What many of us do not utilize in our landscaping are vines, there
are so many uses for them such as a trellis, fence, and they can climb
most anything. Several examples should include the following. The American bittersweet (Celastrus scandens) is a deciduous
twining woody vine that is prized for its ornamental berries that
appear in autumn and persist through the winter months.
American bittersweet is hardy between USDA zones 3 and 8 and is a
member of the Bittersweet family. The greenish yellow to white flowers
appear in late spring and are quite showy, but the orange-red berries
appearing in September are the main attraction. The berries attract
birds and the orange berries are quite stunning against a snowy
backdrop or encased in ice. The leaves turn yellow in fall.
American bittersweet produces more flowers and more berries when
planted in full sun than in partial sun. It grows to a height of 15 to
20 feet and will twine around tree trunks, lampposts, fences, arbors,
and similar structures. Avoid planting it near shrubs and small trees
because as a twining vine it may girdle or overtake them.
In the wild, American bittersweet grows along woodland edges and
hedgerows, and in thickets. It naturalizes easily, primarily by root
suckers and self-seeding (thanks to the birds), so keep an eye on it.
American bittersweet should not be confused with the Asiatic species,
Oriental Bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus), which is extremely
invasive, especially in New England.
The Trumpet honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) is a deciduous vine
native to the eastern, central, and southern US, ranging from Maine to
Florida and across to Texas and Missouri. Trumpet honeysuckle is a
member of the honeysuckle plant family (Caprifoliaceae) family and is
hardy between USDA zones 4 and 9, but will thrive in zone 3 if planted
in a sheltered area.
A fast growing vine that grows 10 to 12 feet high with a spread of
3 to 4 feet, trumpet honeysuckle has beautiful scarlet-orange flowers
with yellow interiors that resemble trumpets making them an ideal food
source for hummingbirds with their long beaks. Trumpet honeysuckle
blooms in May and June on the previous year's growth, and often
continues blooming throughout the summer months. The deep red berries
appear in September and attract birds but are poisonous to humans. The
foliage is blue-green in color.
Because trumpet honeysuckle is a twining vine it needs a support structure such as a trellis, fence, or arbor on which to grow.
Virgin's bower (Clematis virginiana), also known as woodbine,
devil's darning needles, and old man's beard, is a deciduous perennial
twining vine native to the eastern US. A member of the Buttercup family
(Ranunculaceae), it is hardy between USDA zones 3 and 8.
Virgin's bower is a late summer and fall blooming plant, flowering
from July to October. The approximately 1.5 inch white flowers are
showy and fragrant, attracting bees, butterflies, and birds. Preferring
full sun to partial shade (although it will bloom quite well even in
shade), virgin's bower grows 12 to 20 feet high.
It is an easy to grow vine that readily naturalizes and is perfect
for a trellis, arbor, lamppost, or along a fence; however, it can
become weedy or invasive because of its vigorous growth habit.
With a little pruning and some imagination, consider some vines next
year in your landscaping. Keep in mind there are many varieties of
these vines and others and make sure the ones you pick are zoned for
Wyoming.
