Lapageria rosea, known by aficionados as 'Copihue', is a spectacular vine from Chile. Its heavy textured bell-shaped flowers of rose, pink, white, or combinations, can appear spring through fall. Slow growing but worth the wait!

Vines often have a habit of growing beyond the bounds we envision at planting time. For providing privacy on a deck, for rambling over an arch, or for covering a wall without causing damage, your best bet will be to avoid the aggressive stalwart choices of Wisteria, Passiflora or Distictis. With that in mind, I'd like to address this issue with some suggestions for smaller spaces…even containers.

First, be aware that variegated and golden forms are often less vigorous, hence easier to control. Excellent examples are the Variegated Potato Vine (Solanum jasminoides Variegatum), Golden Hops (Humulus lupulus Aureus), and Variegated Bower Vine (Pandorea jasminoides Variegata). Any of these will provide a splash of brightness to a dark background. And on that point, these all tolerate some shade and produce charming foliage, but if flowers are important to you grow them in full sun.

Next, know that some vines produce holdfasts; suckers if you will, that can damage wood and painted surfaces, and will leave unsightly marks even on stone or concrete. Common examples are Creeping Fig (Ficus pumila) and English Ivy (Hedera helix). These work great for covering surfaces which are already ugly, but as cute as they are in their youth, they develop into awkward woody masses later in life.

Growing vines in containers is possible with a bit of ongoing summer pruning, especially if you choose a slower grower like Hardenbergia violacea, which blooms during late winter. A versatile and fragrant option is Star Jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides), which will produce sweet scented flowers practically year-round here in the Bay Area. Just remember to trim lightly and often. In the event that you must give it a major chop, don't expect flowers for many months.

For something to excite the amateur horticulturist check out the yellow flowered Clematis tangutica. Its stunning pendulous blooms are followed by globe-shaped tufts of feathery seed-dispersal units resembling silky dandelion heads. And on a more tropical note, the curious Pelican Flower (Aristolochia grandiflora) will be sure to wow your friends and neighbors with its 6-inch wide flat-faced maroon blooms. Last, but no less exciting is the Chilean Bellflower (Lapageria rosea). This treasured vine will enjoy a shaded location producing thick waxy slender bells about 3 inches long, in white, rose, pink or combinations thereof.

If none of these ideas thrills you, give some thought to an ever-so-affordable annual vine along the lines of Nasturtium (Tropaeolum), Morning Glory (Ipomoea), or Sweet Peas (Lathyrus). They're sure to please for the first season, then, as they decline late in the year, replace them with something new.

– Paul