9 North Carolina Vines (For South Carolina Also)

Vines provide exceptional visual quality and sweet fragrance with their lush foliage and colorful blooms for spots like walls and fences that often look ugly in a yard.

If you are someone living in either South or North Carolina and looking to add colorful flowering vines, then you are at the right place.

This article explores the best North Carolina vines that you can plant right away. It also provides some practical tips to help you grow and care for them in the Carolina states. 

Let’s get started.

1. Carolina Jessamine

Carolina yellow jasmine, scientifically known as Gelsemium sempervirens is a moderately vigorous, evergreen twining climber plant with pointed and shining leaves. Even though the name has jessamine, they are not related to Jasmine in any way.

They are native to Carolina regions and in fact, it is the state flower of South Carolina. In forests and woodlands of both North and South Carolinas, these flowering vines are found in abundance.

It produces very bright, fragrant yellow flowers that are funnel-shaped. The flowers appear as clusters and the blooming season starts in February and ends in April making it a late winter flowering vine.

This North Carolina flower vine can reach a maximum height of 20ft (6m) and a spread of 6ft (1.8m) depending on the support system and geographic conditions. This vine is best suited for trellis, arbors, pergolas, fences, and walls.

In eastern Carolina states, these flowering vines are often seen as groundcovers in woodlands.

• Scientific Name: Gelsemium sempervirens
• Other Name(s): False Jasmine, Carolina Woodbine
• Origin: Southern US
• Plant Type: Perennial Vine
• Plant Family: Gelsemiaceae
• Flowering Season: February To April
• Fragrance: Yes
• Maintenance: Minimal
• Light Exposure: Full Sun/Partial Sun
• Watering: Medium, Drought-resistant
• Soil pH: 6-7.5
• USDA Hardiness Zone: 7-10

2. Clematis

Clematis is not a single plant. They are a genus of more than 300 species and a lot more garden-specific hybrids with flowers in different colors and sizes. If you don’t know which variety to grow, try any of the below-mentioned varieties.

• Nelly Moser – 7-inch large pale pink flowers.
• Clematis Vancouver Series – Different color combinations available.
• Clematis armandii – 2-inch white flowers, spring blooming.
• Jackman – Pinwheel-shaped violet flowers.
• Sweet Autumn – Sweet fragrant white flowers.

Clematis species grow best in moist soil during the growing and flowering seasons. Fertilizing in late spring is a good way to extend the blooming season of the plant. Additionally, if pruned properly, these North Carolina vines may have a second round of flowers in the fall.

This North Carolina vine can be trained to climb very easily in walls, fences, trellises, etc. Also, they are capable of reaching up to 25ft (8m) in height.

• Scientific Name: Clematis
• Other Name(s): Leather Flower
• Origin: China & Japan
• Plant Type: Perennial Vine
• Plant Family: Ranunculaceae
• Flowering Season: Spring & Summer
• Fragrance: Yes
• Maintenance: High
• Light Exposure: Full & Part Sun
• Watering: Medium
• Soil pH: 6-7
• USDA Hardiness Zone: 5-9

3. Confederate Jasmine

Trachelospermum genus consists of a lot of shrubby jasmines. However, the best choice for North and South Carolina is Confederate jasmine or commonly known as star jasmine.

This plant has intensely fragrant creamy white flower clusters that bloom in the summer season. To feel the fragrance, all you have to do is take a simple walk near the vines.

Most gardeners in South and North Carolinas grow them as either vines or shrubs. Because of their fast-growing capability and lustrous dark green foliage, it is a good option for ground cover as well.

This North and South Carolina vine requires very little care. Just regular watering and feeding in spring and late summer is enough. If you train them to climb on a trellis or wall, you can expect them to reach up to 40ft in height.

• Scientific Name: Trachelospermum jasminoides
• Other Name(s): Star Jasmine
• Origin: Japan, Vietnam
• Plant Type: Perennial Vine
• Plant Family: Apocynaceae
• Flowering Season: Summer
• Fragrance: Highly fragrant
• Maintenance: Low
• Light Exposure: Full Sun/Part Shade
• Watering: Medium
• Soil pH: 5-8
• USDA Hardiness Zone: 7-10

4. Coral Honeysuckle

If you are looking for an amazing native flower vine for north and south Carolina gardens, then coral honeysuckle is one of the ideal choices. Scientifically known as Lonericera semperviens is a semi-evergreen, vigorous, and deciduous twining climber.

During the spring season, these north Carolina flower vines put out clusters of tubular and trumpet-shaped pink flowers. These flowers are highly fragrant. Additionally, some of these vines produce small, bright red berries in early autumn.

Typically starts growing very slowly, but the growth rate speeds up once it gets attached to the soil and environment. They can spread up to 6ft (2m) and reach a maximum height of 15ft (5m).

Coral honeysuckle is considered to be invasive in a few regions. So, before growing these north Carolina flower vines, please check with your local gardening authority.

• Scientific Name: Lonicera sempervirens
• Other Name(s): Trumpet honeysuckle
• Origin: Southern United States
• Plant Type: Perennial Vine
• Plant Family: Caprifoliaceae
• Flowering Season: Spring & Summer
• Fragrance: Yes
• Maintenance: Low
• Light Exposure: Full & Part Sun
• Watering: Medium
• Soil pH: Slightly acidic
• USDA Hardiness Zone: 4-9

5. Crossvine

Crossvine is a semi-evergreen to evergreen twining climber plant native to North and South Carolinas. They are mostly found in moist woodlands where they climb up to 50ft under full and partial sun exposure.

The leaves of this plant cross over and hatch onto walls, trees, fences, or any kind of support system, hence the name Crossvine.

Throughout spring and early summer, they produce small flowers having cross sizes of 1-2 inches. If they are planted in the right conditions, the blooms can be very densely populated and the foliage will be completely hidden under the flowers. The flowers can be either ruby-orange or yellow-red. They are slightly fragrant as well.

• Scientific Name: Bignonia capreolata
• Other Name(s): Cross Vine Trumpet Flower
• Origin: South United States
• Plant Type: Perennial Vine
• Plant Family: Bignonias
• Flowering Season: Spring & Early Summer
• Fragrance: Yes
• Maintenance: Average
• Light Exposure: Full & Part Sun
• Watering: Low
• Soil pH: 6.8-7.2
• USDA Hardiness Zone: 6-9

6. Mandevilla

If you live close to beaches or coastal areas, then Mandeviulla is the ideal North Carolina vine for you. It is because they are salt tolerant and grow pretty well in loamy and sandy soil medium.

Mandevilla is not a single plant. They are a genus of tropical flowering vines with more than 200 natural varieties and a lot more hybrids. Most of these species do grow well in Carolina gardens, however, the Mandevilla splendens and Mandevilla ‘Alice du Pont’ are the commonly grown varieties here.

Both of these varieties produce clusters of 4-5 rose-pink, trumpet-shaped flowers that have a maximum size of 4 inches (10cm) across. However, flowers of Mandevilla splendens have yellow throats while the latter has a pinkish-red throat.

• Scientific Name: Mandevilla splendens
• Other Name(s): Pink Allamanda, Mandevilla Sanderi
• Origin: Brazil
• Plant Type: Perennial
• Plant Family: Mandevilla
• Flowering Season: Spring & Summer
• Fragrance: Yes
• Maintenance: Medium
• Light Exposure: Full & Partial Sun
• Soil pH: All
• Watering: Average
• USDA Hardiness Zone: 10-11

7. Yellow Trumpet Vine

A deciduous, woody-stemmed, root climber with toothed leaflets that can reach heights of up to 40 feet (12 meters) under proper care and growing conditions. Throughout late summer and early fall, small clusters of trumpet-shaped golden yellow flowers are produced.

Even though the Trumpet vine is a native north American plant, they are cold hardy in pretty much most of the southern states including North and South Carolinas. 

They thrive in moist, well-drained soil with either full or partial sun exposure. These plants are considered to be heat, cold, and drought tolerant in USDA zones 4-9. Make sure you prune this vine periodically as it has an aggressive growth rate that often colonizes the entire area without allowing other plants to grow.

• Scientific Name: Campsis radicans f.flava
• Common Name(s): Yellow trumpet vine, Trumpet creeper, Foxglove vine
• Origin: North America
• Plant Type: Perennial
• Plant Family: Bignoniaceae
• Flowering Season: Summer
• Fragrance: Yes 
• Light Exposure: Full or partial sun
• Humidity: Moderate
• Watering: Low needs
• Maintenance: High
• USDA Hardiness Zone: 4-9

8. Atlantic Pegionwings

Atlantic pigeonwings (scientifically called Clitoria mariana), is a short perennial vine that is mostly grown as a ground cover in the majority of the southern states. The exact nativity of this vine is unknown, but in states like Florida, Virginia, North & South Carolina, and Tessanese, they are found in abundance.

Thes plants bloom in early to late summer. They produce small and showy lavender flowers with a white central spot.

With the right conditions, they grow up to 3-4ft (90-120) tall and 2-3ft (60-90cm) wide. This is very short and small compared to many other north Carolina vines listed in this article.

• Scientific Name: Clitoria mariana
• Other Name(s): Butterfly Pea, Martiusia Mariana
• Origin: USA
• Plant Type: Perennial
• Plant Family: Fabaceae
• Flowering Season: Summer
• Fragrance: No
• Maintenance: Low
• Light Exposure: Full & Partial Sun
• Watering: Low
• Soil Type: Loam
• Soil pH: Acidic to neutral
• USDA Hardiness Zone: 5-9

9. American Wisteria

American wisteria (scientifically called Wisteria frutescens) is a native flowering vine from the Eastern part of the United States. However, they grow perfectly fine in most of the southern states including North Carolina.

From late spring to early summer they bloom in masses of large clusters packed with purple or lilac flowers.

This plant thrives in regions where it gets atleast 6 hours of sunlight and a moderately fertile soil mixture. They tolerate both occasional flooding and drought as well.

Generally, wisteria species are very aggressive and tend to damage walls and fences in the long run. However, American wisteria is comparatively less aggressive than its Chinese or Japanese siblings. Still, it is recommended to prune the plant periodically to prevent them from growing out of control.

• Scientific Name: Wisteria frutescens
• Other Name(s): Texas Wisteria, Kentucky Wisteria
• Origin: United States
• Plant Type: Perennial
• Plant Family: Wisteria
• Flowering Season: Spring & Summer
• Fragrance: Yes
• Maintenance: Average
• Light Exposure: Full Sun
• Soil Type: Clay, Loam & Sand
• Soil pH: Acidic to neutral
• Watering: Average
• USDA Hardiness Zone: 5-9

Sources

To back up the information we provide in our articles, the Plantials team only uses high-quality sources published in peer-reviewed university or scientific research journals.

1. Encyclopedia of Plants & Flowers, A Book By The Royal Horticultural Society.
2. Carolinas Getting Started Garden Guide, A Book By Toby Bost, Cool Springs Press.
3. Gardenia Plant Finder