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
6 ratings

Friday - March 19, 2010

From: Denton, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Vines
Title: Perennial vine for full sun, Denton, TX
Answered by: Amy Johnson

QUESTION:

I would like to grow a perennial vine that would tolerate full sun during the day. A flowering or non-flowering is fine. I do NOT want anything that is poisonous, i.e. Carolina jasmine, since this will be in a deep planter next to the front door.

ANSWER:

We found three vines that suit your requirements, and none of them have poisonous parts.

From our Native Plant Database: 

Bignonia capreolata (crossvine) - evergreen, reaching 50 ft. in length, blooms red, yellow March to May, low water use, sun or part shade

Lonicera albiflora (western white honeysuckle) -  4 ft., deciduous, blooms white March to May, sun or part shade

Passiflora incarnata (purple passionflower). - 12 to 36 ft., deciduous, blooms pink, blue, purple April to September, low water use, sun or part shade

From our Native Plant Image Gallery:


Bignonia capreolata

Lonicera albiflora

Passiflora incarnata
 

More Vines Questions

Wisteria and Non-Poisonous Native Vines
February 15, 2012 - I'm from central Texas and I'm wanting to plant a native vine that will work well around the public, mainly kids. It's a mostly sunny trellis that makes an arch. I'd like to plant the native Wiste...
view the full question and answer

Native trailing plant for Nebraska
October 01, 2009 - I live in the tall grass prairie area of Eastern Nebraska and am working on some prairie restoration and native plantings. I have just put in a limestone retaining wall and would like to find a nativ...
view the full question and answer

Plant ID of growth on wild grape vine in New Bern NC
August 08, 2010 - There are purplish cone-shaped things growing on my wild grape vine. What are they?
view the full question and answer

Care and fruiting time of pumpkins
October 06, 2007 - This is my first year growing pumpkin. I have a good vine with flowers now & then, but I still don't see a little pumpkin forming. What am I doing wrong?
view the full question and answer

Growing non-native Cabernet Sauvignon vines in Central Texas
July 01, 2013 - Hi. I recently moved into a remodeled home in Taylor, TX, and have experimented with Cabernet Savignon vines before. I have a 1/2 acre and a chain-link fence I want to put vines on. (I have a book o...
view the full question and answer

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