• A variety of deer-resistant climbing vines are available.deer image by Carol Wingert from Fotolia.com
  
  Gardeners can grow a worry-free garden with a selection of deer-resistant climbing plants and vines. Deer do not like the bitter taste, odor and look of these vines. Since few plants are completely deer-proof, knowing which plants are more deer-resistant will better your chances of keeping deer out of your home garden.
  
  

American Bittersweet (Celastrus scandens)

• American bittersweet, also known as climbing bittersweet and false bittersweet, is a woody and shrubby climber that will grow all over trees and fences. It has smooth leaves that are approximately 2 to 4 inches long and about half as wide. In June the plant blooms small, greenish-white flowers in short clusters. The fruit, which opens in autumn, is a round, orange-yellow capsule with a scarlet colored seed pod. The seed capsules provide food for birds during the winter. The fruit should never be eaten by humans, as it is extremely toxic. Gardeners will need both a male and female plant to produce berries, and they must be planted within 30 feet of each other (one male can pollinate up to five vines). The vines like partial to full sun (best fruit in full sun) and dry to moist soil.
  
  

Wisteria (Wisteria sinensis)

• Wisteria is a vigorous, twining vine that will grow as large as you will allow it. These plants have the ability to climb high, and two species are native to the southern United States. The Chinese wisteria and Japanese wisteria are found most commonly in home gardens. Chinese wisteria is more popular as it can grow to a height of 25 feet, and produces many violet-blue flower clusters that are up to 1 foot in length and slightly fragrant. A white flowering form of the Chinese wisteria is also available and these are extremely fragrant. Japanese wisteria also grows to heights of 25 feet and has violet-blue fragrant flowers. Flowers clusters can be up to 18 inches long. Both types of wisterias bloom starting in early May. The climbing vines prefer full sun and moist, well-drained soil.
  
  

Honeysuckle (Lonicera)

• Honeysuckle vines are very easy to grow, and they have fragrant flowers that attract butterflies and hummingbirds all summer long. The most common use for honeysuckle is as a vine for trellises, arbors, framework and fences. The vines will bloom heavily in the spring and result in fruit in the fall. The fruit attracts songbirds. The plants prefer full sun (will tolerate partial shade) and moderate watering to keep the soil moist.