Covering your pergola with some plants may be essential to protect you from sunlight. Pergola plants are not only functional but they are also decorative. They will embellish your pergola and make more in touch with your outdoor greenery. However, there are many beautiful climbing plants and it is hard to choose among them.
Morning glory
This plant has a brilliant blue bloom that can be seen throughout the entire summer and most of autumn. Reaching heights of up to 15 feet, morning glories grow best in full sun and relatively dry soil, which means that this hardy plant can grow in zones three through 10 with ease.
Bleeding heart
The beautiful blooms of the Bleeding Heart usually appears during early spring. The heart shaped flowers give life to your garden especially when the bluish green foliage will start to emerge. Caring for this plant is easy. It merely requires keeping the soil to be moist consistently through regular watering. The plant prefers to be grown in an organic soil under a shady part of your garden.
Tropical Bleeding Heart
Tropical Bleeding Heart is also known as Glory Bower. It features white elegant flowers and attractive dark foliage. This lovely plant originates from Western Africa. The plant requires warmth to grow and thrive.
Bougainvillea
If you find that your garden has a lot of shade, then the bougainvillea is a great climbing plant to consider. This fast-growing plant can grow up to 30 feet high, depending on the species, and it grows best in zones nine to 11 where the temperature typically remains above 30 degrees Fahrenheit.
Ivy
Ivy is recommended for arbors, pergolas, and gazebos. Besides being low maintenance and easy to maintain, Ivy is also a sturdy plant that can tolerate neglect and a variety of poor growing conditions.
Butterfly Pea
This is a great climbing plant to attract butterflies to your garden. The butterfly pea, which grows best in zones 10 and 11, produces deep blue blooms that grow best in full sun. These plants can grow up to 10 feet in height and can withstand high humidity and dry conditions.
Sweetpea
There are bush and non-bush varieties of sweet pea. The non-bush variety is recommended to grow over a pergola. It is easy to grow and it can be grown basically in any climate as long as you provide it with access to sunlight and a well-drained soil.
Clematis
This is a beautiful brightly colored plant that grows well in zones four through nine. With a growth of at least six feet in height and three feet in width, the clematis is known to grow nearly double this size. Blooming from early spring until late summer, it has become a favorite for vertical space.
Climbing Hydrangea
This is an excellent plant to grow over a pergola. Growing it will allow you to enjoy a glossy heart-shaped foliage and extremely fragrant flowers. This plant flowers in clusters in spring. Being beautiful has its price, this plant requires care and pruning. It also needs patience since it is a slow grower.
Bignonia
The bignonia is a stunning climbing plant that has delicate bell-shaped blooms that can grow up to a height of 50 feet. They tend to grow best in full to partial sun with slightly acidic soil in zones five to nine, and the bright orange, red blooms can be seen during the months of May and June.
Grape Vine
This is an extremely adorable vine plant. It is truly one of the best plants for Pergolas. This plant is ornamental, functional and edible. First, it will make your pergola outstanding. Second, it will protect you from sunlight. Third, it will provide with extremely delicious and healthy fruits.
Honeysuckle
Honeysuckle is a plant that grows quickly and produces a sweet smell that will attract butterflies and hummingbirds to your garden. This plant can grow to heights of up to 20 feet in partial or full sun, and it typically blooms from May until late in the summer, with the best results in zones four to nine.
Golden Hops
Golden hops are popular for covering trellises, pergolas, and arches because they fast growing plants. They are also one of the easiest vines to grow. These plants grow up to 8 meters in length. It features very attractive large foliage. Unfortunately, you can grow these plants only in cold and temperate climates.
Jasmine
Jasmine is a plant that creates a full, vine with fragrant blooms that will be present all year long, especially in warm, humid climates. It will bloom more annually in cooler climates. Found in zones six through 10, this vine can grow more than 35 feet with only partial sunlight.
Kiwi
The reason that makes Kiwi is one of the best plants for pergolas is that this plant needs a large space to grow. If you want to save space, you should definitely grow it over a pergola. Makes sure that you grow both male and female kiwi plants to get its delicious fruits.
Passion Flower
The passion flower is a hardy option that grows in zones seven to 10, but it can also grow as an annual in cooler climates. With blue, purple, or pink blooms, the vine can grow up to 30 feet high in a season. They prefer full sun and well-drained soil, which is why they grow best in hotter zones.
Wisteria
If you want a lot of blues and purples in your garden, then the wisteria, which can reach a height of 25 feet, is a great option that will grow quickly. It does require full sun and slightly acidic soil that is well-drained, and it grows best in zones four through nine.