Native Plants
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.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
rate this answer
Friday - May 20, 2016
From: Buda, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Vines
Title: Vine for 60 foot long by 2 foot high cinder block wall
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
Looking for a vine to cover a 60 foot long 2 foot high cinder block wall.ANSWER:
Some native vines have holdfasts that allow them to attach to the surface of a cinder block walls. Examples of native vines for your area that have holdfasts (disks or adhesive tips) are:
Parthenocissus quinquefolia (Virginia creeper)
Parthenocissus heptaphylla (Sevenleaf creeper)
Unless they have holdfasts it is difficult to get vines to grow on flat walls such as concrete or cinder blocks unless they have supports (either vertical and/or horizontal) that are small enough for their tendrils to twine around. Here is information from SFGate Homeguides on ways to provide vertical or horizontal wire supports that enable them to climb up the walls. Here are some possibilities for native vines that have tendrils and require support to climb. All are perennial and the first two are evergreen or tardily deciduous:
Lonicera sempervirens (Coral honeysuckle) is evergreen and grows in sun or part shade.
Cocculus carolinus (Carolina snailseed) is tardily deciduous or evergreen and grows in sun or part shade.
The remainder of the vines are deciduous.
Ampelopsis cordata (Heartleaf peppervine) is fast-growing in part shade.
Clematis drummondii (Old man's beard) grows in sun or part shade.
Clematis pitcheri (Purple leatherflower) grows in sun or part shade.
Ibervillea lindheimeri (Balsam gourd) grows in sun.
Vitis mustangensis (Mustang grape) grows in part shade.
Vitis cinerea var. helleri (Winter grape) grows in part shade.
From the Image Gallery
More Vines Questions
Is the fruit of Melothria pendula edible?
November 22, 2014 - Is the fruit of Melothria pendula edible?
view the full question and answer
Control of grapevines in trees
June 15, 2007 - Grapevines have overtaken some of the trees on our property in Central Texas. What is the best way to get rid of the grapevines and (hopefully) save the trees?
view the full question and answer
Perennial vine for full sun, Denton, TX
March 19, 2010 - 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 w...
view the full question and answer
Virginia creeper in trees
April 26, 2008 - Can Virginia creeper be allowed to climb on trees--specifically Texas ash and live oak--or will it damage them if allowed to attach itself? We are thinking of using it as erosion control in a greenbe...
view the full question and answer
Need some information about wild native grapes in Gatlinburg, TN.
August 13, 2010 - We have some wild grapevines growing on a southern exposure eroded bank. They are providing assistance in reducing erosion with rapid growth. Do these plants develop ground contact as they grow? In...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |