciduous trees leaf out. Native bees feed on the nectar.
Grow Carolina jessamine in full sun in moist, rich soil. It twines to a height of 12 to 15 feet, but requires a support to get started.
Caution: All parts of this plant are poisonous.
See how to grow Carolina jessamine
(Gelsemium sempervirens)
Native to the southeastern U.S., from East Texas to Florida and north to Virginia
Carolina jessamine is the harbinger of spring, often blooming in the South before deciduous trees leaf out. Native bees feed on the nectar.
Grow Carolina jessamine in full sun in moist, rich soil. It twines to a height of 12 to 15 feet, but requires a support to get started.
Caution: All parts of this plant are poisonous.
See how to grow Carolina jessamine
7. Purple Passionflower
(Passiflora incarnata)
Native to the southeastern U.S., including eastern Texas, southern Illinois, southern Pennsylvania and nearly all of Florida
With spectacular and exotic-looking summer flowers, purple passionflower also hosts the larvae of the zebra longwing butterfly and feeds numerous pollinators. It climbs by tendrils to a height of 10 to 18 feet, preferring full sun or partial shade and medium to dry, well-drained soil.
See how to grow purple passionflower
(Passiflora incarnata)
Native to the southeastern U.S., including eastern Texas, southern Illinois, southern Pennsylvania and nearly all of Florida
With spectacular and exotic-looking summer flowers, purple passionflower also hosts the larvae of the zebra longwing butterfly and feeds numerous pollinators. It climbs by tendrils to a height of 10 to 18 feet, preferring full sun or partial shade and medium to dry, well-drained soil.
See how to grow purple passionflower
8. Devil’s Darning Needles
(Clematis virginiana)
Native to eastern North America, from North Dakota south to Texas, and eastward to Maine in the north and Florida in the south; in Canada, native from Saskatchewan eastward to the Maritime provinces
Devil’s darning needles is a smaller vine than the others on this list, climbing by tendrils to a height of 12 to 20 feet. A virtue is that it blooms in autumn, similar to its relative sweet autumn clematis (Clematis terniflora).
It grows in many zones, preferring partial sun, and is a sweet white flowering vine for smaller spaces. The flowers are delicate and small but numerous enough to make a big visual impact. Scarlet clematis (Clematis texensis) is a related native vine that grows well in Texas and has small red flowers.
Caution: All parts of this plant are poisonous.
See how to grow devil’s darning needles
More
Browse plants native to your region
Discover 5 unexpected ways to use vines
(Clematis virginiana)
Native to eastern North America, from North Dakota south to Texas, and eastward to Maine in the north and Florida in the south; in Canada, native from Saskatchewan eastward to the Maritime provinces
Devil’s darning needles is a smaller vine than the others on this list, climbing by tendrils to a height of 12 to 20 feet. A virtue is that it blooms in autumn, similar to its relative sweet autumn clematis (Clematis terniflora).
It grows in many zones, preferring partial sun, and is a sweet white flowering vine for smaller spaces. The flowers are delicate and small but numerous enough to make a big visual impact. Scarlet clematis (Clematis texensis) is a related native vine that grows well in Texas and has small red flowers.
Caution: All parts of this plant are poisonous.
See how to grow devil’s darning needles
More
Browse plants native to your region
Discover 5 unexpected ways to use vines
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Well, most of these are nice, but too messy for small yards Bignonia is the best listed. Throw Carolina Jasmine to the wind as it is a real mess. The key Southeast shade native vine is curiously omitted, Decumaria barbara or hydrangea vine, and it is great for small yards and very easy and refined yet natural in appearance. Falon, Decumaria is widely used in Florida. Are you aware of it?
Please don't plant trumpet creeper in north Florida - maybe any of Florida. My next door neighbor planted one, or a few, years ago. They send out large surface roots and deeply re-root about every foot or two. The stuff has completely covered her back yard, incl 2 crepe myrtles and a magnolia - all of which are about dead from no sunlight. It has covered the entire back of her house and she can't get out of her back door. It is growing on the sides, heading for her front yard. I cut it back twice, but the roots will need a strong man and a post hole digger.... so it is all back again. I have permission to cut and mow a swath alongside my fence to keep it out of my yard. But it sends out seeds, too. And baby plants keep popping up in my yard, and even roots coming under the fence if I don't keep up on HER property line. She is not in good enough health to do it and says she can't afford a professional to do it. Worse, it covers the low spots in her yard, providing good breeding spots for mosquitoes.
If you live in the lower southeast, be very careful about planting anything that is "vigorous".
Almost anything will grow to "Alarming Size" in the south.