Reaching New Heights with Vines
I’ll never forget the day I discovered the power of vines to transform a tired, lackluster landscape. It happened several years ago when I dedicated a partially dead mesquite tree as a natural trellis for a native climbing milkweed (Funastrum cynanchoides). As I watched that resilient vine travel up the trunk and reach the highest branches by the second spring, I was captivated by the burst of life it brought to the scene.
Lovely globes of pink-edged white blooms peppered the vine in summer, turning into dangling short fleshy “teardrops” like green Christmas ornaments. When the seed pods eventually split open, their helicopter-like fluff took flight, thankfully blowing the seeds toward the nearby resaca. I learned that the climbing milkweed leaves are important food for monarch and queen caterpillars, though I had to be diligent about limiting their spread, lest the vines take over the entire garden. You’ve got to watch which way the wind blows with these enthusiastic growers!
Not long after, a native Berlandier trumpet (Acleisanthes obtusa) quietly made its way to the base of the vine-covered tree and intertwined itself with the milkweed. Also known as the four o’clock vine, this beauty boasts clumps of small white trumpet-like blooms with pink filaments and anthers that make the petals look splashed with pink polka-dots. The flowers open late in the afternoon and close by morning, providing a tasty target for pollinating night-flying moths.
Bringing in the Beauties
One of my favorite vines to grow is the common balloon vine (Cardiospermum halicacabum), an introduced species believed to be native to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. It’s especially fun this time of year, as the seed pods turn a beautiful cinnamon color and dangle like fall-festive lanterns in the garden. In the wild, this vine will wind its way over shrubs and other plants, but it can also be trained to a trellis in a more formal setting.
I planted my common balloon vine to cover part of a chain-link fence, and it rewarded me with tiny white flowers that bloomed all season long, providing nectar for winter-lingering butterflies. The seed pods are tissue-paper-thin when dry, each containing two or three round, black-and-white-tipped seeds. Many of the pods will be empty, as insects have already had their fill of the tasty fare inside. But the seeds that make it safely to the ground become an excellent food source for Bob-white quail.
Designing with Vertical Interest
Vines can be such a game-changer when it comes to adding vertical interest and depth to a landscape. Whether you’re looking to cover an unsightly fence, create some shade over a seating area, or draw the eye upward with a cascading floral display, there’s a vine out there to suit your needs.
At A-1 Landscape Construction, we understand the power of vines to transform a space. From classic climbing roses to exotic tropical varieties, we can help you select the perfect vine for your Temecula, California property and guide you through the planting and training process. With the right support structure and a little patience, these lush, vertical beauties can quickly become the star of your landscape.
So why not let your garden reach new heights? Explore the possibilities of vines, and discover how they can add color, texture, and that all-important vertical element to your outdoor oasis. The team at A-1 Landscape Construction is here to help – just give us a call, and let’s get growing!
