A garden should never feel flat and boring, something that 100% horizontal gardens often suffer from. However, climbing plants bring color, texture, and personality while taking up minimal space. Whether you want fragrant flowers, fast-growing vines, or edible plants, there is a climbing plant for every garden style. These plants are natural show-offs, reaching for the sky and making everything look a little more interesting. Here are 17 gorgeous climbers to add vertical color to your outdoor space.
1. Clematis
Clematis is the diva of climbing plants, bursting with oversized, colorful flowers in shades of purple, pink, and white. It thrives in full sun with its roots in cool, shaded soil. Once it grabs onto a trellis or fence, it climbs quickly, putting on a spectacular floral show from spring to early fall.
2. Honeysuckle
Honeysuckle is the fragrant charmer of the garden, attracting hummingbirds and butterflies with its sweet-smelling blooms. Its flowers come in fiery reds, oranges, and yellows, making it a lively addition to any vertical space. It is easy to grow, and once it takes off, it practically decorates your garden for you.
3. Morning Glory
Morning glories wake up before you do, unfurling their trumpet-shaped flowers at sunrise and closing by afternoon. They grow quickly, covering fences, trellises, and even mailboxes in no time. They’re available in shades of purple, blue, and pink, and these vines bring cheerful energy to any garden.
4. Passionflower
Passionflowers look like something out of a fantasy garden, with intricate, otherworldly blooms in purple, white, and blue, almost like from a different planet altogether. They love to climb and can quickly cover an arbor or trellis. As a bonus, some varieties produce edible passionfruit, making them as tasty as they are beautiful.
5. Wisteria
If you’re looking for some color and elegance, wisteria is it. Its cascading clusters of lavender or white flowers drape elegantly over pergolas and archways, creating a dreamy, fairy-tale effect. It needs sturdy support, as it grows fast and can get heavy, but the results are well worth it because it is absolutely gorgeous.
6. Canary Creeper
This delicate but fast-growing vine produces bright yellow, fringed flowers that resemble tiny birds in flight. It is a perfect choice for trellises, fences, or hanging baskets where its feathery green leaves can drape. It is a cheerful, easy-going climber that brings a playful touch to the garden, and it doesn’t require much maintenance either.
7. Chocolate Vine
If the name alone is not tempting enough, the chocolate vine also produces fragrant purple flowers with a light cocoa scent. Its fast-growing vines quickly cover arbors and fences, providing a lush, green backdrop. It even produces small, sausage-shaped fruit, adding another layer of interest. The only downside is that it doesn’t actually produce chocolate!
8. Ivy
Ivy is the classic climber, effortlessly clinging to walls, fences, and trellises. In fact, this climber is so adept that it barely needs support at all, as it can attach to virtually anything. Its lush green foliage provides a timeless look, and some varieties even turn red in the fall. While it is low-maintenance, keep an eye on it, because ivy is like that guest who overstays their welcome if left unchecked.
9. Virginia Creeper
Virginia creeper offers year-round beauty, with fresh green leaves in spring and summer that turn fiery red in fall. It clings to walls and trellises using tiny tendrils, making it an excellent alternative to ivy. As a bonus, its berries attract birds, making your garden a wildlife hotspot.
10. Climbing Fuchsia
Climbing fuchsia is a rare beauty, producing drooping flowers in shades of pink, purple, and red that look as nice as they smell. It is perfect for trellises and archways where its blooms can hag down gracefully. Unlike other climbers, it brings color and movement, making it a standout choice for vertical gardening where a bit of liveliness is called for.
11. Silver Lace Vine
Silver lace vine is one of the fastest-climbing vines out there, making it an excellent option if you want some vertical appeal in a hurry. It produces clouds of tiny white flowers and quickly covers fences, walls, and trellises. If you need instant greenery with a touch of delicate beauty, this vine will not disappoint.
12. Grapevines
Grapevines give you the best of both worlds because they have lush green foliage for shade and delicious fruit for snacking. They climb easily with a little support and thrive in sunny spots. Whether you want to grow table grapes or wine grapes, these vines bring a practical yet charming vibe to any garden, something edible that everyone can enjoy!
13. Pole Beans
If you are looking for a climbing plant that is both decorative and productive, pole beans are an excellent choice. They grow quickly, winding around trellises while producing an abundance of beans. Their small flowers add a pop of color, making them a great option for edible landscaping. Here, you get the best of both worlds, with stunning beauty that you can eat.
14. Tomatoes
Tomatoes may not be the first plant that comes to mind for vertical gardening, but indeterminate varieties love to climb. Given a sturdy cage or trellis, they will grow tall while producing delicious fruit. Plus, nothing beats plucking fresh tomatoes straight from the vine in your own backyard. You just can’t find good tomatoes at local grocery stores anymore, making growing them at home an attractive option.
15. Dutchman’s Pipe
Dutchman’s pipe is an unusual climber with heart-shaped leaves and unique, curved flowers that resemble an old-fashioned smoking pipe. It thrives in shady spots and provides excellent coverage for fences and pergolas. If you want a conversation-starting plant, this is it because people won’t stop talking about the unique look that this plant will produce for your yard.
16. Moonflower Vine
Moonflowers are the night owls of the plant world. Their large, white flowers bloom in the evening, releasing a sweet fragrance that is to die for. They are perfect for nighttime gardens, creating a magical glow under moonlight. Watching them unfurl at dusk is a small but satisfying garden event.
17. Firecracker Vine
Firecracker vine lives up to its name with bright red, orange, and yellow tubular flowers that resemble tiny fireworks. It grows quickly, making it an excellent choice for covering bare walls or adding a splash of color to trellises. Pollinators love it, so expect plenty of hummingbird visitors.
Jamie is the founder of The Backyard Pros. When he was 15 years old he started working at a garden centre helping people buy plants, gardening products, and lawn care products. He has real estate experience and he is a home owner. Jamie loves backyard projects, refinishing furniture, and enjoys sharing his knowledge online.