Colorful Climbing Vines
Fall Gardening Tips
Garlic cloves can be planted now. Keep them watered and weeded through the winter, and you will harvest healthy, large bulbs next June. Crimson clover, fava beans, and rye grass will fortify your garden soil over the winter. Seed these crops as you compost your summer vegetables. Fragrant Paperwhite narcissus will bloom indoors by Thanksgiving if planted now in rocks and water. Wildflower seed broadcast with the first rains will take root over the winter and burst into flower next spring. Watch out for Jack Frost! On cold nights, cover summer vegetable plants that are still producing to extend the harvest.
Brilliant Fall Color from Climbing Vines
Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia)
When it comes to fiery fall foliage, Virginia Creeper puts on a spectacular show that’s unsurpassed by other deciduous vines. This tough vine thrives in poor soils, sun or shade, in both cold and hot climates, and in dry or damp soils. It can be used as a groundcover, shade an arbor, or climb a stone or brick wall. Its thick foliage provides great cover for small animals.
- Grows up to 10 feet per year and attaches to trees, shrubs, fences, or walls.
- Excellent for covering walls, trellises, arbors, or fences.
- Can be grown as a ground cover (about 12 inches high) to hide stumps, rock piles, or other "eyesores."
- Leaves consist of 5 leaflets and can be up to 6 inches across.
- Produces small, blue-black berries that attract wildlife.
Virginia Creeper is sometimes confused with its close relative, Boston Ivy (Parthenocissus tricuspidata), which has three leaflets instead of five.
Boston Ivy (Parthenocissus tricuspidata)
Boston Ivy covers the exterior walls of many prestigious northeastern universities and is likely the origin of the term "Ivy League." It is a deciduous, self-clinging vine with large, glossy leaves that change color with the seasons: light green in spring, dark green in summer, and peach to scarlet crimson in fall.
- Can grow and spread 30–60 feet, making it one of the fastest-growing vines.
- Thrives on north or east walls but also climbs tree trunks, arbors, trellises, or retaining walls.
- Tolerates urban settings, shade, and drought.
- Forms a thick ground cover about 9 inches high.
- Produces small, green flowers that develop into blue-black berries on red stalks (visible after leaves fall).
- Foliage resembles maple leaves, especially when turning deep red in autumn.
- Makes an excellent backdrop for summer flowers, particularly reds, yellows, oranges, and whites.
Planting Tips
Fall is an excellent time to plant vines, which will establish over the winter and be ready to grow vigorously next spring. If you need a vigorous vine for a difficult situation or simply want to enjoy their stunning fall foliage, consider planting Virginia Creeper or Boston Ivy.