Short on space for wildlife gardening? Think vertically!

A vine in a container with a simple trellis can attract wildlife. Below are some choices for you to consider for your small outdoor space.

Basic Considerations

Will your outdoor space provide room for a vine to grow up? Down? Will a vine on a trellis block too much sun? Is the vine appropriate for your USDA hardiness zone? Do you care if it's poisonous to humans? Has thorns?

Some vines grow larger than others; in an extremely small space, I recommend growing a shorter vine than a 20- or 40-footer.

Use a container roughly 2' x 2' x 2' for most of the vines below, and provide wires or cords or other trellising. Most vines will need some pruning.

1. Passionflower (Passiflora)

   • Flowers attract hummingbirds and bees, foliage hosts butterfly and moth caterpillars
     
   • Family of vines is found worldwide
   • Passiflora edulis provides edible passion fruit
   • Some species can grow as far north as Canada; most are tropical

   • Example: Passiflora 'Sherry'
     

2. Black-Eyed Susan Vine (Thunbergia alata)
   
   • Flowers attract sulphur butterflies, hummingbirds
     
   • 5-10'
   • Zones 9-10; treat as annual in colder zones

   • Example: Black-Eyed Susan Vine Collection

3. Hyacinth Bean (Lablab purpureus)
   
   
   • One of the most beautiful annual vines you can grow
   • Purple flowers attract hummingbirds, bees, and some butterflies
   • 16-20'
   • Annual, zones 9-11; reported to grow as annual as far north as Ohio

   • Where to find seeds: Park Seed

4. Scarlet Runner Bean (Phaseolus coccineus)
   
   
   • Young green pods are edible for us humans
   • Red-orange flowers attract hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees
   • 16-20'
   • zones 9-10; grow as annual in colder zones
5. Armand's Clematis (Clematis armandii)
   
   
   • Evergreen, rugged
   • 15-20'
   • Attracts butterflies, hummingbirds; provides nesting sites for birds
   • Zones 7-9

   • One source: Wayside Gardens
     

6. Example: Trumpet Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens)
   
   • Flowers attract hummingbirds, butterflies, and moths, while the red berries attract birds
     
   • Provides cover and nesting sites for birds
   • Zones 4-10

   • Lonicera 'John Clayton'

7. American Bittersweet (Celastrus scandens)
   
   • Berries attract squirrels and at least 15 species of wild birds
     
   • Zones 3-8
8. Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia)
   
   • Large prolific climber that clings easily to rough surfaces
   • Poisonous to humans
   • Flowers attract bees, leaves attract moth caterpillars, and berries attract woodpeckers, thrushes, vireos, warblers, and other wild birds
   • Zones 3-9

   • Example: Parthenocissus 'Fenway Park'

9. Cardinal Climber Vine (Ipomoea sloteri)
   
   
   • Red flowers attract hummingbirds, butterflies
   • 4-10'
   • Annual, zones 3-9

   • Hybrid example: Ipomoea x multifida

10. Cypress Vine (Ipomoea quamoclit)
    
    
    • Close relative of the Cardinal Climber Vine
    • Pink, red, or white flowers attract hummingbirds, butterflies
    • 15-20'
    • Annual, zones 6-11

    • A collection of cypress vine: Cypress Vine Mix

11. Spanish Flag, Firecracker Vine (Ipomoea lobata / Mina Lobata)
    
    
    • Red, orange, and bright yellow flowers attract hummingbirds
    • 6-10'
    • zones 10+; grow as annual in colder zones

Others

If you have the time, you also may want to look up the following vines:

• Boston Ivy
• Pipevine (Aristolochi durior)
• Twining Snapdragon - zones 9,10
• Hummingbird Vine - invasive, wear gloves when handling
• Crossvine - 50'
• Fox Grape - 40'
• Jackson Vine - 10-15', spines or sharp edges
• American Wisteria - 10-15'
• Western White, Curly, and Sweet Autumn Clematis
• Jessamines
• Jasmines
• Moonflower - 10-20'; blooms at night
• Morning Glories - 8-10'
• Sweet Pea - 3-5'
• sweet potato vines
• grape vine

References

• Backyard Habitat: Taking a Local Approach to Growing Vines
  
• Vines Beneficial to Wildlife
  
• Some balcony vines can soften that urban view
  
• The Magic of Annual Vines