Bountiful Gardens

The Vertical Speedster: Polygonum aubertii (Silver Lace Vine)

The Snapshot

• Common Name: Silver Lace Vine, Fleece Vine, Russian Vine

• Scientific Name: Polygonum aubertii (syn. Fallopia baldschuanica)

• Origin: Native to Central Asia and Western China

• Hardiness: Zones 4 – 9

• The "Vibe": Vigorous, frothy, and unstoppable; the "instant gratification" vine.

Why We Love It

The Silver Lace Vine is one of the fastest-growing perennial vines in existence, capable of puting on 10 to 15 feet of growth in a single season. It is loved for its late-season performance; starting in mid-to-late summer and continuing until frost, the vine is absolutely smothered in delicate, airy clusters of creamy white, fragrant flowers.

It’s the ultimate problem-solver for "visual noise"—it can turn a utility pole, an old shed, or a boring fence into a soft, flowering hedge in record time.

Ecosystem & Wildlife Impact

• The Late-Season Pollinator Pub: Because it blooms when many other nectar sources are drying up, it is a massive draw for Honeybees, native bees, and Hoverflies.

• Butterfly Support: Highly attractive to smaller butterflies and late-season skippers.

• Bird Shelter: The dense, tangled mass of stems provides excellent "hidey-hole" protection for small songbirds from wind and predators during the autumn months.

Designer Tips: Where to Plant

• The "Ugly Fence" Fix: It is the undisputed king of covering chain-link fences. Within two years, the fence will be completely invisible under a wall of green and white.

• The Fragrant Pergola: Train it over a sturdy arbor or pergola. The scent is light and sweet—reminiscent of buckwheat honey—and is most potent on warm afternoons.

• Erosion Control: In difficult areas like steep, sun-baked banks, it can be grown as a sprawling groundcover to hold the soil and choke out weeds.

Designer Pro-Tip: This vine is a "twining" climber, but it is aggressive. Do not plant it near gutters, shingles, or siding, as it can work its way into crevices. The secret to a beautiful Silver Lace Vine is the "Winter Reset." In late winter or early spring, cut the entire vine back to about 2 or 3 feet from the ground. It will grow back with more vigor and produce way more flowers on the "new wood."

Stories from the Garden

"I had a neighbor build a giant, ugly shed right against my property line. I planted two Silver Lace Vines, and by the end of the second summer, that shed was just a beautiful green and white cloud. It saved my view and my sanity!"

— Karen S., Zone 6 Gardener

A Growing Story: The Disappearing Chair

A customer once told us she left a wooden lawn chair against her fence when she went on a three-week summer vacation. When she came back, she couldn't find the chair—the Silver Lace Vine had completely swallowed it! It’s a great reminder that with this vine, you are the boss, and you have to keep your pruners handy.