Christie’s Blog

May 2024

Talking to the Vines            

Jackmanii Clematis

Out of all the plants I have worked with I make the most comments while working vines. My words are usually full of apologies for breaking off delicate tendrils, or trying to get vines to twine around too tight a wire.  Sometimes I break off new buds and wince. There is also my joyful cry of, ”Wow you grew so much overnight!”

Here are a few tenets of what I believe vines like after my years of planting them. (One small disclaimer…Any similarity between vines and we humans is strictly coincidental. )

What do they like?

Most perennial vines like to grow upwards, sideways, diagonally or drape. Their stems do not like to be forced or tied to grow down.

Vines like to be held up by strong supports, especially when young.

Vines demand your attention or they flop, fall to the ground or grab hold of other plants you don’t want disturbed.

When supported well and nudged in the correct direction, they learn how take care of themselves as they age.

Most vines like to be heavily pruned at least once a year to keep them prolific. This pruning should happen in early spring and/or right after they bloom.

This photo is a before and after of a clematis vine secured to a post. This huge vine was cut to the ground 2 months ago.

Design Value of Vines In Your Garden

Vines can add a vertical accent to soften a sharp corner or empty space on your house.

They can highlight a fence, pergola or trellis and create a powerful garden accent.

They help disguise more functional spots in the yard like garage doors and fencing around AC units.

They are striking and the most beautiful when coupled with another plant.

A Few Vines that do well in Virginia

Lonicera or Trumpet Coral- (not trumpet vine).

This is a tough plant that travels quickly.  It easily holds on to supports like wire, old stems of vines, wooden posts and railings by wrapping and ‘twining’.

‘Major Wheeler’, a red/orange color, the  purple Jackamanii, a repeat bloomer,  and yellow lonicera are the most prevalent here. Other varieties get powdery mildew and look awful in mid summer.

With age, the bottom few feet of stems get thick and lose there leaves.  This leafless stem leaves an opportune spot for other vines to grow on. Clematis and controlled roses are 2 good accompaniment plants.

Clematis

“Head in the sun, feet in the shade” is the motto for this vine. If you don’t have any shade for the base of the plant,  use a broken terra  cotta pot to shade the bottom roots.

An article from the BBC gardening magazine (anything the Brits do in a garden works for me) instructed that each winter one should  prune all old growth to the ground.  You can leave some old stems after you cut the vine off at the feet. The vine climbs uses its tendrils to wrap around the old woody stem once you give it a little push  in the right direction.

Passion flower

This is a mechanical bloom in the shape of a wheel.

Even though the bloom is breathtaking, it is pretty aggressive. It send up wisps of plants around the base. I’ve seen it thrive by the river, up in trees, or in gravelly spots like the edge of RR tracks.  It drapes itself along the outside of evergreen trees. I let mine grow on top of cedars which doesn’t hurt the trees. I do try to remember to cut it back  or pull it up yearly.

Akebia (Chocolate Vine)

This vine loves shade and has either white or purple flowers that can become a huge fruit. The vine has tendrils and travels easily once shown where to go.

Lady Banks Rose

If you have a large enough area for this to take off on,  the Lady Banks is a gorgeous late winter bloomer. It has evergreen leaves and a striking yellow bloom. It needs to be supported  because it has no tendrils with which to grab hold and doesn’t twine.

Prune right after blooming because flowers come off new wood. The wire or support can be placed across the outside of the foliage in large swipes. Be careful with heavy exposure to cold wind in the winter. I lost mine because of the cold wind that whips across my meadow.

Do not prune them to  the ground.

The Mandeville -An annual vine

Another vine I often working with is the Mandeville. This vine is a twiner and does not have tendrils. I actually tried to plant two  on an ornamental trellis on my covered porch, with the intention of hand watering, but they hated it. The foliage curled and quickly got mites.

I have moved them to  my humming bird posts that I go by a few times a day.  I see their daily growth and help them twine around wire supports with a careful nudge.

There are a lot more vines to cover namely the wisteria, yellow jasmine, Carolina jasmine, grapes, morning glory and more. Whichever vine you choose, as they are growing and when no one is around maybe give them a good talking to.

Christie lives in Manakin Sabot , Virginia where she manages a 3 acre garden. Her blogs are written from her 35 years as a personal and professional gardener.