You've Got Mail! The Best Climbing Plants for Mailboxes

Let Mandevilla get its footing in the spring and then watch this climber erupt in blooms until frost. They thrive in the warm and humid Coastal and Tropical South, but they can be brought inside during the winter months or given an annual role elsewhere. They should avoid peak afternoon sun, but otherwise can hang in full or partial sun. They also make an excellent cover for trellises and fences.

It doesn’t matter what your architecture style is, every house can use a little cottage charm—and a climbing rose trailing around your mailbox is a surefire way to get it. If you want lots of flowers, choose either a ‘New Dawn,’ ‘Cecile Brunner,’ or ‘Climbing Old Blush’ variety. They’ll bloom from spring through fall. If your mailbox receives sun all day long, a climbing rose will be relatively easy to grow and reward you with plenty of pretty blooms.  

Let’s just get this out of the way: It’s Carolina jessamine, not Carolina jasmine. Jessamine is characterized by golden bell-shaped flowers that make their appearance toward the end of winter. It’s a delicate vine, meaning it won’t take out your mailbox as it grows and matures. They’ll take sun or a bit of light shade.

You’ll recognize the petite white flowers of clematis as soon as you see them. Paired with dark green leaves, the clustered flowers make quite the show. They prefer full sun and regular watering and can be grown in USDA zones 6-9.

We know, it sounds too good to be true. We’re happy to confirm there is such a thing as climbing hydrangea—and they’re just as beautiful as you’re imagining. It’s a good choice for extremely sturdy and substantial mailboxes. It is extremely unwise to try and grow one around your post mailbox unless you're looking for a way to take it down. It can tolerate shade better than most flowering vines.

This tropical vine will be consumed with tiny blooms surrounded by brightly colored tissue-paper-esque bracts during the fall and cooler spring months. If you’re looking for a summertime stunner, bougainvillea isn’t your girl. They’re another variety that is best for sturdy boxes such as brick or stucco versions. Place a trellis on either side of the mailbox,  tie them to the structure as they grow, and prune back when needed (ideally after blooming in late winter or early spring).

This tropical vine will be consumed with bright, tissue-paper-esque blooms during the fall and cooler spring months. If you’re looking for a summertime stunner, bougainvillea isn’t your girl. They’re another variety that is best for sturdy boxes such as brick or stucco versions. Place a trellis on either side of the mailbox and tie them to the structure as they grow.