In the world of climbing plants there is no room for dreary facades, empty trellis arches or desolate pergolas. With a dense dress of leaves and a lavish abundance of flowers, the floral acrobats climb the provided climbing aids or manage the ascent on their own. The protagonists among the tireless climbers do not let the freezing frost stop them from their task, because they are completely hardy. Explore a selection of popular types and varieties here. These 10 climbing plants bloom perennial.
Hardy climbing plants
full sun
Species and cultivars for full sun locations - list of sun worshipers
On the south side of the house and garden, sun worshipers feel in good hands under the climbing plants. This is where the most hours of sunshine can be snagged at any time of the year, sparking a lavish blossom festival. In order to withstand the associated heat development in midsummer, climbing artists with tough qualities are in demand. So that floral acrobats bloom perennial, it is not enough that they are hardy. Short-term drought stress and scorching heat shouldn’t cause any problems for the plants either. The following types and varieties are ideal for greening south-facing facades, pergolas, fences and arbors.
Climbing Roses (Pink)
Climbing roses combine fabulous blooms with vigorous growth to green house walls, trellises and pergolas. Trellis or rope systems offer the thorny tendrils sufficient support. Some of the most beautiful varieties from the majestic rose family fulfill the task as a climbing maxi, preferably in full sun.
Climbing rose, pink
'Golden Gate'
- golden yellow, semi-double and gracefully ruffled flowers from June to October
'Santa'
- fiery red flowers from June to September, extremely heat tolerant
'Uetersen monastery rose'
- cream-colored, semi-double flowers appear several times per season
'Jasmina'
- Blooms profusely with double, violet-pink flowers from June to September
A novelty from the house of the famous German rose breeder Kordes inspires with opulently beautiful flowers, a seductive fragrance and a robust resistance to powdery mildew and blackspot. The pure white Climbing rose 'Hella' was not only awarded the ADR predicate but also the gold medal due to its convincing attributes.
In the bee-friendly garden, gardeners prefer climbing roses with single flowers. Filled rose petals are a feast for the eyes, but not for bees. Here there is no food for bumblebees, bees and butterflies to harvest because the pollen-producing stamens have been converted into record sheets. Furthermore, nectar-producing organs are inoperable or inaccessible to insects due to the dense petals. So that climbing plants are not a sham for pollinating insects, the focus is on varieties like the creamy white 'Bobby James' or the pink 'Bonny'.
American trumpet climber (Campsis radicans)
The American trumpet vine is endowed with all the qualities gardeners want in a climbing plant. Adhesive roots ensure a good hold on any climbing aid. A decorative foliage of green feather leaves hides unsightly masonry and sober fences from view. From July to October, colorful trumpet flowers, up to 8 cm long, tower above the leaves, which gather in dense racemes. The picturesque spectacle of flowers is repeated over a number of years, as the plants are hardy. Should the shoots freeze back in the freezing frost, it is not a tragedy. Just in time for the beginning of the warm season, the tendrils sprout again with fresh buds.
- Growth height: 600 to 1200 cm
Trumpet vine, Campsis radicans
Japanese wisteria 'Blue Dream' (Wisteria floribunda)
One of the strongest-growing climbing plants immigrated to Central Europe from Asia, and its breathtaking abundance of flowers inspires. With a rapid rate of 70 to 150 cm per year, Japanese wisteria conquers facades, fences and arches. From May to July, imposing clusters of flowers up to 50 cm long captivate everyone who sees them. The sunnier the location, the more opulent the floral splendor. However, the tremendous growth potential should not be underestimated. Sturdy climbing frames and regular pruning are essential to keep the growth rocket in check. Thanks to its Asian origin, the lush climbing artist has a robust frost hardiness in its luggage, so that it blooms perennial.
- Growth height: 400 to 800 cm
Wisteria, Wisteria
sun and partial shade
Climbing plants for sunny to semi-shady locations
The vast majority of flowering climbing plants prefer a sunny to partially shaded location. In these locations, the sun shines in the morning hours or in the late afternoon and early evening. These advantageous lighting conditions are guaranteed on the west and east side of the house and garden or along a fence with a north-south orientation. There should be at least 4 hours of sunshine a day during the vegetation period so that the climbers can put on their blossoms. The following species and varieties are hardy and bloom perennial in a sunny to partially shaded location.
Honeysuckles (Lonicera)
The genus of honeysuckles gives us a colorful array of attractive climbing plants, all of which are hardy and bloom perennial. You have the choice between evergreen and deciduous species, different flowering times and beautiful flower colours. What they all have in common is the talent for climbing dizzy heights, provided a trellis is available. The following list provides you with recommended varieties and their outstanding attributes.
honeysuckle, honeysuckle, lonicera
Repens
- white-yellow flowers from April to June
- evergreen foliage
- Growth height: 200-400 cm
The longer you prefer
- yellow-white-red-pink flowers from May to July and coral red berries in autumn
- Growth height: 400-600 cm
gold flame
- fragrant purple-red flowers, golden yellow inside, from June to September
- Growth height 300-600 cm
An evergreen honeysuckle is native to the forests of Asia and is also fully hardy north of the Alps. The wildly romantic species with the name Lonicera henryi shines with yellow-red flowers from June to July and has dark green leaves all year round.
clematis (clematis)
The queen of climbing plants should not be missing from this overview. The clematis really deserves this title, as a view of the sea of flowers proves, with which the climbing beauty embellishes any climbing aid from the house wall to the tree. The most important prerequisites for vital growth are a sunny location for the densely leafy tendrils and a shady base. Clematis already have the appropriate frost hardness for a lasting vitality by nature. Be inspired by the following selection of legendary clematis varieties.
clematis, clematis
'Rubens'
- light pink bowl flowers in May and June
- strong growth up to 800 cm in height
'Madame LeCoultre'
- white, large-flowered clematis blooms from June to September
- Climbing height up to 300 cm
'The President'
- Classic with huge crimson flowers from May to September
- Growth height up to 400 cm
'Purpurea Plena Elegans'
- late flowering from July to October with double, crimson flowers
- up to 400 cm in height
If you look out for the ideal clematis for socializing with climbing roses, the premium variety will bring you the best 'Royal Velor' in the game. The velvety red flowers, up to 10 cm in size, harmonize wonderfully with double and single rose blossoms. The long, common flowering period from June to October is another argument for the creative combination of both climbing plants.
We do not want to deprive you of clematis with restrained growth for cultivation in tubs with integrated climbing aids. The successful breeding 'Josephine' perseveres at a climbing height of 200 to 250 cm to display its double, multicolored flowers. Mauve pink petals unfurl at the beginning of the flowering period in May. During the summer, the color changes to an elegant purple. Dark pink stripes adorn the petals until the end of the flowering period in September. Although all climbing clematis are hardy, pot cultivation requires light winter protection. The root ball is in an exposed position, making it vulnerable to frost.
Climbing Hydrangeas (Hydrangea anomala and Hydrangea petiolaris)
The greening of vertical surfaces always causes headaches when light is scarce at the location. Thanks to the climbing hydrangeas, problem solving becomes a creative pleasure. Like all garden hydrangeas, hydrangea species with climbing tendrils prefer to flower in semi-shade or light shade. As climbing plants, hydrangeas are particularly hardy and only freeze back in very severe frosts. The following two varieties have emerged as recommendable in this regard.
Climbing Hydrangea, Hydrangea petiolaris
'semiola'
- Self-clinging with white flowers from June to August, evergreen foliage
- with a growth height of 250 to 300 cm
Hydrangea petiolaris
- vigorous species up to 600 cm in height
- with pure white bowl-shaped flowers in June and July
Both climbing plants from the Hydrangea genus do not need a climbing frame. With the help of their adhesive roots, climbing hydrangeas conquer walls, pergolas and trees in no time at all. In facade greening, this property can cause problems because the adhesive organs grow into cracks in the wall. Experts therefore recommend installing a rope system on house walls for reasons of caution, which keeps the tendrils at a distance.
Climbing Knotweed (Fallopia baldschuanica)
The sky storm among the climbing plants gains between 100 and 300 cm in height every year. Its frost hardiness reaches down to - 30 degrees Celsius at an advanced age. The white panicles of flowers therefore not only appear once from July to September, but bloom for several years. The creeper species is nicknamed "architect's consolation" because optical defects in the masonry are concealed under the dense foliage. Opinions differ on the possible height of growth. The information ranges from 800 to 2000 cm.
Climbing knotweed, Fallopia baldschuanica
Winter jasmine (Jasminum nudiflorum)
Winter flowering vines are few and far between in the plant kingdom. The yellow flowers of winter jasmine therefore cause a sensation in the middle of the cold season. In mild wine-growing regions, the yellow dabs of color bloom from December to March. In areas with a harsher climate, they still enjoy climbing aids up to a height of 300 cm from February to March. Garden beginners appreciate that the climbing winter beauties thrive in any normal soil and also like to be in the limelight in large tubs. Experts attest Jasminum nudiflorum a frost hardiness of -17.7 degrees Celsius, so that the unique climbing plants bloom for several years in the sheltered location.
Winter jasmine, Jasminum nudiflorum
Chinese cricket (Schisandra chinensis)
For gardeners with a penchant for rare climbing plants, the Chinese ramskin is intended. In Asia, the creeper has a long tradition because its pretty flowers turn into tasty and healthy berries. From May to June, white-pink flowers adorn the up to 600 cm high plant, accompanied by 10 cm long, oval and shiny green ornamental leaves. A seductive fragrance heralds the Asian rarity from afar. The red berries can be harvested in September and October. They are called the five-flavor fruit because they taste sweet, sour, pungent, bitter, and salty all at the same time. The exotic appearance of Schisandra chinensis belies the plant's hardiness and perennial flowering.
Chinese cricket, Schisandra chinensis
Finger-Leaf Climbing Cucumber (Akebia quinata)
A feast for the senses concludes this overview of hardy climbing plants. The tropical, woody climbing cucumber boasts a variety of attributes. It owes its middle name "chocolate wine" to the seductive scent of its reddish-brown female and pink-colored male flowers, which appear from April to May. The palmate leaves adorn the climbing plant incessantly in mild winters. The combination of a dark green upper side and a blue-green underside is decorative and creates a pretty effect when it is windy. The bizarrely shaped, purple fruits not only set beautiful accents in autumn, but are also edible. A winter hardiness of up to - 20.6 degrees Celsius is remarkable, so that the tropical creepers also bloom and bear fruit north of the Alps for several years.
- Growth height: 800 to 1200 cm
Fingerleaf Akebia, Climbing Cucumber, Akebia quinata