12 Perennial Vines That Thrive in Full Sun

by Erin Marissa Russell

Looking for some good ideas for perennial vines that you can plant in full sun? Turns out there are lots of perennial vines that do well in full sun. In fact, we’ve put together a list with a brief breakdown on 12 perennial vines for full sun to guide you.

Bougainvillea (Bougainvillea)

Zones: 9 to 11

Sun/Shade Requirements: Full sun

Soil Preferences: Soil with good drainage, even soil with gravel added

Mature Size: 20 to 30 feet

Description: You’ve probably seen the cascading, vibrant bracts of bougainvillea’s “flowers” most frequently in fuchsia, but they also come in an apricot color as well as cream tinged with white.

Crossvine (Bignonia capreolata)

Zones: 5 to 9

Sun/Shade Requirements: Full sun to partial shade; tolerates full shade

Soil Preferences: Soil with good drainage, not too wet or too dry

Mature Size: 35 to 50 feet

Description:

This apricot-colored, trumpet-shaped blossoms of crossvine get it confused quite a bit with trumpet vine because of their resemblance, but crossvine’s blooms are paler on the outside of the petals.

Hardy Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata)

Zones: 5 to 9

Sun/Shade Requirements: Full sun to partial shade

Soil Preferences: Soil with good drainage, not too wet or too dry

Mature Size: 6 to 8 feet

Description:

Hardy passionflower’s beauty comes from the contrast between its plain white petals and the swirling purple strands that sit above them, along with the striking geometric stamen.

Honeysuckle (Lonicera)

Zones: 5 to 9

Sun/Shade Requirements: Full sun; loses leaves and may not flower in partial shade

Soil Preferences: Soil with good drainage and lots of organic material

Mature Size: 10 to 30 feet

Description: Honeysuckle varieties may be either bush or vine, so be sure to choose a vine type. Its blooms, in shades of white and coral, are familiar to grownups and children alike for the sweet drop inside if you suck on them.

Mandevilla (Mandevilla)

Zones: 9 to 11

Sun/Shade Requirements: Full sun

Soil Preferences: Sandy soil that drains well and has lots of organic material

Mature Size: 3 feet to more than 20 feet

Description: Mandevilla’s tropical flowers, in shades of pink, yellow, white, and red, resemble less fragile petunias.

Moonflower (Ipomoea alba)

Zones: 10 to 11

Sun/Shade Requirements: Sandy soil that offers plenty of drainage

Soil Preferences: Rich fertile soil, but tolerates other soils

Mature Size: 1 foot to 8 feet

Description:

The moonflower’s pale white petals are only open at night and during the dawn. (Then its cousin, morning glory, takes over.)

Purple Bell Vine (Rhodochiton atrosanguineus)

Zones: 10 to 11

Sun/Shade Requirements: Full or partial sun

Soil Preferences: Chalky, loamy, or sandy soil

Mature Size: 10 to 12 feet

Description:

The purple bell vine puts out gorgeous magenta bell-shaped flowers, complete with a dangling bell striker in the form of a part of the blossom so purple it’s almost black.

Silver Lace Vine (Polygonum aubertii)

Zones: 4 to 8

Sun/Shade Requirements: Full sun to partial shade

Soil Preferences: Adapts to many soil types

Mature Size: 15 to 35 feet

Description: Silver lace vine’s small white flowers are a profusion of white against the kelly green foliage.

Star Jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides)

Zones: 8 to 10

Sun/Shade Requirements: Full sun to partial shade

Soil Preferences: Moist, loamy soil that offers good drainage

Mature Size: 3 to 6 feet

Description:

Also called Confederate jasmine, star jasmine got its name from the shape of its white blossoms.

Sweet Potato Vine (Ipomoea batatas)

Zones: 9 to 11

Sun/Shade Requirements: Full sun

Soil Preferences: Average soil with plenty of drainage

Mature Size: 8 to 10 feet

Description:

The chartreuse and black-tinged-purple varieties of sweet potato vine both come with pointed leaves that will spill from hanging baskets or containers.

Trumpet Vine (Campsis radicans)

Zones: 5 to 9

Sun/Shade Requirements: Full or partial sun

Soil Preferences: Chalky, clay, loamy, or sandy soil that offers good drainage

Mature Size: 20 to 40 feet

Description:

Trumpet vine gets called invasive in some areas, but many gardeners love its jungle-green foliage that waterfalls over a fence or other structure, not to mention the trumpet-shaped orange blossoms.

Wisteria (Wisteria sinensis)

Zones: 5 to 9 (or 4 to 9 for Kentucky wisteria)

Sun/Shade Requirements: Full sun

Soil Preferences: Neutral to somewhat acidic (with pH level between 6.0 and 7.0), but will tolerate most soil types

Mature Size: Can reach 30 to 60 feet

Description:

Wisteria is famous for its pale lavender blooms that dangle like chandelier beads from the arched boughs of the plant.

While your vines grow, you may need to train them to climb the trellis, gate, fence, or other support you want them to clamber over. You can start as soon as your vines begin to put out fresh new shoots. Twine these out to the left and right at first, and as the plant grows, you can begin to move up. The nursery or garden center has special plant ties that are designed to help you train vines without damaging the plant. Still, don’t clamp down on the delicate stems of your plants too tightly, as it is still possible to harm your plants if these ties aren’t applied loosely enough.