climbing flowering vines zone 7

Short of standing in front of the house with a plate of chocolate chip cookies fresh from the oven, there is no more welcoming way to greet visitors than with a bower of flowers. Here are nine ways to use vines and climbers to create curb appeal.

Hide a Problem

If you have an ugly utility pole blocking your view, a fast-growing vine will mask it quickly; aSolanum jasminoides (potato vine) hides the telephone and electrical wires at my house in Mill Valley, California.

Frame a Fence

Above: If you have a fence or a balcony railing that screams Keep Out, you can lower your voice without sacrificing privacy by planting a flowering climber. Wisteria will thrive in full sun and if it has something to latch onto, can reach a length of 100 feet. (See Gardening 101: Wisteria.)

Mix-and-Match on a Wall

Above: A rambler and a climber mingle in Brooklyn Heights. Photograph by Erin Boyle.

To extend bloom time, plant two different varieties of climbing roses against one wall and let them mingle. For more ideas for curb appeal with roses in Brooklyn, see Design Sleuth: 7 Sources for Brooklyn's Most Beautiful Roses.

Shelter a Stoop

Above: Photograph by Justine Hand. For more, see 10 Easy Perennials for the Seaside Garden.

Justine inherited a New Dawn climbing rose when she bought her summer cottage on Cape Cod. It serves the same purpose as a covered porch (and is better looking); it shelters visitors and adds visual interest to the facade.

"I wanted a rose-covered cottage, and I got one," Justine says. "All I do to achieve the profusion shown here is to fertilize my New Dawn once in the spring, and water only in the worst droughts."

Above: New Dawn also made Janet's list of 7 Best Climbing Roses because it's a profuse bloomer that puts on a big show. Another pest-resistant rose that loves bad soil and requires almost no water is the rambler Dorothy Perkins (ramblers are distinguished from climbing roses by the fact that most aren't repeat bloomers). Dorothy Perkins, popular in the UK, reaches a height of 12 feet and has sprays of pink flowers; £18.00 from David Austin UK.

Dress Up a Facade

Less heavy and aggressive than wisteria, a clematis vine will frame a doorway (or in this case, a garage door) without overwhelming it. (See Gardening 101: Clematis.)