10 Vines for Southwestern Landscapes
Vine for Southwestern Garden, Tangerine Crossvine
Vines are a wonderful way to decorate vertical surfaces with lovely shades of green as well as colorful flowers.
Queen’s Wreath
This is especially valuable in southwestern gardens where vines can help moderate the heat that re-radiates from a wall or is used to create filtered shade when they are grown up on a pergola or patio roof.
Vine for Southwestern Garden, Pink Bower Vine
I have grown several types of vines during my years living and gardening in the desert southwest and have shared my 10 favorite vines in my latest article for Houzz.
Do you have a favorite vine?
10 Flowering Vines for Southwestern Gardens
Noelle Johnson, aka, 'AZ Plant Lady' is a author, horticulturist, and landscape consultant who helps people learn how to create, grow, and maintain beautiful desert gardens that thrive in a hot, dry climate. She does this through her consulting services, her online class Desert Gardening 101, and her monthly membership club, Through the Garden Gate. As she likes to tell desert-dwellers, "Gardening in the desert isn't hard, but it is different."
Thank you so much! I have a wrought iron fence between the garage and house and I'm looking for something to plant there. However, with a red tile roof, I don't want anything TOO invasive!
Good morning Noelle ~ I have the crossvine, and the Pink Bower Vine, I also have a Queen's Wreath vine, but it is the Petrea Volubilis, with purple flowers. Also have the Trumpet creeper, plus others that are not shown here. Almost too many to handle. 🙂
Thanks for posting this.
FlowerLady
Hello Trav4adventures,
I am glad you found this list and hope that it helps you to decide which vine is right for your iron fence 🙂
Noelle – AZ Plant Lady
Hi Lorraine,
It is so nice to hear from you. I hope that you have had a good summer. I expect, that like me, you are looking forward to some cooler weather soon. I have seen the Petrea volubilis and it is beautiful. It's somewhat marginal in our area, but I see it a lot in California.
I hope all is well with you!
Noelle
Hi Noelle. Are all of the vines evergreen? I live in the West Valley here in AZ. I'm always delighted when you have a new post on your blog. 🙂
Hi la chick,
Some of them are frost tender, but the Carolina jasmine, tangerine crossvine, purple lilac vine and Lady Bank's rose should remain relatively free from frost damage during normal winters in the Phoenix area.
I hope you try one 🙂
Noelle -AZ Plant Lady
In regard to the Carolina jasmine, tangerine crossvine,, purple lilac vine, and Lady Bank’s rose…Will they do OK in full sun?
Hi Kristine,
If you are talking about an area that gets hot, afternoon sun – that is a very hard exposure for vines to handle. All but the Carolina jasmine (which does best in light shade), can handle east and south-facing exposures though. I hope this helps!
Will the Carolina Jasmine live thru the very cold freeze we have had the last few weeks
I am tired of loosing plants or covering them. Got down to 32 degrees several nites. What kind of flowering tree or plant would you recomend?
Gerry Smith
gerryss5186@gmail.com
Hello Gerry,
Carolina Jasmine should be fine as they are hardy to 10 degrees F. A great choice for year-long evergreen color.
Hi! I’ve just moved into Marana, Az area from Tucson. I’ve decided to use a vine and trellis to block the view from my backyard patio door into the neighbor’s adjoining backyard and their patio door. Its full sun and south side of the house. What would you recommend and why. Thank you for your help! Deborah
Hello Deborah,
I would try Tangerine Crossvine which has dark green leaves and tangerine pink flowers that appear spring into summer. It does well in a south-facing exposure.
Hi Noelle…
Is there a hardiness zone for heat? I live in Mesa, Az. would love to see a deciding factor for zone 9b regarding what plants can with stand the heat. I plan to try the Tangerine Crossvine very soon. Love your blog.
Hello BJ,
Great question! USDA planting zones only cover one aspect of the climate and completely disregards the heat of summer. There are Sunset Climate Zones, which take into account several factors including heat and cold. AHS Heat Zones are another that are based on the number of days per year above 86 degrees.
Tangerine Cross Vine is a great choice!