Climbing plants are a magnificent sight in the garden and inspire even in the pot with their fascinating growth. While ivy only blooms when mature and climbing spindles have fruit and perennial adhesive roots, there are also blooming annual and perennial climbing plants that want to seduce with colorful flowers and an intense scent. They can decorate the house wall, be used as a privacy screen or to attract insects.
climbing plants
Climbing plants are more than just ivy
Although the ivy with its flowers from an age of more than ten years is also one of the perennial climbing plants, which is also fast-growing, there are so many species that do not experience enough limelight. If you want to enjoy tropical flowers, you should choose passion flowers, while the Japanese hop with its five-fingered leaf can also grow in the shade. There are numerous climbing plants that are suitable for gardens, house walls, trellises or as a container plant and accentuate the garden with their flowering splendor. They are either perennial or annual, even evergreen climbing plants that can be perfectly integrated into the garden or on the balcony.
Ivy, Hedera helix
Perennial species
Seven perennial species for artistic garden projects
The majority of the climbers available in Germany are perennial and the majority of them hardy and therefore well suited for cultivation in home gardens. Decorative growth forms and bright flowers present themselves and even enchant with wonderful scents that immediately hit the nose on long summer evenings. It is fascinating to see how different the plants are in their properties and no two are alike. This is why they are so popular with gardeners, in parks, gardens and landscaping, as they can be a screen that can grow for decades or be a solitary container plant that draws everyone's attention.
blackberries
Blackberries (Rabus section Rabus) are not only known for their berries, but also for their flowers, which are popular with bees and other pollinators. They love to be in the sun and need a rhizome barrier because they sprout strongly and can take over the garden. The best location is against a wall, sheltered from the wind, and the trellis should be about two meters high with about five taut wires for the plant to climb. While you can enjoy the blooms in summer, the fall harvest is a highlight.
blackberries
banderilla
Banderilla is also known as Dipladenia and this tropical dogbane loves full sun and is not hardy, but is a perennial. Of the four species available in Germany, only Mandevilla laxa is winter hardy down to -10°C. The other varieties cannot withstand this and have to be overwintered.
- Dipladenia Mandevilla sanderi
- Mandevilla boliviensis
- Mandevilla x amabilis
The large flowers of the Dipladenia in white to pink and the dense, local growth make this climbing plant from South America the perfect exotic. A highlight of the plant are the loops at the end of the shoots that show up in summer, followed by beautiful blooms that would fit perfectly in a Mediterranean garden.
Dipladenia
Bougainvillea
Bougainvillea is also a tropical exotic that is perfect for keeping in a bucket. The triplet has numerous varieties and these can all be grown in pots as long as they have a bright, cool and wind-protected winter quarters. It can easily be kept on the balcony and prefers lots of sun and warmth. It forms large numbers of white, yellow or blue-purple flowers that can be used as stunning focal points. Keeping the plant in a bucket requires a trellis, made of bamboo, for example.
triplet flower
passion flowers
Passiflora was given the name because Christian missionaries were reminded of the Passion of Jesus Christ by the flower, which looks very peculiar compared to the European flowers. However, the blue Passiflora caerulea is particularly popular in Germany. This perennial plant sheds all of its leaves in winter, but can safely be brought through the cold season with a strong winter shelter of foliage and wood shavings near other hardy shrubs. The highlight of her is her lush flowers and the possibility of growing them in pots.
passion flowers
clematis
Clematis or clematis are a species-rich genus of buttercups that are enthusiastically planted because of their flowers. It comes in many colors and growth heights and is one of the few climbing plants that not only likes sun but also shade. This mainly refers to the foliage, which likes it sunny, while the roots love shade. This should be taken into account at the location, otherwise the growth will suffer. They also form tendrils and are therefore often attached to walls, arches or overhangs. Some of the prettiest clematis species for the garden are the following.
- Clematis Apollonia
- Clematis Ashva
- Clematis Alpina
clematis
Wild Wine
The Virginia creeper or Vitis vinifera is a vine that is one of the strong runners and must be kept in check with a rhizome barrier. The Virginia creeper becomes lignified over the years and can reach heights of five to an incredible 40 meters if it is not pruned. This climbing plant can actually be attached anywhere, is fast-growing and likes to spread out. The leaves of the self-climbing plant are reminiscent of grapevines, can reach an age of over 50 years and, like ivy, without the necessary pruning care, it quickly becomes a problem for facades and other trees. The numerous small flowers are close together and stand out strongly against the green of the leaves.
Wild Wine
star jasmine
Trachelospermum is an evergreen, woody climbing plant that forms lianas and easily withstands winter temperatures down to -5°C in Germany. The Asian tropical plant secretes a milky sap that is popular with insects. In addition to lots of sun and high humidity, winter quarters are necessary if you live in the colder regions of Germany. Unique and popular with star jasmine are the white flowers, which are shaped like a pinwheel and when it grows extremely luxuriantly, the relationship to the oleander is clearly recognizable. Star jasmine is simply a splendor in the garden, which can also be kept in the bucket with a suitable trellis.
star jasmine
Notice: When keeping a perennial climbing plant, always make sure to cut it regularly and choose the right location. In this way you can prevent overgrowth and damage to trees or facades that serve as a base for perennial climbing plants.
Annual species
Four annual climbing plants with that certain something
The annual climbing plants also have beautiful species that are not as common as the perennial climbers, but enchant with their own kind. Compared to the perennial plants, their flowers are not as pronounced and a little smaller, but you never run the risk of becoming overgrown with these species. They die off in the winter and can be grown again the following year. On the other hand, they sprout extremely vigorously over the spring and summer and can take on attractive sizes within a short time.
Nasturtium
This annual climbing plant is easy to care for and can often be found in Germany. The plant can easily be grown in tubs, is quite undemanding and inspires in summer with an appealing number of flowers that are presented in warm colors. The medicinal plant of the year 2013 was the nasturtium. The styles have a pungent taste made over that contained mustard oils. The cress can climb perfectly over a climbing aid and even become very high as a result. She doesn't need any fertilizers and the buds lie between the leaves like in a flower bed.
Nasturtium
sweet peas
Sweet peas (Vicia) attract attention from afar with their lush flowers. As annual herbaceous climbing plants, it forms small flowers in different colors and likes to wind itself up on other plants or via climbing aids and trellises on walls or fences. In addition, there are the lathyurs, also vetches, which are also a climbing plant, but do not grow as luxuriantly and tall. Known as sweet peas, they love sun and are also annuals. Its aroma is uniquely intense and makes the plant a pleasant fragrance accent in the garden.
sweet peas
Notice: Since the two plant species are called wicken in German, you must pay attention to the botanical name before buying. With Vicia you get a fast-growing climbing plant, with Lathyrus you get a slow-growing climbing plant with an intoxicating scent.
Black-eyed Susanne
Black-eyed Susanne is an annual climbing plant that likes to be kept in pots and, as the name suggests, has black eyes. The orange-yellow petals stand out in stark contrast to the purple corolla tube, which appears black due to the shape. The plant comes from South Africa and can be grown anew every year with plenty of sun and a climbing aid and promises a pleasant number of flowers and fast growth.
Black-eyed Susanne
climbing roses
More than 70 species of rambler roses and climbing roses are united in the group of climbing roses, which, despite their strong growth, do not represent a perennial group. Depending on the species, sizes of up to ten meters in height and width are reached, which happens especially with the rambler roses. Classic climbing roses usually remain smaller, but bloom more often in the year. Climbing roses are often used as a design element for archways, facades and other elements in the garden and pamper the senses with their gentle fragrance and the rose blossoms, which have a romantic effect. When it comes to climbing roses, you are spoiled for choice.
climbing roses