Can the strategic incorporation of lianas (woody vines) into rainforest restoration plantings enhance biodiversity-conservation outcomes? Lianas are an integral component of primary tropical rainforests yet are often omitted from rainforest restoration plantings as they may damage trees and compete with them for resources. However there is increasing evidence that many ecological and physiognomic characteristics of lianas may be of some value to restoration plantings at least in certain contexts. We propose strategies for experimentally incorporating lianas into rainforest-restoration plantings to explore whether they can expedite rainforest establishment and enhance biodiversity-conservation outcomes.