Let there be height you said – and lo there was height, but what happened next? Choosing the right climbing plant for the right structure can be confusing, as the choice is so varied and expanding all the time. The right climber will enhance and beautify, but one that’s too shy or too vigorous for the particular spot it’s intended could well end up being labelled antisocial, through no fault of its own.
If you have the space for a pergola or a series of arches, it’s a bit easier as you can play it safe and choose a different variety for each upright or each pair of uprights. So you could have clematis, followed by chocolate vine, and maybe some rambler roses. There are so many clematis varieties that you could have some evergreen and some deciduous, so that your garden structure has some green all year, with cultivars chosen to flower at different times from winter onwards. Clematis armandii is a good fit for a big pergola, with evergreen leaves and spring flowers, as is Clematis montana, also spring flowering but deciduous. Both of these will grow rapidly and extensively, so for smaller structures such as archways and obelisks Clematis ‘Early Sensation’ would be a better bet.
Rambler roses can work if you want something that will reach for the skies without too much input from you – climbing roses can be trained to wind along the uprights of a pergola, but this will need a lot more attention to ensure flowering than a rambler, which more inclined to do its own thing and flower anyway. Rambler roses range from the reasonably compact to the absolutely enormous – some will sprawl all over a garden building or shed – so make sure you know how vigorous it is before you commit. Another thing to look out for is repeat flowering, as many ramblers flower beautifully but all in one go.
Honeysuckles are another group that can be evergreen or deciduous, and work well with most garden styles too. Even the deciduous varieties come into leaf early – as you can see from the picture, taken in spring – and the flowers’ scent is second to none.
Anne Byrne Garden Design provides easy to follow Garden Plans that you can implement right away or in stages. Anne’s design flair and passion for plants brings a touch of magic to gardens of all sizes.
Anne Byrne Garden Design – Creative Ideas – Practical Solutions – Stunning Gardens.
T: 086 683 8098 E: [email protected] www.annebyrnegardendesign.com
