Pink Trumpet Vine: Fabulous & Flexible
Pink trumpet vine is a sprawling, tropical-looking plant with bubble gum pink flowers. It can be grown as a shrub, vine, or ground cover depending on how it’s pruned and … Read more
Desert Vines
Vines are an often overlooked way of adding color, beauty, and shade to desert gardens while taking up little space. There are a surprising number of vines that grow prolifically and flower profusely in the desert, both annual and perennial.
Here at Southwest Gardener you’ll find in-depth information to help you choose and care for vines — both annual and perennial — that will thrive in your desert garden.
Star Jasmine: Fragrant, Versatile Vine
Star jasmine is an evergreen vine that bursts into bloom in spring with intoxicatingly fragrant white flowers. It’s a manageable vine that can also be grown as a ground cover … Read more
Trumpet Creeper: Resilient, Flamboyant Vine
Vivid orange trumpet-shaped flowers and bright green leaves make trumpet creeper an eye-catcher, especially when in bloom. It’s native to the central and eastern US, but is also at home … Read more
Yuca Vine: Little-Known Gem
If you’re looking for a low maintenance desert vine that stays a manageable size without a lot of pruning, consider yuca vine. This Sonoran Desert native is not well known … Read more
Purple Orchid Vine: Delightful Desert Native
Purple orchid vine is a lovely evergreen vine that is adorned with clusters of orchid-shaped flowers and lantern-shaped seed pods. Here’s how to plant and care for this Chihuahuan Desert … Read more
Lady Banks: No Ordinary Rose
Lady Banks rose is definitely not your average cultivated rose bush. Also known as Tombstone rose, it thrives in the desert and isn’t prone to the usual rose pests and … Read more
Purple Hyacinth Bean: Charming Annual Vine
With pink flowers and purple seed pods, purple hyacinth bean would not look out of place in a cottage garden. This Old World vine makes a beautiful landscape plant in … Read more
Skyflower: Versatile, Delicate Beauty
Skyflower is a versatile plant that can be grown as a shrub or a vine. It’s a delicate beauty that will grow in the desert provided it’s planted in the … Read more
Yellow Orchid Vine: Surprisingly Tough Native
Yellow orchid vine is a deceptively tough vine that sports charming clusters of orchid-shaped flowers and butterfly-shaped seed pods. Here’s how to plant and care for this Sonoran Desert native. … Read more
Cat’s Claw: Tenacious, Aggressive Vine
Cat’s claw vine is often grown to cover blank desert garden walls. It does that extremely well, but at a cost. Here’s everything you need to know to decide whether … Read more
Carolina Jessamine: Sunny Evergreen Vine
Sunny yellow trumpet-shaped flowers and emerald green leaves make Carolina jessamine an eye-catching vine. It’s native to the Southeastern US, but grows well in the desert. But before you plant, … Read more
Tangerine Crossvine: Vibrant Climber
Vivid orange trumpet-shaped flowers and bright green leaves make tangerine crossvine a standout, especially when in full bloom. It’s a cultivar of a plant native to the US southeast, but … Read more