For optimal growth and health in specified flowering vines and climbing shrubs, garden enthusiasts recommend trellising as advised by garden experts. Here are 11 plants that will benefit significantly from this support system.
Revamped Article:
Embrace the charm of vertical gardening with these plants that flourish on trellises, fences, and other structures. This eclectic mix of flowers and veggies not only engages your eyes, but also offers practical advantages over traditional planting arrangements.
By growing your plants high off the ground, you minimize pest infestations and enhance airflow, decreasing the risk of powdery mildew. Fast-growing vines are particularly beneficial, as they can be tamed, limiting their spread and preventing them from overrunning your garden. Here's a selection of beauties encouraged by horticulture experts:
- Damon Abdi, assistant professor of landscape horticulture at Louisiana State University
- Ankit K. Singh, assistant professor of sustainable agriculture at the University of Maine
1. Climbing Hydrangeas
With their breathtakingly beautiful blooms, Climbing Hydrangeas (Hydrangea anomala) further dazzle when dyed on pergolas and fences. "If not supported by a trellis, this plant may take on a mounding form, resembling a ground cover," suggests Damon Abdi. With trellising, you can control the vine's direction, providing a one-of-a-kind garden spectacle.
- Growing Zones: 4-8
- Size: 30–50 feet tall x 5–6 feet wide
- Care Requirements: Partial shade to full sun; well-drained soil
2. Morning Glories
Morning glories (Ipomoea) sprawl out with vigor. Trellis supports will keep these lovely flowers heading exactly where they should be, away from disturbing other plants within your garden. "Left unchecked, morning glories may intertwine around the other garden dwellers, potentially causing issues" remarks Abdi. With trellising, you can prevent unintentional growth patterns and showcase their bright blooms to their best advantage.
- Growing Zones: 2-11
- Size: 10-15 feet tall x 2-4 feet wide
- Care Requirements: Full sun; well-drained soil
3. Pole Beans
Pole beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) are an exceptional and drought-resistant addition to your vegetable garden. Ankit K. Singh highlights that, "Pole beans are natural climbers, and trellising improves yield, reduces fungal diseases, and makes harvesting a breeze."
- Growing Zones: 3-10
- Size: 6-9 feet tall x 18 inches wide
- Care Requirements: Full sun; fertile, moderately moist, well-drained soil
4. Bougainvillea
Bougainvillea (Bougainvillea spp.) is a popular, showy climbing plant that graces fences, trellises, pergolas, and other structures with a riot of color. "If supplied with proper support, this plant can scale new heights (up to 40 feet)," advises Abdi. He suggests cultivating it in containers to make it easier to manage its growth.
- Growing Zones: 9-11
- Size: 15-40 feet tall x 15-40 feet wide
- Care Requirements: Full sun; well-drained, acidic soil
5. Cucumbers
In vining cucumber varieties (Cucumis sativus), you'll find a ready-made partner for your trellis. Trellising will keep the fruit clean, straight, and painless to harvest while boosting airflow, thus lessening disease pressure.
- Growing Zones: 3-11
- Size: 5-8 feet tall x 2-3 feet wide
- Care Requirements: Full sun; rich, moist, well-drained soil
6. Indeterminate Tomatoes
Indeterminate tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) have an innate tendency to grow and bear fruit throughout the growing season, potentially reaching impressive sizes. "Trellising keeps fruit off the ground, prevents rot, and promotes excellent airflow, minimizing disease pressure, such as blight," states Singh.
- Growing Zones: 4-11
- Size: 5-10 feet tall x 2-3 feet wide
- Care Requirements: Full sun; rich, moist, well-drained soil
7. Trumpet Vine
When allowed to expand unchecked, Trumpet Vine (Campsis radicans) is notoriously invasive. Abdi suggests, "Growing trumpet vine on a trellis will allow the remarkable red-orange flowers to thrive, as more sunlight enhances flowering. Some varieties cause less of a fuss, making cultivation a more manageable endeavor."
- Growing Zones: 4-10
- Size: 30-40 feet tall x 4-10 feet wide
- Care Requirements: Full sun to partial shade; tolerates a broad range of soils as long as they're well-drained
8. Peas
Peas (Pisum sativum) will fawn over being cultivated on a trellis or vertical structure, and the humble vines will flourish accordingly. Singh explains that, "The delicate vines benefit from vertical support, reducing disease and making pods easily accessible."
- Growing Zones: 3-11
- Size: 3-6 feet tall x 1 foot wide
- Care Requirements: Full sun to partial shade; rich, moist, well-drained soil
9. Malabar Spinach
A vining, heat-tolerant leafy green, Malabar Spinach (Basella alba), displays superbly when allowed to climb. Singh confirms that, "Trellising protects these leaves from becoming tough and keeps them tender and delectable."
- Growing Zones: 7-11
- Size: 6-10 feet tall x 2-3 feet wide
- Care Requirements: Full sun to partial shade; rich, moist, well-drained soil
10. Climbing Roses
Climbing roses (Rosa setigera) are mesmerizing, dramatically adorning fences, trellises, and pergolas with their sumptuous blooms. "Trellising climbing roses supplies structure, boosts airflow, and showcases flowers beautifully while preventing cane breakage," cautions Singh.
- Growing Zones: 5-9
- Size: 6-12 feet tall x 3-6 feet wide
- Care Requirements: Full sun; moist, fertile, well-drained soil
11. Melons
Melons (Cucumis melo L.) command a treasure trove of nutrients, and trellising is their ideal friend. "Trellising ensures bulky vines stay off the ground, prevents rot, and ensures even ripening," emphasizes Singh. He recommends using slings to support the weighty fruit and prevent it from facing an untimely detachment from the vine.
- Growing Zones: 4-10
- Size: 6-10 feet long x 1-3 feet wide
- Care Requirements: Full sun; rich, well-drained soil
Fast-growing flowers and vegetables love consummating with a trellis, elevating your garden's health and aesthetic appeal. By offering vertical support, trellises make a skillful balance between enticing visuals and ensuring a thriving garden ecosystem.
- Fast-Growing Flowers:
- Bougainvillea: Vibrant and colorful, bougainvillea blooms throughout the year in warmer climates, elevating your garden with a dazzling display on trellises[1][4].
- Morning glories: Annual flowers with beautiful trumpet-like blossoms, basking in a wide range of colors, and thriving on trellises[2][4].
- Clematis: Famous for their generous, showy flowers, clematis are prized for their contribution to trellises and adapt well to various climates and garden designs[1][2].
- Climbing Hydrangea: While slower than some other climbers, charming hydrangeas offer delightful white or pink blossoms on trellises with proper support[1][4].
- Fast-Growing Vegetables:
- Peas: Sugar snap peas and snow peas are ideal for cultivating on trellises, providing a plentiful harvest in a short amount of time[3][4].
- Cucumbers: Adaptable and fast-growing, cucumbers thrive on trellises, perfect for maximizing your vertical garden space[3][4].
- Beans (Pole Beans): Quick-growing and a delight to train onto trellises, pole beans yield a bountiful harvest in a small area, suited for small gardens[3][4].
- Indeterminate Tomatoes: Although slower than some other vegetables, these tomatoes appreciate trellising for air circulation, reduced disease pressure, and easier harvesting[3][4].
- Explore the beauty of Martha Stewart's garden ideas with vertical gardening featuring fast-growing flowers and vegetables like Morning Glories and Pole Beans, enhancing a lifestyle that seamlessly blends home and garden.
- For garden enthusiasts, Martha Stewart's Home & Garden magazine recommends Climbing Hydrangeas and Bougainvillea, two stunning plants that dazzle on trellises, adding a touch of elegance and vibrant color to any vertical garden.
- Vegetable garden ideas inspired by Martha Stewart include growing indeterminate tomatoes and cucumbers on trellises, reducing disease and making harvesting simpler, ultimately enriching your lifestyle both at home and in the garden.
