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azt_bone

Vine Suggestions?

18 years ago

Hi All,

I've read thru the FAQ... Thank You Shannon for your hard work!

I'm new to growing vines so suggestions to types, color, and care for the suggested type and the best place to buy would be a great help.

I need some vine suggestions for very harsh growing conditions. We're installing many thousand square feet of vine on our new home. I'm aware of the drawbacks of growing vines next to a structure.

Climnate conditions:

Full sun, 340days, and it's hot. Severe heat 60days year and just hot the other 5 months. I'm figuring misting will help with that. No frost to speak of, maybe a fluke lite freeze every 7yrs for 2hrs/day. Since the vines will be next to a concrete block wall, I don't think cold will be a problem so lets discount that condition too zero. The ground never freezes. Plenty of water available. I prepare my own compost. We have a green house that we grow winter/summer vegetables in at this location.

Wanted conditions:

1) Ever green year around

2) Flowers, reds, purples, yellows, blues are favorites

3) 100% coverage

Growing enviroment:

1) full sun, 340days of sun, that's AZ if you haven't guessed.

2) Several hundred square feet of partial shade, 10hrs of morning sun, or 105º to 120º when the shade hits this area. Again I think water misters will greatly help here for plant survival.

3) Vines for inside the shade areas. Sun on the top. I'm thinking one type of vine for the sun side and another type for the bottom side?

4) Vines for 100% shade. No sun, or very little sun, for top and bottom of the vine.

Maybe 100% usage of vines is really not what I want. Do you have another suggestions on a different type of plant that would meet my wanted conditions? Let your mind wander a bit.

Your suggestions will be a great help as I've never grown any type of vine, so give it your best shot as your experience is more than what I have now. I'm not looking for you to write a book, just guide me to what you might think will work for my project and I'll take it from there.

thanks for the consideration,

T_Bone

Comments (10)

  • 18 years ago

    There are some vines that will work well for your climate conditions, but I doubt clematis should be included among them - they are just going to struggle in that much heat and sun, even if you can apply sufficient irrigation. And in your area, I'd be very sensitive to that factor, as it doesn't make a lot of sense to plant any type of plant that will be a real water hog. Also, nearly all evergreen forms of clematis will produce white or pale colored flowers.

    I'm not familiar enough with your specific climate to make suggestions for other types of plantings, but there is an Arizona gardening forum here on GW that would certainly be appropriate to review or to question for suggestions. And doing a google search under "vines, Arizona" will turn up various possibilities.

    Here is a link that might be useful: vines for Arizona

  • 18 years ago

    I agree wholeheartedly with gardengal. The conditions you described are not what I would think of as being hospitable for clematis. Even in my zone 7a garden, in the heat of the summer, quite a few clematis can brown out terribly and would not be very appealing to look out. Bouganvillea would probably grow great there provided they are given tons of water. Sorry but your growing conditions are so different from mine that I would be hesitant to suggest most vines for your area.

  • 18 years ago

    There are actually tons of vines that grow well in Arizona, including many that are considered annuals in other parts of the country like snail vine Phaseolus or Vignus caracalla,
    Chilean glory vine Eccremocarpus scaber, moonflower Ipomea alba, hyacinth bean Lablab purpureas, Thunbergias, even scarlet runner beans.

    Bougainvillea would be my favorite and it is drought tolerant, not requiring tons of water.

    There are numerous passion vines as well. They have very interesting flowers. Passiflora species.

    Wisteria
    star jasmine Tracheleospermum jasminoides
    Carolina jessimine Gelsemium sempervirens
    red trumpet vine Campsis radicans or Bignonia radicans
    Rosa banksia, Lady Bank's Rose
    Any climbing rose given enough water
    Mandevillea

    Cats claw (Macfadyena unguis-cati) will grow right up stucco but does damage it.

    Clematis are not on the list though. I have never seen one blooming in the Phoenix area nor did we sell them or learn about them when I worked and was in school for horticulture in Phoenix.

  • 18 years ago

    Ficus repens grows in shade and will self cling to masonry, wood or stucco but does damage it when removed.

    Algerian and English ivy, ditto. It is proven that these ivies do harbor rats, I would not plant them myself.

    I forgot that table grapes also grow well in Arizona. My grandmother had them in partial sun and they did produce.

  • 18 years ago

    I forgot queen's wreath, it is a gorgeous vine.
    Petrea volubilis

  • 18 years ago

    BorS, I have stayed in a guest house in Key West for quite a few years and the owners told me that bouganvilleas do well in dry environments but flower best when watered frequently--at least in Key West anyways.

    I have grown Vigna caracalla or contorted corkscrew vine for several years and overwinter it in my garage. Great plant for the fragrance and the color changes the plant's flowers go through. Beats Phaeseoulus caracalla or snail vine hands down since snail vine has no fragrance to the flower and the flowers remain a pale lavender color compared to Vigna caracalla's flowers which go from white to purple to a golden yellow.

  • 18 years ago

    That advice is contrary to both my experience growing Bougainvillea and what you typically find written about them.

    It is heavily used along the freeways in Phoenix and is almost always in bloom.

    Watering produces more vegatative growth for sure.

    Bougainvillea is pretty much my favorite plant.

  • 18 years ago

    That is strange BorS, but I can only report what I was told since I have only grown them once as an annual. Perhaps it is the difference in a low humidity environment like Arizona versus a more humid environment like Key West. According to a Southern Living article, they can be overwintered here in an inside sheltered location but I have never tried that. They have thorns that will rip you to shreds for sure. Would make a great burglar deterrent if grown under your windows though!

  • 18 years ago

    Wow, what a response, Thanks All for the suggestions. The linked website was full of info :)

    It will take me awhile to run thru all the suggested plants, but I'm working on it.

    Bougainvillea appears like it's a very good slection but please tell me the curved tip thorns are spaced more than 2" apart? Or tell me approx what the thorns comparre to in another plant type? Were pleased with the leaf and flower color choice.

    Here, every thing seams like it has thorns, even the native grass that grows after the monsoon has very small fine spines on the blades. You'll notice the itching start in your fingers after about 2hrs. Ask me how I know this LOL

    Queen's wreath is also another choice. Again were pleased with the leaf color (lime). Flowers are also pleasing with limited choices.

    Were considering grapes as a vine choice for back ground coverage with a second heavy flowering vine purned to control a desired highlite growth pattern?

    Or adding standard flowering plant acents in small pots to our main vine choice?

    Were also now thinking of maybe a bamboo type for a canopy use. I've not done enough research yet to see if this will work here and how to positive control the root system.

    We were watching a PBS special on the use of Bamboo in LV, Nv and the problems bamboo root causes if not controlled. Almost sounds like controlling a bad hair day. Just about impossible!

    With your help, our plant choice may be simplier than we first thought.

    T_Bone

  • 18 years ago

    Bougainvillea does have big sharp thorns for sure. It is a heavy vine with structure, not really vine like in growth, can be trained like a boxwood hedge. The thorns are every couple of inches. There are different varieties with different colors and growth habits.

    I keep mine in the greenhouse year'round here for the heat but I rarely water it. They are both blooming right now.

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