Shown in photo above: Coral Honeysuckle
Beautiful flowering vines are a great addition to any landscape and if they're deer resistant even better!
Anmer
Flowering vines are an especially pretty addition to the garden, providing vertical interest, lovely flowers/berries, and are often beautifully scented. Some bear showy flowers that attract pollinators, are evergreen, or bloom and then bear small fruits.
We all know that hungry deer will eat almost any plant, but there are many that deer leave alone most of the time. Those are the ones you'll want to consider planting in your garden. All are perennials suited to our climate and altitude.
Deer-resistant vines
Key considerations for growing at high altitude:
Hardiness - plants hardy to Zones 3-4 typically perform best year after year
Site protection - plant in a protected location to protect from harsh winds and late Spring frosts that can damage early flower buds
Soil - most appreciate rich, moist, well-drained soil.
Sunlight - at least 6 hours per day to encourage consistent blooming
Pruning - prune in late Winter to early Spring(February/March), cutting them back to 18-24 inches above the ground to encourage vigorous growth. Spring blooming vines should be pruned immediately after they finish flowering in the Spring, not before. Don't prune in the Fall - they might not survive the Winter.
Watering - keep soil evenly moist but not wet.
Support - a sturdy pergola, trellis, or obelisk work well, as do fences. Weatherproof materials for your supports are a good idea (galvanized or powder-coated steel, painted or treated wood).
How to train vining plants - check out this video (start at minute one).
Flowering vines are an especially pretty addition to the garden, providing vertical interest, lovely flowers/berries, and are often beautifully scented. Some bear showy flowers that attract pollinators, are evergreen, or bloom and then bear small fruits.
We all know that hungry deer will eat almost any plant, but there are many that deer leave alone most of the time. Those are the ones you'll want to consider planting in your garden. All are perennials suited to our climate and altitude.
Deer-resistant vines
- Western White Clematis - fast growing, small white flowers
- Blue Moon Wisteria - tolerates extreme cold down to Zones 3-4
- Virgina Creeper - highly adaptable but also highly invasive. Gorgeous Fall color.
- Trumpet Creeper - vigorous grower, features orange-red trumpet-shaped flowers that attract hummingbirds
- Silver Lace Vine - fast growing, quickly covers fences and has white flowers
- Coral Honeysuckle - attracts pollinators with its nectar; berries for birds in Fall and Winter; non-invasive and low-maintenance.
- American Bittersweet - fast-growing; you'll need both male and female plants to get the clusters of orange-yellow fruits. Full sun to part shade.
- Star Jasmine - grown as an annual here (but you can grow it in a pot and bring it inside in winter), it gives wonderfully fragrant pure white flowers and can be pruned to whatever height you prefer (i.e. tall and trellised in summer, short inside in winter)
Key considerations for growing at high altitude:
Hardiness - plants hardy to Zones 3-4 typically perform best year after year
Site protection - plant in a protected location to protect from harsh winds and late Spring frosts that can damage early flower buds
Soil - most appreciate rich, moist, well-drained soil.
Sunlight - at least 6 hours per day to encourage consistent blooming
Pruning - prune in late Winter to early Spring(February/March), cutting them back to 18-24 inches above the ground to encourage vigorous growth. Spring blooming vines should be pruned immediately after they finish flowering in the Spring, not before. Don't prune in the Fall - they might not survive the Winter.
Watering - keep soil evenly moist but not wet.
Support - a sturdy pergola, trellis, or obelisk work well, as do fences. Weatherproof materials for your supports are a good idea (galvanized or powder-coated steel, painted or treated wood).
How to train vining plants - check out this video (start at minute one).