Open Grow Guide

Vines and Climbers

By Open Grow Guide Updated

This page lists vines and climbers. These are plants that climb instead of standing on their own, using twining stems, tendrils, or aerial roots to grip a support. The list brings together 21 plants that share this one habit. Some are houseplants trained up a pole or a trellis indoors. Others are outdoor vines grown on a fence, an arbor, or a wall. What groups them here is structure, not family. A woody grape vine, a soft-stemmed tropical houseplant, and a flowering climber can all belong on this list for the same reason. Each one needs something to lean on or wind around as it grows. This list is not ranked, and it does not cover every vine that exists. It is a starting point for finding a care guide among plants that share a climbing habit. Some members are grown for fruit, some for flowers, and some mainly for the dense cover they give a fence or wall. A few are common food crops, and a few are familiar indoor plants that can also grow outdoors in a warm climate. Each plant's own guide covers its light, water, and care needs, along with any toxicity notes for cats and dogs that a cited source records. Treat this page as a directory, not a ranking, and open any entry below for its full guide.

Most-read plants here

  • centipede tongavine (Epipremnum aureum), whole plant

    Pothos

    Epipremnum aureum

    Bright, indirect light; tolerates low light · Part shade and full shade (part shade preferred) · Zones 10a–12b

  • Asian pigeonwings (Clitoria ternatea), whole plant

    Asian Pigeonwings

    Clitoria ternatea

    Full sun and part shade (full sun preferred) · Zones 10a–12b · 3–4 ft (0.91–1.22 m)

  • tarovine (Monstera deliciosa), habit

    Monstera

    Monstera deliciosa

    Bright, indirect light; tolerates medium light and direct sun · Part shade and full shade (part shade preferred) · Zones 10a–12b

  • balsampear (Momordica charantia), whole plant

    Balsampear

    Momordica charantia

    Full sun and part shade (full sun preferred) · Zones 9a–11b · 12–20 ft (3.66–6.1 m)

  • Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia), whole plant

    Virginia Creeper

    Parthenocissus quinquefolia

    Full sun, part shade and full shade (full sun preferred) · Zones 3a–10b · 3–40 ft (0.91–12.19 m)

  • trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans), flower

    Trumpet Creeper

    Campsis radicans

    Full sun and part shade (full sun preferred) · Zones 4a–10b · 30–40 ft (9.14–12.19 m)

  • bluecrown passionflower (Passiflora caerulea), flower

    Bluecrown Passionflower

    Passiflora caerulea

    Full sun and part shade (full sun preferred) · Zones 6a–10b · 10–40 ft (3.05–12.19 m)

  • swamp morning-glory (Ipomoea aquatica), whole plant

    Swamp Morning-glory

    Ipomoea aquatica

  • purple granadilla (Passiflora edulis), flower

    Purple Granadilla

    Passiflora edulis

    Full sun · Zones 9b–11b

  • muscadine (Vitis rotundifolia), whole plant

    Muscadine

    Vitis rotundifolia

    Full sun and part shade (full sun preferred) · Zones 5a–9b · 90 ft (27.43 m)

  • English ivy (Hedera helix), whole plant

    English Ivy

    Hedera helix

    Bright, indirect light; tolerates low light and medium light · Full sun, part shade and full shade (full sun preferred) · Zones 4a–13b

  • wine grape (Vitis vinifera), whole plant

    Wine Grape

    Vitis vinifera

    Full sun · Zones 6a–10b

  • tara vine (Actinidia arguta), whole plant

    Tara Vine

    Actinidia arguta

    Full sun and part shade (full sun preferred) · Zones 3a–8b · Sources differ: University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension (Wisconsin Horticulture); University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension (Wisconsin Horticulture)

  • common hop (Humulus lupulus), whole plant

    Common Hop

    Humulus lupulus

    Full sun and part shade (full sun preferred) · Zones 5a–8b · Sources differ: Utah State University Extension; Utah State University Extension

  • porcelainflower (Hoya carnosa), whole plant

    Porcelainflower

    Hoya carnosa

    Bright, indirect light; tolerates low light and medium light · Part shade

  • ayahuasca (Banisteriopsis caapi), whole plant

    Ayahuasca

    Banisteriopsis caapi

  • confederate jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides), whole plant

    Confederate Jasmine

    Trachelospermum jasminoides

    Bright, indirect light; tolerates direct sun · Full sun and part shade (full sun preferred) · Zones 8a–10b

  • American evergreen (Syngonium podophyllum), habit

    American Evergreen

    Syngonium podophyllum

    Medium light; tolerates low light and bright, indirect light · Part shade and full shade (part shade preferred) · Zones 10a–12b

  • miracle fruit (Gymnema sylvestre), whole plant

    Miracle Fruit

    Gymnema sylvestre

  • sinkwa towelsponge (Luffa acutangula), whole plant

    Sinkwa Towelsponge

    Luffa acutangula

    30 ft (9.14 m)

  • silver vine (Actinidia polygama), whole plant

    Silver Vine

    Actinidia polygama

    Zones 4a–4b

How to choose

Match the plant to the space you have before anything else. A climber needs a wall, trellis, or pole to grip as it spreads, so measure the space before you pick one. Indoor climbers trained on a moss pole need far less room than an outdoor vine meant to cover a fence or an arbor. Next, think about the plant's purpose. Some vines on this list are grown mainly for fruit. Others are grown for fragrant or showy flowers, or simply to screen a view or shade a wall. Check each plant's own guide for its light and water needs before you choose a spot, since these vary from one entry to the next. If you keep cats or dogs, check the toxicity notes on each guide. Some climbers on this list carry a listed risk, and others do not. Picking the right climber comes down to matching its growth habit and care needs to the space and animals you already have.

All vines and climbers, A to Z

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  • Written with AI assistance from the sources listed on this page. AI is never the source of a fact.

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