Host an Event Volunteer Join Tickets

Support the plant database you love!

Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?

A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.

Help us grow by giving to the Plant Database Fund or by becoming a member

Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?

Share

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

Search Smarty Plants
See a list of all Smarty Plants questions

Please forgive us, but Mr. Smarty Plants has been overwhelmed by a flood of mail and must take a break for awhile to catch up. We hope to be accepting new questions again soon. Thank you!

Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.

 
rate this answer
Not Yet Rated

Friday - December 04, 2009

From: Bridgeport, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Vines
Title: Vine to cover fence line in Bridgeport, Texas
Answered by: Nan Hampton

QUESTION:

We are looking for a year round vine that will cover our fence line. Flowering and non-flowering.

ANSWER:

There is really only one evergreen vine (I'm assuming that what you mean by year-round vine) that is native to your area.  There are two semi-evergreen (meaning that they retain their leaves in mild climates or mild winters in a more severe climate) vines.   I also list some perennial deciduous vines for your consideration.

EVERGREEN

Gelsemium sempervirens (evening trumpetflower)

SEMI-EVERGREEN

Bignonia capreolata (crossvine)

Lonicera sempervirens (trumpet honeysuckle)

DECIDUOUS

Berchemia scandens (Alabama supplejack)

Cissus trifoliata (sorrelvine)

Clematis drummondii (Drummond's clematis)

Clematis pitcheri (bluebill)

Ibervillea lindheimeri (Lindheimer's globeberry)

Ipomoea cordatotriloba (tievine)

Parthenocissus quinquefolia (Virginia creeper)

Vitis mustangensis (mustang grape)

Vitis vulpina (frost grape) and here are photos

Here are photos from our Image Gallery of the plants listed above:


Gelsemium sempervirens

Bignonia capreolata

Lonicera sempervirens

Berchemia scandens

Cissus trifoliata

Clematis drummondii

Clematis pitcheri

Ibervillea lindheimeri

Ipomoea cordatotriloba

Parthenocissus quinquefolia

Vitis mustangensis

 

 

More Vines Questions

Plants for a children's playground
April 20, 2015 - We have extensive native gardens on our 2 acre property, but my children want a garden of their own with plants they can hide under and that are good for imaginative play. Are there any native plants...
view the full question and answer

Plant identification of a potted vine in California
October 04, 2011 - Hi, we have a tropical vine growing in a pot on our patio that my wife bought at the county fair. We've had it for a couple of years but I just noticed it now has a sort of pear like fruit on it. It ...
view the full question and answer

Flowering vine in Tennessee
September 01, 2009 - I'm in Memphis, TN & have a flowering vine growing wild behind my A/C unit. Not the sort of vine that twines. Small blue flowers bloom out of pods; flowers only have two petals. Blooms last only one...
view the full question and answer

Will Bittersweet climb on a streetlight pole?
February 05, 2015 - Will Bittersweet climb on a streetlight pole, or does it need to be with a tree?
view the full question and answer

Identification of prickly vine in north Texas
July 07, 2008 - While trimming the shrubs around my suburban house I noticed (and my legs were torn up by!) a vine-like plant with small green serrated leaves and millions of small, very sharp thorns. I search Invasi...
view the full question and answer

Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today.