Beautiful Climbing Vines That Produce Purple Berries

As a gardener, you may be looking to add visual interest and pops of color to fences, arbors, or walls One great way to do this is with climbing vines that produce eye-catching purple berries. The vibrant fruits make these plants stand out in the landscape when they ripen in late summer through fall

In this article, we’ll highlight some of the best options when it comes to flowering vines and creepers that bear purple berries We’ll go over their key features and provide tips for growing these climbers in your own yard

Why Grow Climbing Vines with Purple Berries

Here are some of the benefits of adding a vining plant with purple berries to your garden:

• Provides stunning late season color as the fruits develop. The rich magenta, blue, or violet shades create excitement as summer winds down.

• Attracts birds and pollinators who feed on the berries. This brings wildlife to your landscape.

• Covers bare fences, walls, pergolas, or arbors with greenery during the growing season, then colorful fruits in fall.

• Grows quickly to offer privacy or disguise eyesores. Twining vines cover spaces faster than shrubs or trees.

• Relatively low maintenance compared to flowering bedding plants that require frequent care.

• Adds vertical interest to the garden, drawing the eye upward.

Top Species and Cultivars to Consider

Porcelain Vine

The porcelain vine (Ampelopsis brevipedunculata) is a popular option for growing on trellises and arbors. It produces clusters of eye-catching turquoise to deep purple berries in late summer into fall. The berries have a juicy pulp surrounding small seeds. Porcelain vine climbs quickly by tendrils up to 25 feet high. It thrives in full sun but also tolerates some shade. Zone 4-8.

American Bittersweet

American bittersweet (Celastrus scandens) is a deciduous twining vine that has round or oblong brilliant orange fruits that split open to reveal scarlet berries inside. Male and female plants are needed to produce the vibrant fruits. The vigorous vine grows well on fences, poles, or walls up to 20 feet high. Zone 3-8.

Japanese Honeysuckle

Some varieties of Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica) have dark purple berries instead of the typical red fruits. ‘Purpurea’ is one cultivar that produces bluish-purple berries and attractive purple-tinged foliage. It’s also fragrant. Japanese honeysuckle thrives in zones 4-10.

Passionflower

Certain passionflower hybrid vines produce round edible purple fruits 2-3 inches across. The rich eggplant-colored fruits have a sweet flavor and juicy pulp when fully ripe. Maypop (Passiflora incarnata) is a common passionflower species with purple fruits. Grow passionflowers in zones 5-9 on a sturdy trellis for support.

Hyacinth Bean Vine

The fast-growing annual hyacinth bean vine (Lablab purpureus) bears very showy purple pods that resemble hyacinth flowers. Inside are shiny purple seeds. Lilac-purple bean-like flowers appear earlier in summer. Grow this quick climber on fences or arbors in full sun. Zone 9-11 as a perennial but often grown as an annual.

Blackberry

While most people grow blackberries for their sweet black fruits, certain varieties have deep purple berries. Marionberry, boysenberry, and loganberry plants produce dark purple-red berries with unique flavors. Trailing blackberry vines have long arching canes perfect for training along fences or over arbors and pergolas. Zones 5-10.

Grape

Grapes (Vitis) can be grown as landscape plants as well as for fruit production. Some wine and table grape varieties have stunning blue-black fruits that make quite a display. The sizeable clusters of small grapes create focal points. Grapes grow 30 feet or more when supported on structures. Most wine and table grape varieties thrive in zones 6-10.

Kiwi

While fuzzy brown kiwi fruits are the most common, you can also find varieties of hardy kiwis that produce berries in hues of deep purple-red or purplish-black. The grape-sized fruits are smooth-skinned instead of fuzzy. Hardy kiwis grow as vigorous vines climbing up supports to around 20 feet high. Zones 5-9.

Growing Tips for Climbing Vines with Purple Berries

Here are some useful tips to help you successfully grow fruiting vines:

• Provide sturdy structures like trellises, poles, wires, or fencing to support the climbing vines.

• Plant in full sun for optimal flowering and fruiting. Partial shade is tolerated by some species.

• Keep soil moist but avoid saturated soils that cause root rot. Add organic mulch to retain moisture.

• Apply balanced fertilizer in early spring to promote growth. Avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers that inhibit fruiting.

• Prune occasionally to remove dead stems and encourage new growth. Time pruning based on blooming habit.

• Control weeds which compete for water and nutrients needed by vines. Use mulch and cultivation.

• Monitor for pests like Japanese beetles that can quickly defoliate vines. Manually remove or use organic sprays if needed.

• Some vines like grapes require winter protection and dormant pruning in cold climates.

• Be aware of potential self-seeding weeds like porcelain vine and American bittersweet which spread aggressively in some regions.

Outstanding Cultivars to Select

Many species of fruiting vines have cultivars that offer unique improvements over wild types:

• Japanese honeysuckle ‘Purpurea’ – purple foliage and purple-blue berries

• Passionflower ‘Incense’ – vigorous, high yields of large purple fruits

• Grape ‘Concord Seedless’ – vigorous, productive vines, blue-black seedless grapes

• Grape ‘Reliance’ – early ripening, flavorful purple fruits ideal for cool climates

• Kiwi ‘Ananasnaya’ – hardy to zone 3, small blackberry-like purple fruits

• Marionberry – prized for superior flavor, large firm purple-black berries

Enjoy Vibrant Purple Berries on Ornamental Vines

The rich jewel tones and unique shapes of purple berries on vining plants can give your landscape beautiful interest. Choose varieties suited to your climate that appeal to birds or your own palate. With proper support and care, climbing vines with purple fruits will thrive, covering blank spaces with beauty. The end-of-season display of ripe berries will be a highlight in your garden.