Philippine Permaculture Association
The Philippine Permaculture Association (PPA), promoting Permaculture since 2000, works with different sectors towards sustainable development.
“Life finds a way”, this adage is especially true for vines. Vines are robust and capable of surviving in very difficult situations. These plants will find ways to survive and thrive in unfavorable conditions given the least amount of care.
There are 2 distinctive types of vines: twining and clinging. The clinging types have aerial roots, running along its stems, which they use to attach themselves to all kinds of surfaces, even flat ones. They do not need any kind of support to grow, as long as the aerial roots are able to attach properly. The twining type of vines, on the other hand, wrap themselves, but do not attach, around whatever they can reach. They need lattices, trellises or any type of structure to support their weight.
Spending less energy in developing strong stems, most of the vine’s energy is used to quickly grow upward and outward. Vines will use whatever is available in their arsenal to proliferate and takeover the landscape be it their aerial roots, tendrils or stems. That’s why it is very important to manage their growth properly.
Vines lend aesthetic qualities to a landscape. They bring amazing colors and fragrance with their flowers and fruits, which also attract birds and pollinators. They provide welcome shade in areas. Left unmanaged, vines can also takeover the whole landscape. They can cause damages to buildings, leave unwanted debris and thorns, and damage trees and other plants. These plants are very invasive. That’s why it is very important to direct and manage its growth to maintain the balance of the ecosystem it’s in.
