A collection of liana species with distinctive ornamental qualities.

Lianas are woody plants with long, thin stems that hold themselves upright by leaning against other plants, rocks, buildings or other supports. The method of attachment to a support is divided into climbing (attached by tendrils, suckers, spikes, and roots) and whirligig (wrapped around the support). Stems of most lianas grow rapidly but slowly thicken, ranging in height from a few to several hundred meters. Lianas are an integral part of forests (in such forests the age of lianas can vary from 30 to 70 years), especially in tropical forests. Even in Lithuanian forests, it is possible to find lianas with aerial roots that stretch along the forest floor or climb up trees, such as the common ivy (Hedera helix L.). Scientists have observed the unique ability of lianas to use tree trunks as a base for climbing and reaching the forest canopy. Upon reaching the canopy, the lianas release an enormous amount of leaves, thus winning the competitive game for light.

Lianas have been and still are cultivated and used by humans as food (passion fruit, pumpkins, legumes, magnolia berry (Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill.), actinidia), stimulants (guarana from Paullinia cupana Kunth), medicines (alkaloids from Strychnos toxifera R.H.Schomb. Ex Lindl. and Chondrodendron tomentosum Ruiz & Pavon), beverages (grapevines), ornamenta plants (clematis, honeysuckle, trumpet vine etc.). There are currently several thousand species of lianas in the world, which occur naturally on every continent except Antarctica. The most lianas found in humid tropical forests, fewer in subtropical forests and a small number in temperate regions.

VU Botanical Garden aims to assemble a collection demonstrating the diversity of lianas best suited to Lithuanian growing conditions. Species, varieties, and cultivars of lianas most adapted to Lithuanian conditions are selected. The varieties are selected for their ornamental qualities, which are most representative of the diversity of liana traits.

In the plant and seed lists of VU Botanical Garden, plants of the genus Vitis are mentioned in 1782 – Vitis vinifera L., in 1821 – Vitis labrusca L., in 1824 – Vitis vulpina L., but it was not until 1976 that the collection of lianas as a specialized collection began, based on clematis (Clematis L.), honeysuckle (Lonicera L.), staff vine (Celastrus L.), grapevine (Vitis L.) and actinidia (Actinidia Lindl.). VU Botanical Garden currently has over 80 species of lianas in its collection.

For this collection, we select the best winter hardiness species and varieties that can grow in hardiness zones 5-6. Efforts are made to select a different period of ornamental maturity, thus keeping the collection attractive in all seasons. Another selection criterion is the color, shape and form of the flowers. Varieties come in a wide range of colors and shades, from white and yellow to purple and red. It is not only the flowers that are relevant, but also the shape, size and color of the leaves, as well as the color of the fruit. The size of the leaves can vary from 1 cm to 30 cm, and they are not only green but also variegated with white, red, yellow, or pink shades. The color of the fruit may vary from red to black or purple.

IŠSAMUS KOLEKCIJOS PRISTATYMAS (ATSISIŲSTI)

		Clematis 'Romantika' (Clematis 'Romantika')  Liana, 2-2.5 m tall. The flowers are dark purple, almost black, medium-sized, odorless. Cold hardiness is moderate but not resistant to powdery mildew. The variety was bred in Estonia.
		Coral honeysuckle 'Superba' (Lonicera sempervirens L. 'Superba')  Liana up to 6 m tall, about 0.6 m across. Leaves are oval, bluish green, only turning burgundy in spring when just unfurling. The flowers are tubular with 5 lobes at the apex, scarlet on the outer side and yellow on the inner. A few are clustered in clusters at the apex of the shoot. Fruits are red-orange berries.
		Arctic kiwi (Actinidia kolomikta (Rupr. et Maxim.) Maxim.)  Liana, 3-5 m tall. Leaves are ovate or ovate-ovate, green (leaves of male plants change color during flowering, becoming variegated from green to bright red-pink with a white band). In autumn it changes color to lemon or golden yellow. Flowers are drooping, fragrant, white, rarely slightly pink. Fruits are elliptic, multi-seeded, smooth, sweet, and fragrant, edible. 4-8 USDA winter hardiness zones. Native: Russian Far East, China, Japan, Korea.
		Clematis 'Moonlight' (Clematis 'Moonlight')  Liana 2.5-3 m tall. Leaves compound. Flowers creamy-white with a green tinge, large, 12-16 cm long sepals.