4 Climbing Plants to Grow Up Arbors, Trellises and Archways

There is no prettier way to frame the entrance to your garden or front porch than with a beautiful climbing plant. Though climbing roses are a sure-fire favorite, and for good reason, there are many other equally elegant climbers that you can grow up your arbor or archway.

You could try for a purely ornamental vine, or even grow something that will give you a bit of a harvest. If you have a bare frame that is crying out for some climbing greenery and vertical interest, check out this list of ornamental, edible, and medicinal climbing plants that will have your garden looking stunning.

1. Sweet Peas

Source: Crocus.co.uk/YouTube

Sweet pea (Lathyrus odoratusare) is a gorgeous, ornamental, climbing plant that comes in a variety of colors from pink and white to lilac and yellow. Depending on the variety you chose, you can expect your sweet peas to reach between 6-10 feet high. They will need good Support.

Sweet peas are usually annuals but are hardy to zone 7. They self-seed quite prolifically, so you must remove the seed pods if you don’t want them to spread.

However, if you want to save some seeds for next year to ensure that you have them again, allow the seed pods to dry on the plant and harvest them in the fall. You need to find that sweet spot between the pods being ready for harvest and the pods popping open on their own and shedding seed everywhere!

If you have harvested seed yourself, you may have to cold stratify your seeds. See here for information on how to do that at home.

Start your sweet pea seeds indoors about 6-8 weeks before the last frost date, (or direct sow them outdoors). You may soak the seeds overnight to help soften their shell. Then, plant them about half an inch deep in potting soil. Keep the soil moist.

Plant your seedlings out in a sunny spot with well-draining soil as soon as the ground is workable. They can withstand a light frost, so don’t worry if you plant them out a tad early.

If you want to encourage bushing in your sweetpeas, you have to pinch off the tips, or central growth, of the plants when they are about 6 inches tall. This will allow lateral growth.

2. Scarlet Runner Beans

Source: Scarlet Runner Bean/Flickr

Though this vining legume plant provides you with edible beans not dissimilar to lima beans, the scarlet runner bean (Phaseolus coccineus) is also, a gorgeous ornamental addition to your garden. Growing upwards of 20 feet, this runner really needs a good trellis or arbor to grow up.

The vines produce stunning, vibrant red flowers that are perfect for attracting the local hummingbird. The beans, which are also little works of art with their purple speckles over a pink shell, can be harvested and eaten fresh or dried.

The beans can be sown directly outside after the last frost of the season. Sow them about an inch deep and about three inches apart in rich soil in a full-sun spot in your garden.

3. Passionflower

Source: North Tropics/YouTube

For another gorgeous plant with edible fruits and medicinal flowers try growing passionflower (Passiflora incarnata). These are fast-growing perennial vines that are actually native to southern USA. Often called maypops, these vines can be found growing wild along roadsides and hedgerows.

They are super easy to grow from cutting or root division, and once established can quite easily get a little out of hand if they are not curbed. They spread on runners under the ground but are quite easily pulled up if you see a shoot where you don’t want it.

Passionflower likes to be in a sunny spot but are not too fussy about soil conditions. They really will take care of themselves for the most part.

The vines can tangle to an impressive 20 feet, so give them a good structure to climb up.

Passionfruits have edible seeds and pulp that bear the same passionfruit flavor as their tropical cousins. The impossibly beautiful flowers may be harvested and dried and used as a sleepytime tea.

4. Jasmine

Source: Jasminum Officinale/Flickr

If you want to grow a classic climbing plant, known for its beauty, intoxicating aroma, and medicinal properties, then choose jasmine (Jasminum officinale). This type of jasmine is the one that is commonly used for making jasmine tea.

It is a perennial vine hardy to zones 7. Depending on the variety you choose, it can grow between 10-15 feet, so it will need a good arbor or trellis to grow up.

It tends not to be too fussy about soil type, but it does prefer well-draining soil. Pant your jasmine plant in a full-sun to partial-shade spot. Trian your jasmine vines up the trellis as it grows. You may have to tie them up.

Always consult a medical professional before using herbs and other plants medicinally.

Related Content:

• Harvesting and Eating Squash Blossoms at Home
• Banana Blossoms: Health Benefits and How to Use
• 7 Wonderful Edible Flowers to Grow in Your Garden
• How to Grow Your Own Watermelons
• 5 Medicinal Herbs to Grow in Pots

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