In March the gardener’s eyes and attention are firmly focused downward to admire the spring bulb, pluck the small early weed, bemoan the glistening slime trail of the hidden snail, and search for hints of green in the dormant turf. By April such amusements pall, and eyes and attention have shifted upward to trellis, tree, and fence where the search for the first shoots and leaves of the old vine begins.Vines are defined very simply as flexible shrubs that continue to grow higher, attaching themselves by twining, clinging, grasping with tendrils, or being anchored to supports by the gardener. A short list of delicate and light-weight annual ornamental vines which are commonly grown in our area includes moonflower, a white fragrant, night bloomer, which occasionally self-seeds; various colors of morning glory, which self-seed aggressively; cardinal climber, a vigorous, almost rampant, bright red climber with finely cut leaves; the white blooming potato vine; and the violet or white hyacinth bean with vibrant purple seed pods and beautiful seeds that look like a combination of white and dark chocolate. Squash vines and ornamental gourds are also grown by a number of gardeners; their fruits are heavy so they are best grown on the ground, or on low, sturdy trellises.
There are also many perennial vines which grow well in West Texas; some of them are aggressive, invasive, or require heavy support to bear the weight of the mature vine, so it is a good idea to consult an experienced gardener or reputable nurseryman before planting them. Clematis are light to medium-weight climbers in a variety of soft pastel colors and rich jewel tones, ranging from six to twenty feet in height. Their blooms and seed heads are most attractive, but their leaves frequently get scorched in the summer sun, and they are best trailed through roses or other plants which hide the leaves and show the flowers to advantage. Sweet autumn clematis is small-flowered, smells like vanilla and is the most vigorous climber of this group. The perennial sweet pea, in shades of white, pink, rose, and magenta, is a moderate climber that does well if given enough water and some protections from the hot afternoon sun. Among the medium-weight vines, Carolina jessamine has a bright yellow spring flower and is easily trained; the common purple/white passion vine blooms throughout the summer and sometimes sets orange, oval fruits in the fall. It is also a magnet for hummingbirds and neon orange butterflies, which flock to its flowers in great clouds. Grape vines trained over a trellis make a shaded, if messy seating area, attracting many different kinds of birds. Climbing roses provide bowers of great beauty but have no natural means of attaching themselves to a support and the gardener must weave them through or anchor them to arbors, trellises and the like. Japanese honeysuckle, trumpet vine, and English ivy are extremely vigorous plants, spreading aggressively and with the potential to kill shrubs and trees as they climb through them, and to bring down lightweight trellises, wooden fences and even brickwork over time. With adequate support, other species of honeysuckle and wisteria can provide scented bowers in a garden corner. Wisteria needs extremely strong support and careful pruning to keep it in bounds.
Vines provide height, shade, color, fragrance, nesting sites and food for birds and butterflies, when planted in the right location, trained, thinned, pruned, watered and fertilized. Under these conditions, they will give years of pleasure for mere hours of work. For many people, vines are an integral part of the garden, growing in spaces too confined or otherwise unsuited to trees, and there is a vine for every part of the garden and every dream of the gardener.