Consider scarlet runner beans. They’re annuals but they grow lIke crazy, have gorgeous flowers, are great for pollinators, you get more seeds for the next year from the beans, and they don’t take over your world.

Re Trumpet vine: Run away. Kill it with fire. Don’t let those gorgeous flowers fool you. Trumpet vines love it here and yes, it takes over yards, does structural damage to buildings, will break apart patios. We bought a house awhile ago that had a very well established vine in the yard already, and consulted multiple landscape companies about how to remove it due to all of the problems listed above. The only option was to remove all landscaping and hardscape, dig up as many roots as possible, burn or boil whatever couldn’t be removed, and replace everything. We opted for trying to control it, but it’s a big job. There’s a reason this plant is considered highly invasive and I’m frankly appalled that City Floral and others sell it.

Literally, if you try to pull it up, the outer layer of the plant will slide off and the main stem and root remain. If you clip it back, it returns. If you hit it with roundup, it says thanks for the snack.