This Unusual Climber Attracts Hummingbirds All Summer Long – Plant it Now for Beautiful Scent and Dazzling Flowers

If you're looking for the perfect plant to add to your yard for hummingbirds as they return from winter migration, look no further than the corkscrew vine (Cochliasanthus caracalla).

This unique vine is one of the best climbers to attract hummingbirds with spiral shaped, nectar-rich blooms that last through summer to fall. Hardy across USDA zones 9-11, it's the perfect pick for those in warmer climes who can expect hummingbirds to continue visiting all the way into summer. You can actually grow corkscrew vine from seed (using these corkscrew vine seeds on Amazon).

The good news is it's really easy to care for corkscrew vine, as this tender perennial is fast growing and will quicky establish once planted. Following just a few steps in essential care, you can train it to cover pergolas, fences, or trellises, enjoying its intense heady, sweet scent every time you come out into the yard.

Why Hummingbirds Love Corkscrew Vine

The corkscrew vine is one of the best climbers to attract hummingbirds to your yard during the warmest months because of their flowers.

From late spring to fall (in the warmest climes), corkscrew vine has striking spiral blooms. This appearance also earns it the nickname of snail vine. They come in a wide range of colors, from white and creamy yellow to purple.

Kate Schofield is a Homes & Gardens team member based out of LA, and she says it's the best hummingbird plant in her yard.

'The corkscrew vine is one of my favorite plants to keep in a container by my patio door. It makes a wonderful addition to my hummingbird feeding area, where I’m able to watch them come and go all day from my desk,' she explains.

'Not only is it gorgeous, but it smells heavenly and is a magnet for pollinators. The flowers on this plant are so unique and bloom for months, especially in warmer climates.

'The scent of the flowers is so unique and can be smelled from quite far away if the wind is right, but isn’t overwhelming,' she describes.

Just like other flowers that attract hummingbirds (like the popular cape honeysuckle, which is available at Fast Growing Trees), the tubular shape of corkscrew vine is ideal for hummingbirds' long beaks and tongues to access the nectar inside.

Likewise, the brighter colors help attract hummingbirds. That's why you often find hummingbird feeders in red hues (like this Walmart hummingbird feeder).

How to Grow Corkscrew Vine

Corkscrew vine is native to tropical regions of South and Central America. As mentioned, it's best suited to warmer climes (USDA zones 9-11) but it can also be grown as an annual in milder climes.

Here are some key care tips to grow it successfully:

• Position: As a climber, it's important to provide your corkscrew vine with something to climb up. Kate has trained hers up a pergola column, but you can also use a trellis (like this white lattice one from Wayfair) or even a fence. Be aware that it can have an aggressive growing habit, so it's most common to grow it in a container to keep it managed. Lighting wise, these vines do best in full sun with 6-8 hours of direct exposure daily.
• Soil: This vine prefers slightly acidic, loamy, well-draining soil. When growing it in a pot, it's wise to opt for an outdoor potting soil (like this Miracle Gro one on Amazon). You can then make the soil slightly more acidic with amendments like sulfur.
• Water: It's best to give your corkscrew vine consistent moisture, but not allowing it to become waterlogged. They don't do well with drought, and are likely to wilt, drop foliage, and even dieback. Bear in mind it will dry out more quickly in a container, so will need pretty frequent watering during hot summer spells.
• Pruning: There are some pruning requirements to keep your corkscrew vine in fit condition and to manage its size. You should prune in late winter or early spring (just ahead of new growth), focusing on cutting back dead and damaged stems. You can also pinch back tips of stems in spring to encourage bushier growth and more blooms, if you wish. These fast growers can reach 10ft tall in a single summer, so you may also wish to cut them back to maintain a more compact size. Always use clean, sharp tools for this, like these Fiskars loppers from Amazon.
• Fertilizing: Corkscrew vine is a heavy feeder, so we recommend feeding it regularly during the growing season. It's best to use a balanced water soluble fertilizer (like this from Amazon) once a month from late spring to early fall. This will support its rapid growth and encourage more profuse blooms. You can also opt for a bloom booster fertilizer, which tends to be high in phosphorus. This bloom booster from Walmart is a good choice.

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FAQs

When is it Best to Plant Corkscrew Vine?

It's best to plant corkscrew vine in spring once the dangers of frost have passed. As these are topical plants, they don't cope well with frost. Planting in spring allows them to establish and settle, ready to put on rapid growth in summer.

There are so many other invaluable additions to the yard for hummingbirds. The Temple of Bloom Seven-Sons provides nesting spots, as well as nectar-rich bloom later in the season.

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