The Best Climbing Vegetables and Flowers to Grow on a Garden Trellis

A garden trellis adds more than just vertical interest to your outdoor space. It opens up a whole new way to grow. Be it working with a small patio, a raised bed, or a backyard garden, vertical growing gives you the chance to make the most of your space. Vining vegetables and climbing flowers thrive when they’re given the support they need to grow up instead of out.

With the right trellis, you can reduce ground clutter, increase airflow around your plants, make harvesting easier, and even limit common diseases caused by excess moisture. But to take full advantage of vertical gardening, you need to know which plants are natural climbers and how they perform when given the space to stretch.

Here’s a guide to some of the best climbing vegetables and flowers you can grow on a garden trellis.

Climbing Vegetables

Pole Beans

Pole beans are one of the easiest vegetables to grow vertically. Unlike bush beans, these produce long vines that grab onto trellis structures with ease.

Why they’re great:

• Fast growers with minimal fuss
• Produce over a longer season than bush beans
• Easy to harvest at standing height

Tip: Space seeds about 3–4 inches apart at the base of your trellis, and keep them consistently watered once pods appear.

Peas

Snap, snow, and shelling peas all do well when grown vertically. They have thin stems and delicate tendrils, so they climb best on netting or thin supports.

Why they’re great:

• Sweet, edible pods or tender green peas
• Great for early spring and fall planting

Tip: Give peas a lightweight mesh or string trellis, and plant them close together so they can support one another as they climb.

Cucumbers

Cucumbers are natural climbers with sturdy stems. Growing them on a trellis keeps the fruit cleaner and straighter while improving airflow.

Why they’re great:

• Produce heavily in summer
• Easier to pick when hanging
• Fewer pest and mildew problems when grown vertically

Tip: Use strong, tall garden trellises as they can get heavy. Look for varieties like ‘Straight Eight’ or ‘Marketmore’ for consistent results.

Tomatoes (indeterminate varieties)

While not true climbers, indeterminate tomatoes benefit greatly from vertical support. They grow indefinitely through the season and can easily reach 6 feet or more.

Why they’re great:

• High yield from a small footprint
• Better air circulation reduces disease
• Easier access for pruning and harvesting

Tip: Use sturdy trellises or cage systems and tie stems gently with soft plant ties to guide upward growth.

Climbing Flowers

Morning Glories

These fast-growing annuals are known for their vibrant blooms and heart-shaped leaves. They love to climb and will quickly cover fences or trellises.

Why they’re great:

• Excellent for privacy screens
• Attract bees and butterflies
• Easy to grow from seed

Tip: Soak seeds overnight before planting to help germination, and give them full sun for best blooms.

Nasturtiums (vining varieties)

Nasturtiums add beauty and function because they’re edible and attract pollinators. Vining types can climb low vertical setups or spill over edges.

Why they’re great:

• Low maintenance
• Peppery edible flowers and leaves
• Pest-repelling properties

Tip: Don’t over-fertilize, nasturtiums bloom more in lean soil.

Sweet Peas

Not to be confused with edible peas, sweet peas are fragrant, cool-season flowers that climb with delicate tendrils.

Why they’re great:

• Strong fragrance
• Do well in early spring
• Available in a wide range of colors

Clematis

Clematis is a perennial flowering vine that adds long-lasting beauty. Once established, it returns each year with large, showy blooms.

Why they’re great:

• Blooms in spring, summer, or fall, depending on the variety
• Climbs naturally with leaf stems
• Low maintenance after first year

Tip: “Feet in the shade, head in the sun”—keep roots cool and tops in sunlight.

Black-Eyed Susan Vine

This fast-growing vine produces small, daisy-like flowers in yellow, orange, and white. It’s perfect for containers with small trellises.

Why they’re great:

• Continuous blooming through summer
• Compact climber ideal for patios
• Easy to grow from seed

Tip: Deadhead spent flowers to encourage more blooms throughout the season.

Conclusion

Growing vertically isn’t just about saving space; it’s about creating healthier, more productive plants. With the right garden trellises, you can support vegetables that grow cleaner and flowers that climb with ease. Choose the plants that match your space, and let them reach for the sky.