6/10
American Wisteria
An icon of the old south, wisteria blooms are both elegant and ethereal. If you want to avoid invasive species though, choose American wisteria over the Chinese or Japanese varieties. It’s still an aggressive grower but only at two-thirds the rate as the Asian cousins and it’s easier to manage. American wisteria is ideal for fences, pergolas and arbors, in sun to partial shade. Unlike other woody, deciduous vines, some varieties of wisteria can be trained to grow as a tree if tied to a 6-foot stake.
Besides Asian varieties of wisteria, there are other invasive plants you will want to remove from your garden.
8/10
Honeysuckle
Many people have fond memories of sucking the nectar from honeysuckle flowers during their childhood. If you love its heady aroma but don’t want it taking over your property, plant it in a container. While the vine does well in partial shade, the more sun it gets the more flowers—and more heavenly fragrance—you will get. Honeysuckle attracts hummingbirds and other beneficial pollinators. Its antiviral properties make it a beneficial addition to natural flu remedies.
Your best bet for late summer container color is to add annuals to the mix.
