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If summer's scorching heat has fried most of your garden, take heart. To the rescue are fall vines that boast stunning blooms and vibrant foliage. But these vines aren't just eye candy—they're the solution to many garden predicaments. They gracefully conceal unsightly fences, brighten arbors, and fill the vertical space between ornamental plants and trees. We love these vines for their outstanding fruit, foliage, and flowers, as well as their roles as practical garden problem-solvers.
Virginia Creeper
(Parthenocissus quinquefolia)
The problem: Your north- and east-facing walls are glaringly bare.
Why this vine: The small yellow-green flowers are much-loved by bees, but Virginia creeper's fall foliage is its real attraction. Leaves, each with five toothed leaflets, turn a rich red during autumn, brightening walls and cascading from pergolas.
What it needs: Fertile soil and partial sun. Easy to grow.
Mature height: Up to 50 feet, or as tall as the supporting structure
Climate: Virginia creeper is not limited to Virginia but can be found growing from Maine to Florida, and as far west as Utah.
