25 Fast-Growing Flowering Vines That Add Privacy and Cottage-Garden Charm Fast
Add a touch of maximalist beauty to your garden with these lush vining plants!
If your backyard feels bare, exposed, or just plain boring, fast-growing vines are one of the easiest ways to transform it—often in just a single season. These climbing plants can quickly cover fences, trellises, pergolas, and walls, adding privacy, color, and lush cottage-garden charm with surprisingly little effort.
Whether you want fragrant flowers, dense greenery, or a low-maintenance screen from the neighbors, there’s a fast-growing vine that can do the job beautifully. From classic clematis to dramatic climbing roses, these vigorous growers prove you don’t need years of patience to create a dreamy garden retreat.
Before You Plant a Fast-Growing Vine
- Check sun exposure and soil conditions to make sure you are choosing the right plant.
- Know your USDA zone and buy accordingly.
- Install support first. This will give the plant someplace to grow!
- Avoid planting aggressive vines near siding/gutters. No one wants costly home repairs.
- Check with your local cooperative extension (find yours here) to make sure it’s not invasive to your area. You can also search for your state’s invasive plant watch list to learn which species are okay to plant in your area.
Clematis (Clematis spp.)
With more than 300 species, there are many different kinds of clematis. Some bloom in spring, some in the fall, and some types bloom all season long.
The flowers come in every color from palest pink to deep purple. They like their heads in full sun but prefer their roots to be shaded, so plant other perennials at their base to help shelter the roots.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 to 9
Sun Exposure: full sun
Best for: Beautiful Blooms
Keep Reading: Your Guide to How to Plant and Grow Clematis
Honeysuckle (Lonicera spp.)
This genus of hardy perennial vines has gorgeous tube-shaped flowers. Pollinators such as hummingbirds and bees will flock to them!
Make sure you choose Lonicera sempervivens or Lonicera periclymenum, not the invasive Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica), which will take over your entire garden.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 to 9
Sun Exposure: partial shade to full sun
Best for: Attracting pollinators
RELATED: How to Make a Pollinator Garden That Actually Works
Morning Glory (Ipomoea purpurea)
Morning glories live up to their name, opening in the morning sunshine. They grow quickly from seed. Pick off the dried seeds after they bloom if you don’t want them to self-sow next year.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 8 to 12 (as perennials)
Sun Exposure: full sun (6-8 hours)
Best for: Growing quickly
Wisteria (Wisteria frutescens)
Wisteria is a cold-hardy perennial with lovely, draping flowers that resemble clusters of grapes. The lilac blue flowers are sweetly scented and appear in mid-spring. Avoid the Chinese (Wisteria sinensis) and Japanese (Wisteria floribunda) species; they’ve become invasive in many parts of the country. Wisteria frutescens (native to North America and pictured here) is much easier to manage.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 to 9
Sun Exposure: partial shade to full sun
Best for: Sweet Smelling Blooms
Bougainvillea (Bougainvillea spp.)
This perennial vine has papery bracts, or flowers, in electric pink or purple. It’s evergreen in frost-free areas of the country, though it may need to be replanted in northern climes. It likes dry soil, so don’t let it sit in water.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 10 to 11
Sun Exposure: full sun (at least 6 hours)
Best for: Coming back year after year
Butterfly Vine (Mascagnia macroptera)
Though this evergreen vine attracts plenty of butterflies when it blooms in the spring and again in the late fall, that’s not how it got its name—rather the papery seed pods, when fully formed, are shaped a bit like butterflies.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 8 to 10
Sun Exposure: full to partial sun
Best for: Year-round coverage
Keep Reading: How to Make a Butterfly Garden
Climbing Carolina Aster (Ampelaster carolinianus)
This fast-growing perennial produces beautiful aster-like pink and purple flowers with yellow centers in the summer and fall. It loves moist areas (but not standing water), so plant it where it’s likely to get regular water.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 6 to 9
Sun Exposure: full to partial sun
Best for: Planting in areas that stay moist
Climbing Roses (Rosa spp.)
There are a number of rose varieties that form climbing vines instead of bushes, from wild roses to heirloom and hybrid roses, to modern varieties. Find one that’s adapted to your USDA hardiness zone and light needs, and you’ll enjoy beautiful blooms for years!
USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 to 9
Sun Exposure: full to partial sun
Best for: Classic cottage garden feel.
RELATED: Plant Rose Bushes Like a Pro with These Expert Tips
Rocktrumpet (Mandevilla spp.)
Pink, red, or white blossoms cover this tropical vine and last all summer long. It likes full sun but needs a little afternoon shade in hot climates.
Mandevilla is considered an annual in temperate climates, but is an evergreen in warmer regions of the country. You can try to overwinter it indoors, but it will shed leaves daily, so be prepared for lots of cleanups. We like it especially for trailing around front doors!
USDA Hardiness Zones: 9 to 11
Sun Exposure: full sun (at least 6 hours)
Best for: A tropical feel
Keep Reading: 25 Best Front Door Plants to Beautify Your Entrance
Madagascar Jasmine (Stephanotis floribunda)
This Madagascar native can grow up to 20 feet long. It’s also called bridal wreath, Hawaiian wedding flower, and waxflower.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 10 to 13
Sun Exposure: bright and indirect light
Best for: Highly scented blooms
Cup and Saucer Vine (Cobaea scandens)
It’s frequently called Mexican climbing cobaea and was introduced in the United States in 1792. This vine’s unique cup-and-saucer-like appearance is a beautiful spectacle to witness. The flowers begin as burgeoning green buds that transform into a bell-shaped flower with violet stripes. It finally turns a royal purple hue before dying.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 9 to 11
Sun Exposure: full sun
Best for: A dramatic transformation
RELATED: A Guide to Pressing Flowers
Crossvine (Bignonia capreolata)
This showy flowering vine has orange-red trumpet-shaped blossoms and can grow up to 50 feet long and 6 to 9 feet wide. The North American native adds plenty of vibrant color to garden spaces across the southeastern region of the United States.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 to 9
Sun Exposure: full sun to partial shade
Best for: Lovers of native plants
Climbing Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus)
Also called monk’s cress, vining nasturtium, Indian cress, and garden nasturtium, this beautiful plant is fast growing, and even edible!
The long-stemmed Central and South American native thrives in hot climates that mimic the tropical and subtropical conditions of its homeland. Its color varieties include gold, lemon, orange, pink, ruby, and bicolors. The vines love wrapping or climbing up supportive structures like trellises and fences.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 9 to 11
Sun Exposure: full sun (6+ hours of sunlight)
Best for: An edible vine
RELATED: How to Grow Nasturtiums Indoors or Out
Trumpet Vine (Campsis radicans)
You can find trumpet vines (a.k.a. cow-itch vine, hummingbird vine, and trumpet creeper in the United States) in a variety of colors that include shades of orange, red, and yellow. The vine includes green leaves and up to 4-inch-long trumpet-shaped blossoms that thrive throughout the summer. Deadhead trumpet vine unless you want it to spread through reseeding. This plant grows aggressively and can easily take over your garden if it does not receive regular maintenance.
Be aware: Though native to the Southeast, this is considered invasive in New England and the Northeast.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 to 10
Sun Exposure: full sun to partial shade
Best for: Attracting hummingbirds
Passionflower Vines (Passiflora spp.)
Pollinators such as bumblebees and carpenter bees adore the pretty flowers on this vine. Whether you call these delicate flowering vines maypops, garden nasturtium, vining nasturtium, Indian cress, or monk’s cress, they will catch a lot of attention in any garden setting. Research which species are native to your area, and make sure you’re not planting one that’s invasive where you live. Passiflora incarnata and Passiflora lutea are native to much of the eastern half of the United States.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 6 to 10
Sun Exposure: full sun to partial shade
Best for: Attracting pollinators
RELATED: Design a Pollinator Garden That Actually Works
Porcelain Flower (Hoya carnosa)
Its official botanical name comes from Thomas Hoy, a late 18th-century gardener to the Duke of Northumberland. Its moniker means “fleshy,” and is a direct reference to the plant’s thick waxy leaves.
It’s an ornate vine with pretty clusters of star-shaped blossoms. They are commonly kept indoors but can be planted in a large container outdoors during the summer. Just make sure they have ample shade.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 10b to 11b
Sun Exposure: bright, indirect light (2–6 hours daily)
Best for: Warm climates
Blue Sky Vine (Thunbergia grandiflora)
This pretty purple-flowering vine is known by many names that also include blue trumpetvine, blue skyflower, clockvine, Bengal clockvine, Bengal trumpet, and many more.
The sprawling vine is native to China, India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Indochina, and Myanmar. It’s a fast-growing vine that spreads rapidly and can become invasive without proper maintenance.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 10 to 11
Sun Exposure: full sun (at least 6 hours)
Best for: Adding pops of blue
Cypress Vine (Ipomoea quamoclit)
The demure flowers of this beautiful fast-climbing annual may not be huge, but the plant is a hummingbird magnet! With delicate feathery foliage, it is lovely on a trellis, arbor, or a pergola.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 11 to 12
Sun Exposure: full sun (at least 6 hours)
Best for: Attracting Hummingbirds
Japanese Hydrangea Vine (Hydrangea hydrangeoides)
Once thought of as a wholly different species (and labeled Schizophragma hydrangeoides or False Hydrangea, which it’s still sometimes sold as), this plant has very recently been reclassified as a true hydrangea.
The bracts (petals) are single and come in pink or white, whereas climbing hydrangeas only come in white. This flowering vine tolerates shade, though it needs some light to bloom.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 to 9
Sun Exposure: partial shade to full sun
Best for: A partially shady spot
RELATED: Learn About the Types of Hydrangeas
Star Jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides)
This delicate-looking perennial vine has creamy white flowers with the most heavenly sweet scent! It’s spectacular on a fence, arbor, or wall—though it takes a few years to kick into high gear.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 8 to 10
Sun Exposure: partial shade to full sun
Best for: Sweet-smelling blooms
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