Climbing plants should never be overlooked when you are planning a new garden or revamping an existing planting scheme. They offer so much versatility and with their unique habit they are invaluable for covering up areas of ugliness in your garden that you may wish to keep hidden. Despite their extreme usefulness Climbers should be considered for their graceful nature alone plus the softness they bring to strong architectural lines. Really, what other form of plant gives you more bang for your buck? For just a little space on the ground floor they will cling, twine or scramble with great determination to reach heady heights. Use them to drip through trees, cover archways, soften a fence or wall and cover water tanks or an old tree stump.  

Pruning a climber or vine in the early stages of its growth is important. As you nip out the growing tips, you encourage the plant to branch out, resulting in many stems that can be trained up the suport.  As the climber matures, encourage prolific flowering by pruning, but be aware of the different flowering habits of different plants: some flower on old wood – last season’s growth, and some on new wood – the present season’s growth, so check before you prune. A very important element with regard to pruning is to ensure that you do not cut through a major stem as this will cause a whole section of the plant to die off.   

Because a climber is likely to be a permanent fixture in the garden, it is wise to prepare the soil well before planting. Check that the soil is not filled with builder’s rubble as this is often the case next to walls. Include large quantities of organic compost and check that the drainage is good. You are only limited by your imagination. Some climbers such as Trachelospermum jasminoides (AKA Star Jasmine) and Ficus pumila can be used as either a ground cover or small climber depending on how you train the plant initially. Both of these climbers are evergreen. Of equal importance are deciduous climbers such as Clematis and Wisteria which flower in early spring and offer masses of delicate blooms as well as fragrance.

Have a browse through our range of climbers and we are sure you will find a plant that you can easily look up.

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aka Primrose Jasmine

Jasminum mesnyi is one of the true yellow jasmines. This ornamental climber is both vigorous and hardy. They rich yellow flowers are not known to be fragrant but for sheer colour display it is a winner. Responds well to pruning after flowering. Excellent bonsai jasmine. Evergreen.

 

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aka Late Dutch Honeysuckle, Woodbine

Masses of fabulously fragrant, tubular, white flowers that turn deep yellow, and are streaked red outside, smother this honeysuckle in late spring. In hot summers, the flowers may be followed by small, bright red fruits. Deciduous and earlier flowering than many other varieties, this one will quickly cover a boundary wall or fence in full sun or partial shade.

 

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aka Cape Plumbago

The pretty clusters of deep blue flowers that appear from spring through to autumn are what makes this shrub so desirable. Happy in sun or part shade, tolerates dry conditions but not harsh frost. Trim lightly to maintain shape. Semi-evergreen. PVR

 

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aka Star Jasmine

In my opinion one of the best evergreen climbers available to gardeners. Leathery glossy green leaves that have tones of red in winter and myriads of little white star shaped flowers in summer. Wonderfully fragrant. Easy to grow. Can be used as a sprawling ground-cover too.