Green Thumb Corner

Blue Chinese Wisteria, Wisteria sinensis, is a twining, woody vine valued for its pendulous clusters of extremely fragrant violet-blue flowers. Chinese Wisteria is a shade tolerant vine, but it only blooms when grown in partial to full sun. It is perfect for covering patios, arbors or fences. This plant is often grown with multiple trunks but it can be trained to a single trunk as a small tree. Chinese Wisterias are deciduous. It is a fast grower with stems to 25 feet or longer. The vine often climbs trees, and is most striking when seen in full bloom draped from the limbs of a high pine. Leaves consist of 7 to 13 leaflets of large size; after flowering, very attractive, velvety pods are produced, containing seed. It is probably best used for training to grow onto an arbor where flowers can droop and form a fragrant ceiling of color.

The Honeysuckle 'Gold Net', 'Lonicera japonica 'Aureo-Reticulata', is unlike most Honeysuckle grown today. It is noted for its highly unusual oakleaf-shaped, lime-green and gold veined variegated foliage. The small scented yellow flowers will appear in the spring but they are inconspicuous. This Honeysuckle is quite versatile as it can twine up a wall, fence, or trellis, or mound or sprawl as shrubs and ground cover. In the south, it can be known to be rampant and may be evergreen or semi-evergreen. In the Pacific Northwest, it will be more restrained and can climb more than twelve feet, unlike many other species. It is usually grown as a climbing vine, but it can also be grown as a groundcover creeper, or it can be hung from baskets & containers, or over garden walls.

Dutchman's Pipe, Aristolochia durior, is primarily grown for foliage. Dutchman's Pipe is an extremely vigorous vine that is often grown because its large, heart-shaped leaves make an excellent screen. It is used for covering buildings and as a screen for porches. The flowers are shaped like a Meerschaum pipe but are not highly ornamental. The plant adapts to a wide range of growing conditions. It is native to the Eastern U.S. and grows best in full sun or partial shade. This deciduous, perennial plant should be trained on a trellis or arbor to encourage upright growth. The small flowers are a favorite food for pipe vine swallowtail butterfly larvae and will attract birds.

The Harlequin Honeysuckle, Lonicera periclymenum 'Harlequin', is highly recommended for the discerning gardener. Harlequin has gorgeous variegated foliage, green edged with white, often with pink highlights. Yellow and pink fragrant flowers bloom throughout the season. Honeysuckles are some of the easiest and most generous vines to grow. Many are fragrant and grow well in partial shade, but prefer full sun to partial shade. Easily grown in average, dry to medium wet, well-drained soil but adapts to a wide range of soils, including dry ones, but prefers moist, loamy soils. Can be grown as a low spreading shrub or trained up a trellis as a vine.

Goldflame Honeysuckle, Lonicera x heckrotti, is a woody vine valued for its exquisite rosy-red and yellow flowers from June until frost. The fragrant flowers continue as new growth develops. These are the most lusciously fragrant flowers, like Gardenias, and they are produced on new growth from spring to fall. You must plant this where the perfume can permeate the air and drift your way! Goldflame Honeysuckle has attractive oval blue green foliage on purplish-red glabrous stems. Honeysuckles are some of the easiest and most generous vines to grow. Many are fragrant and grow well in partial shade, but prefer full sun to partial shade. Easily grown in average, dry to medium wet, well-drained soil but adapts to a wide range of soils, including dry ones, but prefers moist, loamy soils. Can be grown as a low spreading shrub or trained up a trellis as a vine.

The Woodbine, Parthenocissus inserta, is a rapid growing vine that does not have holdfasts, therefore it will not cling to walls. New growth is bronze to red-tinged changing to rich lustrous green in summer. Woodbine has deep burgundy-red autumn coloring. Its small blue fruits are attractive to birds. It prefers full sun or shade and moist well drained soil. Flowering in mid July to early August, it is very similar to Virginia Creeper but less capable of climbing on solid surfaces because it lacks adhesive discs on the tendrils.

The Wisteria 'Aunt Dee', 'Wisteria macrostachya 'Aunt Dee', produces showy clusters of light purple flowers in the spring. This deciduous, twining, woody vine is noted for long life and exceptional beauty. Aunt Dee needs support, such as a trellis, arbor or fence to grow and climb on. Aunt Dee blooms when very young. It prefer deep, moist, well drained soil in full sun. Prune after flowering. Heads will turn when this plant is in full bloom. All parts of plant are poisonous if ingested.

The Clematis Josephine TM, 'Clematis', was the Chelsea Flower Show Award Winner in 1998! This double Clematis is a wonderful blending of cream to creamy green to pinkish mauve with striping. They bloom from July to September. These large flowering, hybrid Clematis are "Queens of the Garden n" Each flower is a striking display, with its unusual coloration and shape. The hardy vines grow 6-12 feet tall for trellis, porch, arbor, lamp post...any focal point. Plant in a sunny, well-drained location and keep roots mulched or shaded.

The American Bittersweet, Celastrus scandens, is a most adaptable vine, with orange and red berries that retain color when cut and dried in fall. It needs both male and female plant to produce the beautiful fruit, only the female plants will produce fruit. Plants are unsexed. The small greenish-white flowers are produced in June in short clusters. During the fall season bittersweet vines put on a display few other plants can rival, with fruit that is a round, orange-yellow capsule which opens, disclosing the scarlet-colored seed pod. The foliage turns a beautiful bright yellow. It likes partial to full sun, but does best fruit in full sun, and prefers lean soils with regular moisture.

The Trumpet Creeper 'Indian Summer', 'Campsis x tagliabuana 'Kudian' PP#13189', is a cross between the c. radicans and grandiflora species resulting in a superior orange-red trumpet bloom with red stripes. Indian Summer is a more subdued grower than other Trumpet Creepers. Indian Summer would look wonderful in a patio pot. The unique colored blooms appear in late summer. This plant thrives in full sun and will attract Hummingbirds. Indian Summer will flower the first year. Propagation prohibited without a license.

Wisteria - Blue Moon, Wisteria macrostachya 'Blue Moon', has racemes of sweetly fragrant blue flowers that occur in flushes on the new growth in June. The racemes are about a foot long on the first flush, successive ones are smaller, and usually three sets of blooms accur a summer. Blue Moon is perfect for an arbor or pergola, with flowers hanging below. The stems twine counter-clockwise and grows quickly, up to 15 to 20 feet per year. Grow in full sun for best flowering. Hardy to -40°F! The name comes from the fact that a great plant like this only comes once in a blue moon! Plan ahead when planting this vine. It must be sited and trained only on sturdy structures which will be able to support the considerable weight of the mature vine. This is an excellent vine for large, sturdy, freestanding arbors, pergolas, posts, trellises, fences or terrace walls.

The Trumpet Creeper 'Madame Galen', 'Campsis x tagliabuana 'Madame Galen', produces showy racemes of salmon-red colored tubular flowers that will impress all summer long. Madem Galen is a vigorous grower, it can grow up to 40 feet! Bloom time is late summer to early fall. This deciduous vine fhas an extra long bloom season. It is excellent for covering fences or arbors.This plant is attractive to bees, butterflies and birds.