Annual Vines
by: Christy Lewis

For instant garden gratification, there is nothing quite as rewarding as the annual vines. While perennial vines such as clematis will take several years to establish themselves, the annual vines can grow spectacularly fast and will bloom profusely in just one summer.

These plants provide needed versatility in small gardens and tight spaces. While small spaces may not offer room to grow outward, there is usually plenty of room to grow skyward. Annual vines will quickly ramble over expanses of fence or bare walls, softening their hard lines and camouflaging not-so-attractive views.

I also recommend them for enhancing garden focal points and decorative features. They look marvelous twining up a lamppole, tumbling over an arbor, or cascading over a decorative trellis.

One of my favorite ways to use annual vines is to plant them so they climb up and through neighboring trees and shrubs. What a great way to add texture and summer color to your spring blooming shrubs and evrgreens.

Here at Olbrich, I always use an assortment of these beauties in our summer containers. I construct a "teepee" of tall, flexible twigs as a support (dogwood or willow works well, but use anything you have access to). They spend the summer enthusiastically clambering over their teepees, adding height and informality to our container gardens.

Happily, most of these exotic-looking plants are actually quite easily grown from seed. Since they are heat-lovers, do not set them out too early. Wait until all danger of frost is past, late May is soon enough.

Even more happily, they are very low maintenance garden plants. When first planted, they may need a little help attaching to their support--a little string or twine is all that's needed to get them headed in the right direction. Beyond that, they are usually quite disease and insect free, need no deadheading, and positively thrive in the heat and humidity of high summer.

One of our favorite flowering annual vines here at Olbrich is the Purple Hyacinth Bean (Dolichos lablab). This exquisite purple climber is a perennial in the tropics, but performs handsomely as an annual here in the north. A member of the pea family, in summer it will be covered with spikes of violet blossoms, complementing its purple leaves, stems, and buds. To top it all off, the flowers are followed by highly decorative four-inch shiny purple seedpods, which adorn the plants until frost.

If you've got a large area you'd like to cover, try Cathedral Bells (Cobaea scandens). Also known as Cup-and Saucer Vine, this vigorous grower will reach twenty feet or more in one summer! The lush, green foliage is unbeatable for camouflaging the sorest of eyesores. In midsummer the dramatic flowers appear--large cup-shaped blossoms of violet, purple, or white, perched daintily on the saucer-like green calyxes.

A favorite of both hummingbirds and butterflies, I always try to include Cardinal Climber (Ipomoea x multifida) in my summer garden. The tropical looking foliage is deep green, the leaves deeply cut and almost palmlike in shape. The numerous, dainty flowers are tubular, with open starry faces of bright cherry red. The overall effect is lacy and delicate.

Another favorite fine-textured vine is Love-in-a-Puff (Cardiospermum halicacabum). The dissected, almost maple-shaped leaves and tiny white flowers set the stage for the real showstoppers of this vine--its seedpods! The lime green, balloon-shaped inflated seed capsules look like tiny Japanese lanterns dancing up and down the length of the plant. Inside each puff are three large dark seeds, each marked with a heart-shaped blotch. I like to use this plant in containers, in order to invite closer inspection of its subtle beauty.

If you're gone all day, and enjoy your garden at night, you will surely enjoy planting Moonflower Vine (Ipomoea alba). This relative of the Morning Glory blooms at night, unlike her morning loving cousins. The huge, six inch, milk- white blossoms unfurl in slow motion each night at sunset. These exotic beauties perfume the summer evenings with their haunting fragrance, often attracting passing moths. Plant these around porches, terraces, and other outdoor living spaces, where they will light up your summer nights.

The Purple Bell Vine (Rhodochiton atrosanguineum) is another Olbrich favorite, trellised up in containers. The heart-shaped, purple-tinged leaves provide a lovely backdrop for the dramatic flowers. From each rosy pink calyx emerges a deep purple-black tubular flower, very much resembling a fuschia flower. These two-toned blossoms will cascade down the length of the vine all summer long.

Of course, no discussion of annual vines would be complete without mention of the much-loved Morning Glory (Ipomoea tricolor). In addition to the classic blue varieties, there has recently been interest in reviving older heirloom varieties. Many seed companies are also busily breeding unusual varieties. Look for innovations such as striped flowers and variegated foliage. 'Flying Saucers' has cool blue and white striped flowers, while 'Tie Dye' boasts huge lavender flowers swirled with rich royal-purple, accented by silvery white variegated leaves. 'Mt. Fuji' is another new variety to watch for--the blue, violet, and rose flowers are accented by brilliant white pinwheels and picotee edgings, set off by the unusual white variegated foliage.