Climbing plants are a great way to add vertical interest and greenery to any outdoor space. Whether you want to decorate a bare wall or fence, provide shade over a pergola, or just add some natural beauty to your garden, climbers allow you to utilize vertical space and make the most of your yard.
In this article, we’ll explore some of the best climbing plant options for home gardens and provide tips on how to choose the right climbers for your needs. We’ll cover what makes a good climbing plant, including growth habits, climate preferences, and aesthetics.
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Advantages of Growing Evergreen Climbers
One of the best choices when selecting climbing plants for your garden is to consider evergreen varieties. Evergreen climbers provide multiple advantages over deciduous climbing plants:
- Year-round greenery. Evergreen climbers hold their foliage all year, providing color and coverage even in winter when deciduous plants go dormant. This gives structure, privacy and interest to the garden in every season. Popular evergreens like ivy, jasmine and climbing hydrangea keep walls and fences blanketed green.
- Low maintenance. Once established, evergreen climbers don’t require much care compared to other plants. Their year-round canopy helps suppress weeds. As long as soil is healthy, evergreens mainly just need occasional pruning and training. Less time and effort is required overall.
- Versatile growing habits. Evergreen climbers come in many forms โ vine, shrub and even tree types. This allows finding an evergreen suitable for any space or structure. For example, evergreen wisteria is great for pergolas, while English ivy vines easily cover walls. You can match an evergreen to its optimal growing environment.
- Wildlife habitat. The dense cover and year-round foliage of evergreen climbers provide excellent shelter and food sources for birds, pollinators and other wildlife. Species like pyracantha produce berries for foraging animals during winter when food is scarce. Evergreen climbers encourage biodiversity.
- Structural support. Clinging tightly to structures, evergreen climbers can stabilize and strengthen walls, fences or arbors. Their extensive root systems and woody stems help reinforce the structure. This makes evergreens ideal for preventing erosion on slopes or hiding flaws in aging walls or buildings.
- Privacy screening. The thick foliage of evergreen climbers is perfect for delineating property lines, concealing unsightly views or creating secluded spaces. Strategically placed evergreens give privacy and intimacy to gardens and outdoor living areas year round. Boundary hedges of climbing evergreens can insulate noise as well.
- Decorative value. From elegant green curtains of English ivy to the tropical look of climbing fig, evergreen plants add aesthetically pleasing green backdrops. Many like star jasmine and vinca have ornate flowers. Creative evergreen climber arrangements on walls, fences or obelisks can be striking garden design features.
- Shade provision. By training evergreen vines over pergolas and arbors, filtered shade can be provided to create useful outdoor living spaces. Sun-blocking evergreen canopy layers also help regulate temperatures indoors and in the garden. Dense cover keeps areas cooler in summer, warmer in winter.
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What to Consider When Choosing a Climbing Plant?
When selecting climbing plants for your garden, there are several important factors to consider:
- Learn the plant’s growth patterns. Research how tall, wide, and fast a climber will grow. This determines suitable structures for it to climb. For example, English ivy can quickly cover a wall, while a slow-growing clematis needs a trellis. Also check if the plant is evergreen or deciduous, as this affects maintenance.
- Avoid invasive species. Some climbers like kudzu vine spread rapidly and can damage structures. Make sure the plantโs growth habbits are not overly aggressive for your area. See if it is labeled as ยซinvasiveยป before planting. Opt for native climbers instead, as they are better suited to local conditions.
- Factor in climate and zone. Climbing plants have varying cold hardiness ranges based on your USDA zone. Ensure the plant can survive winter lows in your area. Also match the climber to your climate, for instance grapes love the heat. Reference zone maps and plant tags.
- Account for available space. Consider the mature size of the climber and allow adequate room to grow. A 30-foot wisteria needs a large wall or pergola. Measure the area and choose compact climbers like clematis for tighter spots. Also check for overhead clearance.
- Choose the right soil. Climbers need proper drainage and nutrients. Avoid compact, wet soil. Amend planting areas with compost if needed. Some vines like well-drained loam, while ivy can handle clay. Pick plants suited to your existing soil type.
- Ensure safety for pets and children. Some climbers have toxic berries or foliage, including jasmine and ivy. Research toxicity and opt for safer varieties like clematis if kids or pets will be nearby. Also avoid thorny plants positioned at eye level.
- Combine multiple plant varieties. Layering several climbing plant species creates varied colors and textures on one structure. For example, a wall could have evergreen ivy, flowering jasmine and a fruiting grape. Complimentary combinations enhance visual appeal.
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Which Climbing Plants Will Suite Best for Your Garden?
There are many excellent climbing plant options that can thrive in home gardens. The key is to select varieties that align with your gardenโs sun exposure, soil, climate, and available space.
With the range of characteristics different climbers offer, there is sure to be a type perfect for your unique property:
- Climbing Hydrangea. This graceful vine is perfect for brightening up shady spots. It produces large, showy white flower clusters in summer that bloom on aerial rootlets that cling securely to walls and trellises. The climbing hydrangea thrives in partial sun to light shade and moist, rich soil. It can grow up to 40 feet, making it ideal for multi-story houses. Hardy in zones 4-8.
- Trumpet Vine. With its vivid, trumpet-shaped orange blooms in summer, this fast-growing climber adds tropical flair. It needs full sun exposure and well-drained soil. The trumpet vine is an aggressive spreader that can reach 15-20 feet wide. It grows in zones 4-9 and attracts hummingbirds. Use caution where spreading is undesired.
- Moonflower. For stunning nighttime fragrance, few vines compare to the moonflower. It opens its huge, white flowers in the evening to release a lovely scent. This annual vine grows rapidly to 15 feet in zones 10-11. In warmer zones, it can come back year after year as a perennial. Give it full sun and fertile, well-drained soil.
- Star Jasmine. This evergreen climber has wonderfully fragrant white flowers in summer that smell divine. It grows quickly up to 20 feet, tolerating heat and partial shade. Star jasmine thrives in zones 8-10. Allow it to climb a trellis on a porch to enjoy the heavenly scent.
- Climbing Roses. Available in a rainbow of flower colors, bushy climbing roses make stunning additions to arbors and trellises. They bloom abundantly in late spring into summer. Most climbing roses need at least 6 hours of sun and good air circulation to thrive. They can reach 10โ15 feet in height and suit USDA zones 4-9.
- Honeysuckle. This high-climbing woody vine produces beautiful hanging clusters of brightly colored, tubular flowers in summer that attract hummingbirds and butterflies. Most varieties are hardy in zones 4-9 and can easily reach 30 feet. Some types have wonderfully sweet fragrance.
- Sweet Pea. Known for its fabulous fragrance, the sweet pea vine produces scented blooms in soft colors like pink, purple and white. This climbing annual thrives in cool conditions and part shade. It grows rapidly to 6โ10 feet when supported by a trellis or fence.
- Morning Glory. A classic fast-growing annual, the morning glory vine boasts a spectrum of cheerful flower colors like vibrant blue, red, pink and white. It thrives with full sun exposure and can quickly climb 10โ20 feet using its twisting tendrils.
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Best Climbing Plants for Fences and Pergolas
Climbing plants allow you to get creative with vertical spaces in your landscape. You can transform basic fences and pergolas into stunning garden features by incorporating climbers with colors, textures and growth habits to suit your vision.
The right plant choices will thrive in your climate while bringing new life to otherwise bare structures:
- Black-Eyed Susan Vine. This fast-growing annual vine produces abundant golden-orange flowers with dark brown centers from midsummer through the fall months. The blooms resemble Black-eyed Susan flowers and provide splashes of color over trellises, fences and arbors. It can reach lengths of 10 feet tall in one season when grown in full sun with average soil fertility and moisture.
- Boston Ivy Fenway Park. This iconic ivy cultivar is renowned for its excellent adherence and ability to climb walls. It is the signature covering on Fenway Park’s historic Green Monster wall in Boston. In summer, it has rich green foliage that turns bright shades of red and orange come fall. When established, Boston Ivy can reach lengths of 40โ50 feet over time.
- Bougainvillea. With their vibrant colors and lush bracts that resemble flower petals, bougainvilleas are ideal visually standout vines that can transform pergolas and other structures into exotic focal points. Available in shades like bright pink, bold red and vibrant purple, they thrive with full sun exposure, well-drained soils and heat – growing 15โ30 feet annually.
- Carrion Flower. Named for its bizarre rotten-meat fragrance, this unusual annual vine produces unique maroon and yellow blooms designed to attract its pollinators like carrion beetles and flesh flies. It can grow quickly in one season, reaching lengths of 6โ12 feet long.
- Clematis. Known as queen of the flowering vines, Clematis produces magnificent bounties of colorful blooms that provide stunning vertical accents. With the many cultivars available, it comes in multiple colors, bloom sizes and seasons for three seasons of flowers. Most grow to impressive lengths of 10โ20 feet.
- Common Grape. For edible landscaping, fast-growing grapevines yield abundant bunches of sweet fruit in late summer and fall once mature. The vines can reach 30 feet long when trellised or arbored over other structures. Grapevines need plenty of sun and irrigation to thrive and produce.
- English (David Austin) Rose Carding Mill. Bred for beauty and fragrance, this repeat-blooming English climbing rose dazzles with large, glowing apricot-orange blooms from early summer into fall. It has a light fruity rose scent and reaches lengths of 10 feet tall when supported on fences or structures.
- Honeysuckle Kintzley’s Ghost. Adorned with eye-catching foliage featuring white and pink variegation, this honeysuckle vine also produces pretty tubular red blooms loved by hummingbirds. It grows vigorously to reach 10โ15 feet long in ideal conditions.
- Mandevilla. With glossy green tropical-looking foliage and vibrant pink and red trumpet-shaped flowers from spring through fall, Mandevilla adds sultry color and vertical drama to garden beds, walls and pergolas. Thriving in hot, humid climates, it can grow 10โ20 feet annually in the right conditions.
- Passionflower. This exotic, heat-loving flowering vine shows off wildly intricate blooms resembling artistic renditions of religious icons and medallions. They bloom from summer into fall, later producing egg-shaped edible fruits. Passionflower grows vigorously, reaching 25-30 foot lengths in zones 5-9 when trellised. It requires plenty of sun exposure and well-drained soil to thrive.
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Which Types of Climbers Are Proper for Walls?
When choosing which types of climbing plants are suitable for growing on walls, there are a few key considerations. Proper climbers for walls should be non-invasive, able to adhere without too much structural support, and hardy in your climate.
Here is an overview of some of the best options:
- Clematis Etoile Violette. Itโs an excellent wall climber, as it is non-invasive and easy to manage. This clematis variety produces rich purple flowers from early summer into fall and does well in sunny spots. It can reach heights of 10โ20 feet when supported properly on a wall or trellis. Pruning clematis after flowering helps promote dense growth that will cover the wall nicely the following season.
- Boston Ivy. Classic vine for covering brick or stone walls, using tiny aerial rootlets to tightly cling to surfaces, even without a trellis. Its glossy green foliage turns a vibrant crimson red in fall. Boston ivy can grow quite long, up to 50 feet, so it is ideal for multi-story walls. Be aware it can damage wood or plaster walls over time.
- Trumpet vine. It is a robust, fast-growing climber perfect for sturdy walls in warmer zones, putting out masses of scarlet trumpet-shaped blooms through summer. It reaches 30 feet at maturity and requires strong support of a wall-mounted trellis. Trumpet vine is drought tolerant once established but spreads aggressively from suckers underground.
- Mandevilla. It produces gorgeous blossoms in shades of pink, red, or white all summer and fall on newer wood. Its twining vines will gently cling to trellises and walls by soft aerial rootlets without additional attachments. In colder zones, mandevilla is grown as an annual or overwintered indoors. It thrives in bright, indirect light.
- Passionflower. It is an elegant climber that uses tendrils to grab supports, able to reach heights of 20โ30 feet. Its unique flowers emerge in summer, consisting of colorful filaments topped with intricate purple-white coronal threads. Passionflower grows quickly to cover fencing or screens with its lush green foliage that turns golden in fall. It adapts well to various soil types and excels in hot, sunny spots against a wall.
- Climbing hydrangea. Produces clusters of showy white blooms in summer on both old and new wood against attractive dark green foliage that turns burgundy-red in fall. It securely attaches itself to walls using aerial rootlets along its vines. Climbing hydrangea does best in colder zones on shaded northern or eastern exposures, reaching 40 feet. Prune immediately after flowering.
- Star Jasmine. It is an evergreen vine with wonderfully fragrant flowers from spring to fall that bloom on new growth. It can securely cling to wall surfaces with small suckers and aerial rootlets as it matures, able to stretch 15-20 feet across lattices or trellises. Star Jasmine thrives with full sun but tolerates some shade and adapts well to various soil types, including poorer soils.
- Virginia Creeper. One of the most spectacular foliage displays in fall, with its five-pointed leaves turning vibrant red and purple tones. This hardy vine clings tightly to any surface using small branched tendrils tipped with adhesive pads and can reach heights of up to 50 feet. Virginia Creeper grows well both in sun or shade and is very low maintenance. It sheds some of its leaves in winter.
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How to Maintain Climbing Plants?
Properly maintaining climbing plants is essential for the health of your vines and optimal flower and fruit production. It also prevents them from becoming unruly or overgrown. Here are some key tips for taking care of your climbers:
- Provide sturdy, well-secured trellises, wires, or wall fixtures for climbing plants to attach to. Trellises should be firmly set into the ground if freestanding, or strongly reinforced if attached to a wall. Use plant ties regularly as needed to lightly guide vine growth rather than allowing the plant to twist around its own stems.
- Practice seasonal pruning to maintain desired size and shape, remove dead wood, and encourage new growth and blooms. The best times to prune are just before new spring growth emerges or right after flowering. Take out crossing, damaged, or excessive stems and shorten side shoots to outward facing buds.
- Water thoroughly and deeply at the roots, allowing the soil to partially dry out between waterings. Soak the entire root zone and not just near the stem. Drip irrigation or soaker hoses work very well. Ensure proper drainage or potted plants.
- Apply a balanced liquid fertilizer monthly during the growing season. Alternately, top-dress containers in spring with slow-release granular fertilizer per label directions. Feeding will promote vigorous vines and enhance flowering.
- Monitor for pests like aphids, mealybugs, or spider mites which can thrive on young vine growth. Treat immediately with horticultural oils or insecticidal soaps rather than chemical pesticides if an infestation occurs. Maintaining overall plant health and vigour helps prevent attacks.
- Provide protection from harsh weather elements like intense late frost, which can damage tender new shoots. Cover vines with horticultural fleece overnight if cold temperatures are expected. The covering prevents vine die back.
- Train vines while they are still flexible and their stems are green and have not hardened off. Bend stems carefully into position around supports or through trellises. Avoid overly aggressive training that strains the vines, as this can break stems or damage the plant.
- Apply organic mulch around the base of vines to help retain soil moisture and regulate soil temperatures. Two to three inches of shredded bark, leaves, evergreen boughs or other organic mulch is ideal. Simply keep the mulch a few inches away from main stems to prevent rot.
- Check vines frequently for signs of disease, looking for spots, wilts, cankers or dieback and remove affected parts immediately. Prevent most diseases by providing good air circulation and avoiding wetting foliage unnecessarily when watering. Proper spacing and pruning to open air flow is key.
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FAQ.
What kinds of structures can support climbing plants?
Climbing plants can be supported by a wide variety of sturdy structures:
- Ideal versatile support, either freestanding, wall mounted, or archways. Can be wood, metal, or plastic lattice. Adjust height for vine length.
- Wires & Cables. Thin but strong horizontal wires or cables tightly stretched between posts, fences or buildings. Useful to guide growth.
- Wall Fixtures. Small brackets, eye hooks, or claws drilled into brick or wood walls give anchoring support. Use with care on fragile surfaces.
- Plastic mesh or jute netting gives some support while still allowing air circulation and light. Often used on exterior walls for ivy or vines.
- Arbors & Pergolas. An overhead lattice or crisscross beam structure provides height and support possibilities. Give climbing roses, vines, even gourds vertical space.
What is involved in caring for climbing plants?
Caring for climbing plants involves providing sturdy support early as described above, continual training of growth along structures, seasonal fertilization, adequate watering at soil roots, and pruning for shape and renewal. Protect tender growth from weather extremes. Be vigilant for signs of pests or diseases.
Can climbing plants produce flowers?
Yes, many popular climbing plants produce flowers as a decorative bonus beyond their lush foliage. Varieties of clematis, roses, honeysuckle, bougainvillea, mandevilla, even hydrangeas and some ivies yield colorful blooms most flowering seasons, often throughout the growing year! Flowers can be prolific showstoppers.
Where can climbing plants be grown?
Good spots to grow climbing vines include against house walls, along backyard fences or lot-line walls, on side yard pergolas, overhead on balcony rails, around front porch columns โ anywhere that has the needed anchor support and allows the gorgeous vertical flowering show to be displayed and enjoyed!
What is the best season for growing climbing plants?
The best season for setting out new climbing vine plants and preparing vertical structures for growth is early spring, just before the most vigorous growth period. Give tender shoots time to harden off before summer heat or winter cold. The seasonโs head start yields faster coverage of supports.
How quickly do climbing plants grow?
The growth rate of climbing plants varies widely depending on variety and conditions, but generally they are faster growing than shrubs and trees. In peak season, many vigorous vines can grow over 2 feet per month vertically. Rapid early growth should be supported properly. Flowering is often encouraged through judicious trimming.
How often should climbing plants be trimmed?
How often climbing plants should be trimmed depends on the variety, growth habit, seasonal cycle, and intended size. As general guidelines though: trim vining stems after flowering; trim rampant growers in early summer to control spread; trim mature plants 1โ2 times per growing season to maintain.
What defines a creeper plant?
A creeper plant spreads out low along the ground or against substrate like a ground cover. They grow horizontally along surfaces rather than climbing vertically. Creepers may root along stems or form mats from long trailing stems. Common creepers include ivies, creeping phlox, sedums, creeping thyme.
What distinguishes climber plants from creeper plants?
Climbers use petioles, tendrils, or suckers to attach and climb vertically up supports. They have extending vines that need physical attachments to climb upwards, rather than just spreading low across the ground. Some examples include vines, roses, clematis, and honeysuckles.
Which climbing plant grows the fastest?
The fastest growing climbing plant is the trumpet vine, which in peak season can expand over 6 feet in one month alone by rapidly twining and attaching itself with aerial rootlets. It needs very sturdy supports and regular severe pruning to keep its quick growth under control.
What is the most beginner-friendly climbing plant to grow?
Some of the easiest, most beginner-friendly climbing plants to try first are morning glories, nasturtiums, and pole beans. Their seeds sprout readily, have shorter vine lengths, quicker flowering cycles, and do not require complicated supports or pruning.
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