18 Trellis Plants That Instantly Add Vertical Interest

If you’re looking to add something fresh and dynamic to your outdoor space, trellis plants are a great choice. They provide vertical interest, which can transform plain walls, fences, or garden structures into lively and attractive features.

These plants help you maximize space while adding beauty and privacy to your garden. Whether you want vibrant flowers or lush greenery, there are plenty of options that easily climb and create stunning displays.

Clematis (Clematis spp.)

You can easily add vertical interest with clematis. These vines grow between 1 and 18 feet long, depending on the species and support.

Plant them near trellises, fences, or pergolas. They prefer full sun but appreciate afternoon shade in hot areas. Just provide something for the vine to grab onto, and your clematis will climb quickly, adding lovely flowers to your space.

Trumpet Vine (Campsis radicans)

You’ll find trumpet vine is a fast-growing climber that quickly adds height to your garden. Its bright, trumpet-shaped flowers attract hummingbirds, bringing life to your outdoor space.

This vine is hardy and can grow between 20 to 40 feet long, so it’s perfect if you want strong vertical coverage. Just watch out—it can spread aggressively through underground suckers.

Climbing Roses (Rosa spp.)

If you want to add charm to your garden, climbing roses are a great choice. They grow flexible canes that you can train over trellises, arbors, or garden arches.

These roses come in many varieties, so you can find colors and fragrances that suit your style. They bring vertical interest and a classic look without much effort.

Wisteria (Wisteria spp.)

Wisteria is a fast-growing vine that can add beautiful vertical interest to your garden. You’ll enjoy its cascading lavender or purple flowers each spring.

Keep in mind, these vines need strong support and regular pruning to control their growth. With proper care, wisteria can quickly cover fences, trellises, or arbors, creating a lovely floral display.

Climbing Hydrangea (Hydrangea anomala petiolaris)

You’ll love how climbing hydrangea adds charm to vertical spaces. It grows as a slow-to-moderate woody vine that clings to walls, trellises, or arbors without damaging surfaces.

This plant does well in shade or partial sun, making it versatile for tricky spots. It also produces delicate white flowers that brighten your garden during summer.

Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia)

You’ll find Virginia Creeper is great for adding quick vertical interest. It climbs up to 50 feet, attaching itself easily to walls or trellises.

It grows well in full sun to partial shade and adapts to many soil types. You can also let it spread on slopes to help prevent erosion.

Black-eyed Susan Vine (Thunbergia alata)

You’ll enjoy the bright yellow and orange flowers of the Black-eyed Susan vine. It grows quickly and is perfect for covering trellises with cheerful color.

This vine is easy to start from seed, indoors before your last frost. It also works well in hanging baskets if you want vertical or trailing interest in your garden.

Mexican Purple Bell Vine (Podranea ricasoliana)

You can grow Mexican Purple Bell Vine as a large sprawling shrub or train it on a sturdy trellis for vertical interest. It loves heat and produces trumpet-shaped flowers with red veins, adding a lovely splash of color.

This vine grows quickly once mature, making it a great choice to fill space fast in warm climates.

Chilean Glory Flower (Eccremocarpus scaber)

You’ll love how the Chilean Glory Flower climbs quickly, showing off bright yellow-orange tubular blooms all summer. It needs a trellis or fence to twine around, making it perfect for adding color and height to your garden.

Plant them 12-18 inches apart and give them full sun to part shade. This vine can grow up to 20 feet long, creating a lovely floral curtain.

Sweet Peas (Lathyrus odoratus)

You can add lovely vertical interest to your garden with sweet peas. These climbing annuals grow between 3 to 6 feet tall when supported.

They are perfect for trellises, fences, or pergolas. Beyond height, sweet peas bring delicate blooms and a gentle fragrance that brightens your outdoor space.

Morning Glory (Ipomoea tricolor)

You’ll love how Morning Glory quickly climbs your trellis with vibrant blue, pink, or white trumpet-shaped flowers. It thrives in full sun and tolerates a range of soil types, making it easy to grow.

This plant can reach up to 10 feet tall, adding instant vertical interest to fences and garden structures. Plus, it attracts pollinators like bees and butterflies, bringing more life to your garden.

Passionflower (Passiflora caerulea)

You’ll enjoy growing Passionflower for its fast, twining vines that can reach 20 to 30 feet. It’s perfect for covering trellises quickly without needing much shaping.

The flowers are star-shaped and exotic, adding a unique touch to your garden. Plus, it’s semi-evergreen, so you’ll have some greenery year-round.

Bougainvillea (Bougainvillea spp.)

If you want a vibrant, climbing plant, bougainvillea is a great choice. It thrives in warm climates and looks beautiful on trellises, pergolas, or fences.

You can easily train it to grow where you want, adding color and vertical interest to your space. Just make sure it gets plenty of sunlight and minimal frost.

Honeysuckle (Lonicera spp.)

Honeysuckle vines are a great choice if you want to add height and color to your garden. You can easily train them to grow on trellises, fences, or arbors.

They produce fragrant flowers that attract hummingbirds and bees. If you don’t have a structure, you can even let them spread along the ground for a floral carpet effect.

Scarlet Runner Bean (Phaseolus coccineus)

You’ll love the Scarlet Runner Bean for its bright red flowers that attract hummingbirds. It climbs quickly, reaching 10 to 12 feet, making it perfect for fences or trellises.

You can also enjoy its edible pods and seeds. It’s easy to grow, and saving seeds means you can plant it year after year in your garden.

Jasmine (Jasminum officinale)

You’ll find jasmine is a fast-growing vine that can reach 15 to 30 feet. It climbs well on a sturdy trellis or arbor, making it ideal for adding height and interest.

Jasmine prefers full sun to part shade and well-drained soil. Its small, fragrant white flowers bloom in early to mid-fall, adding lovely scent to your garden.

Climbing Fig (Ficus pumila)

If you want a plant that quickly covers walls or trellises, Climbing Fig is a good choice. Its small, heart-shaped leaves create dense green foliage that adds texture to your space.

This vine attaches itself firmly to surfaces, making it easy to train where you want it to grow. It can reach heights of 8 to 15 feet under the right conditions.

Bottlebrush Vine (Callistemon viminalis)

You can use Bottlebrush Vine to add a unique vertical touch to your garden. It grows well up a trellis and shows off bright red flowers in spring and early summer.

This plant prefers full sun or light shade and is fairly low-maintenance. Its slender form works well in tighter spaces where you want some height without bulk.