Ranked by real gardeners

The Best Climbing Vines

A vine turns a fence, arbor, or bare wall into something alive. These are the climbers gardeners plant to cover, screen, and soften — ranked by real saves.

20 rankedNo sponsored placements
  1. Clematis

    The most-saved genus here, with 226 varieties in the full catalog. A remarkable range of flower forms brings vertical color without a heavy footprint.

  2. Ivy

    Ivy

    The full catalog includes 37 varieties. Evergreen leaves cover walls and ground rapidly, where its vigorous spread can be contained.

  3. Honeysuckle

    Honeysuckle

    Choose from 19 varieties across the full catalog. Tubular, often fragrant flowers turn fences into nectar-rich habitat.

  4. Passion Flower

    Passion Flower

    Catalog-wide, this genus spans 14 varieties. Intricate flowers look almost engineered, followed by fruit on many species.

  5. Wisteria

    This genus has 11 varieties in the full catalog. Pendant, fragrant flower clusters create a remarkable canopy on a very strong support.

  6. Rose

    Rose

    The full catalog includes 292 varieties. No other shrub matches roses for range of habit, fragrance, color, and repeat bloom.

  7. Virginia Creeper

    Virginia Creeper

    Choose from 4 varieties across the full catalog. Self-clinging foliage covers broad surfaces and finishes with brilliant fall color.

  8. Trumpet Vine

    Trumpet Vine

    Catalog-wide, this genus spans 4 varieties. Trumpet-shaped summer flowers turn a sturdy support into a hummingbird destination.

  9. Morning Glory

    Morning Glory

    This genus has 13 varieties in the full catalog. Heart-shaped leaves and trumpet flowers rapidly dress a sunny vertical surface.

  10. Grape

    Grape

    The full catalog includes 7 varieties. Grapevines combine generous shade, sculptural trunks, fall color, and edible clusters.

  11. Bittersweet

    Bittersweet

    Choose from 4 varieties across the full catalog. Twining stems and colorful fruit make a strong seasonal screen, where spread is managed.

  12. Bean

    Bean

    Catalog-wide, this genus spans 4 varieties. Climbing beans turn vertical space into edible pods while enriching garden variety.

  13. Knotweed

    Knotweed

    This genus has 4 varieties in the full catalog. Fast twining growth can cover large structures quickly, where spread is carefully managed.

  14. Black-eyed Susan Vine

    Black-eyed Susan Vine

    The full catalog includes 8 varieties. Bright, dark-eyed flowers race up a support for quick seasonal cover.

  15. Star Jasmine

    Star Jasmine

    Choose from 4 varieties across the full catalog. Glossy evergreen leaves and intensely fragrant white flowers refine a warm wall.

  16. Grape Ivy

    Grape Ivy

    Catalog-wide, this genus spans 1 variety. Glossy divided leaves quickly clothe a trellis with a grapevine-like texture.

  17. Asparagus

    This genus has 19 varieties in the full catalog. One established crown can produce spring spears for many years.

  18. Groundnut

    Groundnut

    The full catalog includes 1 variety. This native vine pairs fragrant pea-like flowers with edible underground tubers.

  19. Akebia

    Choose from 1 variety across the full catalog. Fine leaflets and unusual chocolate-scented flowers soften screens and pergolas.

  20. Jessamine

    Jessamine

    Catalog-wide, this genus spans 2 varieties. Its representative is notable for being North American native and dry-spell tolerant.

About this list

How was this the best climbing vines list ranked?

By how many gardeners actually saved and planted each one in Sow — 13k saves across this list. Each entry is a genus, shown by its most-saved variety, so no single plant appears twice. Nobody paid to appear here, and no nursery sponsors the order.

How do vines climb — do they need support?

It depends how they grip: twiners (clematis, honeysuckle) need something thin to wrap; tendril climbers (passionflower) need wire or trellis; clingers (climbing hydrangea, ivy) attach to masonry on their own — great on stone, risky on wood or siding.

Which vines are aggressive?

Wisteria, trumpet vine, and some honeysuckles can overwhelm structures and neighbors if unmanaged. Give them a sturdy support and a yearly prune, or choose a better-behaved clematis for smaller spaces.

Keep exploring

See these in your own yard before you buy

Snap a photo of your space and Sow places any of these in it at true mature size — so you know it fits before the nursery run.