Vines are a great way to add vertical interest to your ornamental flower beds, and native vines have the added benefit of supporting native insects. It sounds like a win-win, but vines can also be troublesome if planted in the wrong spot. The following four vining plants are native to the Southeast and thrive in a garden setting; plant them responsibly so they can be enjoyed for years to come.

Virgin’s bower

Clematis virginiana, Zones 3–9

This dense, twining climber grows in sun or shade and is useful as a screening plant for three seasons out of the year. Clouds of fragrant, small white flowers open to attract pollinators in late summer. This vine suckers and self-sows, so it’s best to give it ample space to stretch along a fence or arbor. It would look right at home in a cottage or wildlife garden. Virgin’s bower is a wonderful native alternative to the invasive, yet more popular, sweet autumn clematis (Clematis paniculata, Zones 4–9).

Coral honeysuckle

Lonicera sempervirens, Zones 4–9

The red-orange trumpet-shaped flowers of coral honeysuckle are a favorite of hummingbirds when they bloom in spring and then on and off for the rest of the season. Meanwhile, the leaves are a crucial food source to the caterpillars of the snowberry clearwing and hummingbird clearwing moths, two of the prettiest insects around. This is a spiraling climber that twines around structures rather than latching onto them. It often needs some help climbing when it’s young, but it will quickly cover its support with a growth rate of around 3 to 4 feet per year when planted in full sun. Although it is frequently mistaken for the fragrant and invasive Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica, Zones 4–9), coral honeysuckle has no noticeable smell.

Yellow jessamine

Gelsemium sempervirens, Zones 7–10

Those who desire the color and fragrance of Japanese honeysuckle may find a friend in yellow jessamine instead. Also known as Carolina jessamine, this beauty is the state flower of South Carolina and grows with a twining habit rather than latching on. It is evergreen in warmer zones of the Southeast, although it is barely hardy in my area (Richmond, Virginia). My fellow Zone 7 gardeners will want to look for a variety called ‘Margarita’, which reliably overwinters in all but the zone’s most severe, unusually cold winters. Be mindful that this plant is toxic and can cause skin irritation for some people, so it should be handled with gloves. Yellow jessamine flowers best when planted in full sun.

Purple passionflower

Passiflora incarnata, Zones 5–9

While the blooms of this plant may look like they come from the tropics or possibly even a sci-fi film, purple passionflower is the hardiest species of its genus and is native to the Southeast. This vine is easily grown in full sun to partial shade, but if it gets too comfortable it can spread into unwanted areas via its massive root system. For this reason, it is best grown in a large container or in an area where a driveway or other hardscape will prevent its spread. It climbs via tendrils (similar to a grapevine or a pea plant) and responds very well to pruning if needed. Purple passionflower is the host plant of the gulf fritillary butterfly, and while I am too far north to have encountered them, I’ve spoken to a few gardeners in Florida over the years that claim their caterpillars have voracious appetites.

The positive impact that these vines have on pollinators and insects cannot be emphasized enough, but you’ll want to be wise when introducing them to your garden. Any vine, native or nonnative, can stunt the growth of a tree it is allowed to climb on. They can also quickly spread and overtake the trees at a forest’s edge, impacting the health of the overall forest. Vines should be planted against manmade supports and not near trees.

Additionally, while the native vines mentioned here do not attach to buildings or pry up siding, other vines, like Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia, Zones 3–9), may. Be sure to research each vine’s habit and plant it where it can thrive sustainably.

For more great Southeast native plants, check out:

• Great Native Plants for the Southeast
• Best Native Woodies for the South
• Native Alternatives to Invasive Plants in the Southeast

And for more Southeast regional reports, click here.

Cheyenne Wine is a writer and photographer for Rare Roots Nursery in Mechanicsville, Virginia.

Photos, unless otherwise noted: Cheyenne Wine

Fine Gardening Recommended Products

Plant Covers Freeze Protection 10 ft x 30 ft Floating Row Cover 0.9oz/yd²

Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

Lightweight and Breathable MATERIAL Good for protecting Plant: the plant frost cover material is 0.74 oz/sq non-woven polypropylene fabric, which is lightweight, breathable, and durable. The plant blanket frost protection allows sunlight reach the plants, perfect for protecting plants from the damage of freeze or frost. Wide Application In your Garden Work. The plant row cover not only can work as a barrier against frost, but also can be a great tool for germination and good for rapid seedling growth. By using the fabric plant covers over your plant, you can start the plant earlier in the spring and extending the growing season of your plants. How to Use the Plant Covers: you can cover the plant covers for freeze over your the plants loosely directly and then secure the plant frost blanket with soil, stones or staples. You can also support the floating row covers with a hoop, make enough room for plants to breath and grow. You could also cut the plant covers into different sizes for different purposes.

Buy at Amazon

The Nature of Oaks: The Rich Ecology of Our Most Essential Native Trees

Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

The Nature of Oaks reveals what is going on in oak trees month by month, highlighting the seasonal cycles of life, death, and renewal. From woodpeckers who collect and store hundreds of acorns for sustenance to the beauty of jewel caterpillars, Doug Tallamy illuminates and celebrates the wonders that occur right in our own backyards. He also shares practical advice about how to plant and care for an oak, along with information about the best oak species for your area.

Buy at Amazon

Berry & Bird Rabbiting Spade, Trenching Shovel

Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

Ideal Tool for All Gardeners Use: Our heavy duty trenching shovel is designed by a professional gardening tool designer. Lifetime Durability: This heavy duty drain spade is made of high-quality stainless steel, it is very strong and durable, even if it is used for high-strength work, it will not bend. Ergonomic Wood Handle: The handle of this planting spade is made of ash hardwood harvested from FSC-certified forests and has an ergonomically streamlined design, making it very suitable for everyone's hands. Multi-Use: This digging shovel is generally used for digging trenches, digging holes, transplanting, edging, moving compost, cutting thick turf and furrowing. The sharp blade allows you to cut, scoop, dig, lift and dice in hard soil.

Buy at Amazon