Climbing plants have long been a favorite in the English garden. Climbers range from shade loving types such as ivy, through to wisteria, clematis passiflora, hardenbergia, climbing dicentra, lapageria the list goes on, and with so many available for sale by mail order climbing in the Uk, how do we decide if a climber is suitable for our garden?

Climbing plants are valuable for a number of reasons:

  • as a screen or cover for a fence or wall.
  • to cloak an arbor and add atmosphere.
  • to provide shade in the summer for an outdoor area, windows or shade loving plants.
  • for the decorative nature of the flowers and foliage.
  • as a a shade loving cover for awkward positions

The decision on what to plants depends on the purpose and the position. Wisteria and Jasmine are fairly vigorous growers and need space, and a structure to grow on. Wisteria may look fantastic in images of Monet's garden at Giverny however it can also get into the eves and gutters of a house if you fail to maintain and prune it, maybe its better to grow it on an arbor or other structure if garden maintenance is not your strong point. Jasmine is a great fragrant climber, but can smother other plants if let go, it can take over a tree if you are not careful. You may need to consider these when planting vigorous climbing plants.

Many deciduous types such as Clematis and Mandevilla can be allowed to grow through smaller trees and shrubs; with their beautiful flowers and more open growing nature they will not smother plants as readily as others. Mandevilla and Clematis can even be grown in pots or containers as long as the pots (and therefore the root system) are kept cool and shaded. Try growing one of the new hybrid clematis through an obelisk or tripod.
lapageria rosea
Lapageria ros ea

So what are our favorite Climbing plants:
  • Lapageria Rosea is our number one climbing plant, not always easy to grow needing a cool moist acid soil. All Lapageria need protection from direct sun so a shady position is essential, frost is a killer, but we love them.
  • Wisteria are fast growing climbing plants, requiring a fair amount of maintenance, and you need to prune them to encourage flowering, but what flowers! A wisteria in full flower will indeed take you to Monet's garden at Giverny, and who would not like to go there.
  • Hybrid Clematis. Clematis (picture right) are a beautiful climbing plant, fantastic flowers, beautiful range of colors, easy to maintain and they don't take over the garden. Hybrid clematis do not need a lot of space; simply a cool root run beneath and some sun above.
  • Climbing roses, not always put in the same category as 'climbing plants' nevertheless they can be spectacular, we love the climbing rose 'Gold Bunny'. Masses of golden flowers, simply beautiful
Climbing Clematis Plant


The Gobbett Nursery UK
THE GOBBETT NURSERY
Farlow, NR Kidderminster, Worcs, DY14 8TD
Contact Gordon and Chris Link
Small nursery in south shropshire run by husband and wife team selling quality shrubs, climbers & perennials. Includes: wisteria, clematis, hardenbergia, jasminium, lonicera, passiflora, solanum and others.
www.thegobbettnursery.co.uk
IRISH PLANTS DIRECT
Tawnaglass Midfield Swinford Co Mayo Ireland
Phone +353 94 9253868
Family run garden nursery based in Swinford Co Mayo. A large range of our plants are available to order online through our mail order service. We have a range of perennials, shrubs, alpines, climbers, grasses, bedding, herb and vegetable plants. Supplied in either 9cm or 1lt pots. Low cost international delivery service
www.irishplantsdirect.ie
Fir Tree Farm
FIR TREE FARM NURSERY
Tresahor Constantine Falmouth Cornwall TR11 5PL
Tel : 01326 340593
Over 4000 varieties of cottage garden and rare perennials, over 100 varieties of Clematis. Mail order to the UK and Europe. Open Tuesday to Sunday, from February to November. Includes: clematis, gloriosa, dicenta, jasminum, lapageria, lathyrus, lonicera, passiflora, tropaeolum.
www.cornwallgardens.com
Crug Farm
CRÛG FARM PLANTS
Bleddyn & Sue Wynn-Jones,
Telephone: (+44) 01248 670232
Griffiths Crossing, Caernarfon, GWYNEDD, LL55 1TU
Small nursery on the North Wales coast, which specialized in introducing new plants into cultivation. Shade plants, climbers, species Hydrangea, Araliaceae, rare trees & shrubs, Convallariaceae, herbaceous & bulbous.
www.mailorder.crug-farm.co.uk
HOPES GROVE GARDEN NURSERIES
The Estate Office, Smallhythe Road Tenterden, Kent TN30 7LT
Telephone: 01580 765600
email: sales@hopesgrovenurseries.co.uk
Hopes Grove Garden Nurseries based in Kent have a wide range on hedges & plants available online and have been selling trees and scrubs mail order for over 15 years.
www.hopesgrovenurseries.co.uk