red bleeding heart or sky vine for this fence/lattice

Hi Folks,

I recently installed a cable trellis on this 6 foot fence with a 2.5 foot cedar lattice, making the entire fence area 8.5 feet. The cable trellis has worked great for my jasmine in another location, it is very flexible, not tight, so it does move out away from the fence as needed for growing vines.

Here is my question. It is on the east side of my house, it gets nice sun up to mid day and a bit longer at the top of fence once the vine grows up and over. I think sky vine could do great but a local nursery also suggested red bleeding heart, my source their says it is more hardy than the white and definitely more hardy than sky vine. I am OK with losing leaves and it dying back some in the winter, that is expected.

My concern is if I can train either of those vines to run up those cables to the lattice. The guy at the nusery seemed to think it would require lots of work but I disagree, with ties I think I can get it up the fence no problem.

Any thoughts?

Thanks,
Brett

Well I just bought one last year and I was pleased with the growth. It was only 3 foot tall when I planted it and before mid summer it was over 6 foot. But if you notice in this picture, it sends out shoots that don't twine on their own. I have to weave or tie each one to the wire. So I am inclined to agree with the nursery guy on that one. If it behaved more like morning glory it would take to your lattice easier, I don't think BH will.



This message was edited Feb 9, 2008 5:32 PM

Wow Sheila, that id pretty!!!

Thanks Josephine...it is really sort of "web worm" eaten, they loved it and numerous other things last year! The plant was pretty, and may not come back for me up here this year but I wanted to try. I put a 5 gallon pot around the base of the plant and filled it with mulch, if it doesn't make it, won't be for lack of trying.

nice Sheila! Although you may have to tie it, it looks to be a very "orderly" grower.

Since its on the east side of the house, have you thought about the native clematis pitcheri? Mine does really well on the east side of the house and is easy to maintain. just another choice out of many for you!

http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/100601/

Debbie
=)

Thanks, Debbie. I did not even know we had a native clematis, how cool! I typically don't think of clematis for Houston, I cannot even say I have seen that before...this is a such a great site, I just renewed my subscription. :-)

It sounds like I will have a rough go with the bleeding heart. And it may not be enough sun, reading about the sky vine, it seems happier with half day sun.