Container-grown vines are best planted in a moist, general-purpose planting mix, and in a fairly large container. If you don’t want your vines trailing down out of the pot, you’ll need a trellis, which you can buy or make yourself. An easy way to make a trellis is also quite informal: Simply stick small, straight branches into the soil around your plant, creating a structure the vines can climb. Another idea is to spray paint bamboo poles and then use a decorative zip tie or twine to fasten the poles together at the top, like a colorful teepee. You can also place vining plants in containers against a wall to which you’ve attached a trellis for them to grow on. Here are six great choices for a flowering vine for your container gardening. Passion flowers require good drainage and are heavy feeders, so they need regular fertilizing during the growing season. Depending on the variety, these tropical plants need to be brought inside during winter in colder climates.
USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 12Color Varieties: Blue, purple, pink, white, redSun Exposure: Full sun to part shadeSoil Needs: Rich, moist, well-drained soil
There is something old-fashioned yet contemporary about morning glories. Easy to grow from seed, with heart-shaped leaves and abundant and luminous flowers, morning glories are perfect for containers. Morning glories prefer full sun but will grow in partial shade. The vines will reach 5 to 15 feet, depending on the variety, so provide a tall trellis. Morning glories are very easy to plant from seeds in containers. Seeds are best started indoors about 6 to 8 weeks before last frost, then transplanted. Be aware that morning glories are considered invasive in some areas because they self-seed so profusely.
USDA Growing Zones: 2 to 11; this plant is a true annualColor Varieties: Blue, purple, white, pink, redSun Exposure: Full sun to part shadeSoil Needs: Consistently moist, well-drained soil.
The cardinal vine flowers in mid-summer. Like the morning glory, it can become invasive. Dry soil will cause the plant to perish, so keep it moist.
USDA Growing Zones: 2 to 11; this plant is a true annualColor Varieties: Red, with yellow or white throatsSun Exposure: Full sun to part shadeSoil Needs: Moist, well-drained soil
Black-eyed Susan vines look particularly stunning in tall, narrow pots with a rustic trellis. They also work great in hanging baskets. They can sprawl everywhere, and sometimes need some assistance to grow up a trellis. Consider mixing different varieties; the orange and yellow, or orange, yellow, and white combined are a great combination.
USDA Growing Zones: Perennial in zones 10 to 11; grown as an annual elsewhereColor Varieties: Yellow, salmon, bright orange, whiteSun Exposure: Full sun to part shadeSoil Needs: Rich, medium moisture, well-drained soil
Preferring full sun, in some areas moonflowers will tolerate partial shade. As with morning glories, be careful not to over-fertilize. Moonflowers are easy to grow from seeds, but they need to be started indoors six to eight weeks before planting outdoors.
USDA Growing Zones: Perennial in zones 10 to 12; grown as an annual elsewhereColor Varieties: WhiteSun Exposure: Full sun to part shadeSoil Needs: Moist, well-drained soil
Very closely related to Mandevilla, and often confused for it, is the Dipladenia vine. They may even be sold as the same plant in some garden centers. Dipladenia plants are slightly more shrubby in appearance, with smaller leaves that are a deep glossy green. Both plants are grown the same way and can be used for similar purposes in containers.
USDA Growing Zones: Perennial in zones 10 to 11; grown as an annual elsewhereColor Varieties: Pink with yellow throatsSun Exposure: Full sun to part shadeSoil Needs: Moist, well-drained soil
