13 Flowering Vines for Year-Round Color

Dangling grape-like flower clusters adorn this vine starting in mid-spring. A mature vine in full bloom stops traffic. Flowers come in shades of lavender, white and pink. Chinese wisteria tends toward invasiveness. Explore American wisteria (Wisteria frutescens) for a more tame option. Landscape use: Train on a trellis or arbor located in the garden. This vine shines grown on a pergola. Hardy in Zones 5 to 8. Note: Chinese wisteria features heavy, woody stems that can pull down supports not firmly anchored.

This vine’s blossoms resemble traditional sweet pea flowers, but lack any fragrance. Blooms appear from spring to fall frost. Vines climb by tendrils and benefit from support. Landscape use: Plant along a chain link fence to disguise it, or use it on an arbor or obelisk in the garden. Hardy in Zones 3 to 8.

Flowers release a heady chocolate fragrance and open in purple or white shades, depending on variety. Blooms appear in spring, followed by tasty fruit that ripens in late summer. This vine tolerates full shade and is considered invasive in many areas. Landscape use: Train on a sturdy structure, like a privacy fence or pergola. When growing on a privacy fence, use plastic bird netting to give vines a surface to grab. Hardy in Zones 4 to 9.

Many large-flowered clematis hybrids flower starting in midspring. The show lingers into early summer, with more flowers (a lighter flush) appearing in fall. Clematis climb by specialized leaf tendrils. Landscape use: Train on a smaller trellis, using thin supports like bird netting or fishing line to give vines something to grab. A brushed metal trellis or obelisk also works well for clematis. Hardy in Zones 3 to 9.