Different uses of climbing plants.
Climbers are a great addition to the garden able to screen a fence, hide an ugly wall, and cover a pergola or arbour or even, unsupported act as a ground cover.
The right choice of climbing plant in the right location can do wonders but in the wrong spot can spell disaster! Think of using deciduous creepers like wisteria or ornamental grapes on your pergola so in summer time the leaves create shade but in winter the lack of leaves lets that much wanted winter sun in! Maybe its scented screen you want? Think then of a Chinese star jasmine, its wonderful white flowers infusing your back yard with scent most of the year round.
It is a vigorous grower and can go pretty wild if not kept in check! Clematis is also a great climber with their attractive flowers and lovely scent.
They tend not to be quite as vigorous as the Chinese star jasmine.
Maybe its a hardy native your after? The Native sarsaparilla (Hardenbergia Violace) is a wonderful plant with dark green leaves and pea like purple flowers.
It will wind its way around other plants but won't really suffocate them Here are a few climbers I use often: Wisterias are great to ramble over the top of a pergola or arbour and have wonderful drooping flowers ranging from pink to white.
Two of the most common are Wisteria Sinensis (Chinese Wisteria) and Wisteria Floribunda (Japanese wisteria).
They like full sun or part shade.
The Chinese star jasmine (Trachalaspermum jasminoides) is a popular favourite as it has beautifully scented, white star shaped flowers.
It's a vigorous plant that thrives in full sun but also tolerates full shade.
Its great to use on am ugly fence or on a wall.
It can also be used unsupported as a ground cover.
The Creeping fig (ficus pimila) is a great plant to climb up and cover unsightly walls.
It has small heart shaped leaves and tends to grow quite vigorously.
It won't need supporting as it uses its areal root s to anchor its self.
Though as it matures the smaller leaves give way to much larger ones.
Bouganvillias,give a great show of flowers that have a range of colors for their flowers from white to a hot pink! They are vigorous climbers that prefer full sun.
Bouganvillias are great for covering pergolas or rambling up a wall.
Though the large spikes they produce can be rather bothersome when pruning!! Solanum jasminoides- Potato Vine is another great plant to cover walls or fences.
It had glossy dark green leaves and a lovely white star shaped flower.
It prefers full sun and flowers most of the year round.
So now go and cover that ugly wall!!