Saturday, June 07, 2008
Tangled up in vines
Libba Wolfe
Libba Wolfe's column appears twice monthly in Extra.
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There's something about a vine I find irresistible. Creeping or leaping to soften hard structural edges, screening a view, spilling over walls, clambering over fences, creating intimate garden nooks or inviting entries -- what's not to love? And when you're out of growing space, say on an apartment balcony, why not grow up?
It's not too late to start seeds of the quick and showy annual climbers. I found a package of misplaced morning glory seeds yesterday. The instructions say to use a nail clipper to nick the seeds for speedier germination. But I've always soaked them in hot water for eight hours and that's worked just fine. They were in the ground by suppertime and I expect I'll see some green action in eight to 10 days. They'll grow on the same support with moon flower vines so I can enjoy blooms from coffee till cocktails.
The only flowering vine more cheerful than a tangle of blue and white morning glories is a mass of old-fashioned nasturtiums. After a daylong soak, I poke the seeds an inch deep in a sunny spot and make sure I give them regular water. It doesn't take long to see those saucer-shaped leaves pop up and take off.
Don't be tempted to fertilize nasturtiums, as that will produce lush foliage and few blooms. And don't rip them out if they get a little tired looking in the August heat. As soon as it cools off just a bit, they will bounce back for a magnificent show till the first frost.
Another annual showstopper is purple hyacinth bean vine or Dilichos lablab. The seeds I planted nine days ago are sprouts two inches tall. I have a vision of 8- to 10-inch vines, covered with huge purple blooms, draping my back fence by midsummer. The blooms are followed by deep eggplant pods full of seeds for next year.
I'm letting a new-to-me annual, Pride of Gibraltar Cerinthe, head up the base of two birdbaths. The seed packets recommended patience as the 2-inch vine is "undistinguished" until its dramatic purple and white blooms appear.
Most of the annual vines require many hours of sun to fuel their fast growth and nonstop blooming habits. If you're looking for vines for a shadier spot or for one that's permanent, look to the perennial climbers.
One of my favorite spring bloomers is clematis. Local nurseries offer many varieties and colors. I learned early on to tag each plant because different clematis classes have different pruning requirements. Who can remember what's what two years down the road? Clematis roots like a little cool shade and the blooms do best in sun. So plant them on the morning sun side of the support or surround the base with other plants to give them a little protection. Mulch also helps.
When I went looking for an evergreen vine for the front of my house, I stumbled across clematis armandii. It struggled the first year because I planted it in full shade. But I moved it to a corner with a little morning sun, and it settled in and took off. This spring it was covered with delicate, sweet-smelling blooms. A winner!
I used to grow porcelain berry vine at my old house. It's on the dangerous invasive list in some parts of the country, but I never had a problem with unruliness. The lightly variegated foliage is beautiful, but the tiny Carolina blue, navy blue, robin's-egg blue and purple berries are breathtaking.
Who doesn't have childhood memories of sucking the sweet nectar from a honeysuckle flower? Enjoy that barefoot pleasure again with one of the many varieties of honeysuckle -- some climbing, some bushing, some deciduous, some semi-evergreen. Blooms range from pale yellow to orange to red. I have a coral pink near the back door that's just started to bloom.
Any discussion of vines has to include wisteria and the romance of its lovely lavender or white blooms perfuming the Southern air. If you have your "Gone with the Wind" heart set on wisteria, let's talk.
The largest known wisteria is in Sierra Madre, Calif. One plant covers more than an acre and is estimated to weigh more than 250 tons. You read that right -- 250 tons. Think about that before you plant six to climb over a little archway.
Wisteria is a fast grower, so pay attention to putting in extremely sturdy support before you plant. You'll need to spend time every year pruning and clipping and pulling shoots nearby. Wisteria can be a beautiful additional to a yard but, like Scarlett O'Hara, it's high-maintenance with a mind of its own.
Support is a consideration for all of the vining plants. You'll have to guide the tendrils up strings or wires onto fences, walls and trellises. Some may have to be tied to their supports.
I picked up a handy tip on a visit to the JC Raulston Arboretum in Raleigh, N.C. I bought a roll of black plastic grid and wrapped the top half of my back porch columns. Staples were strong enough to secure it. That's plenty of support for annual vines and my honeysuckle.
Clematis can be planted at the base of shrubs and grow right into them. That's especially lovely with a shrub rose. I grow a Lady Bankshia rose on a dogwood tree but it's relatively lightweight. Some of the vigorous climbing roses can collapse a tree or a dilapidated old shed in no time. When a plant tag recommends a sturdy support, it's not kidding. Do your research before you plant.
Lash together the ends of some bamboo poles and plant the other ends firmly in the ground or in a pot to form a teepee. My brother-in-law Louis fashioned a support over a window with closet brackets and a piece of PVC pipe. An old metal gate set in concrete or mounted on the side of the house will work. Bird feeder poles, tree stumps, old tomato cages ... whatever.
Let your imagination climb and twine and you'll discover a million places for vines.
TO DO: Weed a few minutes every day. I neglected my weeding chores for a few weeks and I'm ready to declare my yard a World Heritage Clover Site and give up.
