something that’s kind of soft, so it doesn’t cut into the plant.” Many vining plants will naturally climb, coaxing for many plants can be as simple as gradually leading the plant where you want it to go with a rake. Asked whether vining plants cause damage such as erosion to brick or other types of building materials, Betty replies, “The only ones that can do that are vines that literally grab onto a surface. There are only two vines that I can think of that do that. One is the hydrangea vine, and the other—I can’t remember the name—it’s not unusual to see them growing up the side of a brick house.” They are drawn to brick because the grooves between the bricks provide traction for grasping and continuing to grow up the brick surface.
How to Identify Hearty Plants So, how do you know if a particular plant will thrive in the climate in which you live? Betty explains, “On the plant tag, after the plant name, they put some numbers, and those numbers are called zones. Those zones are established by the US government, and they relate to the extremes of cold and heat that a plant will survive in. So, the first number is how cold; so, if you’re [in a zone] that’s colder than that number, forget it; that plant won’t survive. Now that second number is the heat, so if you live in a place that’s hotter than that number, the plant will not survive either. For example, the South cannot grow tulips because tulips need a cold spell in the winter. If you’re unsure which zone you’re in, simply Google it.” Asked whether vining plants grow clockwise or counter- clockwise, Betty responds, “The only ones that would grow either clockwise or counter-clockwise would be the ones that twine. The big one is Campsis radicans, which is native to the Southeastern United States, and it gets beautiful, deep orange trumpet flowers. You can grow them anywhere.” Coaxing Vining Plants onto a Wall or Trellis Questioned about the best way to guide vining plants toward the wall, trellis, or other area you want them to climb, Betty notes, “Some plants, especially if they’re very bushy and big and they can’t quite reach the surface you want them to go around, may need some coaxing.” In those cases, “Any kind of fabric would be good.” Betty makes the point, “You want to have
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August 2025
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