How2Day: Unusual Climbing Flowers

Many flowering vines produce striking blossoms. Stockbyte/Stockbyte/Getty Images
Each year, garden centers and mail-order catalogs introduce new, exotic-looking plants, enticing gardeners just in time for spring planting. Vines are always popular among gardeners. Winding way up and over just about anything, vines camouflage unattractive areas while adding visual interest and shade to the yard. Unusual, unique flowering vines can be real conversation starters. Their vivid, colorful blossoms and bright, eye-catching foliage make a dramatic statement, whether grown alone or in combination with other plants.

Scientifically known as the Gloriosa superba, the Gloriosa Lily or Glory Lily is a true vision to behold when in bloom. The 3- to 5-inch petals of the striking blossoms gradually bend backwards, forming delicate arches, while the flower itself changes from green to yellow to bright red as it matures. It can be easily grown in USDA zones 9 to 11, making it a nice choice for warm, southern states such as Florida. The Gloriosa Lily can also be grown in greenhouses or containers in cooler climates. A vigorous tropical vine, it thrives in warm weather. Full sun will send the twining tendrils climbing up to 12 feet in height. Once the vine blooms, it will die down, and the tuberous root can then be dug up and moved or left alone. After a short dormant spell, the new vine will emerge - provided the weather is warm enough.

The Blue Angel Clematis, or Clematis viticella, is named for its exquisite flowers. Measuring up to 6 inches in diameter, the sky blue blossoms open each year with pale blue centers giving way to darker blue edges. This fast-growing vine also produces attractive, dark green foliage and is hardy in USDA zones 4 through 9. Found in gardens as far north as Nebraska and as far south as Texas, it reaches up to 12 feet in height when grown in full sun, making it ideal for twining up arbors or over fences. The plentiful vines of the Blue Angel Clematis produce an abundance of pinwheel shaped blooms all summer long, attracting hummingbirds and butterflies and adding color and fragrance to the garden.

The Blue Hardy Passion Flower vine is known for its exotic blue flowers, which are followed by the development of edible, soft orange fruits. Also known as the Passiflora caerulea, the Blue Hardy Passion Flower can be grown as far north as zone 7 on the USDA hardiness map, including portions of North Carolina and Tennessee, which is unusual for a tropical plant. It's an evergreen in warmer climates, but when planted north of zone 9, the Blue Hardy Passion Flower exhibits a deciduous growth pattern, shedding its leaves in the cooler weather and returning each spring. The vines of the Blue Hardy Passion Flower can reach up to 40 feet in length, making it a good choice for planting next to a chain link fence or trellis where it can be easily trimmed back.

The Vigna Caracalla, or Snail Vine, is fast-growing perennial vine that thrives in USDA hardiness zones 9 and 10 and is a popular choice for gardners in Arizona and California. Not cold hardy, it can also be grown as an annual in cooler areas and can be planted in northern gardens once all danger of frost has passed. This rapidly growing vine is named for its flowers that are lavender in color and shaped like a snail. Fragrant but small, the blossoms are very attractive, as are the vines themselves, which reach up to 20 feet in length. The dark green foliage is also drought resistant and tolerant of reflective heat, making it a sensible choice for those who live in arid desert climates.

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