Vine identification help needed !!!

[cmoschip]

Hi, I have just joined the forum. I live in Houston and have a fence covered by thick vines. I have lived in the house a couple of years. What I know:

1. Leaves stay on all year
2. In spring and early summer they have a burst of growth, and small, white bloom - sort of like honeysuckle I think?
3. Leaves are relatively thick and leathery feeling (as compared to thin, tree leaves)
4. Vines themselves are pretty rigid and exterior is tough and almost branch-like on mature vines. Younger, new-growth are soft-skinned.

The fence is being replaced and most of the vines (or all) will be coming off. We also experienced a cold snap back in January where it was below freezing for 20+ hours. Don't laugh, that's a lot down here! About 30-40% of the leaves died from these vines. The pictures shown are current and the brown and dead-ish areas are due to that freeze just 6 weeks ago.

I would like to replace (or augment) the vines and would like the same kind - can anyone help me identify these?

Thanks in advance for any help.

Robert

 

[roadrunner]

That third pic reminds me of Confederate Jasmine. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trachelospermum_jasminoides

 

[Sheal]

I agree with roadrunner, it could well be the Jasmine in the link, known here in Britain as a Star Jasmine.

 

[cmoschip]

Thank you both! I had suspected star Jasmine (confederate is the same thing I believe) but didn't want to add that to the message for fear of subliminal planting of the idea.

Thanks again!

 

[roadrunner]

The flowers will tell. I don't know what part of the US you're in, but here NE Florida ours should be blooming in about 4 weeks.

PS, also known as Star Jasmine here in Florida. http://floridata.com/Plants/Apocynaceae/Trachelospermum jasminoides/110

 

[Marck]

The pics show the adult leaves of Climbing Fig (Ficus pumila). Many people are more familiar with the smaller, juvenile leaves of this species, as it is usually in its juvenile life stage when sold and planted. Climbing Fig is one of a wide variety of different plants that form two different types of leaves, depending on whether the growth is capable of forming reproductive structures (adult), or not (juvenile).

Ficus pumila is a clinging vine that fastens to substrates by means of its aerial roots. It is native to southeastern Asia, eastern China, Taiwan, Korea, and Japan. Another interesting fact is that it is able to form hybrids with the common Edible Fig (Ficus carica).

 

[cpp gardener]

If you look at the third picture you can see juvenile leaves at the bottom. If you’re seeing flowers there must be some other plant mixed in.

 

[Marck]

Yes, both juvenile and adult foliage can, and most often do, co-exist on the same plant. I didn't see any fig flowers (syconia), but when they do appear they will be on the branches with the larger, adult leaves.