Climbing plants with purple flowers are many, and you can use them to decorate any wall or fence. These plants are a great way to add a natural touch to your protective boundaries.
In this article, we will take a look at a list of some beautiful climbers that are a great addition to any garden. You can read further to find the one best suited to your desired aesthetic.
Contents
Beautiful Purple-Flowered Climbing Plants
It is important to keep in mind that some vigorously-growing climbers with purple flowers, like the purple-leaf Japanese Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica ‘Purpurea’), are considered invasive in the majority of the states (26 of 50 as of this writing) and are not featured here.
However, those vines that are considered invasive in less than half the states and that can be controlled (with regular pruning and container planting) are included.
1. Blue Sky Vine
Thunbergia grandiflora is a beautiful climbing vine that produces large trumpet-shaped flowers. Although it is named blue sky vine, its flowers are not purely blue, as they are often purple flowers.
– Characteristics
This flowering climber produces large flowers that are about three inches in diameter with blended shades of blue and purple. The centers of these flowers have a bright yellow color, making a perfect contrast with the dark-shaded petals.
– Benefits
It is a native tropical vine plant that is surprisingly less common in landscapes than the clematis vine and other ornamental flowering vines, though this is a good thing – your fence will certainly stand out with this plant in the mix!
The vibrant flowers are the perfect attraction for pollinators like butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds. This vine is the perfect climber for small pergolas and medium trellis fences.
– Growth Requirements
The best soil type is moist, well-draining soil that is moderately rich in essential nutrients, but you should avoid waterlogged or soggy soils. It will thrive in full sun with some partial shade on hot summer afternoons to avoid leaf scorching. It does not require much water (once every 10–14 days), but make sure to keep the soil moist in dry spells.
2. Purple Hyacinth Bean Vine
The purple hyacinth bean vine (Lablab purpureus) is a fast-growing annual climber. It is also almost entirely edible. The leaves, stems, and flowers of this vine are covered with shades of purple, and these vibrant colors make it the perfect addition to almost every garden.
– Characteristics
It is ideal as a covering plant for fences and arbors. During the blooming season, the plant produces flowers that resemble those of sweet peas (specifically, Lathyrus odoratus).
After the flowers wither away, their spot is taken by glossy purple pods that look like peas. The pointed leaves of the plant have purple veins across them, and they grow in groups of three.
– Growth Requirements
The purple bean is a twining climber that creeps around its support structure or other sturdy plants. On top of this, it is a fast-growing plant that thrives in full sun and neutral soil that is rich in organic matter and drains easily. It requires plenty of water to keep the soil moist, so good drainage is necessary to avoid waterlogged scenarios. You can also consider mulching to help with moisture retention.
3. Morning Glory
Common morning glory (Ipomoea purpurea) is among the most well-known flowering climbers. It is closely related to sweet potatoes, but it does not produce any edibles. In fact, all parts of the plant are very toxic to humans and pets.
– Characteristics
Morning glory is an annual plant that gets its name due to the unique interaction between its flowers and the sun. The buds of the plants are closed tightly, but when the morning sun hits them, they unfold and spread into a vibrant flower, thus giving it its name. This climbing plant can climb up to a height of 12 feet once it finds a good support structure.
– Flowering
This climber produces trumpet-shaped flowers with vibrant colors.
These flowers have a sharp fragrance making them an excellent attraction for pollinators.
– Propagation
This plant can grow directly from seeds that are planted when the last frost passes away. Once established, these plants can easily propagate in the surrounding areas and most likely return during the following season.
– Growth Requirements
The plant is beginner friendly and does not need much pruning. Like many other plants, it grows best in moist and well-draining soil and thrives in full sun (which also opens up its flowers). They only need enough water to keep the soil evenly moist, so water once the topsoil feels dry.
4. Passion Vine
The purple passion flower, or passion vine, is a beautiful sprawling plant. The plant is also known as Passiflora Incarnata. Despite its tropical appearance, it is a particularly hardy plant that can grow and adapt to a variety of different conditions. These native plants were kept by the Indigenous Americans for their yellow fruits.
– Characteristics
The passionflower plant produces fragrant purple flowers that are a source of attraction for the pollinators such as insects and butterflies.
The plant has a flowering season from June to July and bears fruits from September through November. This twining vine is a great choice for walls, trellis, and other fences.
– Growth Requirements
The passionflower does not have a lot of strict growth requirements. The plant grows and spreads easily, but if you want to encourage more foliage, you can do so by planting it in a container and limiting its roots. The plant grows best under the full sun in moist and well-draining soil. It is somewhat tolerant to drought, but keeping the soil consistently moist is a good idea.
5. Wisteria
Wisteria is a deciduous woody vine famous for producing long racemes of flowers. These flowers bloom during the spring season and have a unique fragrance. Once the flowers live through the spring season, they wither away during fall. Wisteria vines can be categorized into three main types: two of these are Asian varieties, and one is American.
– Characteristics
Wisteria plants produce flower racemes that can grow up to 18 inches and have different shades. Often you will see blue and purple flowering, but sometimes these flowers can have pink or white shades.
The leaves of this climbing vine also have a unique feather-like shape, which distinguishes it from other plants.
– Growth Requirements
The foremost requirement for growing wisteria is a sturdy support that will be able to withstand its weight, such as an arbor or a large trellis fence. For the best flowers, place the plant in moist and well-draining soil in an area that receives plenty of sunlight. Once the plant is established, it does not require a lot of watering.
6. Bittersweet Nightshade
The bittersweet nightshade (Solanum dulcamara) is a purple climbing perennial that has a shrubby growth habit. This native American climber is pretty common in Washington, growing in wetlands and creeks.
– Characteristics
This is a toxic plant that should be kept away from children, pets, and livestock. The plant can be grown easily, but since it is considered potentially invasive in some states, it is recommended to grow it in a controlled environment.
– Flowering
The flowering climber has large green leaves with a purple tinge.During the months of May through September, the plant produces star-shaped purple flowers that have a yellow center cone.
When their blooming season is over, the flowers make way for the fruit. The plant produces small egg-shaped berries that turn from green to orange and, finally, a deep red color.
– Growth Requirements
The plant propagates through seeds, stems, and root fragments that are often spread by pollinators. For best results, plant it in moist loamy soil in an area of full sun or partial shade. The plant needs consistent moisture to stay healthy, but excessive soggy conditions can lead to root damage which can ultimately cause the plant to die.
7. Chocolate Vine
The chocolate vine (Akebia quinata) is a unique flowering climber that is native to Asia and some parts of North America.
– Benefits
This hardy perennial produces chocolate-scented flowers that have their unique place among the climbing flowering plants, which makes them a source of attraction for a lot of different flower enthusiasts.
– Characteristics
The plant gets its name because of its purple-brown blossoms that give off a chocolaty fragrance.
These flowers are surrounded by clusters of glossy oval leaves with dark green shades. This flowering vine is a vigorously growing plant that can grow between 15 to 30 feet when mature.
– Growth Requirements
Without support, it will spread as a ground cover, which also makes it more susceptible to disease. You will need to provide a support structure, such as a trellis, to help the plant climb. For the best flowers and fruits, the plant needs full sun exposure. It prefers moist soil that has excellent drainage to avoid soggy situations.
8. Chamisso
Formally known as Clytostoma callistegioides and more commonly as the lavender trumpet vine, Chamisso is a vigorously-growing, perennial flowering vine.
– Characteristics
Throughout summer, it offers an exquisite show of lavender-purple, trumpet-shaped flowers with dark purple veins scattered on a backdrop of large, glossy, dark-green leaves.
It grows up to 25 feet tall and around 10–20 feet wide.
– Planting Precautions
The plant can grow vines along the ground and creep under shingles and other nooks and crannies, where it can cause damage. It is potentially invasive, and you must carefully monitor and contain its growth to ensure it does not choke nearby trees and plants.
– Growth Requirements
Chamisso is a high-maintenance plant only in terms of pruning, as it requires regular pruning to maintain the spread. It is suited for the warmer USDA Hardiness Zones 9–11 and thrives in full sun. The vine prefers ordinary, moist, and well-draining soils and needs regular and deep watering to establish the roots.
9. Purple Vining Roses
Roses come in lots of varieties, and there is no shortage of fragrant climbers in that department. Like most roses, the climber cultivars are hardy and versatile.
– Varieties
Rose vines ‘Purple Splash,’ ‘Indigoletta,’ and ‘Souvenir du Docteur’ are a few purple-colored varieties, although Indigoletta is a bit more indigo, and Souvenir du Docteur is more of a plum shade.
– Characteristics
Most purple climbing roses grow between 6–15 feet tall, depending on the variety, and span a generally smaller area of around 3 feet.
Souvenir du Docteur is the shortest of the bunch at 6–8 feet and can be pruned down to a shrub as well. Obviously, these are best grown next to some sort of upright structure like a trellis, a fence, an archway, or a wall.
– Growth Requirements
For the best blossoms, though, you should plant them somewhere they get full sun exposure with partial shade in the afternoon and in soil that’s loamy, evenly moist, and well-draining. Watering should be done to 1 inch every week only once the topsoil dries out, though young climbers will need to be watered more often as they will absorb the moisture quicker.
10. Dutchman’s Pipe
The pipe vine is a deciduous woody climber that is native to North America. These flowering climbers are best planted in early spring and they mature to bloom during the early summer months. These plants are commonly kept for their colorful vivid foliage. Even though it is a flowering plant, this foliage is the best-known factor for this vine.
– Characteristics
The pine vine has large, heart-shaped foliage that has a beautiful vibrant green color. It is a vigorously growing plant that can reach a height of 20 to 30 feet.
Its foliage is dense and is a great option for a privacy screen with a fence as the support for the climber. The majority of the plant is toxic so make sure that it is handled with care.
– Growth Requirements
The plant grows to a considerable spread so it is essential to give it the necessary space it needs. The plant likes to grow under the full sun to achieve the best growth and flowering potential. The plant grows best in moist soil with good drainage that will help it avoid water logging.
11. Butterfly Pea
Also known as the spurred pea or wild blue vine, it is a climbing vining plant. It is a trailing vine that produces vibrant blooms during the months of spring and summer, and these come in a lot of different colors. As is obvious from the name, these flowers are very favored by butterflies but other pollinators like birds and bees love them too.
– Characteristics
The vining plant produces pink, blue, and violet. There are around 40 different species of the plant that can be found all around the world and three of these are native to North America.
They can grow easily directly from the seeds, or you can start them indoors a few weeks ahead of time.
– Growth Requirements
The vine can grow fairly easily in a lot of different soil conditions including nutrient-poor soils. But if you want the best growth, sandy, acidic soils with good drainage are the way to go. The plants are somewhat drought tolerant, but they require moderate amounts of water, especially during their growing season and during dry climates.
12. Bougainvillea Vine
A vibrant blooming climbing vine that grows over trellis fences and is very famous in many country yards. These fast-growing vines are easy to train their growth on fences. They are low-maintenance plants that can be easily pruned to keep them in your desired shape. They are commonly found in sunny areas but can be kept as annuals in cold climates as well.
– Characteristics
The vine grows to an impressive height of 20 feet with a vibrant display of flowers.
This vigorous grower is like a natural machine that climbs walls and fences effortlessly, spreads across the landscapes as ground covers, or can be kept in containers with pruning. The plant has stiff thorny stems covered with heart-shaped leaves.
– Growth Requirements
Like many flowering plants, they are best planted in a spot with good sunlight conditions. These conditions will allow for the best growth and blooms. The soil should be moist with good drainage to avoid wet conditions for extended periods. They do not have strict watering requirements.
13. Garlic Vine
Mansoa alliacea is a dense shrubby plant that can produce occasional branching and has showy flowers. It is a slow grower but it can grow easily if you can provide it with the required amount of water and growth conditions. It gets its common name due to the garlic smell produced by the crushed leaves.
– Characteristics
It is an impressive ornamental vine that has opposite leaves that are divided into ovate leaflets. The woody vines grow about 6 to 9 feet and they produce a shrub-like appearance.
The leaves are bright green, and the flowers change colors during their life cycle, going from purple to white and then light lavender.
– Growth Requirements
The vine will grow in almost every type of soil without much hassle. The only real requirement is exposure to sunlight. They prefer full sunlight but are tolerant of partial shade as well. They prefer moist and well-draining soils to avoid water logging. Moderate watering sessions are all they need in terms of moisture.
Conclusion
Getting climbing plants with purple flowers is a great way to decorate your house walls and fences. They add a natural touch to your landscaping designs. Consider the following points when choosing these plants:
- Some of these plants grow to a considerable size, such as wisteria, Dutchman’s pipe, and Chamisso, so you will have to provide them with sturdy support.
- These plants are great for decorating trellis, arbors, and pergolas with a natural touch.
- Some of these flowering climbers, such as the morning glory, the Dutchman’s pipe, and the bittersweet nightshade, are toxic or invasive in certain areas, so handle them with care.
- Some produce fragrant flowers, such as the chocolate vine, while others, such as the garlic vine, release more pungent smells when their leaves are crushed.
We hope you have gained all the required knowledge about these plants and are now ready to build your purple-flowered garden!
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