20 Fast Growing Climbing Plants to Transform Your Garden Today
Looking to hide an unsightly fence, create a natural privacy screen, or add vertical color to your home? Fast-growing climbing plants are the most efficient landscaping solution for adding height and density without taking up precious ground space.
Whether you need a hardy evergreen like English Ivy for year-round shade or a vibrant tropical like Bougainvillea for a sun-drenched wall, choosing the right species depends on your local climate and support structure. In this guide, we break down 20 top-rated climbers categorized by their growth habits and care needs.
Quick Comparison: Best Climbers For your garden
| Plant Name | Primary Benefit | Growth Speed | Light Requirement |
| Bougainvillea | Vibrant Neon Colors | Extremely Fast | Full Sun |
| English Ivy | Year-round Privacy | Fast | Shade to Sun |
| Morning Glory | Easy from Seed | Rapid (Annual) | Full Sun |
| Star Jasmine | Incredible Scent | Moderate-Fast | Sun/Part Shade |
| Trumpet Vine | Attracts Birds | Very Aggressive | Full Sun |
1. Bougainvillea
Bougainvillea is the ultimate choice for high-impact, vibrant color in sunny gardens. Known for its paper-like bracts in shades of pink, purple, and orange, this woody vine thrives in hot, dry conditions. Once established, it can grow several feet in a single season, quickly covering fences or pergolas. Its thorny stems provide an excellent natural security barrier while offering a Mediterranean feel to any landscape.
- Growth Rate: Very Fast (Up to 3–5 feet per year)
- Sun Requirement: Full Sun
- Best For: Arches, security fences, and coastal gardens.
2. Morning Glory
Morning Glory is a nostalgic favorite that grows remarkably fast from simple seeds. These annual vines produce delicate, funnel-shaped flowers that open fresh every morning. They are famous for their “twining” habit, which allows them to wrap around strings or thin trellises without much help. Because they grow so quickly, they are perfect for temporarily covering a space while you wait for permanent plants to mature.
- Growth Rate: Extremely Fast
- Sun Requirement: Full Sun
- Best For: Temporary screens and DIY string trellises.
For more Garden ideas:-
- 20 Best Climbing Plants for Pots
- 30 Shade Loving Flowers for Front Yard
- 30 Balcony Garden Ideas
- 20 Flower Bed Ideas in Front of House
3. Clematis
Often called the “Queen of Climbers,” Clematis offers some of the most beautiful large-scale blooms in the plant world. While there are many varieties, the vigorous types can quickly scale a trellis or a wall. They prefer their “heads in the sun and feet in the shade,” meaning the vines should climb into the light while the roots stay cool under mulch or groundcover.
- Growth Rate: Moderate to Fast (once established)
- Sun Requirement: Full Sun to Partial Shade
- Best For: Mailbox posts, trellises, and mixed borders.
4. Passion Flower (Passiflora)
For a truly exotic and otherworldly look, the Passion Flower is unmatched. This fast-growing vine uses tendrils to pull itself upward, producing intricate, crown-like flowers that are often fragrant. In many climates, it grows aggressively and can cover a large area in just one summer. It also attracts butterflies, making it a functional and beautiful addition to a pollinator garden.
- Growth Rate: Fast
- Sun Requirement: Full Sun to Partial Shade
- Best For: Exotic-themed gardens and butterfly habitats.
5. Black-Eyed Susan Vine
This charming annual vine is loved for its cheerful, five-petaled flowers with a distinct dark center. It is a soft, non-woody climber that is perfect for smaller spaces or hanging baskets where it can spill over the sides. It grows quickly from seed and provides a dense curtain of green leaves and bright yellow, orange, or white flowers throughout the warm months.
- Growth Rate: Fast (Annual)
- Sun Requirement: Full Sun to Partial Shade
- Best For: Hanging baskets and balcony railings.
6. Trumpet Vine (Campsis)
If you have a large, sturdy structure that needs covering, the Trumpet Vine is a powerhouse. It produces bold, orange or red trumpet-shaped flowers that are a magnet for hummingbirds. Be warned: this is an aggressive grower that uses aerial rootlets to cling to surfaces. It requires regular pruning to keep it in check, but its sheer speed and floral display are spectacular.
- Growth Rate: Very Fast/Aggressive
- Sun Requirement: Full Sun
- Best For: Large pergolas and heavy-duty stone walls.
7. Climbing Roses
Climbing roses add a classic, romantic elegance to the garden. Unlike true vines, they don’t have tendrils or suckers, so they must be “trained” and tied to a support structure. Once they find their footing, they can produce long canes that reach impressive heights. They offer a combination of dense foliage, intoxicating fragrance, and repeated blooming cycles throughout the season.
- Growth Rate: Moderate to Fast
- Sun Requirement: Full Sun
- Best For: Arbors, cottage gardens, and romantic entryways.
8. English Ivy
English Ivy is the gold standard for creating a “green wall” effect. This evergreen woody vine is incredibly hardy and can grow in deep shade where most other plants fail. It uses tiny suction-like roots to climb almost any surface, including brick and stone. It provides year-round greenery and creates a very dense, formal look that is perfect for traditional landscapes.
- Growth Rate: Fast (once established)
- Sun Requirement: Full Shade to Partial Sun
- Best For: Shady walls and groundcover.
9. Money Plant (Pothos)
While often grown as a popular indoor plant, the Pothos (Money Plant) is a vigorous climber in tropical and subtropical climates. It is incredibly easy to grow and can thrive in low-light conditions that would kill other vines. Indoors, it can be trained up a moss pole or allowed to trail from bookshelves, growing several feet a year with minimal maintenance.
- Growth Rate: Fast
- Sun Requirement: Indirect Light to Shade
- Best For: Indoor decor and tropical outdoor shade gardens.
10. Virginia Creeper
Virginia Creeper is prized for its ability to cover massive walls quickly and its stunning seasonal transformation. In the summer, it provides a lush, deep green curtain; in the autumn, the leaves turn a brilliant, fiery red. It is a very hardy plant that can tolerate a wide range of soil types and light conditions, making it a reliable choice for large-scale landscaping.
- Growth Rate: Very Fast
- Sun Requirement: Full Sun to Full Shade
- Best For: Large buildings and autumn color interest.
11. Honeysuckle
Honeysuckle is famous for its sweet, nostalgic fragrance and its ability to attract hummingbirds and bees. This vine grows rapidly by twining its stems around supports. It is a tough, versatile plant that can handle heat and cold, providing a dense screen of foliage and clusters of tubular flowers. It is perfect for planting near a window or patio where you can enjoy the scent.
- Growth Rate: Fast
- Sun Requirement: Full Sun to Partial Shade
- Best For: Privacy screens and fragrant gardens.
12. Star Jasmine
Star Jasmine is one of the most popular evergreen climbers because it stays green all year and produces masses of tiny, white, star-shaped flowers. The scent is incredibly powerful and sweet, especially in the evening. It is a well-behaved climber that is easy to prune and maintain, making it ideal for smaller gardens or training against a trellis near a walkway.
- Growth Rate: Moderate to Fast
- Sun Requirement: Full Sun to Partial Shade
- Best For: Scented patios and evergreen screening.
If I had to pick just one plant for a beginner, it would be Star Jasmine. In my garden, it’s the most ‘well-behaved’ fast grower. It stays evergreen (doesn’t drop leaves in winter), smells like a premium perfume, and unlike Ivy, it won’t destroy your brickwork. It’s the perfect balance of speed and manageable growth.
13. Sweet Pea
Sweet Peas are the gems of the spring garden. These annual climbers are famous for their ruffled, pastel-colored flowers and an old-fashioned perfume that is unmatched. They grow quickly in cool weather and are best started from seed. They are perfect for containers or small trellises where you can cut the flowers regularly for indoor bouquets.
- Growth Rate: Very Fast (Cool season)
- Sun Requirement: Full Sun
- Best For: Cut flowers and decorative containers.
14. Hyacinth Bean Vine
The Hyacinth Bean Vine is as much a conversation piece as it is a climber. It features beautiful purple stems, lilac-colored flowers, and unique, glossy purple seed pods that look like gems. It is a heat-loving annual that grows with incredible speed, easily covering a large trellis in a single season. Both the flowers and the pods add a striking architectural element to the garden.
- Growth Rate: Very Fast
- Sun Requirement: Full Sun
- Best For: Vertical interest and summer privacy.
15. Canary Creeper
The Canary Creeper is a delicate-looking but fast-growing relative of the Nasturtium. It produces fringed, bright yellow flowers that look like tiny canary wings. Because the vine is lightweight and uses fine tendrils, it is perfect for growing over more delicate shrubs or smaller trellises without weighing them down. It prefers cooler temperatures and adds a light, airy feel to the garden.
- Growth Rate: Fast
- Sun Requirement: Full Sun to Partial Shade
- Best For: Small trellises and growing through shrubs.
16. Rangoon Creeper
A favorite in warm, tropical climates, the Rangoon Creeper is a vigorous woody vine known for its color-changing flowers. The blossoms open white, turn pink, and eventually age to a deep red, often showing all three colors at once. It is a fragrant, fast-grower that thrives in heat and can quickly create a thick canopy over a pergola or porch.
- Growth Rate: Very Fast
- Sun Requirement: Full Sun
- Best For: Tropical landscapes and large pergolas.
17. Garlic Vine
Garlic Vine is a hardy, evergreen climber that earns its name from the slight garlic scent of its crushed leaves. However, it is planted for its stunning clusters of lavender-to-purple trumpet flowers. It is a repeat bloomer that can flower several times a year in warm climates. It is relatively easy to care for and provides a dense, lush green background when not in bloom.
- Growth Rate: Moderate to Fast
- Sun Requirement: Full Sun to Partial Shade
- Best For: Fences and evergreen walls.
18. Wisteria
Wisteria is the undisputed showstopper of the climbing plant world, famous for its massive, cascading clusters of fragrant purple or white flowers. While typically seen on large estates, it can be successfully grown in large pots if pruned into a “standard” tree-like form. Its woody, twisting vines are incredibly strong and create a romantic, fairy-tale atmosphere on any sturdy pergola or heavy-duty trellis.
- Growth Rate: Fast (Once established, can grow 10+ feet in a season)
- Sun Requirement: Full Sun
- Best For: Heavy-duty pergolas, stone walls, and large focal points.
19. Creeping Fig (Ficus Pumila)
If you want to create a seamless “living green wall,” the Creeping Fig is the best choice. Unlike other climbers that twine, this vine uses powerful adhesive rootlets to glue itself to masonry, brick, or even the side of its own pot. It features tiny, heart-shaped evergreen leaves that create a dense, formal carpet of green, making it perfect for modern landscapes and urban “green walls.”
- Growth Rate: Very Fast (Covers surfaces rapidly in humid conditions)
- Sun Requirement: Partial Shade to Bright Indirect Light
- Best For: Brick walls, topiary frames, and shaded balcony privacy.
20. Bleeding Heart Vine
The Bleeding Heart Vine is a stunning subtropical climber known for its unique, bi-color flowers: a snowy-white, heart-shaped outer shell with a bright red petal peeking through the center. It is a well-behaved twining vine that doesn’t become overly aggressive, making it one of the best flowering options for medium-sized pots on porches or entryways.
- Growth Rate: Moderate to Fast
- Sun Requirement: Partial Shade (Prefers morning sun)
- Best For: Balcony trellises, hanging baskets, and semi-shaded patios.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which climbing plant grows the fastest?
Morning Glory and Trumpet Vine are among the fastest; Morning Glory can cover a trellis in a single summer, while Trumpet Vine can grow 10–15 feet in one season.
Are these plants safe for house walls?
Star Jasmine and Climbing Roses are safe as they need a trellis; however, English Ivy and Trumpet Vine use “suckers” or rootlets that can damage mortar and wooden siding.
Which climbers are best for privacy?
English Ivy and Star Jasmine are top choices for year-round privacy because they are evergreen; Bougainvillea also provides a dense, thorny screen in warmer climates.
Can I grow these in pots or containers?
Yes, but you must choose less aggressive varieties like Black-Eyed Susan Vine, Sweet Pea, or Money Plant, and ensure the container has a sturdy built-in support.
Do I need to prune fast-growing vines?
Yes, regular pruning is essential. Without it, fast growers can become “top-heavy,” stop producing flowers at the base, or become invasive to neighboring structures.
Which fast-growers are best for shade?
English Ivy and Virginia Creeper thrive in full shade, while Money Plant (Pothos) and Clematis can handle partial shade (though Clematis needs sun to bloom well).
How do I make my climbing plants grow faster?
Provide a high-nitrogen fertilizer early in the season, ensure deep weekly watering, and manually “train” the young stems onto your support structure to guide their upward path.
