What to Grow Now | Flowering Vines
Lush and appealing, flowering vines have a way of softening a garden’s edges and gracefully transforming ordinary structures—fences, walls, pergolas, arbors, even lackluster outbuildings—into something far more romantic. Not only do they climb to great heights, they provide fragrance, seasonal color, and movement in the garden without taking up a lot of precious ground space.
Among the most reliable natives, ‘Major Wheeler’ honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) covers trellises and arbors in coral-red blooms from late spring into summer, often reblooming into fall. Its tubular flowers attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, and its bright berries nourish songbirds come fall. Other vigorous, dependable options include ‘Tangerine Beauty’ crossvine (Bignonia capreolata), with its glossy foliage and spring clusters of orange-red flowers, and showy maypop (Passiflora incarnata), a hardy, fast-growing passionflower with exotic lavender-and-white blooms that give way to edible fruit in late summer.
For shadier gardens, consider virgin’s bower (Clematis virginiana), which produces airy clusters of fragrant white flowers in late summer, just as many other vines are beginning to fade. Another option: woodvamp (Decumaria barbara), a climbing hydrangea with delicate, lacy blooms that thrives in dappled light and can be trained to climb the trunks of mature trees.
Though not as ecologically beneficial, some well-behaved non-native climbing vines can perform well in protected locations. ‘Jackmanii’ clematis, a top choice for trellises, garden walls, and fences, gets high marks for its glossy leaves and velvety, deep-purple blooms. Likewise, star jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides) offers dark evergreen foliage and intensely fragrant white flowers. As for ease and beauty, you can’t underestimate pale pink ‘New Dawn’ or old-fashioned peony-like ‘Eden’ climbing roses, both of which are vigorous, disease-resistant, and bloom repeatedly into autumn. — Monica Michael Willis
IN A NEW LIGHT
With outdoor entertaining season in full swing, thoughtfully placed lighting can make a garden every bit as inviting after dark as it is during daylight hours. Corston Architectural Detail’s new Cambridge outdoor lighting collections (in antique-brass and polished nickel) pair timeless British design with dependable performance, illuminating pathways, entrances, and plantings with a modern, energy-efficient LED glow. Designed to weather beautifully over time, the minimalist fixtures add depth, ambiance, and understated architectural elegance to garden spaces long after the sun sets.
A Great Read
In the Essential Guide to Ecological Gardening (Quarto; $29), experts at the nonprofit American Horticultural Society offer a practical blueprint for creating landscapes that work with nature, not against it. Through photographs, illustrations, and easy-to-follow advice, the 240-page guide shows new and experienced gardeners alike how small, thoughtful choices can improve biodiversity, conserve water, support pollinators, and build healthier soil—without sacrificing beauty. Topics range from native plant selection and ecological garden design to erosion control, composting, and environmentally friendly pest management.
