Pergolas can add so much charm to your property. Many people love building pergolas and placing them in their garden areas.
You might want your pergola to be used as a sitting area. Some people take things a step further and incorporate the pergola into the garden in certain ways.
For example, it’s common for people to let plants grow on the pergola. Many climbing plants will look fantastic when growing on a pergola.
If you’d like to do this, it’s wise to take the time to pick out some good plants. It’ll make your garden look even more beautiful.
Read on to learn about the best plants to grow on pergolas. This will show you the options that you have to consider to make your pergola look really nice in your garden area.
What Plants Are Good for a Pergola?
There are so many great options to consider when looking at plants for pergolas. Since there are many good options, you can’t go wrong with all of the top choices.
Below, you’ll read a little bit about some of the most popular pergola plants. Once you’ve read about these plants you can decide if they’re what you’re looking for.
1 – Golden Hops
Golden hops can easily be used on pergolas. These vines grow fast and they’re really good for providing the pergola with more cover.
If your goal is to find a plant that looks nice and provides shade, golden hops might be the ideal choice. These plants will look good on your pergola while also being very practical.
2 – Rangoon Creeper
The rangoon creeper plant is an interesting option. This is a vine that produces a rather unique-looking bloom.
You’ll love how pretty the orange flowers of these plants are. They’re also known for having a lovely sweet scent.
3 – Honeysuckle
Honeysuckle plants will be great when you’re looking for something that will grow fast. It’ll look good on the pergola and it’ll smell fantastic.
There are many honeysuckle species that can work for these purposes. You’ll have a simple time getting the honeysuckle to grow and cover the pergola, too.
4 – Crimson Glory
Crimson glory plants are vines that have stunning crimson leaves. People love covering pergolas with these plants because they provide quite a bit of shade.
It’ll add color to your pergola while also making your pergola more practical to use. This should be a very good choice that most people will love.
5 – Wisteria
Wisteria is likely among the most common plants that you’ll see people using on pergolas. The vines are truly gorgeous and its blooms add so much to the overall look of the area.
Keep in mind that wisteria plants need regular pruning. You’ll have to prune these plants or they will completely take over the pergola and things will look rather messy.
6 – Trumpet Vines
Trumpet vines can be perfect for pergolas for many reasons. These are nice to use on pergolas because they bloom during the summer and fall.
The blooms have an orange and crimson coloration and can make your pergola look stunning. It’s also great that these plants do well in full sun.
7 – Climbing Hydrangeas
Hydrangeas are gorgeous and it makes sense that you’d like to include them. There are climbing hydrangeas that work nicely for pergolas.
These plants are good because you get to enjoy their foliage while also loving the blooms that they produce during the spring and summer. The foliage has a glossy look that you’ll surely find appealing, but it will take a bit of pruning and training to get the results that you’re looking for.
8 – Climbing Roses
Finally, you might want to consider adding some beautiful climbing roses to your pergola. These gorgeous plants will make your pergola look as romantic and inviting as possible.
You can easily use climbing roses known as rambling roses for pergolas. They have flexible stems that can be trained to grow and climb up the pergola.
9 – English Ivy
English ivy is another great plant that you should look into. One reason why this plant is excellent is that it grows and climbs fast.
Also, you don’t have to do much to maintain English ivy. This low-maintenance plant will allow you to give your pergola a lush and green look.
10 – Passion Flowers
Passion flowers look truly gorgeous and they can work well on pergolas. Many people choose to grow these in pots and place them on pergolas.
So this is going to be a bit different than the climbing plants you’ve learned about. Even so, it’s easy to see why people love passion flowers due to how stellar the blooms look.
11 – Jasmine
Jasmine is a good choice if you want to grow plants in containers on the pergola. Some people place these containers all around their pergolas to add some aesthetic charm.
The white blooms will certainly stand out positively. Also, it helps you to enjoy the area more because it makes the entire pergola smell amazing.
12 – Clematis Plants
Clematis plants are climbing plants that you grow in pots. You can train them to climb up your pergola.
They will produce beautifully-shaped flowers that come in many different colors. You can find versions of clematis plants that produce red, blue, white, or pink blooms.
Will Grass Grow Under a Pergola?
It is indeed possible to have grass grow under a pergola. This all depends on the design, though.
Some people have pergolas sitting on top of concrete slabs. So grass wouldn’t grow if you have some sort of concrete area underneath the pergola.
If there isn’t a concrete slab and you’re just using concrete footings to keep the pergola secure, grass can grow underneath and around the pergola easily. Some people like to encourage grass growth because it can add to the look of the pergola.
You might even choose to plant some type of ornamental grass underneath the pergola. Just remember that you’ll likely want to use the pergola as a sitting area.
It’s generally best to stick with some hardy type of grass. This way you can place patio furniture underneath the pergola and use it as a gathering spot to enjoy viewing your garden.
What Is the Best Climbing Plant for a Pergola?
The best climbing plant for a pergola depends on what you want. Some people might say that English ivy is the best because it grows fast and provides excellent coverage.
However, your opinion might differ if you’re looking for something colorful. Do you want to have a lush and green pergola or would you prefer to see the pergola covered in bright blooms?
There are many options and all of the plants that you’ve learned about above can be considered to be great. It’s simply up to you to decide which is best based on your sensibilities.
How Many Wisteria Plants for a Pergola?
Wisteria plants are easily some of the best pergola plants. This is because they’re colorful, they grow easily, and they give your pergola area a very nice vibe.
How many wisteria plants should you start out with, though? When using wisteria plants for your pergola you really only need one of them.
However, it’s common for people to buy two wisteria plants. Most people choose to put one wisteria plant on either side of the pergola and the plants will climb.
One wisteria plant will eventually cover the entire pergola. Remember that these plants grow fast and can take over the pergola if you don’t trim them often enough.
So you can easily get away with using just one plant, but many choose to start with two. Using two plants will allow the pergola to be covered by the wisteria faster.
Choose the Plants That Appeal to You
Now you have so many options to choose from. There are great pergola plants that you can buy and use to cover your pergola.
Most of these plants are vines and some of them produce truly fantastic flowers. You can add color to the pergola area while also giving yourself a bit more shade.
Some of the plants that you’ve learned about are better at providing shade than others. There are plants that are mostly about aesthetic appeal while others are more about practicality.
You should look at each plant that you learned about and assess them. Depending on what you want, one plant might jump out at you as the ideal choice.
These plants should enhance the pergola area and make you want to use it more. It can make your pergola feel like an extension of the garden in certain ways.
Of course, you can use climbing plants whether you have a freestanding pergola in your garden or if your pergola is attached to your home. Just be sure to choose the plants that look the best and speak to you the most.
Final Thoughts
Take your time when choosing plants for your pergola. It’s not a choice that you have to rush.
Luckily, there are so many options that you can’t go wrong with any of them. All of the plants that you’ve learned about will work well for covering a pergola.
You should love sitting underneath the pergola and enjoying your garden area. It’ll be a great place to host little parties.
It’s also easy to just unwind after a long day while sitting under the pergola. You’re creating a space that you will get so much enjoyment out of over the years.
For many, a pergola is going to be a worthy investment. It can add to the value of your home while also being something that you’ll use in practical ways.
Don’t hesitate to add a pergola to your home if you’re still on the fence. It’s something that makes your property even better.
Ben has a bachelor’s degree in construction engineering. When not constructing or remodeling X-Ray Rooms, Cardiovascular Labs, and Pharmacies, you can find him at home with wife and two daughters. Outside of family, He loves grilling and barbequing on his Big Green Egg and Blackstone Griddle, as well as working on projects around the house.
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