20 Best Climbing Plants for Pergolas and Arbors
Climbing plants for pergolas and arbors bring elegance, shade, and color into your outdoor living space. These vines and flowering climbers turn simple wooden structures into living works of art, offering blooms, fragrance, or even edible harvests.
With the right choice, your pergola becomes a cool retreat in summer and a romantic garden spot year-round.
This collection of 20 climbing plants will help you pick the perfect variety for your space. Some are low-maintenance and leafy, while others burst with flowers or fruits.
With a mix of perennials and annuals, you ll find options that thrive in both sunny and shaded areas. Add them to your garden, and you ll enjoy nature s shade canopy while sipping coffee, reading, or relaxing outdoors.
#1 Passion Flower
Passion Flower is a tropical favorite that charms with intricate blooms and a sweet fragrance. It produces edible passion fruits while covering pergolas quickly with lush green growth.
Plant it in full sun with well-drained soil for the best performance. Regular pruning keeps its vigorous growth under control. This exotic climber adds both beauty and bounty to your space.
#2 Ivy
Ivy is a classic choice for instant greenery, thriving in both sun and shade. Its dense foliage wraps around arbors with little effort, creating a natural screen.
You can grow it in average soil as long as it drains well. Trim the vines occasionally to keep them neat and prevent overgrowth. Ivy is the simplest way to get a lush, timeless look.
#3 Honeysuckle
Honeysuckle is loved for its tubular flowers and enchanting scent that fills the evening air. One vigorous plant can easily cover a pergola, rewarding you with abundant blooms in shades of yellow, red, or pink.
It thrives in full sun and prefers rich, moist soil. Train young vines early to guide them over supports. This climber also attracts hummingbirds and butterflies to your garden.
#4 Morning Glory
Morning Glory grows quickly and produces vibrant trumpet-shaped blooms in blue, pink, purple, or white. Flowers open each morning and fade by evening, bringing daily surprises.
Sow seeds directly in the soil after frost for rapid coverage. Give the plant plenty of sunlight and a sturdy trellis to climb. Its cheerful blossoms create a joyful garden atmosphere.
#5 Jasmine
Jasmine fills the air with a heady fragrance, especially in warm, humid climates. Its delicate white or yellow blooms make a pergola feel like a scented paradise.
Grow it in full sun to partial shade and keep soil evenly moist. Prune regularly to shape the vines and encourage more flowers. Jasmine creates a romantic, calming garden retreat.
#6 Sweet Pea
Sweet Pea vines offer clusters of ruffled flowers in shades of pink, purple, and white. Their sweet fragrance makes them a favorite for seating areas.
Plant them in cool weather with fertile, well-drained soil. Provide a trellis or netting for support and keep the soil moist. With regular deadheading, they ll bloom generously throughout the season.
#7 Rose
Climbing roses transform arbors and pergolas into floral arches of romance and charm. Their blooms, ranging from classic red to soft pastels, bring both fragrance and beauty.
Choose disease-resistant varieties for easier care. They need at least 6 hours of sunlight daily and well-drained soil. Prune yearly to shape growth and maintain strong flowering.
#8 Butterfly Pea
Butterfly Pea is adored for its vibrant blue blossoms that can also be used to make herbal tea. It grows fast and covers structures with lush green foliage.
This tropical vine thrives in sunny spots with warm temperatures. Water regularly to keep the soil moist but not soggy. Its flowers are also a natural pollinator magnet.
#9 Bougainvillea
Bougainvillea is famous for its dazzling pink, red, orange, or purple bracts that brighten any space. It thrives in hot, sunny climates and resents waterlogged soil.
Provide sturdy support as its woody vines can get heavy. Prune after flowering to encourage new blooms. This plant turns pergolas into vibrant, Mediterranean-style garden features.
#10 Clematis
Clematis is a versatile climber that offers star-shaped flowers in countless colors. Flowering begins in spring, with some varieties continuing through summer.
Plant it where the roots are shaded but the vine gets full sun. Water consistently and mulch around the base for moisture retention. Clematis adds elegance and color layers to your garden.
#11 Bleeding Heart
Bleeding Heart enchants with its pink or white heart-shaped blooms dangling gracefully on arching stems. While often grown as a ground perennial, it can twine lightly over small pergolas.
This plant enjoys partial sun and rich, moist soil. Provide consistent watering during dry spells. It s perfect for a whimsical, romantic corner of your garden.
#12 Bignonia
Bignonia, or crossvine, produces clusters of bell-shaped flowers in warm orange or red shades. Its evergreen foliage ensures year-round coverage.
Plant it in full sun for the best blooms and water moderately. It clings naturally to supports, making it easy to train. This climber adds both tropical beauty and resilience to garden structures.
#13 Trumpet Vine
Trumpet Vine bursts with bold orange, yellow, or red flowers that attract hummingbirds in droves. Its rapid growth quickly covers pergolas and walls.
Plant in sunny spots with average soil and let it establish well. Pruning is essential to manage its vigorous spread. Once tamed, it creates a spectacular floral canopy.
#14 Golden Hops
Golden Hops is prized for its fast growth and vibrant golden-green foliage. Its trailing habit makes it ideal for quickly covering arbors.
Grow it in well-drained soil with full to partial sun. Regular pruning keeps it compact and prevents invasiveness. The bright leaves stand out beautifully in summer gardens.
#15 Kiwi
Kiwi vines not only provide lush greenery but also reward you with edible fruit. To harvest, you ll need both male and female plants for pollination. They thrive in sunny, sheltered spots with fertile, well-drained soil.
Train them carefully, as strong supports are needed for heavy growth. A pergola draped in kiwis offers both beauty and bounty.
#16 Climbing Hydrangea
Climbing Hydrangea produces clusters of fragrant white flowers paired with glossy, heart-shaped leaves. It s slower to establish but creates a stunning display once mature.
Plant it in partial shade and moist, fertile soil. Provide sturdy supports as it clings with aerial roots. This climber brings a refined, romantic feel to shaded pergolas.
#17 Grape Vine
Grape Vines combine shade with edible harvests, making them practical and beautiful. Their large leaves create a cool canopy, while clusters of sweet grapes hang down in summer.
Grow them in full sun with fertile, well-drained soil. Prune regularly to control growth and improve fruit production. A grape-covered pergola becomes a rustic retreat.
#18 Lavender Trumpet Vine
Lavender Trumpet Vine charms with its violet blooms from spring to early summer. It thrives in warm climates and prefers fertile, well-drained soil.
Position it in full or partial sun for the best flower display. Water during dry spells to maintain vibrant growth. Its bold color makes it a standout feature on pergolas.
#19 Bower Vine
Bower Vine is an evergreen climber that decorates arbors with pink-and-white trumpet flowers. It grows quickly, forming dense foliage for privacy.
Plant in sunny to partially shaded areas with moist soil. Prune lightly after flowering to shape the vine. Its year-round greenery and seasonal flowers make it a reliable choice.
#20 Wisteria
Wisteria is one of the most breathtaking climbers, famous for its cascades of lilac, purple, or white blooms. It needs full sun and rich, moist soil to perform best.
Train young vines carefully to cover supports evenly. Prune in winter and summer to manage growth and encourage flowering. A mature wisteria pergola is pure garden magic.