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Fast-Growing Vines

by Marie Hofer, Gardening editor, HGTV.com

A co-worker is getting married in October and wants a vine that will cover an arbor in one season. She doesn't particularly care about flowers—she'll tack those in when the time comes—but wants a good coverage of nice foliage that will still look decent at a time when most things are winding down. She finally settles on fiveleaf akebia (or, chocolate vine), buying two one-gallon container plants in mid-April, and since then, the vines have put on about four feet of growth. To hedge her bets, she's keeping them in containers so that she can move them to a safe spot if frost threatens.

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Akebia

For her purposes, akebia (Akebia quinata) is a great choice. A woody twining vine that's fast out of the starting gate, it can grow 20 to 40 feet in a single season. It's hardy in USDA Zones 5 to 8 (iffy in Zone 4), deciduous but its leaves stay green until the first hard freeze, then they drop. In early spring flowers appear with the five-leaflet leaves; in fall purple pods appear. It shrugs off a range of light and moisture conditions, so adaptable that you have to prune it regularly and often to keep it in bounds.

Keeping her akebias in containers is also good insurance for the bride-to-be. Akebia is such a fast grower that it's considered an invasive species by some. Sometimes there's a thin line between a fast-growing vine and a weed out of control. Always check with your local extension office or trusted nurseryman to find out which plants are invasive in your area. If you want well-behaved fast growers, however, here are some other vines that know how to stay on the good side of vigor:

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Hyacinth bean
Purple hyacinth bean. Every summer a friend brings back her favorite deck ornament—a vigorous skirting of Lablab purpurea (formerly Dolichos lablab). What keeps gardeners flocking to this annual are its pinkish-purple flowers, abundant purple-green foliage, and from late summer on, the hyacinth bean's signature—screaming-reddish-purple pods. Pair its ornamental value with the fact that the seeds germinate with almost 100% reliability, and you have a perfectly easy fast-growing vine. The tendrils twine, so provide a trellis, fence, string or other support, and the plant will do the rest. Grows 10 to 20 feet; does best in full sun.
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Firecracker vine

Firecracker vine (Mina lobata). The vertical clusters of flowers--red-orange, fading to yellow and white—make this annual a winner. Score and soak seeds for 12 to 24 hours to help them germinate, then plant in moist, rich, well-drained soil in either full sun or partial shade. Grows 10 to 20 feet. Twining stems.
Moonflower. Also called moonvine, this vigorous twining vine—a cousin of the morning glory—can provide enchantment on a summer evening when its 5- to 6-inch white trumpet-shaped flowers open. Large heart-shaped leaves give this vine a lush look. Soak seeds overnight or scratch with a file, and plant in full sun. You'll find this listed as either Ipomoea alba or Calonyction aculeatum. Twining stems. Grows 10 to 15 feet.
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Cypress vine


Cypress vine. Similar to cardinal climber (Ipomoea x multifida), which produces red tubular flowers with yellow throats, this vine has small, phlox-shaped flowers. Ferny foliage gives it a delicate look. The cardinal climber and the cypress vine are both aggressive growers in the warm climes of the South, to the point of being invasive, but are well-behaved in cooler areas.
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