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For the quickest seasonal fence screen, choose a vigorous annual such as climbing nasturtium, scarlet runner bean or lablab (hyacinth bean). These can fill a support during one growing season, then die back; clematis and honeysuckle are better choices for a lasting framework, but take longer to establish. No reliable universal number of weeks or feet of growth applies: coverage depends on climate, light, water, plant size, support and establishment.
When choosing fast-growing climbing plants to cover a fence quickly, plan for the fence as well as the plant. Check its strength and material, install suitable supports before planting, and match the vine to the site. The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) notes that most climbers grow quickly in the right conditions, but speed alone does not guarantee even or safe coverage.
What climbing plants will cover a fence quickly?
Annual vines are the clearest choice for a fast, temporary screen: they put on growth in one season but do not provide permanent cover. Perennial climbers are a longer-term investment. The ten options below are a practical shortlist, not a measured ranking; actual coverage varies by site and care.
1. Climbing nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus)
An easy annual that scrambles over structures. The RHS includes climbing nasturtiums among its choices for dense, almost immediate seasonal screening. Pick it when a leafy, short-term screen matters more than year-round cover.
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2. Scarlet runner bean (Phaseolus coccineus)
Runner beans combine flowers and edible pods with dense leafy growth. The RHS recommends them for quick screening, making them a practical option where a productive annual is welcome.
3. Lablab or hyacinth bean (Lablab purpureus)
This twining annual can make dense cover, but it is tender in many climates, so check local growing conditions before relying on it. The RHS lists a height and spread of 1.8–6m for the cultivar ‘Ruby Moon’; that range is specific to that cultivar, not a promise for every lablab plant.
4. Morning glory (Ipomoea purpurea)
Choose a vigorous type for screening: the RHS names ‘Grandpa Otts’ and ‘Star of Yalta’ as suitable examples, while describing ‘Heavenly Blue’ as relatively sparse. Check local rules and how the plant behaves from seed in your area before growing it.
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5. Sweet pea (Lathyrus odoratus)
A tendril climber valued for fragrant flowers, sweet pea can reach around 3m according to the RHS annual-climber guide. It is less dependable as a dense screen than runner beans, nasturtiums, vigorous morning glories or lablab.
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A substantial climber with summer flowers, listed by the RHS at about 3–5m. Treat it as a tender annual where it will not survive winter outdoors; make sure the fence or separate support can bear its growth.
7. Chilean glory flower (Eccremocarpus scaber)
This slender tendril climber can reach around 3m and is perennial in suitable conditions, though it is often grown as an annual. Its fine growth may need regular guiding to spread evenly across a fence.
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8. Black-eyed Susan vine (Thunbergia alata)
A twining climber listed by the RHS at about 1.5–2.4m. In colder conditions it is commonly grown as an annual, and it needs a frame or other suitable support to climb.
9. Clematis
Clematis is a lasting option, not an instant screen. Climbing types range from vigorous to compact, and most are around 3m, according to the RHS. Choose a cultivar suited to the available space and aspect, provide something for its stems to twine around, and keep the root area cool and moist.
10. Climbing honeysuckle (Lonicera)
A perennial climber with flowers and potential wildlife value. It needs sturdy support to twine around, prefers dappled shade for healthy growth and flowering, and may struggle in very dry or heavy wet soil.
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- Colorful - Thunbergia alata (Black Eyed Susan Vine) produces 1.5 inch blooms in shades of yellow and orange.
- Natural Privacy - Grow a natural privacy fence with vines and climbers. Thunbergia will grow up to 20 feet in length and produce a lot of green foliage with colorful blooms. This can create natural privacy.
- Annual Flowers - Grown as an annual flower, Thunbergia will develop quickly from seed, bloom through the Summer months, and later wilt with the first frost. Collecting seeds from spent blooms is possible.
- Butterfly Garden - Like many flowering plants, Black Eyed Susan vines will attract all sorts of beneficial pollinators to the garden, such as bumblebees, honeybees, ladybugs and butterflies.
- Freshness - All Thunbergia seeds are packaged in tear resistant and moisture resistant packaging. This keeps the seeds a whole lot fresher than the competitions selection!
Choose a vine that suits the fence and site
Before planting, decide whether the priority is first-season cover or a permanent framework. Then consider exposure, soil moisture, mature size and the pattern of growth. Some climbers put most of their growth near the top unless stems are trained across the fence.
- Temporary or lasting cover: Annuals can screen during one growing season but die back. Perennials require patience and mature-size planning.
- Sun, shade and moisture: Match the plant and cultivar to the fence’s aspect and soil. Honeysuckle favors dappled shade; clematis varies by cultivar but needs a cool, moist root zone.
- Coverage pattern: Guide new stems horizontally as well as vertically so growth does not collect only at the top. Pruning and training help maintain shape and encourage lower growth and flowers.
- Support and fence strength: Tendrils and twining stems need wires, trellis or another suitable structure. Vigorous or woody climbers need durable support and enough room at maturity.
- Upkeep and local risks: Account for pruning, possible spread, fence material and local invasive-plant rules. Check any toxicity concerns relevant to people or pets in your household.
Install support before planting
Putting the support in place first reduces disturbance later and gives young stems somewhere to go from the start. RHS spacing figures are examples for particular guidance, not a universal specification for every fence or vine.
- Assess whether the fence can support the plant’s mature growth. If not, use a separately anchored structure designed for the likely load.
- Fit support before planting. The RHS gives example wire spacing of 30–45cm and about 5cm clearance from the fence to let growth pass and allow access for tying and pruning.
- For honeysuckle, the RHS suggests horizontal and vertical wires around 45cm apart, with at least 5cm clearance from the fence. Help the twining stems get started.
- For clematis, provide a suitable surface to twine around and keep the root area cool and moist.
- As stems grow, spread them across the fence rather than letting them bunch at the top. Check soil moisture during establishment: fences and walls can create a rain shadow, so soil may stay dry even after light rain.
Fast-growing vines that need caution
Ivy
Ivy is evergreen and self-clinging, but its vigor can be a liability. The RHS says one plant can cover several standard fence panels over a decade; stems entering gaps can push wooden fence sections apart. Use it only if you can contain it and the fence construction is compatible.
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- Red Blooms - Cardinal Climber (Ipomoea x multifida) will produce 1.5 inch flowers, surrounded by lush green foliage. The blooms are trumpet shaped, much like Morning Glories.
- Annual Flowers - Cardinal Climbers will grow quickly from fresh seeds. They will start flowering in the Summer months until Fall. The foliage and blooms will wilt with the cooler weather.
- Natural Privacy - Vines & climbers can make for a great privacy fencing. Provide them with something to grow on and you will have lush green foliage in a matter of weeks. The vines grow very quickly.
- Butterfly Garden - Cardinal Climbers will attract all sorts of pollinators to the garden, such as butterflies, bumblebees, honeybees, lady bugs, and especially hummingbirds.
- Quality - All Cardinal Climber seeds packaged by Seed Needs are intended for the current and the following growing seasons. All seeds are stored in a temperature controlled facility that is free of significant amounts of moisture.
Russian vine
The RHS warns that Russian vine is extremely vigorous and can smother other plants. Its speed is not, by itself, a good reason to choose it for an easy fence screen.
Virginia creeper
The RHS lists Virginia creeper as an invasive non-native species in Great Britain and notes restrictions there on causing it to grow in the wild. Its legal and ecological status differs by location, so check local guidance before planting.
Wisteria
Wisteria is not a low-maintenance shortcut to a quick screen. Oregon State University Extension says it requires consistent summer and winter pruning; it also warns that the seeds and fuzzy seed pods are toxic. Its suitability depends on local growing conditions and the willingness to manage it.
How to cover a fence with plants successfully
For the quickest seasonal result, start with a suitable annual and prepare the support first. For durable cover, choose a perennial whose mature size and site needs fit the fence, then allow time for establishment. In either case, even coverage comes from guiding growth across the structure, monitoring moisture near the fence, and keeping up with pruning and containment.
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