Either an annual or an easy to remove vine?

Scarlet runners do not survive the summer here. Purple Hyacinth bean (Lab Lab) reported loves the heat, as does "Malabar Spinach).

For something tall and not a vine, perhaps sunflowers or even one of the taller varieties of okra (which has the added benefit of being edible - you could supply the entire neighborhood with okra from a planting that size) which I know LOVES it hot and sunny.

For the shadier parts, tomatoes can scramble if you give them some trellis or wire mesh .... Matts Wild Cherry can go 10-15 feet quickly.

Thanks! I've heard of the purple hyacinth vine too, but is there any possibility of getting it NOT as seed? Or scarlet runners? Even something that will make it partway thru the summer would be better than nothing.

I was thinking about tomatoes in a couple of big containers -- hoping to find some Celebrity -- but I hadn't thought of growing them up the wall. My main criteria for back there is "green," so getting some tomatoes (or ANY tomatoes) out of it would be a bonus. Will tomato vines live through the summer here, even if they aren't setting fruit?

I'll check out okra, and sunflowers might be cool. You've got me thinking outside the box now. Heck, maybe I'll try some corn back there, or some other type of bean or pea. Direct sow and see what happens. Again, if it doesn't do "all that well" or gets fried or eaten or makes a bit of a mess back there I won't be heartbroken. I just want a bit of a screen that won't be a nightmare to get rid of later.

One other option would be something viney that is quick and long-term but controllable -- if it would stay on the wall behind the roses and not try to eat them, that would be completely acceptable. I just don't want cat claw or something horrific like that.

How about asparagus (yard-long) bean, or Black-eyed Susan vine, or maybe Armenian cucumbers?

Kevin : )

OH! Luffa gourds on a trellis.

Just to update, I decided to go with the hyacinth bean. I'm going to direct sow this weekend and cross my fingers. Then as an experiment I'm going to try lasagnizing the length of the back wall, out about 4 feet. If it works maybe it'll be a real bed someday. If not, I'll still be watering the roses underneath and they'll be fine. Oh the excitement...!

Thanks for the update--keep us posted. Good luck! :)

I would suggest a passiflora edulis. although its a perrenial it makes a great addition to anyones garden. plus there tasty fruit afterwards.

Morning glories are really beautiful. the vines will climb and cover the wall quickly. they should still be ok this late but don't wait any longer, do it right away. Very easy to grow.
okra and many of the other idea tend to branch out too much, while sunflowers are fairly straight and narrow, and will reach the full height of the wall this year. Also sunflowers will do fairly well even planted this close to summer.

I agree, passiflora (passion fruit) would be awesome