If you want to grow vines,you might think you need a lot of space, but even if your planting area is limited, it’s still possible to cultivate vines in containers on your patio, deck or balcony. But no matter where you decide to plant these vines—in containers or right in the garden—place them where you’ll be able to enjoy the hummingbirds that will no doubt visit the nectar-filled blooms.
Lonicera sempervirens, Zones 4 to 9
Hummingbirds, butterflies and bees love native honeysuckle. Planting it in full sun or partial shade and moist soil will encourage the best flowering. The orange-red, trumpet-shaped flowers appear in clusters amongst the blue-green leaves, which persist through winter in southern states.
Why we love it: Unlike a lot of other plants, trumpet honeysuckle grows in clay soil and near black walnut trees.
Mandevilla, Annual, Perennial in zones 10 to 11
A drought-tolerant vine that can be grown in a container, hanging basket or right in the garden, mandevilla thrives in full sun to part shade and well-drained soil. You’ll find many new cultivars with white, pink, maroon, crimson and bicolor flowers.
Why we love it:
You can overwinter mandevilla indoors in a warm, sunny location.Cobaea scandens, Annual, Perennial in zones 9 to 11
A vigorous grower, give this vine a sturdy support to climb and display its cup-shaped, aromatic flowers. The blooms open green and then mature to purple, lasting about four days. Grow in full sun and provide a bit of afternoon shade in hotter regions.
Why we love it:
The flowers have a sweet musky fragrance and are reportedly pollinated by bats.Phaseolus coccineus, Annual
Grow scarlet runner bean, a hummingbird favorite, in a sunny spot in your vegetable or flower garden. You can grow these long vines on a trellis, arbor or fence. Regular harvesting will keep the plant producing more pods and its scarlet flowers blossoming.
Why we love it:
The red blooms will brighten the landscape and lure hummingbirds. Plus, the edible beans will amp up your veggie options.Tropaeolum peregrinum, Annual, Perennial in zones 9 to 10
Take a close look at the bright yellow flowers and you’ll see the inspiration for the common name. Grow this climbing nasturtium in full sun to part shade with moist, well-drained soil. Allow it to scramble through other plants, train it on a trellis or grow it in a hanging basket.
Why we love it:
The sunny yellow flowers are super showy and fragrant.Manettia luteorubra, Annual, Perennial in zones 10 to 11
This noncaloric candy corn is fun for gardeners of all ages. The orange tubular flowers are tipped in yellow, making them look like the Halloween treat. Grow it in full sun to light shade and moist, well-drained soil.
Why we love it:
When the outdoor weather is too harsh, the candy corn plant can be grown indoors as a houseplant.Asarina scandens, Annual, Perennial in zones 9 to 10
Brighten the summer and fall garden with the indigo, violet, pink or white flowers of figwort. Grow it in full sun to part shade on a trellis or allow the stems to spill over the edge of a hanging basket.
Why we love it:
The flowers resemble snapdragons, which is why figwort is occasionally referred to as climbing snapdragon.Passiflora incarnata, Zones 5 to 9
Its unique flowers make this vine a standout in a sunny spot in the garden or a container. You can even overwinter it as a houseplant. Also called maypop, this quick-spreading plant may need a bit of taming. Avoid using other species invasive to your area.
Why we love it: It’s native to the southeast U.S. and also attracts butterflies.
Campsis radicans, Zones 4 to 9
This is the most classic and well-known hummingbird vine. Native to the eastern U.S. and Canada, trumpet vine thrives in full sun and poor soils. Avoid excess fertilizer because it can prevent flowering. Plant it in confined areas or mow suckers to keep it in check. It’s important to note that it can be weedy or invasive in some southeastern states.
Why we love it:
The orange-red trumpet flowers are a hummingbird favorite.Dolichos lablab, Annual, Perennial in zones 10 to 11
This purple beauty will quickly cover a trellis or fence and its green leaves, white, pink or purple-pink flowers and purple pods provide season-long color. Grow hyacinth bean in full sun to partial shade. Despite being an annual, it will often reseed in the garden.
Why we love it:
The fragrant blooms are a treat for the senses. Plus, once it’s established, this plant is drought-tolerant.
Laura Perkins says
I planted the Trumpet Honeysuckle for the first time last year and was amazed how it attracted the hummingbirds throughout the season.
Becky says
Is it too late in season to plant the trumpet vine?
Cathy says
Anytime before a frost!
Nora says
Hi, I live in St. Paul, MN and have a Trumpet Honeysuckle. I have enjoyed it for the last 6 years and it is thriving! Tons of darling Hummers, butterflies and all sorts of bee’s! Fantastic worry free vine!
Brian Schuster says
Do you have a problem with aphids? The last few seasons they ravaged my vines. I can’t find any way of controlling them. Any ideas
Kim says
Amazon. Buy some ladybugs they eat the aphids
Jim Dyer says
Plant a garlic bulb. I put one in each bed that have aphids. No aphids in the whole bed.
dorothy says
I was only able to see 3 vines. Too mamy links to enjoy this article.
Tracydvr says
VERY INVASIVE!! Planted them in West Texas and they took over, even burrowed under cement barriers and came up in yard, had to hack roots w/ axe and trench them out.
Tracydvr says
Thought I was just commenting on the trumpet vine! Sorry
B Barnes says
Have to agree with her. We planted one in Wichita, KS and it burrowed under “3” neighbors fences! I used weed killer AND chopped out what roots I could get to. Container might be the answer, but DON’T let it get into the surrounding soil.
Cind says
I love the trumpet vine but worry about it being invasive. Looking for one that will grow in western SC and sandy soil.
Sherri says
Is this invasive? I too am looking for trumpet shaped blooming vines, which do not take over, to attract Hummingbirds.
Lorraine Kohout says
Trumpet Honeysuckle is not the same as Trumpet vine. Trumpet vine can be very invasive. Trumpet Honeysuckle is a native and not invasive.
Barbara Brindza says
Good distinction, thanks!
Jim Dyer says
Very true. In my earlier post I did not make that clear.
Diana says
I live in NC, zone 8 and see Mandevillas growing just fine? I have wanted to plant some myself, they are just beautiful.
Linda says
Will they grow in zone 5? I think it’s too cold here in southern Ontario
Niki Jo Loverde says
Mandevilla won’t survive winters in zone five.
J J says
What about Morning Glory? Nothing more beautiful! They are so easy to take care of and reseed so plant once, keep it watered and forget it.
Niki Jo Loverde says
Morning Glory is nearly as invasive as Trumpet Vine
Lorraine says
I started a hummingbird vine root it took 3yrs to take off .boy can’t stop it.beautiful hummingbird s all morning. VERY invasive so watch were you plant it.
Diane says
Where can I buy some Trumpet Honeysuckle? I live in Lincolnton, NC west of Charlotte.
Barbara Trueheart says
UNC Charlotte sells the native honeysuckle, Lonicera sempervirens at their spring plant sale. Ask your local nurseries who carry native plants if they carry native honeysuckle. There are several nurseries up here in the Piedmont Triad area that carry it.
JoeS197 says
Trumpet Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) is not invasive, but Trumpet Creeper (Campsis radicans) is very invasive, sprouting suckers in the middle of your yard, climbing up the side of your house, infiltrating anywhere it can with the invasive and incredibly fast spreading roots.
I see trumpet creeper all over the place here in North Alabama. It seems to be popping up like Mimosa trees. The ruby-throated hummingbirds prefer trumpet honeysuckle over trumpet creeper as well.
Diana Manganaro says
Great article but when I went to the link on Pinterest to pin the article you don’t even have one board set up there for B&B! Shame, you have so much on your website and magazines that would be great to share.
DorisLieberman says
When is the best time of year to
Plant the trumpet vine.
I live in Central Ok.73072
Thank you.
Niki Jo Loverde says
Never!!! Extremely invasive. It will take over your entire neighborhood!
Annette Green says
I have trumpet honeysuckle in my yard and I also plant scarlet runner beans every year just because the hummingbirds like them so much. I’ve found that they also visit my Blue Lake pole beans because they’re planted near the scarlet runner beans. I live in Idaho and theses are the only two of the listed vines that grow well in our climate.
Sandra D, Joliet says
I’m in Zone 5 Northern Illinois. The hummers love our Canna’s, Cypress vine (annual here) and Trumpet Vine the most. They also visit columbine, hyacinth bean, Butterfly bush and Penstemon. I think if we had more Penstemon (aka Cardinal Flower) they would visit it a lot more. The Trumpet Vine does send out sucker plants all over the surrounding lawn but we just mow over them. It requires a really good support.
Barbara Trueheart says
Cardinal flower is in the Lobelia family. Penstemmon is a different plant but hummers do like it’s tube shaped flowers, also.
Phyllis Mullikin says
I too planted trumpet vine, Worse mistake of my life. After 10 years, I can’t get it under control. Comes up everywhere, and I mean everywhere.
Lorraine G. says
I’m zone 4 in Minneapolis. My vine grows 12 feet each year but never blooms. South exposure. Fertilizer brings no blooms 🙁
plant lover says
Amazing how many ignorant people comment on here about the wrong thing. The article is talking about trumpet honeysuckle NOT trumpet vine.
Pffft says
If you read the article you’d notice both trumpet honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) and trumpet vine (Campsis radicans) are discused.
How’s it feel to be ignorant, stupid and a jerk?
Kate says
Try Graham Thomas HONEYSUCKLE vine for Northern and Southern climates.
It is suppose to be more controllable than the invasive Hall’s Honeysuckle and will draw hummers. Bought mine (2 two-year old plants) from Joy Creek Nurseries in Oregon which is a reputable nursery with good sized plants. I live in South Carolina. Shipping is more expensive but well worth the price for their plants.
Beware the Trumpet Vines that have the word ‘radicans’ in it’s scientific name. Beautiful but will take over everywhere.
Morning glory vines can be invasive and are annuals even in SC but draw hummers. Might want to consider growing Phlox, petunias (the ‘wave’ series, an annual) bleeding hearts