Speedy Vines: Instant Summer Color with Container-Grown Climbers

In a hurry for summer color? Your nursery likely has morning glory or black-eyed Susan vine already growing in a container. Just pop it into the ground or a large pot and watch it race skyward. You'll have a tower of flowers in no time.

Containerized summer vines are a growing trend thanks to innovative wholesale growers like Log House Plants in Cottage Grove, Oregon, one of the first to supply nurseries with starter plants, giving gardeners a faster option than sowing seeds. Look for them in 4-inch, 1-gallon, even 5-gallon sizes.

Give your plant a sunny location, moderate water, and support. If transplanting, plant near an existing arbor, pergola, fence, or make a bamboo tepee. If starting from seed, sow directly after frost danger passes.

Summer Bloomers

• Black-eyed Susan vine (Thunbergia alata): Dark-throated tubular flowers in orange, peach, pink, yellow, white. Reaches 10 feet.
• Bow tie vine (Dalechampia dioscoreifolia): Showy purple bracts enclose tiny yellow flowers. Needs warmth for abundant bloom. Tolerates light shade. To 16-25 feet.
• Canary creeper (Tropaeolum peregrinum): Feathery bright yellow blooms. Prefers light shade. To 15 feet.
• Climbing snapdragon (Asarina scandens): Tubular flowers in purple, rose, white. Great for containers. To 4-8 feet.
• Cup-and-saucer vine (Cobaea scandens): Large bell-shaped flowers in rosy purple or white. Vigorous to 25 feet.
• Hyacinth bean (Dolichos lablab): Purple sweet pea-like flowers followed by magenta pods. To 10 feet.
• Morning glory (Ipomoea tricolor): Cheery bell-shaped flowers in blue, pink, red, white, variations. To 8-15 feet.
• Scarlet runner bean (Phaseolus coccineus): Scarlet flowers followed by edible bean pods. To 15 feet.
• Spanish flag (Ipomoea lobata): Tubular flowers open red, fade to orange and cream. To 15 feet.