2. Bleeding Heart Vine
A bushy, tropical species from west Africa, bleeding heart vine (Clerodendrum thomsoniae) has glossy evergreen leaves and produces terminal clusters with bell-shaped, white calyxes adorned with a small red flower poking from the bottom.
The lightly fragrant flowers bloom throughout summer, attracting bees and butterflies, and the calyxes change from white to pink to mauve as the flowers age.
This is an ideal choice for partial or dappled shade in consistently moist and well-draining soil.
Twining and non-invasive, the stems grow up to 15 feet but are hardy only in Zones 9 and above.
In colder regions, grow bleeding heart vine as an annual or in containers that can be moved indoors for winter protection.
3. Bougainvillea
A flamboyant ornamental from eastern South America, twining bougainvillea (Bougainvillea spp.) makes a bold statement grappling over banks or architectural features in Mediterranean gardens, patios, and poolside oases.
They thrive in baking sun, full-on heat, and lean soil, and can scramble close to 40 feet.
The foliage practically disappears as the colorful bracts flower all summer long, covering the long, thorny canes in shades of cherry, fuchsia, pink, mauve, orange, salmon, white, or yellow.
Bees, butterflies, and moths are attracted to the small flowers within the bracts. Hardy in Zones 9 and above, plant frost-tender bougainvillea in containers in cooler regions and move it indoors for winter.
‘Majestic Purple,’ with gorgeous, neon mauve flowers, is available at Fast Growing Trees in five-gallon containers.
Our guide on how to grow and care for bougainvillea has all the cultivation details you’ll need.
4. Cathedral Bells
A fast-growing tender perennial that makes a gorgeous flowering screen, cathedral bells, or cup and saucer vine (Cobaea scandens), features sweetly fragrant, bell-shaped flowers with an ornate sepal ruff from midsummer to fall.
Climbing and clinging with tendrils and hooks, these Mexican natives spread up to 20 feet and produce purple or white flowers in a full sun location with moist, well-draining soil.
The large, tubular flowers are pollinated by nectar bats, bees, and butterflies.
Hardy in Zones 9 to 11, plants in colder regions can be grown as annuals or in a container moved inside for winter.
Cathedral bells seeds are available from Burpee.
5. Clematis
Summer-flowering clematis (Clematis spp.) are those plants that flower in Group C (or 3).
They typically flower in June and July with a repeat bloom in September, or they flower continuously from June until frost, depending on the cultivar.
Flower colors, shape, and size can vary greatly in this group ranging from the highly popular, royal purple ‘Jackmanii’ to the masses of sunshine yellow blooms of ‘Golden Tiara.’
Most varieties grow in the range of six to 15 feet, although ‘Sweet Autumn’ can reach as far as 30 feet.
Bees and butterflies visit the flowers, and the soft down from spent seedheads provides cozy nesting materials for winter-mating birds like the Anna’s hummingbird.
Jackmanii is a classic and much-loved summer clematis. Container plants are available at Burpee.
To get a better feel for Group C options, check out our guide to 19 of the best summer-flowering clematis varieties.
And have a read of our guide to growing clematis for full cultivation details.
6. False Hydrangea
With delicate flowers similar to lacecap hydrangeas, false hydrangea vine (Schizophragma hydrangeoides) is a deciduous, woody-stemmed climber.
The beautiful, large clusters of white or pink flowers (actually bracts) bloom in June and July.
Native to Japan and Korea, the long lianas climb to a height of 40 feet using stem rootlets to attach to surfaces.
False hydrangea vine makes an excellent choice for partial to full shade locations in moist, well-draining soil.
The airy flowers attract bees and butterflies and the handsome, heart-shaped leaves give a good show of yellow foliage in autumn. Hardy in Zones 5 to 9.
You can find Schizophragma ‘Moonlight’ plants with creamy white blooms available at Burpee.
7. Honeysuckle
A favorite source of nectar for hummingbirds, twining honeysuckle (Lonicera spp.) stems are covered in sweetly scented, tubular or trumpet-shaped flowers.
Flowering from mid-spring to midsummer in shades of coral, cream, orange, peach, pink, salmon, scarlet, and yellow, the self-clinging stems reach a height of 10 to 30 feet and are hardy in Zones 5 to 9.
A fragrant and pretty choice for climbing and scrambling, some of the introduced species have escaped cultivation and become invasive in some areas.
However, some native North American species offer handsome, non-invasive options for home growth.
Like ‘Major Wheeler’ (L. sempervivens), which is noted for its fabulous clusters of firecracker-red flowers and has the longest bloom time of all species, flowering from late spring to late summer.
You can find ‘Major Wheeler’ plants available at Burpee.
Our guide on how to grow climbing honeysuckle has all the cultivation details you need for healthy plants.
8. Jasmine
Vigorous deciduous or evergreen vines that twine to climb, jasmine (Jasminum spp.) produces spectacular clouds of fragrant white or pink flowers on arbors, arches, fences, patio screens, and trellises.
A couple of popular summer-blooming varieties that grow up to 20 feet include the white or pink-flowered common or poet’s jasmine, J. officinale, which is hardy in Zones 8 to 11 or the pink-flowered Stephan jasmine (J. x stephanense), hardy in Zones 7 to 10.
In colder regions, grow plants in containers and bring them indoors for winter.
This guide has the lowdown on how to grow jasmine.
9. Kiwi
For high-reaching splashes of cream and pink, the variegated kiwi (Actinidia kolomikta) is a vigorous, twining climber grown primarily for its flamboyant foliage.
Native to Asia, clusters of fragrant, white, apple-like blossoms flower in early summer but are mostly hidden by the dense canopy of heart-shaped leaves of deep green, cream, and rosy pink.
The flowers attract pollinators like birds and butterflies but both male and female plants are needed to produce fruit.
Variegated kiwi grows up to 20 feet in a sunny to lightly shaded location.
It needs fertile, well-draining soil and sturdy supports to climb on, such as an arbor, fence, or trellis. Hardy in Zones 4 to 8.
The variegated ‘Arctic Beauty’ is a male cultivar, known for having better leaf variegation.
10. Mandevilla
Ideal for adding steamy splashes of fragrance and color to arbors, patio screens, and trellises, mandevilla (Mandevilla spp.) is a fast-growing, twining plant loaded with trumpet-shaped flowers in bright shades of orange, salmon, pink, red, white, and yellow.
Awash in showy flowers all summer, the pretty blooms are visited by bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.
The stems grow up to 20 feet and love heat and humidity, hailing from tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas.
Hardy in Zones 9 to 11, these frost-tender plants can be grown as annuals or planted up in containers and moved indoors for winter.
11. Morning Glory
Native to the tropics of the Americas, morning glory (Ipomoea tricolor) is a fast growing, twining plant with large flowers in vibrant shades of blue, magenta, pink, purple, and white.
The trumpet-shaped flowers attract bees, hummingbirds, and moths and look striking when whorling around an obelisk or pergola.
Stems can grow up 15 feet in a sunny location and plants give a long flowering season from early summer to the first hard frost.
Hardy only in Zones 10 and 11, these frost-tender perennials are most often grown as annuals.
‘Heavenly Blue’ Morning Glory
I. tricolor is a pretty and less-invasive option compared to common or tall morning glory, I. purpurea.
‘Heavenly Blue’ is a popular cultivar of divine sky blue. Seeds are available at Burpee.
See our guide to growing morning glories for tips.
12. Passionflower
Native to the southeastern US, passionflower (Passiflora spp.) is an easy-care and fast-growing perennial with delightful filament flowers of magenta and purple.
The fragrant flowers bloom from midsummer to early fall on plants that grow up to eight feet in a full sun location, using axillary tendrils for climbing.
The unique flowers are pollinated by bats, bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.
A beautiful choice for arbors, fences, trellises, and walls, these vines may also be grown in containers. Plants are hardy in Zones 6 to 11.
Seed packets of blue passionflower (P. caerulea) are available at Eden Brothers.
Our guide on how to grow and care for passionflower has all the cultivation details.
13. Potato Vine
The potato vine (Solanum laxum, syn. S. jasminoides) is a showy evergreen perennial that produces abundant clusters of pretty, star-shaped flowers in pale lavender, baby blue, or white, flowering from summer to autumn, or year-round in mild climates.
Shrubby plants with highly fragrant flowers that attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, these South American natives climb with twirling tendrils and look fantastic clambering on arbors, fences, pergolas, and porches.
Plants can reach a height of up to 30 feet in a sunny location with fertile, well-draining soil. Prune in spring to manage growth and size.
Hardy in Zones 9 to 11, S. laxum grows well in containers and can be brought indoors for winter protection in colder Zones.
14. Purple Bell Vine
A tender perennial most often grown as an annual, purple bell vine (Rhodochiton atrosanguineus) has a long blooming season from early summer into fall, producing clusters of pendant, bell-like flowers.
Loved by bees and hummingbirds, the flowers have a tubular corolla of dark eggplant purple that hangs like a clapper and is surrounded by the bell-like calyx of rosy pink sepals.
This twining Mexican native does best in full to part sun and climbs up to 10 feet on arbors, pergolas, and trellises. Hardy in Zones 8 to 10.
15. Silver Fleeceflower
A vigorous scrambler, silver fleeceflower (Fallopia aubertii, syn. Polygonum aubertii) is an Asian native and features fragrant clouds of soft, lacy flowers in drooping panicles from July to September.
A deciduous to semi-evergreen plant with exceptionally fast growth – up to 12 feet in a single year – it makes a lovely screen.
And the twisting stems are fantastic for clambering up and through arbors, chain-link fences, pergolas, porches, and trellises.
The small, downy flowers attract bees and butterflies, and plants grow up to 30 feet in moist soil with bright but indirect light. Hardy in Zones 4 to 8.
