Explore Plants

Share

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

Search Smarty Plants
    
 

Can't find the answer in our existing FAQs, submit a question to Mr. Smarty Plants.
Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.

rate this answer
Not Yet Rated

Thursday - December 10, 2009

From: Los Angeles, CA
Region: California
Topic: Vines
Title: Vine for privacy on a deck in Southern California
Answered by: Nan Hampton

QUESTION:

I am looking for a climbing vine/plant that is non-flowering and can be grown year round in Southern California. We are looking to help create a private area along a deck for my grandmother because her deck is close to the road. She prefers that there are no flowers or strong scents. Thank you in advance, I've been searching online and surprising cannot find anything.

ANSWER:

Well, perhaps we can find a vine with flowers that are not showy, but all the vines native to Southern California we know about are flowering plants. Here are some suggested vines native to Southern California:

The following vines have flowers that are NOT considered fragrant:

Calystegia macrostegia (California morning glory) should remain evergreen with adequate summer water.

Keckiella cordifolia (heartleaf keckiella) should be evergreen in Los Angeles.  Here are photos.

Vitis californica (California wild grape) is deciduous.  Here are photos and information about Roger's Red cultivar.

Vitis girdiana (desert wild grape) and here are more photos and information.

Parthenocissus vitacea (woodbine) and here are photos and more information.

The flowers on the following vines ARE considered fragrant:

Clematis lasiantha (pipestem clematis) is deciduous and fragrant.

Clematis ligusticifolia (western white clematis) is deciduous and fragrant.

Lonicera hispidula (pink honeysuckle) is deciduous and fragrant.  Here are more photos and information.

Here are some photos from our Image Gallery:

 

 

More Vines Questions

Identification of cucumber-like plant with red fruit
July 01, 2012 - Hi; My name is Peter, live in Lewisville. When I walked through a park trail last year, I noticed a very strange vine described as the following: It is vine with leaves and stems (size and shape) lo...
view the full question and answer

Identification of vine in Ohio
March 26, 2010 - We were in our school's back yard and we found a vine that has green leaves and has a purple stem and we were just trying to figure out what is was? Can you help us out with that!
view the full question and answer

Burned leaves on trumpet vine, Campsis radicans
August 10, 2009 - I have a trumpet vine, it is about 10 years old and I have never had any problems with it. This year I have noticed that the leaves on some of the branches are shriveling up, like it was burned with ...
view the full question and answer

Prickly vine for fire escape in Boston
February 23, 2010 - I live in Boston area and would like to plant a prickly vine that will grow on my fire escape. What do you recommend?
view the full question and answer

Climbing plant for Maryland
December 09, 2008 - Hi I am looking for a climbing plant which is native to Maryland. I want the plant to climb up the front of the house to assist with cooling in summer and to make the house look more attractive. I wou...
view the full question and answer

Smarty Plants's Facebook profile Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today.

Mr. Smarty Plants wants you to be his Facebook friend. Click the Facebook icon to add yourself to Mr. Smarty Plants list of friends.