Annual Flowering Vines
Gene Steiger, Omniplex Horticulturist
One group of plants that does not get the attention it deserves is that of annual flowering vines. No other plants offer so much, so fast, for so long a flowering season, for so little cost.
For the cost of a packet or two of seed, you can cover a fence, a trellis or a wall in short order. Many of the perennial vines become obtrusive and undesirable because of the maintenance required to keep them in bounds, but with the annuals frost takes care of everything because you can start over each year. Most of the annual flowering vines are well-adapted to central Oklahoma growing conditions and are easily started from seeds, once danger of frost is past. Most of these plants love heat and require an average soil. All of the ones listed in the article require at least six hours of sunlight daily.
The mention of annual vines brings morning glories (Ipomea tricolor) to mind for most people. These old-fashioned favorites have heart-shaped leaves and begin blooming by midsummer. They are useful for covering unsightly fences and wall. Flowers can be white, blue or red and older varieties open in the morning and close as the day progresses. Some newer varieties stay open all day. They climb by twining. Many other annual climbers are members of the morning glory family even though they are distinctly different. One such favorite is the Cardinal Climber (Ipomea multifida) and it is quick to grow from a late sowing. The vivid red flowers appear from summer until frost and they are useful in attracting hummingbirds and butterflies. The foliage is lacy, providing a perfect foil for the inch-long tubular flowers. Another member of the morning glory family is Crimson Starglory, also sometimes called Spanish Flag (Ipomea lobata). It is native to Mexico and has unusual multicolored spikes of flowers that change in a rainbow-like progression from red to pink, pale orange, pale yellow, cream and finally white. The twining vines grow to 15 feet in length during a season. The lobed green leaves offset the profusion of flowers.
Black-eyed Susan Vine (Thunburgia alata) is a plant which grows quickly from seed and climbs by twining. Flowers are cream, yellow, orange or white with a purple throat. They can be grown on a fence or trellis and are also attractive in hanging baskets. They often reseed themselves in the garden.
Hyacinth Bean (Dolichos lablab) is another favorite and the foliage and fruits are as attractive as the flowers. These grow easily from seed and are very fast growing. As the summer progresses the colorful green and purple foliage produces a profusion of pink and purple-toned flowers which during late summer produce bean pods with intense purple coloration.
Another colorful bean-like vine is Scarlet Runner (Phaseolus coccineus) a vine reaching six to eight feet which produces a profusion of scarlet-colored, peas-shaped flowers which are about an inch long and borne in clusters. These are also attractive to hummingbirds. The beans which are produced by fertilized flowers are edible while young and tender. There is also a white variety (Phaseolus coccineus alba). Scarlet runner beans come in a bush form, too.
Annual flowering vines require little maintenance. They love the heat of summer, are virtually pest free and do not require dead-heading to continue producing flowers. What a great option for your landscape!
(Reprinted from Omnigram by the Omniplex in Oklahoma City, May-June 1998)