Vines can serve many needs in the garden; they can offer screening or shade, and they can serve as focal points. In the Mountain West, we are fortunate to have a wide variety of vines that can provide interest throughout the growing season. Here are just a few of my favorite vines for our region.

Yellow trumpet vine

Campsis radicans f. flava, Zones 5–9

Trumpet vines are hardy and easy to grow in full sun to partial shade. The native straight species has orange blossoms, but I am partial to this particular form with its clusters of large, yellow, trumpet-shaped blooms that burst forth in late summer. This vine can get very large, from 20 to 40 feet tall and 5 to 10 feet wide, so make sure to give it lots of room to grow. It’s not advised to plant it up against a building, as it will cling to it, potentially causing damage. I use it along fences where I want some screening. Seedpods may form after flowering, and they can be removed to prevent self-sowing. Once established, this vine needs little care, just occasional pruning.

Sweet autumn clematis

Clematis terniflora, Zones 4–9

White, star-shaped flowers cover sweet autumn clematis throughout the month of September. Their sweet scent reminds me of the smell of honeysuckle (Lonicera spp. and cvs., Zones 4–9). While this clematis should technically be pruned hard each year to promote blooming on new wood, I will confess to being lazy and not doing much pruning on mine. Yet I haven’t had any issues with bloom production, and the vine is doing a beautiful job covering my fence, as you can see in the photo above. Sweet autumn clematis grows 20 feet tall and 2 feet wide and takes full sun to partial shade. While it can be invasive in some areas, it’s mostly a problem in the eastern half of the United States, and I have never heard of it being invasive in the Mountain West.

Kintzley’s Ghost^® honeysuckle

Lonicera reticulata ‘P015S’, Zones 4–8

This unique honeysuckle was bred in Iowa State University in the 1880s but was recently brought into production by the Plant Select^® program, which specializes in producing plants for Rocky Mountain gardens. While this vine’s showy yellow blooms capture your attention in June, its show-stopping feature is the silver-green bracts that cover the plant throughout the season, contributing to its “ghostly” appearance. Small red berries appear in late summer and fall. Kintzley’s Ghost^® can reach 8 to 12 feet tall and 3 to 6 feet wide. Plant it in full sun or partial shade. It’s sure to garner attention in your garden.

For more great vines to choose from, check out Vines for the Connoisseur and Vines Worth Buying. For more regional reports for the Mountain West, click here.

—Michelle Provaznik is executive director of the Gardens on Spring Creek in Fort Collins, Colorado.

Fine Gardening Recommended Products

Corona E-Grip Trowel

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

Handle Material: Aluminum. Handle Length: 14-1/2 in. Overall Length: 14.5 in. Head Material: Aluminum. Handle Color: Red.

Buy at Amazon

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

Ho-Mi Digger - Korean Triangle Blade

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

Versatile Tool: The Easy Digger Korean Triangle Blade Ho Mi Ho-mi is a versatile gardening tool designed for leveling and digging in home and garden settings. Efficient Design: Its unique triangular blade shape allows for easy soil penetration and efficient leveling of garden beds or landscaping areas. Durable Construction: Crafted with sturdy materials, this tool ensures long-lasting performance and reliability. Ergonomic Handle: The comfortable handle provides a secure grip, reducing hand fatigue during extended use. Compact Size: Its compact design makes it easy to maneuver in tight spaces and store when not in use.

Buy at Amazon