Ask Mr. Smarty Plants

You may find non-native vines acceptable, but we do not. The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center is dedicated to the use, protection and propagation of plants native not only to North America but to the area in which the plant is being grown. Every plant is concentrated on one thing, which is reproducing itself. Therefore, every plant, except for those that are non-vascular, is going to be attempting to flower and thus produce seed and thus produce more of itself. We would consider this an even worse problem if you were considering non-native invasives, but you will still have difficulty containing the seeds. Depending on the size of the planting, dead-heading the blooms before they can go to seed is probably your best hope.  Of course, this usually results in heavier blooming as the plant continues to try to reproduce.

We will search in our Native Plant Database for vines native to the Central Coastal area of California, and see what is available that we could hope would not become invasive. There are two species of clematis native to your area, Clematis lasiantha (pipestem clematis) and Clematis ligusticifolia (western white clematis). Another native is Lonicera hispidula (pink honeysuckle).

Beyond this, we want to refer you to a wonderful resource in Southern California, Las Pilitas Nursery.  They specialize in plants native to California, and have many we do not yet have in our Native Plant Database, with information on care, light exposure and invasiveness on each plant. 

From Our Native Plant Image Gallery:

Clematis lasiantha

Clematis ligusticifolia

Lonicera hispidula