10 Vines That Enhance Privacy in Your Yard

Key Insights

For many, a garden is a sanctuary to escape the pressures of everyday life. Achieving a sense of seclusion is one way to cultivate that tranquil retreat atmosphere.

While trees and shrubs can form a natural barrier in your yard, carefully positioned vines can also offer a sense of privacy. Keven Graham, principal landscape architect at Planning Resources in Illinois and a member of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), recommends vines for tight or narrow spaces like side yards or areas near a spa.

Vines are also effective for camouflaging areas you wish to conceal or for softening the appearance of your yard. Covering a chain-link or metal fence with flowering vines can create a more organic look for an otherwise industrial feature in your outdoor space [source: Graham].

A key factor to consider when using creeping vines in your garden is that different vines climb in various ways. Understanding these differences can help you select the right plant for the appropriate support. For example, wisteria and clematis attach by twisting their tendrils around a structure, while English ivy uses aerial roots to cling to rough surfaces like walls [sources: Williams, Dana & Lerner].

"Every plant has its pros and cons, and choosing plants is a very personal decision," says Liz Pulver, ASLA, a licensed landscape architect in New York and California. "Some people are drawn to vines that others might avoid."

In this article, we will take a closer look at 10 different creeping vines and their unique characteristics to help you determine which one is the best fit for your garden.

10: Clematis

Clematis vines are the quintessential flowering climbers, often seen growing up structures like mailbox posts. These woody vines can either be evergreen or deciduous. Their large blossoms, particularly from the large-flowered hybrids and cultivars, can make a breathtaking impact in your garden. Keven Graham, ASLA, principal landscape architect at Planning Resources in Illinois, suggests the Sweet Autumn Clematis, a sun-loving vine with white blooms, and the Jackman Clematis.

While any clematis variety can be a fantastic addition to your garden, it's important to consider the climate's effect on the plant’s ability to provide privacy. "In warmer climates, clematis can offer some screening potential," says Liz Pulver, ASLA, a landscape architect licensed in New York and California. "For those in cooler climates seeking more privacy, I'd recommend combining clematis as a flowering accent with other vines that provide fuller vegetative coverage."

Whether growing on a pergola or arbor, clematis require sturdy support for their heavy vines to climb. Some varieties can become quite heavy, making solid support essential [source: Grey-Wilson & Matthews]. To ensure a healthy, thriving plant, be mindful that some varieties can suffer from too much direct sunlight, which may cause their flowers to bleach. Also, watch for clematis wilt, a fungal infection that can affect the plant.

9: Ivy

Climbing up walls or sprawling over fences, English ivy is a timeless option for coverage and privacy. This evergreen plant boasts dark, glossy leaves and, when mature, can produce small white flowers and black seeds [source: Klingaman]. Ivy thrives in colder temperatures when planted in a protected area, making it an ideal year-round privacy solution [source: Glattstein]. It can grow over 30 feet (9 meters) in length, and if not regularly pruned, it may become too dominant in your garden rather than serving as an accent plant [source: Grey-Wilson & Matthews].

For a slightly unique appearance but similar coverage, there are several cultivars with distinct leaf shapes and colors, ranging from white-tipped to heart-shaped yellowish-green foliage.

If you desire more color while maintaining a historic vibe, consider the next vine: morning glory.

8: Morning Glory

Morning glories have been beloved for over a century [source: Cook]. These vines typically produce funnel-shaped flowers in a range of colors, from a vibrant blue to pure white [sources: Cook, Coulter]. In most regions, morning glories are considered annuals, meaning you’ll lose some of the privacy they provide during the winter months. However, their unique blossoms—especially varieties that open only at dusk or in low light—may make up for their seasonal absence [source: Coulter].

7: Trumpet Vine

Trumpet vines are celebrated not only for their striking flowers but also for the wildlife they attract. A perennial vine, trumpet vines climb by using aerial roots that grip surfaces [source: Dana & Lerner]. These sun-loving plants are highly drought-tolerant. The most common variety features orange-red flowers, although some varieties bloom in yellow. The flowers resemble long tubes, typically 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15 centimeters) in length [sources: Lindsey, Cook].

The size and shape of the trumpet vine’s flowers draw hummingbirds, who come to sip nectar. To enjoy watching these tiny birds, consider placing the vine on a lattice near a deck, close to a seating area, or in a spot visible from a window.

6: Wisteria

A member of the pea family, wisteria is most famous for its long clusters of light purple flowers that hang down from the vine. Though purple is the most common color, wisteria can also bloom in white, pink, and blue. It's important to remember that wisteria can take a couple of years to bloom, so don't lose hope. For the best results, plant wisteria in a sunny, yet sheltered location [source: Grey-Wilson & Matthews].

Wisteria can become a centerpiece in many garden spaces. "It grows fast, boasts beautiful flowers, and gives off a pleasant fragrance," says Liz Pulver, ASLA, landscape architect licensed in New York and California. "It needs support and can be easily trained to grow on pergolas, trellises, or posts."

You can also drape wisteria over a fence, letting its long blossoms spill over the edge for a stunning visual effect.

5: Climbing Roses

Roses are a beloved flower known for their exquisite scent and blossoms. Unlike bush varieties, climbing roses use their thorns not only for protection but also as a means to climb and attach themselves to structures. It's important to keep in mind that some climbing rose varieties may require tying to their supports to prevent damage in strong winds. These roses come in a range of colors from yellow to deep red, with varieties like Don Juan, Joseph's Coat, and Purity. To ensure a bountiful bloom, plant them in well-drained soil in a sunny location.

Climbing roses offer various ways to enhance privacy in your garden. Consider creating a tunnel with support rods for the roses to climb, or using them to form an archway that provides both fragrance and color at your garden's entrance. Pairing them with clematis and jasmine will add a charming cottage-garden ambiance.

4: Jasmine

Jasmine, much like roses, has an alluring fragrance that draws people to it. This vine, with its white blossoms, thrives in sunny spots that aren't overly dry.

One of the most popular varieties is common jasmine, known for its fragrant white flowers that attract both hummingbirds and butterflies [source: Kluepfel & Polomski]. Many other types of jasmine are semi-tropical and should only be planted after the last frost in spring.

Jasmine plants naturally climb by twining around structures, meaning they'll need some form of support to grow vertically. Try planting jasmine on an arbor or trellis near your house, or along a walkway where visitors can appreciate the fragrance.

3: Honeysuckle

Honeysuckle vines can provide your garden with both a sweet fragrance and added privacy. Be sure to choose a scented variety, as some honeysuckle types lack fragrance [source: Williams]. Honeysuckle can be evergreen or deciduous, with flowers that range from yellow to red and attract wildlife. "Butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds all love the flowers of this vine," says Liz Pulver, ASLA, landscape architect licensed in New York and California.

When planting honeysuckle, it's important to consider its ideal growing conditions. "Honeysuckles prefer full sun but like their roots to be shaded," says Pulver.

Given these preferences, honeysuckle can create a fragrant archway leading into your garden. It also works well to naturally conceal an old tree stump or unsightly fence posts.

2: Passion Flower

Incorporating passion flowers into a residential backyard can create an exotic atmosphere. The vine produces intricate flowers with a mix of colors in its leaves and filaments. Though primarily tropical, certain varieties can grow in temperate climates, such as the blue passion flower, which can thrive as an evergreen climber in these conditions.

For warmer regions of the United States, another great choice is the purple passion flower. This vine produces distinct purple or occasionally white blooms, and can also yield a fruit that looks like a yellow egg.

Passion flowers climb by wrapping their tendrils around supports. This makes them ideal for trellises, fences, or even shrubs, providing extra color and coverage.

1: Virginia Creeper

In contrast to passion flowers, the Virginia creeper is primarily valued for its foliage rather than its blooms. The leaves of the Virginia creeper shift from a deep green to a rich red in the fall. While it can be confused with poison ivy, Virginia creeper has five leaves instead of three [source: Klingaman]. It also produces bluish-black berries, which, though toxic to humans, are a favorite of birds [source: Buncombe County Cooperative Extension].

Virginia creeper is versatile in its growth, clinging to various surfaces through adhesive tendrils. "It's very aggressive; as it grows, it clings onto everything," says Keven Graham, ASLA, principal and landscape architect of Planning Resources in Illinois.

Virginia creeper is an excellent option for concealing an unattractive fence or climbing up a vertical wall to create a natural barrier.

Whether you choose to grow Virginia creeper on a fence or large-flowered clematis on a lattice next to your deck, vines offer an elegant and practical solution for enhancing privacy in your garden.