9 Fast-Growing Vines to Cover Your Arbor or Trellis
Running out of ground space in your garden? Vertical spaces present opportunities for dramatic displays with the right climbing plants. Garden expert Madison Moulton shares 9 fast-growing vines that quickly transform arbors and trellises into stunning garden focal points.
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Arbors and trellises create architectural interest in gardens. But without the right plants to cover them, they don’t have quite the same impact. Even if you choose an arbor with a wonderful design, a lack of greenery means it won’t blend well with the rest of your garden.
Luckily, a few fast-growing vines are here to save the day.
The perfect vines combine rapid growth with abundant flowers or interesting foliage (or even better, both). Whether you’re looking to create shade, privacy, or simply a beautiful display, selecting the right climber will solve all your problems.
These 9 fast-growing vines offer solutions for various garden situations, from full-sun spots to partially shaded corners. Some are perennial, returning year after year, while others are annuals that provide some quick coverage in a single season.
Morning Glory
Morning glory is one of the fastest-growing vines you can grow from seed, so much so that it’s considered an aggressive grower and invasive in certain regions. This vine transforms vertical structures with remarkable speed, often covering large areas within a single season.
These annual vines produce heart-shaped leaves and trumpet-shaped flowers in stunning blues, purples, pinks, and whites that open with the morning sun. The twining stems naturally wrap around supports, requiring minimal training.
The rapid growth rate makes this flower ideal for situations where quick coverage is essential. Seeds planted after the last frost will begin flowering by midsummer and continue until frost. Their self-seeding nature means they often return year after year in warmer climates.
Black-eyed Susan Vine
Black-eyed Susan vine offers the perfect combination of rapid growth and continuous bloom throughout the growing season.
This annual vine (Thunbergia alata) produces distinctive five-petaled flowers with dark centers that create a striking visual contrast. The bright orange, yellow, or white blooms appear against a backdrop of heart-shaped green foliage, creating an amazing display on arbors and trellises.
This climber reaches 5-8 feet in a single season, providing plenty of coverage for vertical structures. The twining stems require some initial guidance, but quickly learn to climb once established. In frost-free areas, it may grow as a short-lived perennial, while in colder regions, it’s treated as an annual for summer color.
Honeysuckle
Honeysuckle vines have an intoxicating fragrance that fills entire garden areas, particularly when they’re given room to grow vertically. These climbers produce tubular flowers in various shades that attract hummingbirds and butterflies. The twining stems can reach impressive heights of 15-30 feet, depending on the variety.
The quick growth of this climber makes honeysuckle perfect for covering large structures quickly. So quick, in fact, that you’ll probably need regular pruning to maintain a manageable size and shape.
Most varieties prefer full sun to partial shade and adapt to various soil conditions. Once established, these vines require minimal maintenance beyond occasional pruning to control size or remove tangled growth.
Star Jasmine
Star jasmine is one of my favorite fast-growing vines for a few reasons. For starters, the scent is incredible and fills your entire garden when in bloom. The vines also provide dense coverage and grow reliably year after year in warm climates. The star jasmine I have covering my fence requires almost no attention beyond the occasional trim to keep the vines looking tidy.
Its growth is quick enough to establish good coverage within two seasons, but not so aggressive that it requires constant maintenance. In warm climates (USDA zones 8-10), star jasmine can reach 12-15 feet tall with support, making it suitable for almost any arbor or trellis.
The vine adapts well to various light conditions from full sun to partial shade (although flowering is most prolific with at least 4 hours of direct sun).
Crossvine
If you’re looking for a native option, crossvine is one to look out for. The name derives from the cross-shaped pattern revealed when the stem is cut.
This climber produces tubular blooms in orange-red to yellow hues that appear in spring. Varieties like ‘Tangerine Beauty’ are incredibly vibrant and attract masses of pollinators to your garden when in flower. The foliage also provides substantial coverage throughout the growing season.
The rapid growth rate allows this perennial to cover areas within a few seasons, eventually reaching 30-50 feet in ideal conditions. Most varieties thrive in full sun to partial shade and are drought-tolerant once established.
Wisteria
Wisteria creates sought-after, dramatic displays along any arbor. The flower clusters are synonymous with spring, creating flowering canopies each season.
These woody vines develop trunk-like bases over time, supporting massive growth that can completely cover large structures. So much so that planting requires careful consideration of placement and support structures, as the mature weight becomes quite heavy.
American varieties (Wisteria frutescens) grow somewhat less aggressively than their Asian counterparts while offering similar ornamental qualities and better behavior. These long-lived perennials perform best in full sun with well-drained soil and benefit from regular pruning to control size and enhance flowering.
Clematis
Clematis vines are great for versatility and continued interest in the garden, thanks to the wide variety of shapes and colors they are available in.
These perennial climbers produce flowers ranging from tiny bell-shaped to dramatic dinner-plate-sized blooms in virtually every color. The diversity extends to growth habits as well, with varieties ranging from 6 feet to over 20 feet tall (adaptable to various garden structures).
The growth rate varies by type, but many establish good coverage within two growing seasons. These vines climb using leaf stems that twist around supports, requiring trellising with thin structures they can easily grasp. Pruning correctly will encourage better flowering.
Jessamine
Jessamine provides early-season color, flowering in late winter or early spring. The glossy green foliage provides year-round structure while the sweetly scented blooms attract early-season pollinators. ‘Juiced® Orange’ is a reliable option with delightfully fragrant blooms.
The twining growth habit means jessamine can grow along almost any support, from arbors to fences and trellises. This adaptable vine performs well in full sun to partial shade and demonstrates good drought tolerance once established.
The early flowering time signals the start of spring, providing color when many other plants are still waking up. Provide sturdy support and occasional pruning after flowering to maintain shape and control size.
Climbing Rose
Climbing roses are usually one of the first plants gardeners reach for to cover an arbor, famous for their incredible flowers. They combine vertical growth with the beloved blooms and fragrance of traditional roses, truly the best of both worlds.
These plants produce long, flexible canes that require training and tying to supports. But the extra effort is worth it, yielding spectacular floral displays when you get it right. Some offer improved disease resistance and minimal thorns for easy maintenance, like ‘Peggy Martin’.
These woody perennials typically reach 8-20 feet, depending on the variety, with most achieving good coverage within two to three seasons. They need full sun with well-drained soil and adequate air circulation for the strongest flowering.
