Climbing plants bring a touch of vertical beauty to any garden, but some can quickly transform from charming additions to unruly invaders.
Research suggests that the way climbing plants choose and use supports (like trees or walls) has a big impact on the environment. It affects how they interact with other plants, their place in the plant community, and how they contribute to the overall ecosystem within your backyard.1
Here are 10 climbing plants that, while alluring, require careful consideration before introducing them to your garden.
1. English Ivy (Hedera helix)
English ivy is notorious for its aggressive growth and ability to quickly cover structures, fences, and other plants. Its dense foliage can smother and kill surrounding vegetation, and its aerial roots can damage walls and masonry.
Furthermore, English ivy can become invasive in natural areas, displacing native plants and disrupting ecosystems.
2. Balloon Vine (Cardiospermum halicacabum)
While its unique balloon-like seed pods might seem charming, the balloon vine is a fast-growing invasive species that can quickly take over gardens and natural areas.
It readily climbs over other plants, blocking sunlight and hindering their growth. Balloon vine also produces a large number of seeds, further contributing to its invasiveness.
3. Wisteria (Wisteria spp.)
While wisteria is prized for its beautiful cascading flowers, it is also a vigorous grower that can quickly overwhelm structures and other plants.
Its woody vines can become thick and heavy, potentially causing damage to fences, trellises, and even buildings. Wisteria’s aggressive growth can also make it difficult to control and prune.
4. Climbing Nightshade (Solanum dulcamara)
This vine is known for its attractive purple flowers and red berries, but it poses a significant threat to gardens and natural areas.
Climbing nightshade grows rapidly and can smother other plants with its dense foliage. Its berries are toxic to humans and animals, posing a health risk if ingested.
5. Morning Glory (Ipomoea spp.)
Morning glories are fast-growing annual vines that can quickly cover fences, trellises, and other structures.
While their colorful trumpet-shaped flowers are attractive, morning glories can become invasive and outcompete other plants. Their twining stems can also smother and choke surrounding vegetation.
6. Kudzu (Pueraria montana)
Kudzu is a highly invasive vine that is native to Asia but has become a major problem in the southeastern United States.
It can grow up to a foot per day and quickly cover trees, shrubs, and other structures. Kudzu’s dense foliage can block sunlight, killing plants underneath, and its weight can break branches and even topple trees.
7. Japanese Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica)
Japanese honeysuckle is another invasive vine that can quickly overtake gardens and natural areas.
Its fragrant flowers attract pollinators, but its aggressive growth can smother and kill surrounding plants. Japanese honeysuckle can also form dense thickets that are difficult to control and remove.
8. Mile-a-Minute Weed (Persicaria perfoliata)
This aptly named vine is notorious for its incredibly rapid growth rate, often reaching up to six inches per day. Its triangular leaves and barbed stems create dense mats that smother and choke out other plants.
Mile-a-minute weed is particularly problematic in natural areas, where it can quickly displace native vegetation and disrupt ecosystems.
9. Trumpet Vine (Campsis radicans)
Trumpet vine, also known as trumpet creeper, is a vigorous climber with vibrant, trumpet-shaped flowers that attract hummingbirds. However, its rapid growth and ability to spread through underground runners can quickly make it invasive.
Trumpet vine can easily overwhelm structures, fences, and other plants, and its aerial rootlets can damage walls and masonry. Its aggressive nature makes it difficult to control and remove once established.
10. Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia)
Virginia creeper is a native North American vine known for its attractive foliage that turns a brilliant red in the fall. Virginia creeper grows rapidly and can easily cover structures, trees, and other plants. Its adhesive tendrils can cling to surfaces and make it difficult to remove.
Although not as destructive as some invasive vines, Virginia creeper can still outcompete and smother other plants, especially in smaller gardens.
By avoiding these fast-growing and potentially invasive species, you can create a beautiful and thriving garden without the risk of these plants taking over.
Source:
Read Next:
Nancy has been a plant person from an early age. That interest blossomed into a bachelor’s in biology from Elmira College and a master’s degree in horticulture and communications from the University of Kentucky. Nancy worked in plant taxonomy at the University of Florida and the L. H. Bailey Hortorium at Cornell University, and wrote and edited gardening books at Rodale Press in Emmaus, PA. Her interests are plant identification, gardening, hiking, and reading.