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Annual vines like morning glory, nasturtium, moonflower, and so on aren’t woody, but vines — woody or not — can be a substantial presence in your landscape. Vines like to grow upward, though some need assistance in terms of occasional judicious pruning/trimming, guidance, and/or support.

Some vines are valued mainly for their lush foliage. Others flower and fruit, with attractive seedheads or berries by fall — all factors that naturally add to their appeal and affect placement and maintenance. Choose vines based on whether and when you want these extra, color-contributing features. Also, when purchasing, be sure to inquire about predicted mature size.

Some of my favorite vines for home landscapes that are both attractive and have bird and wildlife appeal are

 Bougainvillea

 Clematis

 Climbing hydrangea

 Climbing roses

 Creeping fig

 Dutchman’s pipe

 Grape

 Honeysuckle

 Jasmine

 Kiwi

 Mandevilla

Roles vines can play include

 Cloaking or disguising a fence (especially if it’s unattractive; or just use vines to make it into a more substantial barrier)

 Climbing a trellis that’s either against a wall or fence or out in the open (if well-supported)

 Covering a gazebo to give shade and privacy as well as beauty

 Decorating a pillar, arbor, or pergola, adding shade and beauty as well as making a major contribution to your garden landscape

 Adding extra, vertical color to your garden (which is especially nice if your garden is small or you want to give it a feeling of enclosure)

 Draping over an outbuilding or shed, an old or dead tree trunk, or another larger structure in need of some softening or disguise

 Providing flowers and edible fruit for decorating and eating

Note: Even ridiculously strong vines can’t help you swing from tree to tree, namely because they’re attached to the ground and not-so-attached at the top. If you really don’t want to stay grounded, Chapter 19 can give you info on installing a tire swing. For much more information on vines, please turn to Chapter 14. I address climbing roses in more detail in Chapter 9.

Some vines are rogues. They may smother or pull down supports, provide a haven for porch- or trellis-munching insects, shed too much, or produce unwanted many seedlings. A few to watch out for are akebia, Chinese wisteria, English ivy, Japanese honeysuckle, kudzu, Oriental bittersweet, porcelain vine, trumpet creeper, and wintercreeper. I’ve seen some of these vines used very effectively in certain circumstances. Just be careful and know that they can outgrow their welcome. For more info on invasive vines, check out www.invasive.org/species/vines.cfm.