QuestionI am looking for a recommendation for a perennial vine to cover a pergola 11 ft tall, over a 14 x 14 patio. Because it is over a seating area, I would want to avoid vines that drop fruit (like grape), but the vine must help shade, flowers would be a bonus. I have trumpet vine on one corner, and thought i'd introduce a second vine on the opposite corner....I am a little "afraid" of wysteria because I heard that it is terribly invasive and will undermine foundations etc...the patio adjoins my house. I saw your disclaimer about the Pacific Northwest....I am in the opposite corner in the Northeast--upstate NY zone 5.
Thanks
AnswerJonathan,
In spite of what you've heard, I'd go with Wisteria.
I've got one that I care for now. It was an was an out of control vine, climbing up trees, shrubs and an old house when I found it. I moved it and now have it pruned to resemble a tree espaliered against a wall of a house (2 dimensional). I can keep it in that form with just twice-a-year pruning (1.5 hours x 2), I tie it into place, so I don't have to rely on the vine grabbing something for support.
I also have taken care of one that surrounded a pergola, like you describe. I grew it and pruned it so that it circled the structure just under the roof line. The new vines, leaves, and in Spring, the blossoms, would cascade down into the view from inside. Really nice. The foliage and new growth vine are delicate enough to be elegant when used like this.
Wisteria gets a bad reputation from folks who put it in and think it will take care of itself. It does not, but it's not uncontrollable. I don't have time for uncontrollable stuff.
Other than wisteria, I've also worked with kiwi. There's nothing elegant about kiwi. It can cover a structure thickly, but it's vine is quite course and it can grow a lot, fast, once established.
I've used grapes, but like you say, there's the fruit.
I've also used Boston Ivy, on a brick building, but I don't think that would work at all.
For what it's worth,
Mark in Portland
