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Gazebos can, of course, stand alone in a garden, set apart from the plants. This is certainly an acceptable use of a gazebo, and in some gardens, that is what the garden layout calls for. Alternately, they can be used as a sort of elaborate trellis, with plants twining up and over them, a riot of leaf and color and harmony.
But what sort of plants should grow on a gazebo? Roses are the obvious choice, what everyone thinks of, and usually, if you see plants around a gazebo, they are roses. But roses are far from the only possible choice.
Clematis are a good choice for gazebo growing. Their broad leaves and bright blooms give shade in the summer, then disappear during the winter to allow sunlight to warm the gazebo. Some clematis are fragrant, which adds a pleasant touch to a gazebo.
Jasmines are another good choice, especially for those people who live farther south. Some jasmines are cold tolerant and will bloom all winter in southern states. Confederate jasmine, or winter jasmine, is a yellow-blooming jasmine that blooms all winter. Its thick, dark green waxy leaves remain on the plant all winter, for added visual interest.
Companion plant Confederate jasmine with common jasmine (J. officianale) to extend the blooming season. The common jasmine's small, fragrant flowers add the perfect early summer touch to the garden.
Honeysuckle is another good gazebo choice, if you don't mind pulling it out of the rest of your garden for the rest of your life. Especially in the southeast, honeysuckle is extremely invasive. The abundant, fragrant blooms, however, may be worth the extra hassle to some people.
Avoid planting wisteria on your gazebo. Wisteria is a beautiful flower, but the vines will damage the gazebo's structure. As tempting as the fragrant, full blossoms may be, you don't want a plant that is going to destroy your gazebo.
Roses are not the only plant available for your gazebo. In fact, with a little creativity, you can probably come up with other vines not mentioned in this article.
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