Can a garden ever have enough climbing plants? In summer they are priceless for clothing arches, softening backgrounds, enveloping boundaries and exaggerating the abundance that the season brings. Standing tall and proud, there is no hiding place for climbers in the garden, not even in summer when so many plants show off their finery and demand the gardener’s attention.
With so much to offer – seclusion, privacy, colour, scent, a chance to soften edges and hide unwanted views – it pays to choose wisely. Select high-performing, summer-flowering climbers that are well-suited to the position and style of the garden and the season will be extra special.
1. Solanum crispum ‘Glasnevin’
Related to the humble potato, this climber can make a glorious display all summer long. Its lilac flowers are produced in broad clusters and create magnificent clouds of colour. A particularly vigorous grower, capable of reaching up to 6m in height, it is best for a large wall or trellis where it can run free. The wiry stems need training to their support initially, but it is worth allowing them some freedom – its arching branches can create a charming scene if allowed to hang gracefully when bearing their summer bounty.
2. Clematis tangutica
The bright yellow colouring of this clematis may be loud but this stately climber scores highly for subtlety and finesse. The flowers resemble delicate paper lanterns when in bud, before maturing into mini-lampshades. Later, they are followed by a fine show of fluffy silver seedheads. A vigorous grower, it can reach 3m tall and develops into a bushy plant wider than it is long if left unpruned. A hard prune at the end of winter will keep it in check.
3. Berberidopsis corallina
Also called the coral plant, this South American climber produces a spectacular show in the right conditions. Rich fertile soil, the shelter of a warm wall, some shade and a minimum temperature of -5˚C are all essential but the results are tremendous. A glossy leaved evergreen, it bursts into life towards the end of summer with stems dripping with coral coloured buds that look more like fruits than flowers, its stems bowing under their weight. Provided the soil isn’t too dry, this is good for growing up a tree.
4. Ipomoea lobata
Previously known as Mina lobata, this half-hardy annual climber from Mexico climbs rapidly. Its deeply cut leaves and red and yellow blooms will add a tropical finish to the terrace or garden. This is an ideal plant for adding height and colour to obelisks and arches on a temporary basis while longer-term permanent climbers reach their full height. Think of the way runner beans can transform a space in a single growing season by adding an abundance of fresh growth and height; this will do the same trick, reaching 2.4m tall.
5. Lonicera ‘Dropmore Scarlet’
This honeysuckle is a tropical-looking alternative to the classic, romantic cottage garden climber. The vivid trumpets are scarlet at first, but burst into a hot orange as the flower tubes open. Thick, glaucous foliage adds to the intrigue and provides eyecatching colour all over the plant. In mild areas, it can hold its leaves throughout winter to make an attractive year-round screening plant. Flowering in midsummer, it can grow up to 4m tall. Growth is strong, so provide this plant with a sturdy support to take the weight of its woody stems.
6. Passiflora ‘Amethyst’
Arguably the holy grail of climbing plants in terms of successful growing in the UK, a mature passionflower in full bloom is truly a plant of which to be proud. ‘Amethyst’ has an RHS Award of Garden Merit, which is given to plants considered reliable to grow in the UK. It can survive temperatures down to -8˚C, belying its tropical looks. A sunny position is needed, and shelter from strong winds will help the plant establish. Growth is fast and it can reach 4m tall, so strong supports need to be in place on planting.
7. Trachelospermum jasminoides
This is the perfect plant for providing a wonderfully fragrant screen in a sheltered garden. Star jasmine‘s slender stems will self-twine to make a light and airy barrier, with the plant peppered with clusters of creamy white, sweetly scented starry blooms during summer. An evergreen with very dark foliage, it manages to be both understated and unmissable when the blooms release their fragrance. It needs a warm, sunny position in order to thrive and in these conditions it can grow to 5m in height.
8. Schizophragma hydrangeoides ‘Moonlight’
The toothed leaves of this woody climber have a mysterious, silvery sheen that emphasises the intricate network of leaf veins. Known as the hydrangea vine, its flowers resemble those of dainty lace-cap hydrangeas and, like the shrub for which it is named, it grows well in part-shade, too. The stems of this plant have aerial roots, which will cling to a wall or fence, saving the need for training. Growth is vigorous – plants reach up to 12m tall – and stems are strong, so avoid growing this up an unsound or deteriorating wall.
9. Rosa ‘Gloriana’
This neat and healthy climber produces a spectacular show that is perfect for obelisks and short arches. Leaves are small but are produced in great number, which makes this much bushier than many other climbing roses. Flowers are an unmissable vibrant magenta and the blooms hold their colour well. What really separates this climbing rose from others, however, is its ability to produce flowers from low down on the plant, creating a pillar of colour from top to bottom. ‘Gloriana’ reaches about 3m in height.
10. Clematis ‘Rebecca’
‘Rebecca’ is the climber for a confined space, where its blooms will fill a gap with a sumptuous show of raspberry red. A neat grower, forming a pillar around 2.5m in height, consider it for an obelisk, short trellis or a sturdy wigwam attached to a large container. Placed in a sunny corner, it will produce its special blooms from June to September. Although the plant is shorter than many large-flowered clematis, the flowers can reach 18cm wide – they colour best when the plant is exposed to strong sun.
