Trumpet vine is not "borderline invasive", it is extremely invasive. Avoid it. No, clematis won't grow up a pine tree. It needs to twine around something about pencil size. To get any suggestions, you'll need to tell us where you are.

Pix would help. Any southern, sunny exposure on the trunks?

tj

There is plenty of sun! like I said, the branches are very high up and sparse. The lowest branches are at about the roofline of the house. Most are much higher than that. A fair amount of afternoon sun.

This is an old picture that shows some of the trees, and the thinner sweet gum trees in the photo have all been removed already. But some of the pines I've marked with a red arrow.

Also, I mentioned already that I lived in southeast VA 8B, won't be telling my location anymore detailed than that lol.

Since trumpet vine is native in my location, in the technical sense, it's not invasive. But I already decided thats a hard no.

Vines on the trees will possibly kill it. I know that virgina creeper climbs well but will shade the trunk of a tree and kill it.

I know that vines and trees are not always friends. That's why I'm looking for good options, like my crossvine, that will not hurt the very large pine it's planted under.

Also, don't want virginia creeper. Although it probably would not have hurt the tree I pulled it off of earlier this year because of that tree's size, and though its also native and really pretty, I'm allergic to it.

I doubt very much that vines will grow up your trees at all, let alone kill them. As you say "Not much grows around them, not even weeds". If tough, adaptable weeds struggle, choice vines don't have much chance.

Btw a vine shading the trunk of a tree won't kill it. Shading the foliage may well weaken it though.

" Trumpet vine is not "borderline invasive", it is extremely invasive. "

Let's get our terminology straight :-)) As a North American native species, trumpet vine is not technically considered invasive - that determination/label is left to only nonnative species - nor is it inclined to take over natural areas to the detriment of native plants. And it is also not inclined to self seed. But it can spread via root shoots very aggressively and many gardeners who have planted this vine have come to regret its exceedingly vigorous and boisterous nature and its very widely spreading root system.

Maybe you're right, floraluk2 :( The crossvine seems to be doing okay, but not nearly so fast growing as advertised. Which is maybe good. And maybe thats all I'll be able to grow there. It is its first year, so I'll see if it starts to take off next year or not. Was hoping there was something else out there like the crossvine I could add.

I know lots of people are a bit lairy about ivy but personally, I love it. It is pretty much the last source of winter nectar for over-wintering bees and many small birds nest in its mature foliage. It does not kill trees but once it is tall enough to climb into the canopy, it can act as a wind-sail, potentially destabilising trees., so does need periodic management. I grow it over stumps. If grown from mature (flowering) cuttings, the ivy will flower while still at ground level.There are many beautiful and mannerly cultivars.

Ivy and goat willow (salix caprea) are not particularly aesthetic additions in my wood, but both species bookend the season for early and late nectar...and are therefore essential.

I am also a fan of Ivy. Trouble is, while Ivy is native here and a very important part of our ecosystem, in the US it's an invasive alien, ousts native species and has no natural pests to keep it in check.

While ivy - Hedera helix - is not invasive everywhere in the US (primarily exempt in the colder zones), it is a major concern in the warmer zones, especially in the PNW, where it is the northwestern equivalent of kudzu! It is not uncommon to find it consuming large tracts of wooded and natural areas and significant efforts and lots of $$ are devoted annually to its removal. I would never knowingly suggest using it in the landscape unless in zone 6 or lower. Even the fancy leaf or variegated forms are at risk as they revert to the species much too easily!

Ivy is invasive here also, and I've spent some time trying to eradicate it from my property. Now, 99 percent sure it's all gone, but it still contributed to the demise of a large oak in another part of my yard. If its possible to resent a plant, I do for what its done to that tree.

Having seen just a taste of what invasive plants have done to the wooded areas of my state, no way will I ever plant any intentionally. I appreciate the thoughts, but I want to advocate that no one choose ivy to plant, if you live in an area where its invasive (and if you live in the US, that's very likely).

Woodyoak, your pictures are gorgeous and inspirational. I need to look at my trees with some fresh eyes. Thanks.

sara82lee -I’m not sure what kind of pine yours is but be realistic about them too - all pines are softwoods and are vulnerable to breaking and falling! The one left in the garden here is out of reach of the house (but could damage the shed…) A neighbour down the street on a windy day had one break off halfway down the trunk and the top half came down through the roof (bungalow) and into the kitchen! Fortunately noone was in the kitchen at the time… Another neighbour has three on the front lawn, close to the street. We do not walk by there on windy days! In the first photo I posted you can see the pine on the neighborbehind us’s property is leaning badly - although it’s been like that for the 24 years we’ve lived here. Someday it will fall - but it is far enough away from their house not to damage it. Since you have multiple trees, do some research re how common that sort of issue is in your area and consider what, if anything, you might need to do…. We had one dying pine removed a few years ago and use the stump as a ’nurse log’ to provide moisture and nutrients for a lovely variegated dogwood tree. That seems to be working well. So you need to be both creative and practical :-)