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I Like...Climbers |
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Connected pages I like worms | I like conifers | I like my shed | I like climbers | I like junk | celebration trees | Plants |
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Climbers
are incredibly versatile plants. They tend to grow fairly quickly and do their
stuff at about our head height. This means that we don't have to bend over
to appreciate them fully.
Unlike other plants that are at our head height such as small trees and large shrubs, they don't take up a huge amount of space.
Some of favourite plants are climbers. From the delicately beautiful and wonderfully scented flowers of sweet peas to the great masses of flowers on Rosa "Kiftsgate" and giant dinner-plate sized leaves of the aptly named "Crimson Glory Vine" Vitis coignetiae when in its autumnal glory.
Climbers just seem to be more "planty" than
most plants. If you think about a lush verdant scene, it usually includes vines
and climbers coming down from above. Jungles and lush conservatories look
as verdant as they do because of all the climbers growing up and hanging
down.
Climbers
don't need to put as much energy or effort into support as other types of
plants. Why make big woody stems and trunks if you can lean on another
plant (or trellis / wall / pergola etc.) that has already done it for
you.
This means that they can grow that much more quickly, produce more leaves more quickly and produce and keep producing flowers and fruit. As a bonus, all this happens just about where our major sense organs happen to be.
Climbers can be used in so many different ways. if you have a garden, then you can grow climbers, the trick is in choosing the right ones and growing them in the right way, in particular with the right kind of support. They are easy to manipulate into doing what we want them to do and go where we want them to go. Because they need a support and can't grow without the support, they tend to be very obedient in the respect.
Without something to climb up, a climber becomes a flopper.
This may not always be a bad thing as some climbers, ivy in particular are
versatile enough to form very effective ground cover.
Walls and fences are the obvious place to grow climbers but
even better is some kind of three dimensional structure such as a pergola,
obelisk, arch or even a tree. Many climbers are the cultivated descendents of wild ancestors
that grew either in or on the edge of woodland. They are adapted therefore to
grow in three dimensions through trees or shrubs, usually with their roots
shaded and moist and their heads in the sun.
A tall structure in the garden with a climber growing up
it is a quick and easy way to give some instant height without the risk
that goes along with creating height with a large tree or shrub - ie out
of control growth.
Climbers are my favourite plants and I find it very difficult not to recommend loads of them, I've been very strict with myself and so here are some of the best. Some popular favourites, some less well known - and I didn't even start to look at jasmines or roses.....
Annuals from seed
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OK I know that they're like weeds in some states, or even are weeds, but for many of us, theses are exotic and fabulous, if yours grow like weeds I'm deeply jealous. Flowers open in the morning and stay open until mid-day, dead head in the evening for a continuous show and count them each morning to see what was your highest-flower-day. Twiner, need supporting sticks.
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Traditionally these should be sown on St.Patrick's day,
March the 17th. If you
don't have room in the garden to put them in the ground, grow them as I
do, in a large container about 45cm in all dimensions using a wigwam of
canes within this to support the plants once they begin to grow. Can
also be sown in pots with some protection in the autumn, or even straight
into the ground in autumn, just remember where you put them and keep the
area weed free. |
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Perennial Bobby Dazzlers
Spring flowering clematis, fast growing and rather
large, need a good big support, will happily scramble through a tree or informal
hedge. Usually come in varieties of pale pink though white ones available too. Twiner
with leaf tendrils.
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A huge choice of named varieties are
available in a myriad of shades of blue through purple to red. Great
velvety petals of flowers frequently 4-6" across. Flower in late
spring and often with a second, smaller showing in the autumn. C. x jackmannii, blue / purple large
flowers - best grown semi-informally rather than confined to a 2-dimensional
trellis or wall.C. x jackmannii, blue / purple large
flowers - best grown semi-informally rather than confined to a 2-dimensional
trellis or wall. |
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Honeysuckles.
Honeysuckles
are amongst the most romantic of flowers, their shape is one or organised abandon
and the scent is simply heavenly. That said however, they are not the easiest of
plants to place. They are generally vigorous and grow in three dimensions better
than two, so up and over a pergola, or better still a tree rather than up a
trellis where they tend to grow quickly to the top before flopping voluminously
downwards. If you can accommodate one, then definitely get one (at least). Don't
put them in pots - they tie themselves to supports and you'll have a devil of a
job to free them for re-potting. Also some
evergreen varieties, recommended, Lonicera halliana and Lonicera
henryi which are both evergreen.
Parthenocissus
tricuspidata - Boston ivy.
Probably the most popular self-clinger whose homeland is actually Japan. It clings very closely to its support and, once established, is extremely vigorous. Its autumn coloring is a knockout brilliant magenta. The leaves have a shiny gloss. Considered by some to be rather coarse, if this includes you, then go for the next plant.
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Rosa
filipes "Kiftsgate"
I admit it, I like
big plants more than small ones. Rosa "Kiftsgate" is a rambling rose
that always wanted to be a tree. You need space for this one and a large
support. A large mature tree will do nicely, I've also seen them doing well
grown along a long post and rail fence where the length of run has made up for
lack of altitude.
A wonderful plant, hardy and vigorous with an indecent quantity of large sprays of white wonderfully scented flowers. A good intruder barrier too, the thorns were rejected by the people who invented barbed wire because they were too brutal (I just made that bit up - but I wouldn't try and climb through it, no matter how drunk). - Scrambler - backwards pointing thorns, need tying in at first.
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Vitis coignetiae -
Crimson glory vine.
Another potential biggie and one of my favourite plants.
The "Crimson glory" bit comes in in autumn when the leaves turn. Very
tropical and exotic looking but perfectly hardy. Great big leaves up to 12"
across. Good over arbors and pergolas - as are other vines - as they produce
leaves for shade in summer and lose them in the winter when you need the light
to get through. - Twiner.
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About us. General queries and emails to |
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Last updated 18 April 2010 Copyright © Paul Ward 2000 - 2010 |
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About us. General queries and emails to |
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Copyright © Paul Ward 2000 - 2010 |
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About us. General queries and emails to |
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Copyright © Paul Ward 2000 - 2010 |
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Similar in growth habit to C.
montana, but flowering in late summer and autumn
with small bell-shaped 4 - petalled flowers in all shades of yellow from pale to
deep and through to orange depending on variety. Some of the loveliest yellows
available are found here. Foliage finely dissected and fern-like, can have a glaucous
tinge in some types. Many available varieties "Bill McKenzie" probably
the best.
Arguably the finest of all climbers (no argument as far as
I'm concerned). A member of the pea
family with great trailing racemes of vivid blue or purple flowers in late
spring (white ones are available, though I tend to regard them in the same
category as
red Delphiniums - why?). They can be quite slow to flower and it's the
grafted named varieties that perform best, so dig deep in your pocket when going to buy
one. Get a good cultivar and as large as you can afford. They need regular
pruning of new growth to keep them flowering rather than just producing
leaf. - Twiner. Zones: 5-8S/5-10W