Care of Native Vines

To care for native vines, it can be helpful to know about their growth habits. This table of common vines provides details on the best conditions for flowering and the timing and manner of pruning. It also notes which vines have either toxic or edible parts.

The scientific name for each vine is linked to the relevant fact sheet when one is available.

Vine	Notes
American Bittersweet Celastrus scandens	Needs full sun for flowering and fruit display Requires male for fruiting; some cultivars self-fruitful Lean soil restrains growth Prune in late winter Remove dead wood or excess growth from mature vines Avoid allowing to grow up trees
American Wisteria Wisteria frutescens	Best flowering in sun Blooms on new wood when a few feet long Prune in spring, immediately after flowering Remove seed pods to encourage reblooming Dislikes being transplanted Seeds highly poisonous to dogs and cats
Carolina Jessamine Gelsemium sempervirens	Best flowering in sun Prune after flowering Wear gloves as sap may cause skin irritation Conflicting reports on toxicity of nectar to honeybees
Common Moonvine Menispermum canadense	Does best in dappled shade Avoid full sun in hot summer Spreads by rhizomes and seeds Need male and female plants for fruiting All parts highly toxic to humans and mammals Be careful to distinguish from fruits of wild grape
Cross-vine Bignonia capreolata	Flowers best in sun Prune after bloom, if needed Cut root suckers to control aggressive growth
Dutchman’s Ppe Aristolochia macrophylla	Grows well from seed Grows vigorously, but needs protection from wind Cut back in late summer to control growth Flammable, all parts toxic
Passionflower Passiflora incarnata	Aggressive spreader Remove suckers regularly to control root spread Pinch back in first season to encourage bushiness Cover roots lightly with mulch Fruit can be eaten fresh or cooked Edibility of fruit
Trumpet Creeper Campsis radicans	Best flowering in sun Blooms on new wood; can be pruned in early spring Suckers profusely from underground runner Can also self-seed Plan for containment and pruning to control growth Needs substantial support
Trumpet Honeysuckle Lonicera sempervirens	More prolific flowers in sun Flowers on old and new growth Prune after flowering for shaping Easy to propagate by layering; transplants well Provide good air circulation to prevent powdery mildew
Virgin’s-bower Clematis virginina	Can flower in heavy shade Spreads through self-seeding and suckering Prune after flowering from late fall to early spring May prune down to 1 foot, retaining lowest 2-3 leaf buds Wear gloves to prevent contact dermatitis Foliage toxic to cats and dogs
Virginia Creeper Parthenocissus quinquefolia	Easy to grow, tolerating urban conditions Site where it will have room to expand Can damage painted surfaces, gutters, shutters, wiring Fruit is highly toxic Wear gloves to protect hands; sap may cause skin irritation
Yellow Passionflower Passiflora lutea	Rapid-growing Better behaved than Passiflora incarnata