Crossvine creating screening around my front yard; and the ugly Arborvitae hedge that failed at the job.
I reported back in 2020 that I was “replacing my hated Arborvitae hedge with Crossvine,” because A, the hedge was ugly, B, some of it had died, and C, I still wanted to screen parked cars and create a bit of privacy in my front yard. So one of my peak-covid projects was having the hedge removed and replaced with posts and wires that would support vines. Oh, and lots of Mardi Gras beads, just because.
After two full seasons, the Crossvine you see above is doing the job I’d hoped for, and because it’s evergreen, it’s doing it all year long. Its proper name is Bignonia capreolata and it’s native to the Eastern half of the U.S.
I recently posted photos of Crossvine’s stunning blooms to local Facebook groups and people went nuts over it, so I thought I’d show it off here, too.
Another vine that’s blooming like crazy now is Lonicera sempervirens, the native honeysuckle in the center of this shot. While not evergreen like the Crossvine, it’s excelling in attracting hummingbirds (!)
I also planted two Clematis varieties last year, which are doing well and will, I assume, finally bloom next year in their third season. You know, when perennials are supposed to leap, after sleeping and then creeping over two years.
And during the first two years I supplemented the perennial vines with fast-growing annuals like Hyacinth Bean Vine and Morning Glory. No need to do that this year.
In my back yard I’m using more Crossvine for screening (because my co-op severely limits the use of built privacy screens, also known as 6′ tall fencing – the kind that surround the back yards of most townhouses.)
Also seen in this photo are Coreopsis in pots, Amsonia hubrichtii just starting to bloom in the center-left, and Golden Ragwort (Packera aurea) on the right, with waning blooms.
In the background, behind an Oakleaf Hydrangea, are a Purple Smokebush and a ‘Rising Sun’ Redbud.
Here’s my oldest Crossvine, which after 5-6 seasons produces a wild profusion of blooms, seen here through a porch screen. There’s another passel of blooms on the other side of the screen that my neighbors are enjoying.
Bonus Plant – Ninebark!
One more plant that people in my neighborhood are swooning over right now is Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius), like this ‘Diabolo’ variety I planted in a garden I adopted. Ninebark is native to the Central and Eastern states and is, imho, the best-looking shrub that’s native here in Maryland.
The lavender blooms are Catmint (Nepata), and the chartreuse foliage belongs to some ‘Ogon’ Spireas, which people were swooning over when they were in bloom.
The combo of Ogon spirea, Nepeta and the Physocarpus ‘Diabolo’ is very effective.
The garden looks spectacular Susan!
Susan, your garden looks luscious. I am also a big fan of crossvine, but ours is recovering this spring. No blooms, unfortunately. The flash freeze near Christmas last year blistered a lot of evergreens, both needle-leaf and broadleaf plants. The temperature dropped from the mid-50s to -9 F in 12 hours. Crazy! The crossvine lost all its leaves, but it’s pumping out lots of new growth. I am relieved.
a most “swoonable” combination Susan. Living fences, or as Anne proposed “fenges”, are so much more pleasing to look at despite their seasonal maintenance requirements. Well done.
As one into naties for a long time, I have had cross vine but it has never looked as lush as what you showed in your photos. Fetilize much? Extra water? I wanted to hide a dog enclosure, but the only place I see tons of blooms is at the top of nearby trees, and it is an aggressive plant, to be sure. i now have it everywhere and have shared pieces that ended up blooming within a couple of years. A local restaurant has used it out front.
I am thinking of getting a Crossvine from Broken Arrow Nursery in CT. Susan: how wide would you estimate one plant will get?
That last photo is just one plant and we’re training it to run the length of a new fence. Maybe we’ll find out if it ever stops growing.
Nine bark are easy to propagate. Bend down one of the arching branches, scratch the soil up weigh the center of the branch down with a rock and voila, in a year it roots and you cut it loose from mamma . I just trimmed the dead out of mine, a late spring chore, they leaf out late and here in East central Ohio they aren’t blooming yet. I’m surprised you don’t have morning glories that self seeded. Three years after I had them they are still popping up. Lovely lovely garden you have.
I am looking for permission to plant a purple-leaved Physocarpus. My tiny garden offers lots for pollinators and birds–too many Prunus laurocerasus, Fothergilla, Amelanchier, Magnolia, Dogwood, Oakleaf hydrangea, Nyssa.(Oh, yeah, also lots of ecological “plastic swans” like roses and lilies.) I am putting in a buttonbush this year and want Physocarpus ‘tiny wine’ next to it. Unfortunately, the purple leaved varieties don’t attract caterpillars. What does the hive mind think?
Love your ninebark but the Diablo variety is not native. Many of the reddish varieties of native plants don’t provide the same wildlife benefits. However, I have both in my garden.
Bravo Susan! Great work and it shows that it takes a few years to get a garden to do what you want it to….
Looks great! I love the combo of Coral Honeysuckle and Crossvine. I have them growing together on a fence between my house and my neighbor’s house about 10′ away.
There’s a well respected local designer here in the Dallas area that coaches people to never plant vines. I’d have to say I totally disagree with her. I understand her point, as some vines (Trumpet vine) want to take over the world. But for tight spots like yours and mine, they’re perfect for the job.