Year-round vine for Southern California wall?

Our yard is bordered by an ugly grey cinder block wall. We have a lovely vine covering it 7 months of the year but the leaves fall off during cold months. My husband doesn't want to put a trellis in front because we have 13-year old grapevines there (which also disappear in winter). Is there a vine that will:


1. climb a wall


2. hold leaves in somewhat cold weather


3. survive SoCal summer heat?

Year-round vine for Southern California wall?
Creeping fig, Virginia creeper, Heralds, trumpet, bougainvillea, clematis, costa Rican butterfly vine, silver lace vine, Carolina jasmine, different types of honeysuckle, cat's claw, mandevilla, evergreen wisteria, passion vine; the one I had in my yard which stayed green all year and bloomed spring thru fall was thunbergia-also called black-eyed susan vine. My neighbors thought it was beautiful-but it grew like crazy, so you have to keep it in control.
Reply:Have you though of Boston ivy or English ivy? Stays green all year and survives Missouri hot and cold temperatures.
Reply:DEFINITELY Creeping Fig!! I love it, use it and recommend it.


I live in Central Florida and it gets both hot and freezes here. Mine covers the privacy wall of the front patio of my condo and folks always comment on it. It doesn't need a trellis, it's fine leaved with no thorns or flowers to deal with.





It does need an occasional watering and I give mine Neptune fish emulsion a couple of times a year--that's it! The trick is to plant the plants about 1 foot apart, with a piece of birdnetting about 12 inches wide at the base of the wall to support the first tendrils as the grow from the plant.





Try it, and be patient for the first year. It took about three years for mine to fill in.
Reply:You need something that climbs by itself without being tied to the wall. Go with Cat's Claw, Macfadyena unguis-cati. It should stay green in Southern California. Every year or two cut it clean down to the ground right after it blooms. With strong roots the tops will grow right back and re-cover the wall in no time. But this will keep it fresh and clean, and keep it from creating a nappy, viney, build-up on the wall.
Reply:You might want to look into English Ivy, it is an evergreen vine that climbs. Buttercup is a nice variety that has a yellow hue when grown in full sun. I have a link to a supplier in Cali, north of SF. You have to stay on top of ivy as it can become invasive if not managed, especially with your grape trellisses right there..





Bob the botanist
Reply:Evergreen vines:


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