Best Climbing Plants for a Wall or Fence

Factors to consider when choosing the best climbing plant for a wall or fence:

The best climbing plant will always depend on your site, situation, personal preferences and what you want to plant to deliver for you. The key considerations to think about when choosing a climbing plant are:

• Twining or Self-Clinging? Self-clinging climbers such as ivy and campsis naturally adhere to the climbing surface using aerial roots or adhesive pads, whereas twining climbers such as clematis and honeysuckle grow by wrapping themselves around poles, wires or trellis. To grow a climber up a fence or wall without installing support wires, you’ll need a self-clinging variety. But keep in mind that the adhesive pads of self-clinging climbers are very strong, so should be removed carefully when trimming the climber back to its designated space to avoid damaging your supporting structure. Twining climbers require more work at the outset to install supporting wires and ‘tie in’ growing stems but can be easier to control in the long run because they can’t keep growing up a wall of their own accord!

• Evergreen or Deciduous? Evergreen climbers such as ivy, clematis armandii and common jasmine retain their leaves all year round, perfect for hiding an unsightly support structure throughout the seasons. In contrast, deciduous climbers shed their leaves in a fabulous display of foliage colour around late autumn before developing fresh new foliage again in the spring. The leaves of evergreen climbers tend to be glossy, while the leaves of deciduous climbers are more matte. You’ll need to be ready to tidy up the leaf litter with deciduous climbers but it can be well worth it for the impressive autumnal display.

• Small Space or Large? The growth habit of different climbers varies massively from small dwarf varieties well suited to covering a small trellis, low wall or small fence, right through to rampant ramblers such as Virginia creeper which can easily clothe a large two-storey house or tall tree. A common mistake is to be too focused on achieving quick coverage of the space available at the outset but overlooking the on-going task of keeping your climber within its required bounds once it’s filled the space you wanted it to cover. Our top tip for smaller spaces is to choose a climber with an eventual height and spread no larger than the space you want it to occupy. Some lovely smaller climbers include Clematis Blue Pirouette, Jasmine Devon Cream and Lonicera Caprilia Ever ‘Inov86’.

• Aspect and Hardiness? Establish whether the wall or fence is north, south, east or west facing. This will dictate how much sunlight your plant will receive and whether it's likely to be warmer or cooler. North facing walls receive the least sun, making them cooler, shaded places. East facing walls will receive some sunlight in the morning as the sun rises but will then be cast into shadow for the afternoon. The early morning sun can cause damage to frozen buds and leaves, as the rapid thawing causes them to turn brown and wither, with evergreens being particularly vulnerable. Deciduous clematis, wisteria, most honeysuckle are safe, fully hardy bets in these situations. South and west-facing walls receive sunlight throughout the day, making them warmer and brighter. South-facing walls in particular absorb the sun's heat throughout the day, emitting it through the night, which gives you the option to choose a less hardy but more exotic climber such as passion flower or common jasmine.

• Consider a Wall Shrub? Many shrubs adapt well to being grown up a wall or fence and, once trained in, are normally easier to maintain than climbing plants because they are slower growing. Evergreen varieties provide foliage cover all-year round, particularly useful if you’re looking to cover an unsightly wall or fence. The three most popular wall shrubs are pyracantha (aka firethorn), ceanothus and cotoneaster, all producing impressive displays of both flowers and berries. Pyracantha is our personal favourite with distinctive spines and clusters of white spring flowers.

• Consider a Climbing Rose? Climbing roses are an excellent way of introducing height to the garden alongside beautiful flowers and often a fabulous fragrance. They are well suited to growing up or over walls, trellises and arches, adding a feeling of grandeur, abundance and airiness to your outdoor space. Climbing roses produce large flowers typically held singly or in small groups and are almost always repeat flowering. Most climbing roses are floribundas, meaning they produce flowers in large clusters, rather than hybrid teas which produce flowers on long straight stems that are best for cutting.

Best varieties of climbing plants:

The most popular and versatile climbing plants, widely credited for their beauty and utility are:

1. Clematis
Clematis is the most popular climber, adored for its distinctive flowers, produced in abundance in a broad palette of colours. They come in a wide range of growth habits from compact growers perfect for a small trellis such as clematis blue pirouette through to the vigorous clematis grandiflora which can top out at 12 metres! There are some clematis armandii varieties which are evergreen too. Perfect for covering walls, arches, pergolas and fences, clematis are twining varieties, requiring a support structure to wind around.

Perfect for covering walls, arches, fences and pergolas, they prefer to have their heads in the sun and their roots in the shade. Clematis are sometimes split into group 1, group 2 and group 3. Group 1 flower in April-May and don't need to pruned regularly unless you need to keep their height and spread in check, which should be done after flowering. Group 2 clematis flower in the early part of the summer whereas group 3 flower in late summer. Group 2 are pruned back to a framework, whereas group 3 are pruned back hard.

Clematis Elizabeth

2. Wisteria
Wisteria is best known for its stunning, long racemes of flowers produced in abundance in spring and early summer. The delicately fragrant flowers are displayed above pinnate, mid-green deciduous foliage and followed by velvety seed pods that add interest through the autumn as other plants are starting to fade. Wisteria looks best trained against a sunny house wall, or elegantly draped from a sturdy pergola or arch. Its oriental origins appearance makes it a great addition to a Japanese or cottage garden and is best planted near pathways, doorways or entrances to fully appreciate the beautiful scent. For smaller gardens, choose a less vigorous variety such as Wisteria 'Alba'. To ensure an excellent floral display, prune twice a year, once after the flowers have faded and once again in mid-winter.

Wisteria Amethyst Falls

3. Honeysuckle (Lonicera)
Honeysuckle, also known as lonicera, is the classic twining climber of the cottage garden with highly ornamental, large cartwheel-shaped flower heads consisting of wonderful, tubular individual flowers each exuding a sweet fragrance. The blooms are produced in hues of white, yellows, reds, oranges, pinks and purples with long stamens, contrasting beautifully with the lush foliage. Most varieties are deciduous with rich bronze new growth bringing additional colour and interest as they come into leaf in the spring.

Some produce shiny black fruits after flowering, providing food for the wildlife in your garden. Honeysuckle are perfect for training up a wall, fence or trellis and look particularly spectacular when combined with an early flowering clematis. To take full advantage of the scent, plant near an entrance, window or doorway. They prefer a sunny spot in a free-draining soil and can be trimmed to shape in early spring.

Lonicera CAPRILIA Ever 'Inov86'

4. Trumpet Vine (Campsis)
Campsis, also known as trumpet-vine, is a strong-growing deciduous climber bearing masses of beautiful, trumpet-shaped blooms at the end of branches all summer long. These tropical-looking flowers are produced in pendulous clusters above long, coarsely-toothed, glossy dark green leaves with pointed tips and distinctive veining. Native to America, Campsis is a self-clinging climber that attaches to its support structure via aerial roots and will usually grow to the maximum height that its support allows.

As the weather cools, the foliage mellows to yellow-green and blooms give way to pod-like capsules of winged seeds. Trumpet vine is a great choice for providing fast cover over a wall, fence, arbour or pergola providing it’s cut back regularly to keep its vigorous growth in check.

Campsis radicans flava

5. Jasmine (Jasminum)
Climbing jasmine produce stunning, sweetly-scented tubular flowers from June to September with the exception of winter Jasmine nudiflorum. Growing by twining around their support structure, Climbing jasmine make attractive, scrambling climbers, perfect for training up a sheltered sunny wall, fence, trellis or archway and equally as beautiful when left to scramble over a low wall. Flowers may be followed by rich black berries lasting well into the winter if they don't act as a feast for wildlife before then.

The ever-popular winter jasmine produces bright yellow flowers on bare, arching stems in winter and early spring, providing much-needed colour to the winter garden. Climbing jasmine plants combine well with climbing roses, honeysuckles or clematis, whilst smaller-growing varieties are suitable for growing in a container and can even by bonsai trained.

Jasminum nudiflorum

6. Climbing hydrangea
Climbing hydrangeas are a valuable addition to any garden with beautiful, fragrant clusters of white, airy flowers above large serrated, heart-shaped leaves. They make an eye-catching choice for growing up walls, trees and pergolas, as well as being a brilliant ground cover plant for securing soil on slopes and inclines. Most varieties are relatively slower growing than other climbers, so whilst they can grow very large over time, they're relatively easy to keep in check if you prefer to restrict them to a smaller space.

Some varieties are semi-evergreen and will require some winter protection to keep their leaves through the winter with the foliage potentially turning yellow in autumn and the stems on mature plants appearing copper-brown with peeling bark. Climbing hydrangeas grow by aerial roots but may need some help initially. Flower colours can vary greatly depending on the pH levels of the soil they are planted in.

Hydrangea seemannii

7. Ivy (Hedera)
Ivy, also known as 'Hedera', is a vigorous, self-clinging, evergreen climber with distinctive, lobed leaves which may be plain or variegated, depending on the variety. Hedera use their aerial roots to cling and climb up fences, sheds, walls or anything else with a textured surface you'd like to grow them up. Many species also make good groundcover plants and can be used to secure the soil along steep banks and slopes.

Variegated varieties are perfect for brightening up a dark corner, providing they receives at least a couple of hours of light a day, as this brings out the variegation. Winter berries add further interest through the seasons and provide valuable foods for birds and other wildlife. Ivy is unfussy but grows best in a sheltered site in a slightly alkaline soil, making them suitable for sites recently cleared of rubble. Ivy may be harmful if eaten and those with sensitive skin should be careful when handling them as the sap can be irritating.

Hedera Suphur Heart

8. Virginia Creeper
Virginia creepers make our ‘best’ climbers list but are not to be taken lightly! Best known for their vigorous growth habit, they are a deciduous climber with tendrils or disk-like suckers and deeply lobed or palmate leaves that take on brilliant hues of coppery or even fiery red in the autumn. Virginia creepers produce small, dark berries in autumn that contrast beautifully with the foliage. Self-clinging, they are perfect for growing up walls, fences or any other textured surface that needs covering.

They are easy to grow and will thrive on tricky, north-facing walls where little else will grow. Choose the traditional Virginia creeper Parthenocissus quinquefolia for larger gardens if you're looking for a very vigorous, strong growing variety that you don't mind keeping in check. For smaller gardens or for laid-back gardeners, choose Parthenocissus henryana as it is less vigorous.

Parthenocissus quinquefolia

9. Passion flower (Passiflora)
A truly exotic, out of the ordinary, unique climber. Passion flower has dark green leaves are accompanied by fragrant white flowers, flushed with purple blue and pink shades, varying on individual leaflets around a central display of purple tinged filaments. In sheltered areas it produces orange-yellow egg shaped fruit. Vigorous, deciduous/semi-evergreen, trouble free climber, it grows best in a sunny spot and is ideal for a tropical planting scheme, but it will tolerate partial shade. In milder areas of the country it can be quite invasive.

Passion flower

10. Climbing Roses
Climbing roses are an excellent way of introducing height to the garden alongside beautiful flowers and often a fabulous fragrance. They are well suited to growing up or over walls, trellises and arches, adding a feeling of grandeur, abundance and airiness to your outdoor space. Climbing roses produce large flowers typically held singly or in small groups and are almost always repeat flowering. Most climbing roses are floribundas, meaning they produce flowers in large clusters, rather than hybrid teas which produce flowers on long straight stems that are best for cutting.

Rose Golden Showers (Climbing)