Native Plants
![](../_images/smarty_plants.gif)
Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
![](../_images/mr_smarty_plants_logo_web_200w.jpg)
rate this answer
![](../_images/star_00.gif)
Wednesday - June 12, 2013
From: Bentonville, AR
Region: Southwest
Topic: Privacy Screening, Vines
Title: Vines for fence in Bentonville, Arkansas
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
I have about 600 LF of 8ft high chain link fence I would like to grow vines on in Northwest Arkansas for screening. I would like some to cover quickly but be maintenance friendly. I heard alternating vines may be the way to go? Can you help with vine selection? Some color may be nice?ANSWER:
Below are several possibilities for vines for your fence. They all either occur naturally in Benton County or in an adjacent county. Since I don't know exactly what all the conditions are at your site, you should read the GROWING CONDITONS on each species page to see that it is compatible with your site. You can see that there are semi-evergreen vines and deciduous ones, some with showy flowers and some with colorful berries or edible fruit. You could certainly mix the vines along your fence.
Bignonia capreolata (Crossvine) is semi-evergreen and hardy to zone 6 (Bentonville is in zone 6b). Here is more information from Missouri Botanical Garden.
Ampelopsis cordata (Heartleaf peppervine) is deciduous. Here are more photos and information from Aggie Horticulture and from Missouri Plants.
Celastrus scandens (American bittersweet) is deciduous and has colorful red berries in the fall. Here is more information from Missouri Botanical Garden.
Clematis viorna (Vasevine) is deciduous. Here are more photos and information from Carolina Nature.
Clematis virginiana (Devil's darning needles) is deciduous and fast-growing. Here are more photos and information from Missouri Botanical Garden.
Lonicera sempervirens (Coral honeysuckle) is semi-evergreen. Here are more photos and information from Missouri Botanical Garden.
Passiflora incarnata (Purple passionflower) is deciduous and fast-growing. Here are more photos and information from Missouri Botanical Garden.
Parthenocissus quinquefolia (Virginia creeper) is deciduous with colorful leaves in the fall. It is fast-growing. Here are more photos and information from Missouri Botanical Garden.
Vitis rotundifolia (Muscadine) is deciduous and produces edible grapes in late summer. Here are more photos and information from Floridata and Carolina Nature.
Vitis vulpina (Frost grape) is deciduous with grapes that sweeten after a frost. Here are photos and more information from Plants for a Future and University of Michigan.
Wisteria frutescens (American wisteria) is deciduous. Here is more information from Missouri Botanical Garden and Plants for a Future. This is the only native wisteria. If you decide on this wisteria, be absolutely certain that this is the one you are buying. Don't buy either of the non-native wisterias that you might find at a nursery—Wisteria chinensis (Chinese wisteria) or Wisteria floribunda (Japanese wisteria).
From the Image Gallery
More Privacy Screening Questions
Trees with non-invasive roots or tops in Newhall CA
November 07, 2011 - We would like to plant a tree with noninvasive roots near our garden wall and concrete driveway in a grassy area in the front yard facing west. This spot is very sunny in the afternoon with automatic ...
view the full question and answer
Screening plant for wall in Florida
February 26, 2010 - Hi Mr. Smarty Pants,
I live near Tampa, FL and I want to put a line of privacy plants/hedges along a brick wall. The wall is 6' high with openings in the top 3' of the wall. The length of the w...
view the full question and answer
Oak root resistant hedge for Southern California
December 28, 2013 - I live in Southern California and my cypress hedge has oak root fungus. What kind of hedge can I plant that will grow fast and be resistant to the fungus?
view the full question and answer
California Vine for Privacy Screening
November 06, 2014 - I have a two story house going up behind my back yard. I would like to plant a climbing vine with non-invasive roots to provide privacy. I live in Los Angeles and the trellis would receive almost full...
view the full question and answer
Alternate native plants for bamboo as a privacy screen in Austin, TX.
July 26, 2011 - Can you recommend a bamboo that I can plant, acting as a privacy screen, reaching at least 10'-12'? We are looking for a bamboo that does not spread, and can take the afternoon sun. It will be pla...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |