Short of standing in front of the house with a plate of chocolate chip cookies fresh from the oven, there is no more welcoming way to greet visitors than with a bower of flowers. Here are nine ways to use vines and climbers to create curb appeal.
Hide a Problem
![Photograph by Matthew Williams.](https://media.gardenista.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/potato-vine-climber-hide-utility-pole-matthew-williams-733x933.jpg)
If you have an ugly utility pole blocking your view, a fast-growing vine will mask it quickly; a Solanum jasminoides (potato vine) hides the telephone and electrical wires at my house in Mill Valley, California.
Frame a Fence
![Photograph by Bart Kiggen.](https://media.gardenista.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/wisteria-plant-vine-tree-bloom-gardenista-733x1100.jpg)
Above: If you have a fence or a balcony railing that screams Keep Out, you can lower your voice without sacrificing privacy by planting a flowering climber. Wisteria will thrive in full sun and if it has something to latch onto, can reach a length of 100 feet. (See Gardening 101: Wisteria.)
Mix-and-Match on a Wall
![](https://media.gardenista.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/fields/climbing roses brooklyn_0_0.jpg)
To extend bloom time, plant two different varieties of climbing roses against one wall and let them mingle. For more ideas for curb appeal with roses in Brooklyn, see Design Sleuth: 7 Sources for Brooklyn’s Most Beautiful Roses.
Shelter a Stoop
![](https://media.gardenista.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/fields/new-dawn-rose-arbor-trellis-entryway-curb-appeal-gardenista.jpg)
Justine inherited a New Dawn climbing rose when she bought her summer cottage on Cape Cod. It serves the same purpose as a covered porch (and is better looking); it shelters visitors and adds visual interest to the facade.
“I wanted a rose-covered cottage, and I got one,” Justine says. “All I do to achieve the profusion shown here is to fertilize my New Dawn once in the spring, and water only in the worst droughts.”
![](https://media.gardenista.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/fields/New-Dawn-Climbing-Rose-gardenista.jpg)
Dress Up a Facade
![Photograph by Michelle Slatalla.](https://media.gardenista.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/fields/michelle-shed-clematis-1-gardenista-733x1100.jpg)
Less heavy and aggressive than wisteria, a clematis vine will frame a doorway (or in this case, a garage door) without overwhelming it. (See Gardening 101: Clematis.)
Cloak a Railing
![](https://media.gardenista.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/fields/brooklykn-stoop-wisteria-gardenista.jpg)
A vigorous vine such as wisteria will grow fast enough to blanket a railing in a single season. (Keep it in check by keeping it away from the house.) The scent is glorious, but wisteria is headstrong. Control growth with pruning. Wisteria Lavender Falls is $29.95 from White Flower Farm.
Fill a Crack
![](https://media.gardenista.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/fields/bleeding-heart-vine-curb-appeal-gardenista.jpg)
Perfume the Air
![](https://media.gardenista.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/fields/jasmine-curb-appeal-gardenista.jpg)
Create a Color Story
![Photograph by Marla Aufmuth for Gardenista. (See Gardening \10\1: Bougainvillea for care info.)](https://media.gardenista.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/700_tiburon-garden-bougainvillea.jpg)
In a warm climate, plant a red bougainvillea vine next to a door that’s painted a bright, clear color to create a pleasing contrast. A Red Bougainvillea in a one-gallon pot is $29.95 from Amazon.
N.B.: This post is an update; it was first published on March 24, 2018.
For more of our favorite facades with flowering vines and climbers, see:
- Garden Design Guide: Vines & Climbers
- 10 Garden Ideas to Steal from Greece
- The 7 Best Climbing Roses for Your Garden
- Gardening 101: Wisteria
Finally, get more ideas on how to plant, grow, and care for various vines and climbers with our Vines & Climbers: A Field Guide.
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