Ornamental wine as a privacy screen & for greening

The most beautiful ornamental wines for the garden - we will introduce you to the genuine wild wine, the virgin vine and the scarlet wine and give tips on the right planting and care.

The noble vines cultivated in wine-growing regions (Vitis vinifera subsp. vinifera) provide table grapes and are processed into wine or juice. But did you know that there are also beautiful ornamental vine plants? They are suitable as privacy screens and for greening walls, especially because of the impressive autumn colors of the foliage. With us you can read everything about the most beautiful ornamental wines, as well as how ornamental wine can be planted, cultivated, the cultivation of ornamental wine on the balcony and which ornamental wine without grapes there is.

Ornamental wine: what is it and what is it used for?

The so-called ornamental wines are more or less closely related to the noble grapevine via the grapevine family (Vitaceae). In turn, a distinction can be made between different genera: The wild wine (Parthenocissus), also called virgin vine or fence vine, the wild vine (Vitis vinifera subsp. sylvestris), also known as Wilder Weinstock or Echter Wilder Wein, and scarlet wine (Vitis coignetiae), also known as Rostroste vine or Japanese ornamental vine.

Compared to their relatives used in viticulture, ornamental wines hardly have any grapes, but they do have a pretty dress of leaves. They are therefore used in many places for greening house walls, walls and fences, as well as for shading terraces and balconies. The ornamental wine grows naturally on trees and can reach a considerable size and weight. Scaffolding and trellis should be designed to accommodate the growth of the plant and be able to support the weight of the ornamental vine.

plant ornamental vine

Planting the ornamental wine is generally quite uncomplicated and ideally takes place between March and October. A sunny to partially shaded location is important for the wine. The soil requirements of the ornamental wines are rather low and the plants can adapt to both sandy and loamy soils. Only soil that is too wet can damage the wine in the long term. However, a nutrient-rich, neutral to alkaline and rather permeable soil is advantageous for most ornamental wines when they are young, otherwise it grows more slowly. The ornamental wine is not dependent on a windbreak either, on the contrary: it also grows wind-exposed locations well and can even be pulled on a trellis as a natural windbreak will. Virginia creeper usually tolerates the winter well and mature vines are certainly hardy to almost -20 °C.

Tip: Real wild wine (Vitis vinifera subsp. sylvestris) loves fresh to moist soil - so care should be taken to ensure its water supply.

A sufficiently large planting hole with a diameter of at least 50 cm and a depth of 50 cm is dug for the plant. The root ball of potted plants can be scored with a knife to close the branching promote before the vine is placed in the planting hole at an angle in the direction of the later climbing aid. Then the hole is filled up again. If the soil is very heavy, it is advisable to put plenty of sand and potting soil under the soil for better drainage mix while amending sandy soils with some good quality soil to encourage young plants to take root facilitate. In addition, growth after planting is promoted by fresh substrate, so that a strong plant develops right from the start. For example, our is suitable for this Plantura organic universal soil, whose composition of compost, wood fiber and mainly organic fertilizer is well suited for ornamental wine.

Because the ornamental wine loves lime, it is also advisable to mix in a dose of lime. Well mixed with the existing garden soil, the soil offers optimal conditions for healthy plant growth. The soil is trampled down to create the ground closure without straining the fine roots too much. Thorough watering and keeping moist allow the ornamental wine to grow well. In the beginning, young tendrils should be regularly brought up to the climbing aid and attached to it.

Virginia creeper: care and pruning

During the growth phase, it is particularly advisable to fertilize ornamental wine in the pot. Ornamental vines planted outdoors are usually well supplied by the mineral subsoil and the rain and therefore do not require additional fertilization. Plant growth can be supported in particular by the application of a long-term fertilizer when new growth occurs in April and a renewed application in mid-July. For example, our Plantura organic universal fertilizer be used, which promotes healthy soil life and thus robust root growth and good nutrient utilization due to the high proportion of organic starting materials. Thanks to its long-term effectiveness, fertilizing once or twice a year is completely sufficient. The further care of ornamental wine is limited: a shape or thinning cut in late summer is just as good tolerated as well as a radical pruning during the dormant phase in winter, so that the ornamental wine can be kept under control can.

Ornamental wine as a privacy screen on the balcony: An ornamental wine like that Vitis vinifera can also be established in a bucket on the balcony. You can lead it up there on a trellis and use it as a privacy screen. However, care should be taken to ensure that there is enough space, as ornamental wine can also grow very large in a vessel. Young plants can be placed in a 30 by 30 cm pot and transplanted into a larger pot every two to three years. Incorporate a drainage layer of expanded clay or coarse gravel in the pot as the ornamental vine will stagnate Does not tolerate moisture well, before planting the container with a good quality and well aerated soil like ours Plantura organic universal soil to fill. Two thirds of soil mixed with about one third of sand result in the optimal soil conditions for the ornamental wine. Along a trellis, nothing stands in the way of the growth of the ornamental wine as a privacy screen, provided that regular fertilizing and watering is observed.

The best ornamental vine genera and species for the garden

The different genera and types of ornamental wine are wonderful for greening house walls, walls etc., but sometimes differ greatly in appearance and growth. We present the most beautiful genera and species at a glance:

Virginia creeper (Vitis vinifera subsp. sylvestris)

The original form of the modern noble grapevine is almost extinct in large parts of Europe and is also considered to be threatened with extinction in Germany. Wild plants can only be found in the alluvial forests of the Upper Rhine region. According to these criteria, for the planting of the genuine wild wine (Vitis vinifera subsp. sylvestris) a slightly damp, partially shaded location can be chosen. Climbing ornamental vine can be used excellently as wall greening and forms a hand-sized, lush green foliage, which usually turns yellow in autumn, and even bright red if there is a lot of sunlight colors. The leaves are 3 to 5 fingered or lobed with a white style bay and are shed in autumn, so the plant is summer green. Old plants climb between 3 and 10 m in height with their thin leaf tendrils and show a longitudinally fibrous, conspicuous bark. The maximum 10 mm large grapes of the genuine wild wine hang on loose infructescences and turn blue-black as they ripen. In contrast to the noble grapevine, the flower of the original form is mostly dioecious, which means that male and female flowers are not on the same but on different plants. In order for fruit to develop, a female and a male specimen must be present. The white flowers bloom between June and July.

Is Virginia creeper poisonous or edible? The genuine wild wine can be eaten without hesitation. The small, black grapes have a slightly sour taste, but are perceived as very pleasant.

Maidenhair Vine (Parthenocissus)

The virgin vine, originally from North America and the temperate latitudes of Asia, is considered a neophyte in Germany. It differs from the genuine Virginia creeper in a few points: it forms hermaphrodite flowers and, thanks to disc-shaped adhesive organs, can also climb up rather smooth surfaces. Their leaves are entire, simple and lobed or fingered in 3 to 7 folds. The inflorescences of the virgin vine are much more branched than those of the wild wine, their bluish-black berries are quite similar. Under good conditions, the plant grows to a height of about 15, more rarely up to 20 m. The spiny vine sheds its leaves in autumn and is therefore only deciduous. These species and varieties stand out:

• Three-pointed virgin vine(Parthenocissus tricuspidata) ˈVeitchiiˈ: Also known as trefoil vine; Annual growth of up to 2.5 m; particularly changeable play of colors of the three-lobed leaves from bronze colors during budding to summer green to red and orange tones in autumn; yellowish-green flower; strong contrast between deep blue berries and autumnal red style; climbs well on walls, fences or a pergola.
• Engelmann's wine (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) ˈEngelmanniiˈ: Only grows about 0.5 to 1 m per year; forms long, narrow, regularly serrated leaves with reddish leaf stalks up to 15 cm long; dark blood red to fiery red autumn colour.

Is the virgin vine poisonous or edible? The virgin vine is purely an ornamental plant. Its fruits contain a high proportion of oxalic acid, which in large quantities can cause mild symptoms of poisoning in humans and animals, such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Birds like to eat the berries.

Tip: The exposure to the sun has a decisive influence on the growth of all ornamental vines and other deciduous trees leaf coloring in autumn. Excessive exposure to the sun produces more anthocyanins as protection against oxidation from the high-energy light. They appear red and violet to us and make up the autumn colours. Ornamental wine in a sunny location will be more colorful in autumn.

Scarlet wine (Vitis coignetiae)

Native to East Asia, scarlet wine (Vitis coignetiae) is also enjoying increasing popularity with us. It is particularly suitable as a natural source of shade on the terrace or balcony if it is guided along an appropriate trellis. It is ideal for growing on pergola or gazebos. It can grow up to 8 m in height and forms wrinkled, heart-shaped leaves along its tendrils. Between June and July it bears rust-red flowers, to which it owes its name. From this, inconspicuous, green grapes emerge in the autumn. Its up to 30 cm large, dull green leaves turn a striking autumnal yellow-red to fire-red with an additional dark red grain. As with the other wild wines, they are discarded in autumn.

At a glance: Which ornamental wine is right for me?

Depending on the way in which the Wilde Weine climb up, they are suited to different purposes with varying degrees of goodness. There are different ways to do this:

• To the Wall and facade greening only the virgin vine is suitable without a climbing frame, as it finds a hold in small cracks and crevices with its adhesive organs.
• At climbing frames All ornamental vines grow well, but the framework for the young vine should not be made of smooth material but of rough material so that the adhesive organs can be placed securely.
• as natural privacy or sun protection All ornamental wines are suitable on the pergola or on the roof of the gazebo, but only until the leaves have fallen.
• at children and pets in the household Virginia creeper or scarlet vine are best used, as their berries are edible.
• For sunny locations The Wild wine and the scarlet vine are especially suitable, while the virgin vine too shady locations growing well.

Does Virginia creeper appeal to you as a privacy screen plant, but do you want to add some variety to the garden? Then we recommend our special article on the best Screen plants for the garden and balcony.