Vines for a Trellis

Help for the Home Gardener from the CCMG Help Desk

Client Question:
The client was at the Shadelands Farmers' Market in Walnut Creek and made contact with the “Ask A Master Gardener" table. They wanted some information on planting a suitable vine for this area that could be grown on a trellis. They would prefer a California native. The vine will be in full sun. The AAMG table provided some guidance and also passed the question along to the Help Desk to provide a more complete answer.

Master Gardener Help Desk Response:

I understand from our colleagues at the Shadelands Farmers' Market that you would like to plant a vine on a trellis in a sunny area of your yard. You would also prefer a California native. A second choice would be a non-native vine that doesn't use too much water. The Master Gardeners you spoke with at the farmer's market suggested the non-native Passion Vine (Passiflora caerulea) which has beautiful flowers, and you were wondering if there were others.

We are blessed with a large number of vines that grow well in Contra Costa County. The Contra Costa Water District website “Gardening in Contra Costa County, Guided Plant Search” (http://www.contracosta.watersavingplants.com/search.php) lists 57 low-water using vines which do well in full sun. The UC Davis Arboretum All-Stars website (http://www.arboretum.ucdavis.edu/arboretum_all_stars.aspx) also lists several low water-using vines. On both websites, each vine is accompanied by a picture and description. The choice can be daunting! There are many personal preferences to be considered when selecting a vine: do you want an evergreen vine (has leaves year-round) or a deciduous vine (loses leaves in winter); what color flowers do you prefer; do you want fruit; and how vigorous a grower?

Because I don't know if your trellis is on a fence or is a free-standing arbor, I will list a few of my favorites which could be used in either location.  

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  Vitis californica
  California Grape (Vitis californica ‘Roger's Red') is a fast-growing deciduous native California grape, or at least a hybrid with a native, which has the benefit of being rather drought tolerant, needing deep watering every 2 weeks or less when planted in the ground. California Grape is a pretty aggressive plant and once established will want to reach out and grow wherever it can. I have this vine growing on a large arbor to provide shade. This selection is also well known for its glorious red/orange leaf coloration in the fall. It does produce grapes about the size of raisins, edible but not exactly fulfilling….maybe small batches of jams? And you might want to give consideration to where the grapes fall as they will be something of a nuisance if they are stepped on and carried into the house. You will also become close friends with the neighborhood's birds and squirrels. 
  
  
  

  Violet Trumpet Vine

  Violet or Lavender Trumpet Vine (Clytostoma callistegioides) is an evergreen non-native vine with large lavender trumpet shaped flowers in late spring to summer, a low to very low water user, and also on the UC Davis All-Stars list.
  
  
  

  Lilac Vine

  Lilac Vine (Hardenbergia violacea) This a vigorous evergreen vine originally from Australia with purple pea-like flowers in late winter to early spring, a low water user, and also on the UC Davis All-Stars list. You would probably want to prune this vine back annually to prevent tangling. There are also varieties with white ('Icicle') and pinkish purple flowers ('Happy Wanderer' and 'Canoelands'), although I don't know the local availability. The purple flowers are usually widely available. This vine makes a glorious show when in bloom and will cover a long fence top to bottom. You can ask my neighbor.
  
  
  

  Carolina jessamine
  Carolina jessamine (Gelsemium sempervirens) is a beautiful evergreen non-native vine with yellow flowers and shiny green leaves. This vine needs regular water when young, but is fairly drought-tolerant once established. One caution -- all parts of the plants are poisonous if eaten. 
  
  
  

  Chilean jasmine
  picture: Annies
  Chilean jasmine (Mandevilla laxa) is a deciduous non-native twining vine with white funnel shaped flowers in summer, low water user, and also on the UC Davis All-Stars list. This vine shouldn't require much pruning.

Looking at each vine's characteristics, you can decide for yourself which will be the best for your garden. Any choice you make will be a good one and one you will enjoy for years. 

Good luck! 

 Contra Costa Master Gardeners Help Desk

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Editor's Note: The Contra Costa Master Gardener Help Desk is available year-round to answer your gardening questions.  Except for a few holidays, we're open every week, Monday through Thursday from 9:00 am to Noon at 75 Santa Barbara Road, 2d Floor, Pleasant Hill, CA  94523. 

We can also be reached via telephone:  (925) 646-6586, email: ccmg@ucanr.edu, and we are on the web at http://ccmg.ucanr.edu/