I have some mature trees in the woods at the back of my yard, and wondered if it is advisible to try to "decorate" them with climbing vines. They already attract invasive climbers: poison ivy, virginia creeper, oriental bittersweet. I try to discourage these, as they are ultimately destructive to the trees. (Recently had a tree service take down a poison ivy that was as thick as my ankle!) But I'm not sure if planting tree-climbers bred for their flowers would end up threatening the trees as well.

So, are there suggestions on vines that

- are decorative

- climb trees without compromising their health

- can compete with the above-listed pesky vines that are endemic here

- will not end up taking over the neighborhood and making me a pariah with the neighbors?

Or is this just a really bad idea, given that I care more about my elms and maples (and even the healthy choke cherries) than about adding some color to the "back wall" of the garden?