21 Beautiful, Fast-Growing Vines for Your Landscape

For the detail-obsessed gardener, an eyesore in the garden can become an ever-present, growing annoyance. This is where beautiful, fast-growing vines come into play. Vines can cover ugly fences and tree stumps, as well as arbors, pergolas, and gazebos. 

Vines can add privacy, shade, height, and overall visual appeal to outdoor spaces. They can also help the garden feel more lived-in by softening or hiding structures and sometimes adding a tastefully overgrown feel. Envision an enchanted garden—tucked-away garden rooms, panicles of blooms draping down a pergola, groundcovers growing between stones. This look can be achieved with vines.  

American Bittersweet

Celastrus scandens is a fast-growing vine native to central and eastern North America. This deciduous, woody vine produces bright red berries that stand out in fall and winter and are a favorite of birds, though toxic to humans. It’s a fast grower and can easily reach over 20 feet tall. 

American bittersweet grows best in moist, well-drained sites in full sun. They can tolerate partial shade – though flowering and fruit production will decrease. Important to note – this plant is dioecious, meaning they need separate male and female plants to produce fruit. Generally, only one male plant is needed for up to nine female plants.  

The red berries make great decorations brought indoors for the holidays. Use the red berries in wreaths or tablescapes, or let long branches make a statement in a tall vase. Do take care to plant American bittersweet and not its invasive relative, the Oriental bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus). 

American Wisteria

You may have heard that wisteria is a no-go in the garden for its invasive properties. But if you love the look of wisteria—allow me to introduce you to non-invasive, native American wisteria. This gorgeous woody vine looks stunning twining along arbors, trellises, or walls. They’re a favorite of bumblebees and will bring a romantic, whimsical vibe to your garden. 

They’re native to the southeast, where they grow in wet soil along sunny stream banks. While it is fast-growing and can grow up to ten feet in a year until maturity, you’ll need to be patient for flowers to appear. It won’t flower until it reaches maturity, which can take between three and five years. But the lilac flowers are well worth the wait! 

If you find it, Kentucky wisteria (Wisteria macrostachya) is a great stand-in for American wisteria. Take care to avoid its invasive relative, Chinese wisteria (Wisteria sinensis). 

Boston Ivy

If you love the classic look of English ivy but not its invasive nature, Boston ivy is the perfect alternative. This plant has similar leaves to those of the grapevine and is more resilient in colder climates. This deciduous vine has lush green foliage in summer and turns shades of red and orange in fall.

While it is technically considered invasive in some areas, according to the National Parks Service, it doesn’t hold up very well in the wild. Without human intervention, native vines are quick to overpower it. Still, check with your local Extension office to find out if Boston ivy is invasive in your area. 

Carolina Jessamine

Native to southern and central North America, Carolina jessamine blooms with fragrant yellow flowers from late winter to early spring. It’s also the state flower of South Carolina, where it got its namesake. It can be used as either a ground cover or trained to climb trellises or fences. After blooming, its shiny evergreen leaves will continue to add greenery to the landscape, with a subtle bronze hue in winter.

It grows best in full sun and rich, well-drained soils. If happy with its growing conditions, it will grow quickly. Otherwise, once established, its growth rate will pick up. It can also be planted in containers or used along banks to control erosion.

Coral Honeysuckle

This fast-growing native can reach tall heights of up to 45 feet in little time. Coral honeysuckle is a favorite of songbirds, hummingbirds, bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. It’s a springtime bloomer with red, tubular trumpet-shaped flowers and is evergreen in warmer southern climates. 

Coral honeysuckle can tolerate some shade, though it will bloom best in full sun. It needs moist, organically rich, neutral to acidic, moist but well-drained soils. It benefits from an annual topdressing of compost and light pruning after flowering to control its spread.  

Creeping Fig

Ficus pumila grows in mild and tropical climates and is also a popular houseplant. This woody vine can climb up walls, trellises, and other surfaces up to about 15 feet or act as a ground cover. It’s evergreen and forms a dense mat of foliage on any surfaces it climbs, giving it an old-world charm.

It’s relatively fast-growing and can grow about a foot per year. Temperatures below 15°F (-9°C) will kill the plant, so in cooler climates, it should be kept in a pot and moved indoors for winter. 

Creeping fig prefers bright, indirect light indoors or partial shade outdoors. It’s drought and salt-tolerant, making it a low-maintenance pick for a fast-growing, beautiful vine. It also makes a perfect backdrop for photos! 

Crossvine

Native to the southern and midwestern US, the evergreen crossvine can grow to a towering 50 feet. In the wild, it may be easy to overlook the crossvine as its flowers are usually high up in the tree canopy. But in the backyard, the crossvine climbs fences and stonewalls where their stunning blooms can be admired.

They bloom in late winter to early spring with orange-red, almost coral, trumpet-shaped flowers. These blooms are a favorite of hummingbirds and the rustic sphinx moth, which appreciate its sweet nectar after a long winter. 

The crossvine is amenable to many growing conditions. Tolerant of occasional wet or dry soils, crossvine blooms most profusely in full sun and well-drained soil. While the crossvine is evergreen, its leaves may take on a maroon hue in the colder months. 

Golden Bell Clematis

Native to temperate regions of central Asia, golden bell clematis is fragrant, showy, and a pollinator favorite. It’s a fast grower and can easily reach heights of up to 15 feet, providing privacy, shade, and a dose of yellow color. This perennial blooms in midsummer before giving way to feathery, showy seedpods. 

Clematis tangutica works as either a vertical vine or sprawling on the ground among rocks and other plants. It’s drought-tolerant and would be a great option for a rock garden. Soil should be well-drained and neutral or alkaline. In late winter, it benefits from a hard prune, back to strong buds that are a foot away from the ground or more. Pruning will help this vine produce prolific blooms in the coming season.

Grapevine

Not only for the edible garden, the grapevine makes a great addition to any arbor, trellis, or pergola. And you’ll have fresh grapes, too! When used as an ornamental, they provide dense shade, thick privacy screening, and fall color. There are many grape varieties to choose from, and some are more cold-tolerant than others. Overall, most grapes are suited for zones 6-8. 

Generally speaking, most grapes do best in full sun and in warm, somewhat dry climates. They need to be trained to climb up a trellis or other structure, and can live up to 100 years, so they’ll need plenty of space! 

Hardy Kiwi

Another edible, hardy kiwi is a fast-growing vine that gives both shade and delicious fruits. They grow between 10 to 20 feet per year and can reach up to 30 feet tall and 7 to 20 feet wide when mature. This plant is dioecious, so you’ll need both a male and female plant to get fruit. Aside from being edible, the hardy kiwi has attractive foliage with red stems.

While the hardy kiwi is tolerant of some shade, full sun will promote the greatest blooms. With proper training, the hardy kiwi can grow on trellises or fences, but be sure they are very strong. While fast-growing, It’s very important to prune back this vine regularly as it can quickly become a nuisance, especially in the states where it is classed as an invasive species.

Besides staying on top of pruning, the hardy kiwi isn’t very particular when it comes to soil, as long as it’s not wet. The Artic kiwi, Actinidia kolomicta ‘Arctic Beauty’ is a particularly beautiful ornamental, with pink and white variegated foliage. 

Hops

Yes, I’m talking about the same hops as the kind for beermaking. Whether you’re a homebrewer or not, hops are a beautiful, native vine. This plant has a pine-like scent and attracts butterflies. Hops are not just for beer; they’re also a great ornamental.

Golden hops Humulus lupulus ‘Aureus,’ is a particularly popular variety for its bright yellow foliage. Their flowers look a little bit like those of ornamental oregano. It’s very fast-growing, with each vine growing up to 15 feet long.  

The plant is dioecious, so you’ll need both male and female plants. Humulus lupulus doesn’t like any standing water, so well-drained, moist soil is key. Once the youngest vines reach one to two feet tall, they need to be trained on a trellis.

Hyacinth Bean

Native to Africa, the hyacinth bean (sometimes known simply as lablab) is most often grown as a fast-growing ornamental vine. It’s mostly grown as an annual but can be overwintered in zone 8 if its roots are well-mulched. It’s incredibly fast-growing and can climb up to 20 feet on supports like fences and trellises in a single season. 

It can also be used as a cover crop or in agricultural settings but is most commonly used as a fast-growing, pretty vine in the home garden. Its foliage is typically purple, though some cultivars have green leaves. Its flowers are pink, purple, or white, and it produces shiny, purple bean pods. ‘Ruby Moon’ is a spectacular cultivar with green, purple-veined leaves, deep purple pods, and pinkish-purple flowers. 

Moonflower

This annual is fast-growing, beautiful, and fragrant. The moonflower is native to Florida, where it’s perennial. It grows easily from seed and quickly climbs up fences, trellises, and other structures when the weather heats up. It blooms with big, trumpet-shaped white flowers that only bloom at night. I suggest planting it in a sunny space near a nighttime outdoor living area to enjoy its beautiful, sweetly scented blooms. 

This plant absolutely needs at least six hours of full sun daily. Partial shade will lead to slow growth and no blooms for this plant. If this plant is planted in full sun but is slow growing at the beginning of the season—patience is key. The soil temperature also needs to warm up for this plant to really take off. Once established, the moonflower is a very fast grower. 

Passionflower

This southeast native is equal parts exquisite and alien. This vining perennial has purple flowers with an intricate center, lined with a deep purple fringe. The plant produces tasty passion fruits that ripen in late summer. It can have a spread of up to 20 feet if in ideal conditions. Woody and evergreen in warmer climates, in colder climates, it dies back to the ground in winter. 

The passionflower grows in a rambling habit and isn’t quite neat. It’s best to give Passiflora incarnata plenty of space to meander while regularly pruning it to keep it within bounds, as it can become aggressive. In some areas, Passiflora incarnata is considered invasive, but there are other passionflower species you might consider. Passiflora caerulea, P. edulis, P. quadrangularis, and P. lutea are all great options.

Queen’s Wreath

Similar in appearance to American wisteria and not invasive like Chinese or Japanese wisteria, the queen’s wreath vine is truly royal. This gorgeous vine blooms with purple blooms in spring that appear to drip off of the plant. Even after its flowers drop, the purple calyx remains, still looking like a flower at a distance. Petrea volubilis is also known as sandpaper vine for its rough, textured leaves.

While American wisteria is only hardy to zone 9, queen’s wreath is suited to the warmer zones of south Florida, southern California, and parts of Texas. This vine is native to Mexico and Central America. Queen’s wreath can grow upward of 40 feet if very happy.  

Scarlet Runner Bean

Joining the grapevine and hardy kiwi, the scarlet runner bean is another edible vine. Annual in most climates, it is an evergreen perennial in tropical zones 10 and greater. Their clusters of red flowers make this a common ornamental vine, but their pods (and flowers) can also be eaten. If their pods are picked off early, before maturing, the plant will be coaxed into blooming more prolifically. 

Their edible bright red flowers can be used in salads or as dessert decorations and have a bean-like flavor. They will crawl up trellises, arbors or stakes, or ramble around other garden plants. They need full sun and moist, humus-rich soil. 

Sweet Pea

Whether you want a dwarf variety for hanging baskets, massive blooms, or a cultivar just for cutting, there’s a sweet pea for everyone! This vining annual comes in many different shades and varieties, from pretty pastels to bold purples and reds. They’re sweetly scented and make an excellent cut flower. 

As temperatures warm, the sweet pea pushes new growth and quickly climbs up trellises and fences. The sweet pea joins annuals like snapdragons and pansies as a cool weather-loving annual. Sweet peas thrive in spring and fall but deteriorate in the heat of summer. Be sure to keep sweet peas away from other beans, as these plants are poisonous. 

Trailing Nasturtium

This annual is a must-have for the summer garden. Not only are nasturtiums gorgeous, but they’re an excellent companion plant for veggies. They attract pollinators and, along with marigolds, help reduce damage caused by pests in the veggie garden.

Trailing nasturtiums bloom in fiery shades of oranges, yellows, and reds. This nasturtium is great for tumbling over window boxes, hanging baskets, and containers. You can also train this annual to grow on trellises or fences.  

Their pretty flowers are also edible with a slight peppery taste. Add them to a salad for a colorful touch or as a garnish for other dishes. To bloom, these plants need full sun and well-drained soil. Note these are invasive in certain states.

Trumpet Creeper

This big, beautiful vine is native to the southeastern US but has spread throughout the rest of the country. It is a fast grower that can reach up to 40 feet. It has fern-like foliage and massive orange, trumpet-shaped flowers, which are favorites of hummingbirds and bees. 

When I say big, I mean big! Campsis radicans needs plenty of space to spread, and its maintenance requirements aren’t for the faint of heart. They spread via root suckers and will pop up in areas surrounding the original plant. It needs regular pruning, just as vigorous as its growth habits, to keep it in check.

‘Apricot’ and ‘Indian Summer’ are slightly less aggressive than other varieties. 

Virgin’s Bower

One of only a few flowering vines that will still bloom in deep shade, virgin’s bower can be planted in both sun and shade. Also known as woodbine, this plant blooms in late summer and early fall with showy, fragrant white flowers. It’s a fast grower, and some gardeners have mentioned that it grows as much as 15 feet in a single year.

Like other species of clematis, this variety climbs best on a trellis or chain link fence rather than a broader surface like a wall. This vine does best with occasional pruning and in rich, well-drained, moist soil. Virgin’s bower is native to wetlands in the eastern and central U.S., so it’s able to survive occasional flooding.  

Wooly Pipevine

This native vine is a fast-growing plant with pipe-shaped flowers, giving it the nickname “Dutchman’s pipe.” Their flowers are attractive to pollinators and are a host plant for the Pipevine Swallowtail Butterfly. It’s great for adding height to butterfly gardens or climbing and arbor or trellis—it can quickly climb to heights of up to 30 feet. The wooly pipevine is deciduous with large, heart-shaped leaves that provide an excellent privacy screen or shady cover. 

This plant is named the wooly pipevine for its wooly hairs on leaves and stems. There is another very similar plant called simply pipevine (Aristolochia macrophylla), which has smooth leaves and stems and is a bit hardier to cold (hardy to zone 4). Both plants have the same growing conditions, so either plant could be used. Both plants prefer full sun or partial shade and moist, loamy, sandy, and well-drained soil.