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
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 - 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"? thanksANSWER:
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
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (kinnikinnick)
More Vines Questions
Removing spent flowers from passion flower in Garland TX
May 26, 2009 - To encourage more blooms, should I remove spent flowers on my passion flower vine?
view the full question and answer
Deer Resistant Vine for California
July 24, 2013 - What can I plant to cover a retaining wall in Redwood City, CA that will grow down on it (no dirt below) that deer will not eat? I have just about given up. I have tried jasmine and Gelsemium and regu...
view the full question and answer
Trumpet Vine Dropping Buds
July 25, 2013 - My trumpet vine is dropping its buds before flowering. This happened last year as well. Do you know what is causing this and what I can do to prevent it?
view the full question and answer
Identification of vine from Las Vegas NV
July 11, 2012 - I'm interested in identifying the vine shown by the leaf in this photo: https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/zR3R4JSPYcCI4ESczNXWM4h8z33Cq5cyZNqSSYf9hx0?feat=directlink
My mother-in-law got one o...
view the full question and answer
Plant identification request for a vine
September 19, 2007 - I would like to identify a wild vine that I have just discovered in our bush. It has leaves similar in shape to a maple leaf,approx.4"wide, has white flower spikes, and some kind of a fruit or pod t...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |