by Glory Lennon

Created on: April 30, 2010   Last Updated: March 06, 2012

Top annual vines for summer color.

When speaking of plants for the ultimate summer color, nothing compares to annuals. Bushy, vibrantly colored and profusely blooming Marigolds, Petunias, Impatiens and Zinnias reign supreme in the flower bed, in containers and even in window boxes.  The one thing all these plants lack, however, is height.

This is where the annual vine comes in. Plant a few vines against a fence or trellis and watch as it twines around the entire thing bursting with bright flowers and lovely foliage. Choose a fast growing vine to quickly cover an arbor for instant shade and a cool place to share a drink with friends and family. Plant a few in window boxes or containers to cascade down and soften sharp angles. Allow them to sprawl along the ground for a nifty and highly colorful groundcover. Make a tee-pee with several bamboo poles and watch the vines climb and cover the whole thing creating a tiny hide-away for a little kid and perhaps even an adult with Peter Pan syndrome.

 Vines can do all this and above all else give the garden a flash of color that will be noticed and appreciated by neighbors, butterflies and hummingbirds too. With this in mind here is a list of the best annual vines for summer color.

• Morning Glory (Ipomoea)

This garden favorite grows 8-10 feet high and boasts bright green heart-shaped leaves and trumpet shaped flowers in a wide range of colors, some even bi-colors. The heavenly blue color being the most sought after of Morning Glories is therefore the one sold out first in stores. As its name implies it blooms in the morning and closes as soon as the sun is high and hot in the sky. Careful planting, however, can ensure a longer blooming time. Plant the Morning Glory where it will get morning sun with shade after noon, as on the east side of the house, and the flowers won’t fade as quickly as they otherwise would.

• Moonflower vine

A cousin of the Morning Glory, Moonflower is a nocturnal version excellent for the “moonlight” garden or for those who get home too late to enjoy their gardens by day. Its blossoms open as the sun is setting, attracting night pollinators with its intoxicating perfume, and closes again once the sun rises. A perfect companion to the Morning Glory if allowed to intertwine on the same fence, lamppost or arbor because as one opens the other closes giving the garden constant color.

• Black-eyed-Susan Vine (Thunbergia)

Offering flowers in varying shades

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