7 Vine Plants for Full Sun


Vine plants can create an interesting climbing aesthetic. Which ones should you consider tog row in full sun?
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There is a wide choice of perennial vines available if you want to plant one in an area with a lot of sunlight. Some are flowering vines grown more for their blossoms than their leaves; others are noted for their foliage or berries, while some are known for both.

Perennial climbing plants that thrive in full sun can survive environments with high levels of heat and sunlight, have low maintenance needs, and exhibit regular development patterns. They are perfect for concealing less attractive elements in a yard, decorating trellises and gazebos, and adding a vertical dimension to your landscape.

In this article, I will list seven of our absolute favorite sun-loving vines you can add to your garden.

1. Hardy Kiwi Vine (Actinidia kolomikta)

The tough kiwi vine, sometimes known as the Arctic kiwi, is usually grown for its stunning foliage. In the spring, the plant does produce a few tiny, inconsequential white blooms with a faint fragrance. At the same time, the plant’s heart-shaped leaves are the center of attention. While some leaves are entirely green, others have white, pink, and green patterns.

The hardy kiwi vine can grow in various lighting situations, including sun and shade; however, it needs full sun to blossom and bear fruit. Although a bit of midday shade benefits the plant in warmer climates, full light produces the most fabulous color in variegated leaves. Kiwi vines should be planted in rich, loamy, well-drained soil.

It is a large vine that casts broad shadows. The hardy kiwi is used in landscaping because of its lovely heart-shaped foliage. This climber thrives on trellises, fences, pergolas, and other structures.

hardy kiwi vine creeping in the wall

2. Dutchman’s Pipe Vine (Aristolochia macrophylla)

The Dutchman’s pipe vine is planted mainly for its leaves, despite its unusually shaped blossom that may serve as a distinguishing feature. Pipevine comes out on top with plants that require little attention yet have a significant impact.

If you want your pipe vine to have the best chance of growing and blossoming, you should plant it where it will get full sun. It can also tolerate partial to complete shade; however, it will probably blossom less, and its foliage might appear less vibrant, especially in warmer temperatures. 

Pipe vines thrive in rich and moist soil but do best when the soil has good drainage, something these plants love more than anything else. The leaves of this plant grow together, making it suitable for various applications. Some of these include providing shade to keep an area cooler in the summer, blocking out prying eyes in places where you require privacy or hiding eyesores in your landscaping.

growing pipe vine with red flowers

3. American Bittersweet (Celastrus scandens)

American bittersweet, also known as Celastrus scandens, is a deciduous twining woody vine most well-known for its brilliant red berries. It rapidly reaches a height of 20 feet and can grow leaves up to four inches long that are serrate, elliptic to ovate, and yellowish-green. In the late spring, clusters of flowers ranging in color from greenish-white to yellow appear on individual plants.

American bittersweet grows well in various soil types. The ideal growing conditions for this plant are full sun and medium to average soils with consistent watering. The presence of lean soils helps to inhibit plant growth. Full sunlight is required for optimal flowering and fruit presentation, but the plant will grow in the shade. 

Woodland gardens and other naturalized places would benefit significantly from incorporating them into their gardens and landscapes. Fences, arbors, trellises, posts, walls, and other landscape features can benefit from this plant’s fast cover. It is also possible to grow it along the ground to conceal rock piles or decaying tree stumps.

4. Bougainvillea (Bougainvillea spp.)

Bougainvillea vines are known for their rapid growth, rigid stems coated in thorns, and heart-shaped leaves. Bougainvillea vines can reach heights of up to 40 feet when appropriately supported. What looks like a flower on bougainvillea plants is a foliar structure called a bract. The flower is much smaller and not as eye-catching as the bract.

Given that it is a heat-loving vine, you must plant it in an area exposed to sunlight for a minimum of five hours each day. It does not fare well in moist soil, so not over-watering it is essential.

In regions with warm temperatures, such as the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, and Southern California, it is common to find bougainvillea vines growing up against walls. However, these vines frequently require assistance in climbing, and a trellis should be provided for them.

a full grown bush of pink bougainvillea

5. Mexican Flame Vine (Pseudogynoxys chenopodioides)

Growing Mexican flame vines in sunny sections of the garden provides the gardener with an explosion of vibrant orange color. Mexican flame vines feature attractive and dark green foliage, and the leaves may grow to be as long as 10 centimeters (4 inches) in length. They give the area where they are planted a lush, tropical appearance.

Plant seeds in a location that gets plenty of sunlight and has soil that drains properly. The Mexican flame vine does not have particular soil requirements and will grow in areas with poor soil and rocky terrain. When grown in organic soil, Mexican flame vines provide a more abundant floral show; yet, overly fertile soil can make the plant’s growth unmanageable. 

Butterflies and hummingbirds will be frequent visitors as flowers start to bloom. The vines are perfect for trellises, arbors, and other garden constructions. In addition, hanging baskets are an ideal use for them.

a mexican flame vine clinging on some wood fence

6. Everlasting Pea (Lathyrus latifolius)

Lathyrus latifolius, is a rhizomatous herbaceous long-lived perennial with trailing or climbing stems that produce lovely pink to white pea-like blooms throughout the summer. 

Showy rose, pink-purple, or white flowers (each to 1 inch across) bloom from early summer to fall in clusters of 6 to 11 blooms. The plant stems are coated with broad-winged, oval, medium-green leaflets that measure 3 inches and are arranged in pairs.

The everlasting pea is easy to cultivate on soil with a medium moisture level, good drainage, and total sun exposure. The best results are achieved in cold, fertile, humusy soils and areas with cool summers and good air circulation. You should maintain consistent moisture and fertilizer application throughout the growing season.

This plant can either be trained to entangle itself on supports or allowed to spread along the ground. They are also excellent for use as a ground cover on slopes or banks and in containers, beds, and borders.

purple flowers of a Lathyrus latifolius

7. Passion Flower (Passiflora Spp.)

The passion flower is a perennial climber that comes in a range of eye-catching colors, from white to purple, and can transform even the most uninteresting area of your garden into a showpiece. The odd and exotic appearance of the bloom, which some people have described as looking like a crown of thorns, is where the flower gets its name.

This plant does best in loam, clay, chalk, or sand-based soil that is well-drained and has a pH ranging from slightly acidic to alkaline. It requires full sun to partial shade. Additionally, once it has become established, it is resistant to drought.

The passion flower has a delicate appearance and will make a strong visual impact when grown on trellises and fences. It is better used to draw attention to an area and not as a disguise.

a passion flower in full bloom
Carley Miller
Carley Miller is a horticultural expert at Bustling Nest. She previously owned a landscaping business for 25 years and worked at a local garden center for 10 years.
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