Wall Climbing plants are a great way to liven up any garden without taking up any of that precious garden bed real estate! Any bare walls, fences, gazebos, pergolas and archways can be transformed into a vibrant display with the addition of the right climber.
There are so many different options when it comes toclimbing plants, though, so it can be tricky to know which one is the right one for you. Do you want evergreen climbers, colourful flowers or climbers with glossy foliage, do you need self clinging or twining climbers? The options are seemingly endless!
So we want to cover all bases - below we have listed the best climbing plants for a variety of different gardens, situations and tastes. Read through them to find the perfect climbing plant for your garden.
Why plant a climber?
One of the main reasons to plant a climbing plant, as we've already touched on, is to help spruce up otherwise plain areas in your garden, like a wall or fence. They offer much more than just that though, they can also help to provide your garden with more privacy, help to cover up an otherwise unsightly outbuilding and they are a wonderful resource for garden wildlife, adding to your garden's ecosystem for nature to enjoy.
They can also make your garden seem bigger, utilising more space - you can grow 'up', rather than just on the ground. If you don't have a wall or fence to grow them on, planting climbers can also be grown inoutdoor plant pots.
Best climbing plants for shade
If your garden has a lot of shaded areas, you might be thinking that you must settle for lifeless, boring gardens - but this couldn't be further from the truth. There will be a plant out there that can breathe life into those areas of your garden as the weather gets warmer.
Try theLonicera x tellmanniana - a hardy shrub with green leaves and twining stems, and a wonderful flowering climber between spring and summer. The coppery-yellow flowers will brighten up any garden. Or maybe the climbing Hydrangea petiolaris? Beautiful blooms from late spring through to late summer, and they are a vigorous climbing plant when they get going! They are great for north facing walls.
Best climbing plants for sun
If you are lucky enough to accommodate full sun climbing plants, perhaps the stunningCampsis radicans, sometimes known as trumpet vines, are the way to go. They take a little effort to get going in UK gardens, and while they do need full sun, but once they take off you are blessed with a beautiful plant.
Another one of our favourites is theClematis Ville de Lyon, which requires partial or full sun. The blooms from mid-summer are a welcome burst of colour for our gardens.
Best climbing plants for walls
You'll often find that a climbing plant is the only way to cover up an unsightly wall in your garden. For a beautiful flowering climber, try theClematis The President - one of our most popular plants. This will flower from late spring to summer and again from late summer into autumn.
For a semi-evergreen climber, theTrachelospermum jasminoides Variegatum is one of our favourite hardy, self-twining wall shrubs that will offer you evergreen foliage, with flowers throughout the summer.
Best climbing plants for fences
Transform those humble fences around your garden's edge with a climbing plant likeHedera helix trailing Ivy - a low-maintenance creeper, that will attract bees and butterflies even during the winter. They cling so well to surfaces, making them perfect for fences. These are one of the best climbing plants for fences.
You could even tryHumulus lupulus Nordbrau - beer hops - on a fence. They need plenty of support, so a sturdy fence is ideal for them. The pleasing aroma is a wonderful addition to your outdoor space.
Best climbing plants for a trellis
One of the best-looking climbing plants for trellis is aWisteria. Its impressive aerial roots will cling to the trellis, and they can grow up to 15 metres. They can make a huge impact over a large area of your garden as the beautiful flowers droop down in the summer. The dense foliage that remains throughout the Autumn is equally striking.
Best flowering climbing plants
If you are looking to add some striking colour to your garden, a great climbing garden plant for you could be thePassiflora Damsels Delight. Sometimes known as the 'Silly Cow', this climber produces stunning, large flowers with a lilac purple 'crown' formed out of the filaments. They also produce a wonderful smell for your garden.
If you want to brighten up the view out of your windows during those dark winter months, then maybe theJasminum nudiflorum is the way to go. Star-shaped yellow flowers will bloom even in cold weather, and this 'Winter Jasmine' is perfect for vertical growing.
Best fruiting climbing plants
If you're after a climbing vine that will bear you fruit, then aKiwi could be the plant for you! Not only is it a really attractive climber, with its dark green leaves, but the smooth-skinned fruit that it produces is delicious. No need to peel before you eat. These survive best in full sun, but can cope with semi-shaded areas as well.
Best evergreen climbing plants
We have already mentioned a few evergreen climbers on this list so far, but we couldn't leave out theStar of Toscana. This hardy plant will withstand some tough weather conditions more than most climbing plants, and it is one of the most low-maintenance plants that we have covered today. It has a beautiful bloom in summer, as well!
Best perennial climbing plants
One of the (many) things that we love about the Clematis is how versatile it is. For perennial climbing plants such as this one, there is so much choice depending on what colour you want and when you want them to bloom. We have gone for thePurpurea Plena Elegans here, which has interesting foliage and dusky purple flowers from mid-summer to late autumn.
Best fast-growing climbing plants
If you're after vigorous climbers, you can't go wrong withHedera hibernica. Not only will it be able to rapidly cover up parts of your garden to give it a beautiful natural feel, with its abundance of dark green leaves, but it also produces black winter berries, which will keep the wildlife in your garden thriving over those cold winter months.
We hope this has offered you some help when it comes to choosing your next climbing plant. If you would like to explore the extensive range of climbing plants that we stock,shop our climbing plants here.
