What are the 10 best climbing plants?
Light growing climbers for hot, dry Mediterranean-type conditions.
Billardiera cymosa Sweet Apple Berry
Twining, slender plant, small blue-purple bell-shaped flowers in late spring, followed by long narrow ¾ inch, 2cm long green berries. Widely planted. From Australia.
Clematis microphylla Old Man’s Beard or Small-leaved Clematis
Foliage consists of 6 or 9 leaflets in a leaf. The plant is dioecious, male and female flowers on different plants. Cream flowers in spring present a good show on both, followed on the female with seed clusters and fluffy white appendages to aid seed dispersal. From Australia
Hardenbergia comptoniana Native Wisteria
Distinguished by its compound 3 leaflet leaves, purple-blue pea flowers in winter and spring. A low-growing climber that responds well to hard pruning. From Australia.
Hardenbergia violacea Happy Wanderer, Purple Coral-Pea
Popular, low-growing climber, sometimes small shrub, with single-pointed leaves, and purple flowers, flowering profusely in spring. Also available in pink and white-flowered varieties. From Australia.
Hibbertia scandens Snake vine
Beautiful species with dark green leaves, and large yellow flowers in spring. Prefers warmth and a well-drained position. From Australia.
Lonicera japonica Japanese Honey Suckle
A vigorous climbing plant, from China and Japan, has fragrant, white, tubular flowers changing to pale yellow, in spring, and summer. Can be a weed problem in cooler, moist areas. Varieties are available with gold veins in leaves and more flowers.
Pandorea pandorama Wonga-vine
Strong growing climber, will tolerate some cold, distinguished by its compound shining leaves, bronze-colored new growth. Cream-white flowers with purple spots inside. From Australia.
Passiflora edulis Purple Passion-fruit
Well-known passion fruit from Brazil, likes warmth and frost-free, glossy leaves with 3 lobes, white flowers with purple margins. Need two or more plants to ensure fruit set.
Phaseolus caracalla Snail-flower
A beautiful climber that likes warmth and a frost-free site, from India. Fragrant large flowers shaped like a snail, purple changing top yellow. The same genus as the cultivated scarlet runner bean has bean-like leaves and its main shoots twine to aid climbing.
Solandra maxima Chalice-vine
A climber from Mexico, with big leaves, thick stems, and large cream trumpet-shaped flowers in winter and spring. For larger gardens and parks but can be kept smaller by pruning after flowering. Partly deciduous in cold districts.
Trachelospermum jasminoides Chinese Star Jasmine
Popular attractive climber, from South China, fragrant white 5 petal star-shaped flowers in clusters in summer. Generally, has foliage to ground level. Will tolerate full shade.
Additional resources: How to plant a tree. (environmentalsciencepro.com)
Author’s website https://environmentalsciencepro.com
References:
International Plant Names Index International Plant Names Index (ipni.org)
Lord, E. E. (1978). Shrubs and Trees for Australian Gardens (4th Ed.). Adelaide, S.A.: Lothian Publishing Co Pty Ltd. Book.
Plants of the World Online (POWO) Plants of the World Online | Kew Science
