Playing with a monster

Some vines are floppy. Others are solid. Some bear colorful flowers, while others provide fruit. Used in an interesting way, a vine can transform a space.

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This vine is – luckily – frost tender. It’s killed to the ground every winter, and that’s a good thing because otherwise it would cover everything in twining tendrils. It’s a morning glory, Ipomoea indica. A rather invasive plant, if given enough water to make it happy – but only invasive during the warmer months.

In summer, the vines twine vertically up a series of wires, covering and shading a wall. Later in the season, they’ll produce wonderful, intense blue-violet flowers. Right now, they’re a vertical element composed of upright lines and attractive leaves.

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The wires aren’t anchored to the ground; heavy rocks keep them stretched. In winter, after the vines are blasted by frost, they’re removed to leave only the artsy wires and rocks hanging from the eaves.

Morning glory vines are whippy, flexible, undamaged by constant limited twisting and flexing. This makes them the perfect living accent for an otherwise ordinary screen door.

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They’re interesting viewed from the inside, too.

If we were in a milder climate, I’d be very, very hesitant to plant this vine. Here, frost and a dry zone around the roots keep it in check.

Published by mike

Mike is a licensed landscape architect. He's also an artist, photographer and occasional chef. Luciole Design specializes in sustainable, contemporary, modern landscape design - and traditional landscape styles that fit into California's Mediterranean climate. Sacramento, California.