There can be many reasons to plant an annual vine. They can provide quick vertical cover in one year and will flower from summer to fall. They are great for trellising from window boxes or pots. Annual vines are often unique with colorful flowers and can be grown through hedges or other vines for added color
Dolichos lablab 'Ruby Moon'
(Hyacinth Bean)
- Purple leaves, pink flowers and magenta seed pods
- Edible pods, beans, flowers, young leaves, and tubers
- Grows 6-12' in full sun
- Combine with Nasturtiums
Ipomea alba 'Moon Flower'
- Fragrant, white, morning glory style flowers open at night
- Grows 5-10' in full sun
- Combine with Passion Flower or Morning Glory
Ipomea multifida cardinalis'Cardinal Vine'
- Feathery leaves add great texture
- Small red trumpet flowers are a hummingbird magnet
- Grows up to 15' in full sun, loves heat
- Takes up to 4 months to bloom from seed
- Combine with Canary Bird Vine
Ipomoea purpurea 'Carnevale di Venezia' (Striped Morning Glories)
- Dramatic flowers really make an impact in the garden
- Flowers open in the morning and close in the afternoon
- Grows up to 15' in full sun
- Easy from seed
- Combine with Clematis or evergreen hedges
Cobea scandens (Cup and Saucer Vine)
- Unique purple or green flowers summer through fall
- Great for a seasonal privacy screen
- Fast growing to 12'
- Prefers full to part sun
- Combine with evergreen Clematis or Honeysuckle
Mina lobata 'Spanish Flag'
- Sprays of flowers begin red and fade to cream
- Blooms mid summer through fall
- Grows 12' in full sun
- Combine with Star Jasmine
Phaseolus coccineus (Scarlet Runner Bean)
- Gorgeous red and white flowers May-September
- Very fast growing to 10' or more
- Easy from seed, plant in April
- Edible beans
- Attracts hummingbirds
- Tolerates light shade
- Create a tee pee out of bamboo poles and runner beans for a fun summer play house
Lathyrus odoratus (Sweet Peas)
- Bright flowers come in a wide range of colors
- Fragrant cut flowers
- They can be planted early! February from seed and March from starts
- Grow in full sun to light shade
- Blooms begin to wane when the weather heats up
- Combine with Black-eyed Susan Vine
- Dwarf varieties are great for hanging baskets and window boxes
- For a photo list of varieties, see this article from Loghouse Plants
Canary Bird Vine
Tropaeolum peregrinum
- Feathery yellow flowers summer to fall
- Bluegreen foliage
- Grows 8-12' in full sun to light shade
- Low maintenance
- Edible flowers and young leaves
- Combine Forget-Me-Nots, Clematis or Morning Glories
