Anyone know any aggressive, broad leafed climbing plants?

Question

I'm looking to create a little trellis system to shade some of my plants from the aggravating Texas summer. I was contemplating some sort of bean, but it needs wide foliage and fairly aggressive growth, any ideas?

Answer 1

KUDZU!!  It's covering the south like a bad rash.  It's very leafy!

Seriously, I have found that Wisteria is an aggressive vine, as is Honeysuckle.  When trained to a trellis they look nice, but keep them contained to the trellis or they will look for other things to climb and creep across your yard to find them.

Answer 2

I have a photo of my out of control humming bird plant. it climbs,grows fast and may be what your looking for.

the first picture is it taking over the garage. I have hacked at the bottom sides trying to take some of it off the garage. but at the top you can see how full it gets. http://flickr.com/photos/16632826@N00/27...

the second is the flowers it produces http://flickr.com/photos/16632826@N00/27...

hope this is of some help

Answer 3

My pumpkins climb very aggressivly and have very broad leaves.  Why not try a few?  In a few months we have had 4 small plants grow up and completely cover the side of our dog kennel.  The plus side, lots of pumpkins!

Answer 4

Actually the leaves don't have to be that large.  The vine just has to be growing profusely.  Trust me the red humming bird vine

or the golden trumpet vine will take over the  entire yard if it's not properly trained or pruned.  It will grow 15 or more feet in a growing season.

Open the link below if it's fast, furious and thick you want read all about the creeper.  

North Carolina Extension

Trumpet creeper; Trumpet vine

http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consu...

I cut mine back to about 3 feet short after the humming birds leave in October and right now it is trying to strangle my house. LoL!

It can become invasive.  I don't think drought or overwatering will effect it.  I live in SE Missouri and we have set all time records for rainfall this year.   Also they don't need to be fertilized I have never fertilized mine.  If they receive too much nitrogen they don't bloom well.  It's been growing for about 10 years that way.

Answer 5

There's a climber called Mile A Minute, which describes its vigorous growing habit. It has small white flowers. You could use this to quickly cover an area. Id recommend also mixing plants, to create more interest, possibly having evergreens too. Honeysuckles are mostly scented, and some are evergreen in places such as texas. You could also grow Hops, which will add a different feel to your cover. A wall shrub such as Pyracantha will grow quickly and can be trained- it forms a good strong support, is broad leaved, and has coloured berries over winter too, following its summer flowers - other climbers will grow well through it.

Lastly, Clematis montana grows really quickly, with masses of fragrant pink or white flowers in late spring. It will quickly form a dense covering.

Hope this helps. Good luck! Rob

Answer 6

Dutchman's pipe.  We use it as a privacy screen.  It is a perennial.

Answer 7

Jasmine, Virginia creeper, wisteria, trumpet creeper, honeysuckle, gourds, cucumber, and morning glories will all do the trick.  Kudzu has big leaves and is extremely aggressive, but I don't recommend it.  Good luck!