Climbing plants are some of the most diverse and versatile plants you can find in a garden. With a wide range of foliage forms, colors, stunning flowering displays, gorgeous fragrances, and vibrant autumn colors, climbers have it all. They are excellent problem solvers in the garden, providing quick cover and bulk in areas where other plants may not thrive.
There are various techniques that climbing plants use to move upwards and outwards, such as twining, tendrils, scramblers, and sticky feet. Understanding the climbing technique of a plant is essential in determining the appropriate support structure to use.
In Australia, there are several types of climbing plants that are popular for their beauty and versatility.
1. Twiners: Plants like wisteria are twining climbers that twist around support structures. They are great for growing up posts and poles but require strong support.
2. Tendrils: Plants with tendrils, like grapevines, have small tentacle-like structures that attach to latticework or wire mesh. They are perfect for covering fences or arbors.
3. Scramblers: Climbers like climbing roses have thorns or spikes that grab onto any support. They are ideal for training along walls or over pergolas.
4. Sticky Feet: Some climbers use tiny suction cup-like appendages or aerial roots to adhere to surfaces. These climbers should be used with caution to prevent damage to surfaces.
Some of the best climbing plants in Australia include:
1. Wisteria: Known for its gigantic sprays of fragrant spring blooms, wisteria is a vigorous twining climber that thrives in full sun.
2. Grapevine: A deciduous climber that produces beautiful foliage and summer grapes, grapevines are tendril climbers that require strong support.
3. Bambino Dwarf Bougainvillea: Compact and colorful, these scramblers are perfect for smaller gardens and tubs, offering amazing flowering displays.
4. Orange Trumpet Creeper: Also known as flame vine, this tendril climber produces stunning orange flowers in mid-to-late winter, ideal for winter flower displays.
5. Creeping Fig: An evergreen climber with sticky feet, creeping fig is great for covering unpainted walls and fences.
6. Star Jasmine: A twining climber with fragrant white flowers, star jasmine is versatile and easy to care for, perfect for climbing over structures or as ground cover.
7. Passionfruit: A tendril climber that produces delicious fruit, passionfruit vines can also serve as beautiful camouflage over walls and fences.
8. Banksia Rose: A vigorous scrambler with buttery yellow flowers, banksia rose is fast-growing and easy to train.
Caring for climbing plants involves annual trimming to keep them in check, especially after flowering. Some climbing plants can also be grown indoors in pots, adding greenery to indoor spaces. With their beauty and versatility, climbing plants are a fantastic addition to any garden, providing color, fragrance, and structure to outdoor spaces.