I am installing a 8 foot by 6 foot iron trellis for privacy. What is a good plant that would cover the trellis relatively quickly and not require a lot of attention other than watering and some occasional trimming?
He don't say it should begin to grow slowly, he says not a lot of attention and *occasional trimming*. That description fits a lot of trellis plantings... even grapes require only two prunings per year. And the growth habit of most plants slow down as they mature.
The growth rate is determined by the nature of the plant (genetics) and the conditions. The rate will usually slow down with age because it will start to run into resource limits but that may or may not be the size you want. My point is that it will not magically start fast and then slow down at just the right size. Given enough expertise and effort you can manipulate plants to do amazing things but you were asking for something that will do what you want 'out of the box' so to speak. All I am saying is you will have to accept some compromise either by waiting for a slow grower to get to the size you want or by doing more work pruning a fast one, or somewhere in between the two.
Grapes take some work. If you want fruit, they take severe pruning in the winter. During the growing season, they might have to be tied to the trellis. Errant shoots will have to be pinched to promote more bushy growth.
I'm not saying that grapes are bad. I have three vines of my own. I just know how much work is involved to get ripe grapes for eating.
Star Jasmine would be a good choice. Potato Vine Solanum jasminoides Various Jasmines Bougainvillea Passion vine Cape Honeysuckle maybe
Stay AWAY from Virgina Creeper, it is not a creeper in Calif. It will rampantly take over the trellis your yard and perhaps the walls of your house. I have fighting one on the neighbors side of the fence and now it is back again I would also stay away from Wisteria, gets huge.
Paul go to your library and find a copy of the Sunset Western Garden Book In the front is a guide to types of plants, such as vines, shrubs, ground covers etc and zones they do well in. There is a wealth of information there.
Emilie NorCal You might even decide to buy the book.
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