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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Clematis. This beautiful climber comes from China and has lustrous deep green foliage and deliciously fragrant soft pink flowers in spring. The new foliage growth is a warm bronze. Protect from harsh frost and wind. Semi-evergreen.

Group 1 Often described as evergreen but in colder more exposed sites this clematis will experience some leaf loss. Give it a nice sheltered spot if you can and you will be well rewarded. Growing Clematis

 

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aka Wire Vine

The twisting, tangled stems of this native Climber make for an interesting and useful plant that can be trained as a climber or used to scramble informally wherever you want quick cover and a plant of interest. Plant in morning sun in soil that does not completely dry out in summer. Semi-evergreen.

The flowers on the female form of Muehlenbeckia are inconspicuous but emit a pleasant fragrance. The flowers are followed by little white berries. This plant also responds well to clipping and is often used for informal topiary work.

 

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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.