Tlie best flowering vine, Japanese clematis, stands 50 degrees below zero with 

 root protection. Plant in late spring 



The best foliage vine, Englemann's Virginia creeper. Hardy everywhere ; foliage 

 becomes a brilliant crimson after frost. Self-supporting 



The Best Vines for the Coldest Sections— By James H. Spencer, *- 



FOURTEEN RELIABLE FLOWERING AND FOLIAGE VINES THAT WILL ENDURE THE MOST 

 RIGOROUS WINTER WEATHER, AND SOME EVEN WITHOUT ANY SORT OF PROTECTION 



r I ^HE majority of standard hardy vines 

 *■ listed by nurserymen, both East and 

 West, are grown successfully in some sections 

 of the Northwest — that great region embrac- 

 ing northern Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, 

 Minnesota, the Dakotas, Nebraska, and a 

 few other states where winter temperatures 

 20 degrees to 50 degrees below zero Fahren- 

 heit are not uncommon, while a few of the 

 best varieties will grow in the coldest locali- 

 ties and not winter-kill. 



EXCELLENT NATIVE VINES 



Very naturally the native plants are first 

 looked for, and we are fortunate in possess- 

 ing three that are as good as the best any- 

 where, and which are the standbys of excep- 

 tionally cold portions of the Northwest, such, 

 for instance, as North Dakota. 



Few vines are so useful or more thoroughly 

 appreciated than the native wild grape {Vitis 

 riparia). Hardy everywhere, it is invalu- 

 able in sections of extreme cold, where so 

 few vines withstand the rigors of the climate. 

 The form that produces fragrant flowers is 

 best for ornamental purposes, while another 

 form bears large quantities of fruit, and 



should be grown on arbors. The fruit, 

 though small, is much prized, and wild- 

 grape jelly and preserves are always the 

 pride of the housewife. The common Vir- 

 ginia creeper (Ampelopsis quinquefolia) is 

 probably the most useful vine of the North- 

 west, but it is so well and favorably known 

 that it is unnecessary to state its merits. 



As a flowering vine Clematis Virginiana 

 is satisfactory, and is much used. It some- 

 what resembles the Japan clematis men- 

 tioned later, but is not nearly so good, except 

 that it does not require protection even in the 

 coldest localities. Its small white flowers 

 are borne in clusters during August. 



THE BEST FLOWERING VINES 



1 The Japanese clematis (Clematis panicu- 

 lata) is coming into more general use in the 

 Northwest than any other recent introduc- 

 tion. For covering porches, trellises, etc., 

 it is unequalled. It is a dainty, refined vine, 

 unlike many varieties that make rank growth. 

 An old vine cut back in the fall or spring 

 will, in a single season, cover a large porch 

 with healthy and attractive dark green foliage, 

 that retains its beauty until late in the fall. 

 272 



In August or September it is covered with 

 such a thick mass of delicately fragrant 

 white flowers that several hundred blossoms 

 may be counted on a single square foot of 

 the vine. It thrives in shady places as well 

 as in full sunshine, but when planted in the 

 shade the soil should be extra rich. This 

 vine will stand 40 degrees or 50 degrees 

 below zero, Fahrenheit, with root protection, 

 and no protection is required if the mini- 

 mum temperature does not go lower than 

 about 25 degrees below. But it took me 

 several years to learn that, unlike most vines 

 of exceptional hardiness, it should not be 

 planted until both air and soil are thoroughly 

 warm in the spring. Planted with the 

 dahlias late in May, it is sure to thrive even 

 though the roots are received from the 

 nursery apparently too far advanced for 

 satisfactory results; but planted in April, 

 it will probably rot unless the month happens 

 to be abnormally warm, 



Two or three large-flowering clematis 

 are sufficiently hardy in a large portion of 

 the Northwest, but they are plantid less 

 than formerly, owing to a tendency to blight. 

 Clematis Jackmanni is satisfactory in the 



