Plants that grow vertically up support structures such as walls and fences are valuable to the gardener, as they provide colour and interest without taking up too much room. They can be used all over the garden, grown over arches, obelisks in patio containers, clothing ugly sheds with colour, even into winter. In this blog, you’ll learn how best to use and get the most out of these “upwardly mobile” plants!
Climbing plant or wall shrub? Climbing plants, as the name implies, will climb of their own accord. They may have either pads or aerial roots that allow them to grab on to a surface, or they will sport tendrils or twining stems that can grab on to a support structure such as . Either way, climbing plants will grow upwards on their own accord if properly supported. Wall shrubs are different in that they will grow against a wall, but they must be trained and tied into a structure, and have no climbing mechanisms. Despite this, wall shrubs are just as attractive and useful as climbers – they include Climbing Roses, Pyracantha, Ceanothus, Jasminium , Cotoneaster horizontalis and Chaenomeles.
Support structures. Aside from self-clinging climbers such as Parthenocissus, Hydrangea petiolaris and Hedera (Ivy), you will need something attached to your wall or fence that tendrils and twiners can grab on to, or to tie stems . Trellis is the most attractive way to provide this, a wooden grid that can be screwed to the wall, or you can fix a plastic plant mesh to act in a similar way. The third support measure is simply a series of thick horizontal wires at attached to vine eyes – these screw into the wall with a loop at the end to tie one end of the wire to. The wires are fixed at 30-45cm intervals with the lowest one 30cm above the ground.
Companion planting. As climbers take up so little planting space, they can often be planted together and be left to intertwine. This can be done either to extend the season of interest (such as pairing a summer flowering climber with an evergreen), or to flower at the same time and complement each other, creating a colour scheme.
Recommended climbing plants
Clematis. The Queen of climbers, many different colours, flower shapes and flowering times. For more information, see our Clematis leaflet.
Lonicera – Honeysuckle. Well known for their colourful, tubular, scented flowers, they will grow well in sun or shade. Deciduous varieties are usually brightly coloured with contrasting insides, and vigorous – great for clothing a wall or scrambling up a tree. Evergreen types are mostly Japanese in origin, and tend to be slower growing, which makes them great for small spaces such as obelisks, and companion planting with Clematis or climbing roses.
Parthenocissus – Virginia creeper / Boston Ivy. These all have leaves that turn brilliant red in autumn before falling. Is vigorous and looks wonderful covering the front of a house, and is self-clinging, so needs no other support. Good for adding their autumn colour as a companion plant.
Hedera – Ivy. Tough evergreen leaves that come in different sizes, colours and variegations. Useful for clothing an unattractive structure. Self-clinging through use of aerial roots, be cautious when planting up a wall if the masonry is not sound, as they can penetrate cracks in the mortar.
Hydrangea petiolaris. White hydrangea flowers on a self-clinging vine with dark green foliage. Vigorous after the first two years and great for a shady wall.
Jasminium – Jasmine. Summer Jasmines are scented, white or pink and flower profusely on a sheltered sunny wall or pergola.
Passiflora – Passion flower. Exotic looking flowers, needs a sunny south or west facing wall for it to thrive.
Solanum. Semi-evergreen and vigorous with spectacular clusters of lilac blue or white summer flowers. Best on a south or west facing wall. Wisteria. Well known for its hanging trails of blue, white, lavender or pink flowers, borne on mass in May and June. Most impressive when grown on a house wall, although it needs pruning twice a year to get the best out of it, also to keep it under control.
