Contact Us Host an Event Volunteer Join

Support the plant database you love!

DONATE TODAY

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
Not Yet Rated

Friday - March 21, 2008

From: Boston, MA
Region: Northeast
Topic: Vines
Title: Native vine to cover chain link fence in Massachusetts
Answered by: Barbara Medford

QUESTION:

I have a chain link fence I don't want to bother taking down, any suggestions on a clinging vine that will rapidly attach itself to the links and eventually cover it with a green "blanket"? thanks

ANSWER:

This is a little tricky, because I'm assuming you want something that covers up that fence ALL the time and not just in summer. The native vines we want to recommend range from deciduous to semi-evergreen in Massachusetts. So, we ranged a little farther and looked for some shrubs that would be evergreen in Massachusetts, and provide solid coverage for the fence year-round. There were not even that many of those, but here is a list of possibilities. Or you could tear the fence down.

Vines

Campsis radicans (trumpet creeper)

Lonicera sempervirens (trumpet honeysuckle)

Parthenocissus quinquefolia (Virginia creeper)

Shrubs

Ilex opaca (American holly)

Ilex vomitoria (yaupon)

Morella cerifera (wax myrtle)

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (kinnikinnick)


Campsis radicans

Campsis radicans

Lonicera sempervirens

Parthenocissus quinquefolia

Ilex opaca

Ilex vomitoria

Morella cerifera

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi

 

 

 

 
 

More Vines Questions

Plant identification--vine with spiny pods in California
July 05, 2010 - I came across a vine while hiking in Orange County, CA. It didn't have flowers on it but has 3 or 4 inch spiny pods. What is it? The vine itself looks similar to a Morning Glory vine.
view the full question and answer

Passiflora incarnata 'Alba' cultivar or hybrid from Birmingham AL
January 13, 2014 - Is Passiflora incarnata 'Alba' a cultivar or a hybrid?
view the full question and answer

Pruning time for Smoke Tree (Cotinus obovatus)
February 13, 2006 - Gentlemen: I have a Texas Smoke Tree (Cotinus obovatus). It's doing very well & I wish to prune it before its leaves come out. I understand there are a few trees you don't prune, among them birch. I...
view the full question and answer

Plant identification of large hairy vine in Salem, OH
June 19, 2009 - We have large hairy vines that grow up the side of several of the trees on the edge of the woods beside our home. The leaves color resembles that of the poisonous sumac but the leaves shape do not. ...
view the full question and answer

Vine with edible nut in Chattooga County, Georgia
March 01, 2011 - From an email to this Master Gardener- The lady said when she was young her grandmother had a vine that grew along ground that produced small edible nut. As kids they called them chew-chews. Any idea ...
view the full question and answer

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