Q: “I would like suggestions for a vining plant to cover a wall. Any suggestions aside from climbing fig?”

A: I loved the direction I could go with this question to my radio show! Let’s talk about 2 categories here: Flowering vines, and then fast-climbers for a wall or fence.

There are many flowering vines that are suitable for our area, and these bloom at different times of the year.

• Carolina Jessamine- a native evergreen, late winter flowering vine with small yellow flowers
• Bougainvillea- a brightly colored, vining shrub that blooms in summer; requires 6+ hours of sun a day and is not cold tolerant, so must be overwintered indoors
• Morning Glory- a fast-growing, annual vine that is a sturdy climber or ground cover; blooms early summer until first frost
• Jasmine- an evergreen, fragrant groundcover or climbing vine whose delicate white flowers attract hummingbirds and butterflies
• Mandevilla- with trumpet shaped flowers, an annual best planted in early summer; commonly seen at mailboxes

Now for what caller Phillip was really after, which is something that would fill in along a wall. This is where I get to use a fancy, French garden term- ‘espalier’! This term refers to the plant itself that is trained to grow against a flat surface, and to the object to which the plant is trained. This requires a vision and patience! I’ve seen eye-hooks put into brick and stone to make this happen. Then you must have wires or a grid system for the plant to follow. See how my friend Kay in Duluth has trained a Sasanqua Camellia against her house?! Beautiful!

Known not for its flowers, but for its sturdy vines, climbing fig is an okay choice, but there are many others! Visit Southern Living Plant Collection’s to see some ideas!

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