16 Shrubs that Climb Like a Vine

These Shrubs that Climb like a Vine are great to add a colorful dimension to walls and arbours!

You don’t need to have climbers to cover up bland walls, as you can also pick some stunning shrubs that climb like a vine for the job!

Shrubs That Climb Like a Vine

1. Bougainvillea

Botanical Name: Bougainvillea

USDA Zones: 9-11

Bougainvilleas can also be grown in pots, which makes them a fantastic choice for people who are a little short of space in their gardens. Grow these near a pillar or any support and watch them climb it in no time!

2. Cape Plumbago

Botanical Name: Plumbago auriculata

USDA Zones: 8-11

Cape Plumbago is a perennial shrub that provides an year-round beauty to any landscape. You can also grow it in a container, and train it on patio walls and pillars. Do note that it is not a natural climber and will need support for it.

3. Emerald Gaiety Euonymus

Botanical Name: Euonymus fortunei

USDA Zones: 5-8

If you want it to take over walls like it is doing in the picture above, you have to train the plant from an early stage on a support structure that can take its weight. After that, just make sure it gets direct sun for a few hours in the day and watch it thrive!

4. Tecoma Yellow Elder

Botanical Name: Tecoma stans

USDA Zones: 10-11

Tecoma showcases clusters of vibrant yellow, trumpet-shaped flowers that dangle from the tips of its branches. To help it get covered with blooms, pick a spot, where it can bask in direct sun for 4-5 hours, daily.

5. Climbing Rose

Botanical Name: Rosa

USDA Zones: 5-11

You can never go wrong with climbing roses, especially if you live in a warm area, and can provide them with plenty of sunlight. Be it arbours, windows, pillars, trellises, or any space for that matter, these beauties will climb all over to display their stunning blooms!

6. Japanese Quince

Botanical Name: Chaenomeles japonica

USDA Zones: 5-9

Well, if you want it to climb as the image above, you need a proper support structure for the plant. Also, give it plenty of sunlight for the best growth and watch it get covered with flowers!

7. Downy Clematis

Botanical Name: Clematis macropetala

USDA Zones: 4-9

An early bloomer, these shrubs that climb feature large double flowers in shades of pale to violet-blue. These can easily be trained to climb over fences, walls, and windows. Just ensure the plant gets indirect light for the most parts of the day.

8. Azalea

Botanical Name: Rhododendron spp.

USDA Zones: 3-9

When you think azaleas, you picture a flowery specimen growing timid in a container, but it can be trained to climb to surfaces like patio pillars and railings, easily. Just make sure it is well watered, and gets plenty of indirect light all day long.

9. Climbing Hydrangea

Botanical Name: Hydrangea petiolaris

USDA Zones: 4-8

This one grows to an impressive height of 6-8 feet in the right growing conditions, and puts up an eye-catching show of green leaves with matching yellow-white flowers. It won’t mind a bit of shade, too.

10. Saltbush

Botanical Name: Chenopodium nutans

USDA Zones: 8-10

It has a ‘climbing’ word to its name for a reason, and you will realize it the moment you’ll train it over walls or fences. Saltbush is really easy to look after, and thrives in full sun. A fantastic pick if you want a natural privacy screen.

11. Fuchsia

Botanical Name: Fuchsia fulgens

USDA Zones: 6-8

Fuchsias are a great pick for containers, and for spaces that get plenty of indirect light. So, if you have a boring patio that needs a makeover on its walls and sides, well, a couple of these will add a burst of flowery vibe to it!

12. Cup of Gold

Botanical Name: Solandra maxima

USDA Zones: 9–11

This shrub has large, golden-yellow flowers that resemble oversized cups. With ample sunlight and regular pruning, this shrub will transform your outdoor space into a tropical paradise!

13. Redclaws

Botanical Name: Escallonia

USDA Zones: 7-10

The evergreen leaves and clusters of colorful flowers of this shrub attract butterflies and other pollinators, too! Its flexible stems are really easy to train anywhere, and they can convert any bland space with blooms in no time!

14. Silk Tassel Bush

Botanical Name: Garrya elliptica

USDA Zones: 8-10

With its unique flowers that look better when the plant is climbing, as they dangle down, it is a great pick for spaces that get dappled light. Though it is a bush, you can easily make it climb using a right support structure, like a trellis.

15. Box Honeysuckle

Botanical Name: Lonicera nitida

USDA Zones: 7a-9b

Well, from the picture, this might come across as a border plant, but trust us, you can train it to climb easily over poles, or any support structure in your garden. For the best leaf color, it demands all day indirect and bright light.

16. Firethorn

Botanical Name: Pyracantha

USDA Zones: 5-8

Firethorns are hardy shrubs that climb with a vigorous and aggressive growth, making them perfect to train over any surface where they get proper support. They are also drought-tolerant when established, and do well in full sun.