20 Best Climbing Plants for Your Garden

This old-fashioned annual is easy to grow from seed; soak the seeds overnight to help them germinate more quickly, then sow in spring after all danger of frost is past. Its pretty pink, purple, lavender, white or pinwheel-colored flowers are amazing twining up a mailbox or fence from mid-summer onward.

This cheery annual vine can get really big, up to 3 feet! It’s annual in most of the country, but in warm climates, it will bloom year after year. Give it plenty of space and a large trellis.

The sweet scent of honeysuckle is irresistible to pollinators such as bees and hummingbirds. Make sure you buy the non-invasive types, Lonicera sempervivens or Lonicera pericylmenum, not the invasive Japanese type (Lonicera japonica), which will take over your garden. This perennial is a great addition for color and scent, but give it a sturdy trellis.

This perennial is a lovely addition to any garden because it’s available in hundreds of varieties. Read the label to be sure what you’re getting because bloom times vary from spring to fall, while some prefer more shade, others more sun.

This stunning plant with tropical flair keeps blooming all summer long, and it loves the heat. Give it afternoon shade in the hottest climates. Mandevilla is considered annual in most of the country but can survive year-round in hot climates.

A relative of morning glory, this annual blooms later in the day. Plant it where you can enjoy its luminous white flowers as you sit out in the evenings. Soak the seeds overnight to jumpstart germination.

This annual has scarlet, hot pink or pure white flowers and eye-catching fern-like foliage. It’s actually an heirloom type of morning glory, so it readily climbs anything in its path.

The sweetness and romance of roses can’t be denied, and they’re actually super-hardy plants. Climbers need a strong trellis, arbor or fence to cover, and they’ll occasionally need some direction or tying up to keep them draping over your choice of support.

Early spring is the time to plant these pretty flowers. They prefer cool weather, and most are annuals, though you can find some heirloom varieties that are perennial. Read the plant tag or description to know what you’re buying.

This warm climate perennial has delicate white flowers with incredible scent. It’s a fast grower, so give it a strong trellis to climb.

Chocolate vine has interesting leaves and purple flowers in early summer. Keep it in a large pot to contain its growth because it is considered invasive in some parts of the country.

If you’re looking for a fast climber with bright red autumn color, Virginia creeper is a great option. Self-clinging aerial roots will cling to any surface such as walls or trees without damaging the structure or plant. The plant can reach 20 to 30 feet tall.

This fast-growing plant will cover an arbor in a hurry. It has dark green foliage with pretty purple flowers that turn into dark purple pods. It loves the heat and blooms all summer long. It’s considered perennial in warmer climates. A new variety has white flowers and silvery pods.

The lovely, draping forms of wisteria blossoms in the spring are a welcome sight after a long winter! Their fragrant purple clusters of this perennial attract butterflies and bees. Make sure to plant a native version, not the Chinese varieties, which can become invasive. New types rebloom, too.

This lesser-known plant is a gorgeous perennial for part-shade locations. The frothy pink or white flowers appear in spring, and it won’t harm walls or trees as it climbs. Give it a few seasons to really take off.

This perennial vine looks like false hydrangea, but its flowers are white only and resemble the blooms on a hydrangea bush. Give it plenty of room to grow; it can reach heights of 30 feet, but its clinging rootlets won’t damage walls or trees like some vines, such as English ivy (which is considered invasive).

This exotic-looking heirloom vine has beautiful purple striped flowers. It can be challenging to get the seeds to germinate, so purchase the plants when possible. In cold climates, this perennial vine dies back to the ground. To keep it in check in the South, prune to control growth in the spring.

Yes, this easy-to-grow heirloom bean is edible (and so are the flowers!). Pick the pods fresh or let them dry as shelling beans. It’s also incredibly easy to grow, has exquisite flowers, and attracts tons of pollinators. By late summer, this fast grower will cover an arch or trellis. Sit back and watch the hummingbirds flock to it.

This annual has rounded leaves and lovely flowers in saturated colors ranging from hot pink to salmon. It actually trails out of pots and window boxes, but you can gently train it up a short trellis for a more upright appearance. Soak the seeds overnight before planting to speed up germination. Bonus: Both the leaves and flowers are edible.

Exotic-looking tubular flowers in bright colors make this vine a fun addition to your pollinator garden. It’s grown as an annual in much of the country but will work as a perennial in warm climates.