Perennial Flowering Vines

There are numerous perennial flowering vines that should thrive for gardeners of all skill levels if attention is paid to several factors as follows:

• Select varieties that match or exceed your cold hardiness zone.
  
  
• Know whether the variety requires sun or shade.
  
  
• Research the vine of your choice and learn if it blooms on old or new wood or even both.
  
  
• Follow proper pruning techniques to increase flower production.
  
  
• Be sure to check soil and fertility requirements.

Flowering Clematis vines have been extremely popular and in great demand for many years with demand sometimes exceeding production.

We have a section simply titled Clematis which we hope will help you in reaching a decision as to what cultivar to purchase.

Carolina Jasmine (Gelsemium sempervirens) is an evergreen, winter to early spring yellow flowering vine that I have found to be very hardy in our zone of 6B.

Although it is described as being hardy only into zone 7 ours has survived below zero temperatures and extended cold periods.

Usually the Jasmine planted in the Tulsa, Oklahoma area bloom during the late winter months. However, blooming was delayed this year to almost the first of April.

This delay in flowering is a little difficult to comprehend as this winter was not especially cold although it has been unseasonably cool this year in late winter and early spring.

Carolina Jasmine is a rather refined perennial flowering vine if planted in full sun. It will grow over and even cover up adjacent shrubs seeking light if planted in a shady location.

Consider using it as an evergreen ground cover that will not disappoint you.

Flowering Wisteria can either be a thing of beauty or your worst nightmare depending on how you decide to use it and where you plant the vine.

Some experts indicate that these vines can be rather hard to grow but I have never failed to have it grow and prosper almost too well.

Well over twenty five years ago I planned on using perennial flowering vines to add interest to a rail fence that I had constructed and thought that the pendulous flowers of Wisteria would be attractive.

During the first growing season my Purple Flowering Wisteria did little more than develop a good root system with a very limited amount of top growth.

I knew that my planting would take off with the arrival of the next spring season but it far surpassed my wildest expectations.

In one spring and summer not only did it cover my fence but grew to the very top of a utility pole where if I hadn’t put a stop to its progress it’s hard to say how far that it would have progressed on the electric lines.

So be careful how and where you use Wisteria and we suggest that you make your selection from Wisteria floribunda or Japanese Wisteria as the blossoms are magnificent on these cultivars.

Blooms are routinely twelve to eighteen inches in length with one variety having flower clusters up to three feet and longer in length.

To purchase this huge floral size vine look for the cultivar named 'Macrobotry' with reddish-violet to violet blooms.

Many colors of Japanese Wisteria are available such as:

• White
• Pink
• Light purple.
• Bluish-purple
• Deep purple
• Rose
• Deep pink
• Red
• Double reddish-violet

If planning to grow any variety of Wisteria on a trellis or arbor be sure that the construction is heavy duty as this vine produces an extreme amount of heavy wood.

Since my first experience growing this beautiful perennial flowering vine I promised myself that I would not let it get out of hand again so I now have it in the landscape in tree form only which is really quite simple to do.

To produce your own tree just follow the steps as listed:

• Plant in full sun.
  
  
• Install a six foot tall stake close as possible to the plant.
  
  
• Select a strong but still flexible leader from the vine and tie it to the stake and remove any other shoots coming from the plants base.
  
  
• Use plastic garden ties without wire in the center to secure your wisteria to the stake.
  
  
• Train this one leader to grow straight up the stake and keep all side shoots pruned off.
  
  
• When the desired height has been reached, normally five, six, or seven feet, prune the top to stop its upward growth.
  
  
• Do not prune below the last leaf as you do not want to leave behind a completely bare stem. You do want one or two strong leaf nodes at the top.
  
  
• Continue to encourage growth but only that which is horizontal.
  
  
• Always remove side shoots on the stem that are below where you pruned the top.
  
  
• After several years of training you will be able to remove the stake as the plant will be self supporting.

Don’t be afraid to try this on your own as you will pleasantly discover that growing a Wisteria tree is very easy.

We have shared information with you in regards to what we feel are the three most widely sought after perennial flowering vines but should you have questions in regards to other varieties then please do not hesitate to contact us.