Vines solve a problem no other plant category can — turning bare vertical space, from a fence to a pergola to a brick wall, into living green architecture.
Climbing plants use different strategies to scale a structure — twining stems, tendrils, or clinging aerial roots — and choosing the right type for your support and desired vigor (from well-behaved clematis to famously aggressive English ivy) makes all the difference in a low-maintenance planting.
English ivy is one of the most familiar and fastest-covering vines, but it's also classified as invasive in many regions, capable of smothering trees and spreading well beyond where it's planted. Many gardeners now favor better-behaved alternatives like clematis, climbing hydrangea, or native Virginia creeper for similar coverage without the ecological downside — see our individual plant pages for details on each.
