• Chinese wisteria (Wisteria sinensis)

This old southern favorite originates from China and is well known for its long purple bloom racemes in spring. It grows to 30 feet, requires full sun to flower and is not particular about soils. To control this rampant grower, cut back the previous year's growth by half in late winter, pruning again after spring flowering.

• Japanese wisteria (W. floribunda)

As invasive as the Chinese version, with both becoming heavy enough to collapse trellises and separate roofs from walls. Consider growing American wisteria (W. frutescens) instead, as it is a bit more tractable.

• Trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans)

Native to the eastern United States, this spectacular vine does damage via aerial rootlets to house siding and shingles if not monitored. It grows to 35 feet, prefers full sun and is not particular about soils. During drought conditions, give it occasional deep watering.

Large reddish-orange, trumpet-shaped blooms appear during summer and attracts hummingbirds and sphinx moths. Keep this vine under control via mowing and pruning. A popular cultivar - Madame Galen - is theoretically less invasive.

• Purple passionflower/Maypop (Passiflora incarnata)

This Texas native is delicate in appearance and won't damage your home, but it belongs here because once planted, you'll have it forever. I planted one Passiflora incarnata Incense years ago along my front fence, and it now pops up all over my property, ready to climb up any structure, tree or shrub it can wind itself around.

I don't mind because it draws Gulf fritillary, zebra longwing and hairstreak butterflies like crazy since it's a preferred larval host plant for those species.

This vine grows to 25 feet and requires little water. It takes both sun and shade but produces its exotic flowers best in sun. Although it freezes back, it is root hearty.

Be ready to pull volunteer vines on a regular basis and put up with occasional ragged leaves left by hungry butterfly caterpillars, which is a good trade-off given the butterflies it draws.

• Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica)

If there's a scent representative of the South, this has to be it. Not long after Southerners began planting this invasive East Asian native in their gardens, it escaped cultivation and can now be found blanketing fences, trees and abandoned structures in many parts of the United States.

Be ready to mow or pull volunteer vines, as it can overwhelm small trees and shrubs and escapes easily. This vine can grow as much as 80 feet or more. It flowers in spring, summer and sometimes fall, and requires little care other than plenty of sun to produce the most flowers.

• Queen's wreath/coral vine (Antigonon Leptopus)

Hailing from Mexico, this fast-growing but delicate-looking plant is another one you'll have forever after planting just once. In this area, it's seen scrambling over fences, trees, porches and just about anything else that can't get away.

It dies back in winter, but in spring, it quickly reappears in all its rampant glory. This vine grows to 40 feet, prefers full sun and isn't particular about soil or water. It is a favorite nectar source for bees and malachite butterflies.

Intrepid gardeners

While lovely to behold, the vines mentioned here aren't for the faint of heart as determined maintenance is required to keep them in bounds. But if the gardener is serious about exercising control of these vigorous growers, the results are well worth the beauty they will bring to the garden.

Workhorse vine options

The workhorse vines discussed in both last week's and this week's column provide various options in characteristics, bloom color and charm for the landscape. Some are mannerly while others are more wild if not tended to. All grow vigorously and freely when happy, but remember to maintain, prune and shape them to keep their growing structures happier - and you the happiest of all.

The Gardeners' Dirt is written by members of the Victoria County Master Gardener Association, an educational outreach of Texas A&M AgriLife Extension - Victoria County. Mail your questions in care of the Advocate, P.O. Box 1518, Victoria, TX 77901; or vcmga@vicad.com.