Saturday, August 27, 2016

24 Best Vines for Containers | Climbing Plants For Pots

24 Best Vines for Containers | Climbing Plants For Pots


Add a vertical touch in your container garden by growing climbing plants for containers. Must see these 24 best vines for pots.


The climbing plants in pots can bring a real touch of nature to any place, and they are a good way to add some privacy, too. These plants will create a nest of greenery where you can relax and rejuvenate and harbor in the mild soothing fragrance and lively colors.


1. Ivy


Ivy is one of the best climbers for containers. Its ability to adapt to all types of position makes it a great choice for beginners. It can grow up to 80 feet high and its evergreen foliage remains green even in winters. Plant it in a container that is wide and shallow rather than narrow and deep.


2. Morning Glory


Morning glories are a good option and one of the best creepers or vines for containers. This old-fashioned plant is easy to grow.


3. Clematis


Clematis is the perfect plant to add vertical height and interest to any container garden. Plant clematis in a large container. Fertilize this plant regularly and make sure to always water it thoroughly and deeply.


4. Virginia Creeper


Virginia Creeper’s foliage turn into a beautiful red in the autumn. You can also grow it in a pot, even on a balcony. It improves privacy! To grow this, find a really big container and provide sturdy support of a trellis.


5. Climbing Hydrangea


Climbing hydrangea is a great option. It is shade tolerant and thrives best in semi-shaded positions. This plant needs a large pot of about of the size of the half of a barrel.


6. Trumpet vine


This big (up to 40 ft.) and a fast growing vine is considered as a weed in some parts due to its invasiveness. Despite the fact, this plant is famous for its trumpet-shaped flowers that come in shades of yellow to red and attract hummingbirds. Trumpet vine is more suitable for warm temperates, still it can acclimatize and grow in cooler regions if the protection from cold is provided in winter.


7. Bougainvillea


The bougainvillea is not a vine but a climbing shrub, it is easy to grow, colorful and controllable. You can grow it to give a tropical touch to your container garden. As bougainvillea is a tropical plant, the protection in winter is required in temperate zones.


8. Honeysuckle


There are about 180 different varieties of honeysuckle available as vines and creepers and can be grown diversely in a variety of climates. Most of the honeysuckle varieties are evergreen in warmer climates. When growing honeysuckle, place the plant in full sun and do a regular watering. Occasional feeding with balanced fertilizer is enough.


9. Wisteria


Wisteria is one the most popular vines and it grows best in moderately cool climate. It can become huge, however, by providing solid support to the wisteria vine and some space you can grow it in a container, too. Also, it is required that you transplant this plant time to time into one size bigger pot. 


10. Common Jasmine


Truly the most fragrant flower. Even its heady fragrance is sometimes too much for some people. The Jasminum Officinalis is easy to grow in containers and requires well-draining soil and warmth to thrive. The plant usually blooms in summer but in tropics, jasmines are evergreen and in flower most of the year.


11. Confederate Jasmine


Confederate jasmine is a robust plant. It has moderate watering needs and doesn’t mind the hot and humid weather. Similar to other jasmines, it also likes warm climate and exposure to the sun. The beautiful star-shaped flowers appear in clusters. This vine is suitable for containers as it only grows up to 20 ft. long.


12. Climbing Rose


Climbing roses bloom prolifically, many varieties have a pleasant rosy scent. Consider the overall mature size of the variety that you are going to grow and the time you can devote to it, as roses require care and maintenance. Prune the plant on time and regularly remove the faded flowers to keep it in an attractive appearance.


13. Mandevilla


Mandevilla is an eye catcher. With proper care and an optimal location to enjoy the graceful, funnel-shaped flowers of this plant appear all summer. However, Mandevilla requires warm climate to thrive but you can still grow it as an annual in cooler zones.


14. Cup and Saucer Vine


Cup and saucer vine is a fast growing abundant flowering plant that is native to Mexico. It blooms prolifically but to do this the plant needs an optimal bright location. In temperates, you can grow it either as an annual or protect the plant from winter by keeping it indoors.


15. Passion Flower


One of the most beautiful privacy protection plant for a container garden. If you prefer an exotic flair and extraordinary flowers, the passion flower is a right choice for you. It is important that you provide it sufficient sun. The passion flower is slightly frost resistant, but it should spend its time in a really favorable spot in the winters.


16. Black-eyed Susan


Black-eyed Susan is a perennial vine that requires a sunny place and a trellis to climb on. This period flowering climbing plant can reach a height of over two meters with good care! Thus, the Black-eyed Susan is ideal if you want color and privacy in your container garden.


17. Dutchman’s Pipe


If you are looking for an unusual plant for your container garden, plant the dutchman’s pipe. The lush, large and heart-shaped foliage also provide interest apart from flowers that have a mildly unpleasant odor. Growing this unique plant as a perennial is only possible in warm subtropical or tropical climates. Everywhere else (as the plant is not frost tolerant) it must be grown in a greenhouse or indoors.


18. Butterfly Pea


Butterfly pea is a tropical vine and grows best in a cold temperate zone, grow this perennial as an annual. Plant it in a medium to a large sized container with a trellis to climb on from the initial stage.


19. Moonflower


Moonflower is an amazing night blooming plant with large trumpet-shaped fragrant flowers. Place the pot near your patio or bedroom window to enjoy its fragrance in the night but make sure the place receives morning sun and light afternoon shade. Deadhead or remove the spent blooms to encourage more flowers.


20. Asarina Scandens


Asarina, which is also known as climbing snapdragon is perfect for growing in containers as it seldom exceeds the height of 8-10 feet. Many hybrid cultivars available in the shade of different colors. You can also use this vine in hanging baskets or as a groundcover. Asarina is more a warm climate plant and often grown as an annual in temperates.


21. Canary Creeper


Let this annual vine ramble up on a trellis and it will award you with its showy yellow flowers that look unmatchable. The canary creeper has long blooming period from summer to fall and even more in subtropical warm regions where it is perennial.


22. Sweet Pea


Grow sweet peas in warm zones in fall and winter. In temperates, plant this fragrant vine in spring or summer. When growing in containers choose bush type varieties.


23. Sweet Autumn Clematis


Sweet autumn clematis vine forms masses of amazingly fragrant flowers from late summer to fall (autumn). You can grow this vine diversely in both the cold and warm climates. Also, in subtropical and tropical climates if shade from afternoon sun is provided.


24. Snail Vine


This beautiful tropical vine has rare snail-like fragrant flowers that are white in the beginning and later unfurl to lavender pink. However, it’s easy to grow snail vine in non-tropical zones but the plant dies in winter and returns again in the spring.

24 Best Drought Tolerant Plants That Grow In Lack Of Water

24 Best Drought Tolerant Plants That Grow In Lack Of Water


All plants need water to survive. However, like plants that require more water, there are plants that grow in a lack of water. They are the best drought tolerant plants and can live without water for a long time.


1. Agave


Agaves store water in their thick foliage and send their roots deep below the soil surface to collect the water available. The Leaf has sharp edges. Landscapers often use agave due to the interesting shape of their foliage and of course, they are low care and drought tolerant plants.


2. Bougainvillea


Bougainvillea is a champion in tolerating the drought. It seems to be one of the toughest shrubs that thrive on neglect in extreme and intense conditions. This colorful plant is easy to grow too.


3. Portulaca


Moss rose or “Portulaca” is a drought-tolerant flowering plant that thrives in dry, poor soil. Due to its thick succulent leaves, it can survive for a long time without water. It comes in a variety of colors and requires warmth to thrive.


4. Lithops


Lithops are unique stone like succulent plants due to the reason they are also known as “Living stones”. Lithops are suitable houseplants, with very low watering requirements they are easy to keep.


5. Blanket Flower “Gaillardia”


The blanket flower has no special needs. Anyone without a green thumb can make it bloom prolifically. All it really want is a sunny spot and occasional watering spells. It blooms all summer long and also in the fall. It is possible to grow this plant in both cold and warm tropical climates.


6. Verbena


Verbena is an excellent ground cover that spreads rapidly and thrives in high heat and a little water. It comes in many colors and blooms in clusters from spring to fall (year round in warm climates). It needs full sun and well-drained soil. Verbena grows diversely in both temperate and tropical climates.


7. Lantana


Lantana is a hardy tropical plant grown for its fragrant colorful flowers. Although it blooms throughout the spring and summer, in warmer areas it has year round flowers. The lantana loves heat and drought, a less demanding plant and can be grown in any soil type. Its flowers attract butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds. This plant is also easy to grow in pots.


8. Wallflower


Known for the beautiful colors and sweet aroma, the wallflowers are short-lived perennials in warmer regions, others are annuals (in colder regions) or biennials that resist drought well and require occasional watering. Flowers appear in spring and summer in clusters. Put your wallflower plant in a sunny or partially shaded place and remember not to water it much.


9. Oleander


Oleander is a tropical shrub that blooms prolifically. It produces beautiful fragrant flowers of different colors, like yellow, pink, red, white and purple. Oleander is known to adapt well to hot and dry climates and grows very well in coastal areas. It prefers full sun but doesn’t mind a few hours of shade too.


10. Rock Soapwort


Also known as “Tumbling ted“, a good semi-evergreen ground cover that blooms in summer. It is native to the mountainous regions, it is relatively cold hardy and doesn’t grow well in hot climates. Grow this plant if you’re searching for the one that thrives on neglect, requires no fertilizers and perform well in poor soil in the drought-like conditions.


11. Sage


This perennial, drought-resistant herb is famous for its aromatic flavor. The best time to grow is when the weather starts to warm up after the frost (and when there is abundant sunshine). Sage has low watering requirements and overwatering can kill the plant quickly.


12. Poppy


Thanks to the vibrant colors, poppies are the biggest attraction in any garden or in a patio. To grow poppies all you need is a sufficient exposure to sun and low to moderate watering.


13. Lavender Cotton


This mound forming shrub has grey-green foliage and pretty button like flower heads that appear in summer. Grow this plant in a well-draining, loamy soil in full sun.


14. Sedum


Known for its resistance to drought, it is sufficient to water it once a week in the spring and summer and, if require, once a month in winter. This plant grows well in all soil types and prefers plenty of light and sunshine.


There are many sedum varieties available and almost all of them are low maintenance. You can choose the flowering ones or those with variegated foliage.


15. Adenium


Also known as “Desert rose”, adenium is a tropical succulent plant that requires occasional watering. Adenium requires full sun and heat to thrive, however, it can also be grown as a houseplant in colder climates.


16. Lavender


This unmistakable flowering herb is a beautiful perennial and needs no introduction. It is easy to grow and tolerant of heat and drought and offers the perfect combination of color and aroma. You can also plant it in the pot, just be sure the pot has good drainage because the plant can not tolerate excess water. Learn more about growing lavender here.


17. Rock Daisy


There are several genera of plants in the daisy family that are called “Rock daisy“. They are most suitable for the rock gardens, these flowering plants thrive well in neglect and in the lack of water.


18. Globe Thistle


Once established, globe thistles tolerate drought and are probably one of the easiest perennial you can have in your garden and once in bloom, they are one of the most exciting (prickly though) plants you can see. The flowers appear in blue or violet colors (depending on the variety) from summer to early fall.


19. Rose Campion


Rose campion is one of the drought tolerant plants that are easy to grow. This plant is also admired for its silvery green foliage. A rose campion requires only supplemental watering during prolong dry periods.


20. Red Valerian


This drought tolerant plant has fragrant round clusters of flowers that appear from late spring the plant is also complemented by the fleshy blue-green foliage. Once established, the plant needs occasional watering and is relatively low care.


21. Euphorbia


Most of the plants from the euphorbia genus tolerates the scarcity of water easily and don’t require special attention. The plants from this genus are found in almost every part of the world, from short living annuals to tall perennials.


22. Russian Sage


Russian sage is truly an admirable plant due to its silvery foliage and beautiful plumes of lavender color flowers. This tough and drought resistant plant must be planted in a position that is sunny and well-drained.


23. Yarrow


Yarrow has small, tightly packed showy flowers. This hardy perennial also has fern-like decorative foliage. Yarrows are low maintenance plant and suitable for borders, wildflower meadows, and rock gardens. Growing yarrow requires position that is sunny, and well-draining loamy soil.


24. Cactuses and Succulents


Not only the cactuses and succulents need less water, they are also low-maintenance and easy to grow. During the period of drought, these tough plants shrink and use the reserved water. There are many cacti and succulent varieties that you can choose to grow.