Climbing plants not only green walls, fences or building facades, but are also a natural privacy screen. So that bare spots disappear quickly, the hobby gardener is best planting a fast-growing climbing plant and is spoiled for choice. Fast growing climbers can be annual or perennial. To make your choice easier, we have put together some fast-growing climbing plants for you.
climbing plants
Annual climbing plants
Climbing plants that are labeled annual cannot be overwintered as their lifespan ends in the fall. Nevertheless, many of these climbing plants develop wonderful flowers and a dense foliage during their short life. Since they do not need winter quarters, they are particularly suitable for balconies or terraces.
Plants from D to F
Sweet peas (Lathyrus)
Fast-growing sweet peas, also known as sweet or garden sweet peas, do not bear their name for nothing, because they exude an intense scent. The climbing plants can be cultivated outdoors or in pots. The climbing plants look particularly pretty when different shades, ranging from white to purple, are combined with each other.
- Growth height: up to 2 meters
- Planting time: from April
- Location: sunny and sheltered from the wind (avoid the blazing midday sun)
- Flowering period: June to August
Tip: The flowers of the climbing plants are also a real eye-catcher in the vase.
Yellow vetchling, Lathyrus laevigatus
Exploding Cucumber (Cyclanthera brachystachya)
Exploding cucumbers don't bear their name for nothing, as their small cucumbers explode to reproduce and thus spread the seed for meters. The fast-growing climber has inconspicuous flowers and yellow-green, medium-sized leaves. It can be kept as an outdoor or container culture.
- Growth height: up to 5 meters
- Planting time: from May
- Location: sunny
- Flowering time: summer
Tip: The small cucumbers of Cyclanthera brachystachya are edible.
Exploding cucumber, Cyclanthera brachystachya
Runner bean (Phaeolus coccineus)
Runner beans, also known as runner beans, have red flowers, from which the bean pods gradually form. The climbing plants are suitable for outdoor and container keeping.
- Growth height: up to 3.5 meters
- Planting time: from mid-May after the ice saints
- Location: sun to semi-shade
- Flowering period: June to September
Tip: The raw beans are poisonous and must therefore be cooked before consumption.
Runner beans, Phaseolus coccineus
Flamingo Flower (Dalechampia mathea)
These exotic climbing plants feature two pink leaves surrounding the inconspicuous flowers. Its medium-sized leaves provide good privacy.
- Growth height: up to 5 meters
- Planting time: from mid-May after the ice saints
- Location: sunny
- Flowering time: summer
Tip: The leaves of the flamingo flower have nettle hairs that can cause skin irritation.
Flamingo flower, Dalechampia mathea
Plants from G to K
Bell Vine (Cobaea scandens)
The bell vine, also called clawed or bell morning glory, captivates with its many bell-shaped flowers, which exude a honey-sweet scent. Cobaea scandens comes in white, yellow, pink, purple, or violet. The fast-growing climbing plant can be cultivated in a pot on the balcony or outdoors.
- Growth height: up to 8 meters
- Planting time: from mid-May after the ice saints
- Location: full sun
- Flowering period: July to October
Tip: The bell vine is an excellent food source for bees and butterflies.
Bell Vine, Cobaea scandens
Large nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus)
The nasturtium flowers in bright yellow, orange or red. When the flowers or leaves are harvested, Tropaeolum majus exudes a spicy scent. It can be cultivated outdoors or in a container.
- Growth height: up to 3 meters
- Planting time: from the end of May
- Location: sun to semi-shade
- Flowering period: May to October
Tip: Flowers and leaves are excellent additions to salads.
Nasturtiums, Tropaeolum
Japanese hop (Humulus japonicus)
With its 10 to 15 ten meter leaves, the fast-growing Japanese hop is an optimal privacy screen, as its foliage is one of the densest among climbing plants. But its flowers are rather small and simple. Humulus japonicus likes dry soil outdoors, but the fast-growing climbing plant should always be kept moist in pot culture.
- Growth height: up to 4 meters
- Planting time: from April
- Location: shadow
- Flowering time: summer
Tip: Outdoors, you should plan a distance of 60 centimeters between the climbing plants.
Japanese hop, Humulus japonicus
Climbing snapdragon (Asarina scandens)
The Climbing Snapdragon belongs to the Gloxinia bindweed (Asarina). The lifespan of the climbing plants is often stated as annual, but it can be overwintered indoors. The climbing plants are available in many colors, which is why there are often colorful mixtures in specialist shops.
- Growth height: up to almost 2 meters
- Planting time: mid-May to June
- Location: sunny
- Flowering period: May to October
Tip: Bring the climbing snapdragon inside before the first frost and it will often continue to flower until Christmas.
Climbing snapdragon, Asarina barclayana
Pumpkins (Cucurbita)
Pumpkins, including the popular Hokkaido squash, can also be grown as climbing plants. If they are offered a climbing aid, they quickly form a wall of leaves. And, depending on the variety, the fruits can be harvested in autumn.
- Growth height: 3 - 10 meters, depending on the variety
- Planting time: from mid-May after the ice saints
- Location: Sun or semi-shade
- Flowering time: June to November, depending on the variety
Tip: You don't need a garden to grow pumpkins. They also thrive in pots on the balcony.
Hokkaido squash, Cucurbita maxima
Plants from M to T
Mandevilla (Dipladenia)
The flowers of the climbing Mandevilla varieties, also known as Chilean jasmine, Diamanta, Sundaville or Tropidenia, are somewhat reminiscent of oleander flowers. The funnel-shaped flowers are white, pink, or red in color.
- Growth height: up to 5 meters
- Planting time: from mid-May after the Ice Saints until June
- Location: sunny and protected from rain
- Flowering period: May to October
Tip: Some climbing varieties can also be overwintered indoors.
Dipladenia, almond villa
Mock-up (Aristolochia)
Pipe flowers have very large, reddish-brown flowers in a bizarre funnel shape. Depending on the variety, the climbing plants can smell unpleasant or good. Its overlapping, heart-shaped leaves form an extremely dense canopy.
- Growth height: up to 6 meters
- Planting time: from mid-May after the ice saints
- Location: partial shade to shade
- Flowering time: June to autumn
Tip: Since Aristolochia is poisonous, it is better to avoid climbing plants in households with children.
Mock-up, Aristolochia
Morning Glory (Ipomomea)
There are over 650 species of the morning glory genus. The purple morning glory (Ipomoea purpurea) and the sky blue morning glory (Ipomoea tricolor) are cultivated as ornamental plants. The funnel-shaped flowers of the climbing plants are pink to violet. The fast-growing climbing plants can be cultivated in pots or outdoors.
- Growth height: at least 2.5 meters
- Planting time: from mid-May after the ice saints (hardening recommended)
- Location: sunny
- Flowering period: July to October
Tip: Since many types of morning glory are poisonous, you should not do without gloves when working with the climbing plant.
Morning glory, Ipomoea
Black-eyed Susan (Thunbergia alata)
The flowers of the black-eyed Susan have a large black eye in the middle, which sets the scene for the mostly orange-yellow flowers. Since it develops very strong roots, it needs a lot of space outdoors and a large pot in the container culture.
- Growth height: up to 2 meters
- Planting time: mid-May after the ice saints
- Location: sunny and sheltered from the wind
- Flowering period: May to October
Tip: With a growth of up to 20 centimeters per week, the black-eyed Susanne is truly a fast climber.
Black-eyed Susan, Thunbergia alata
morning glory (Ipomoea indica)
The usually blue flowers of morning glory only last one day. However, flowers keep coming, so that the sea of flowers never ends. Ipomoea indica tolerates calcareous soil, but can also be cultivated in a bucket on a balcony or terrace.
- Growth height: at least 3 meters
- Planting time: Spring (depending on the weather, protection against the cold is necessary)
- Location: sun to shade
- Flowering time: July to October (even before that, depending on the weather)
Tip: The fast-growing morning glory causes poisoning if consumed. Therefore, care should be taken in households with small children or pets.
Blue morning glory, Ipomoea tricolor
Perennial climbing plants
If climbing plants are perennial, this does not necessarily mean that they are hardy, because this information only refers to the possible lifespan of the plants. Therefore, you should not cultivate hardy climbing plants in tubs so that they can move to winter quarters for the cold season.
Plants from A to E
American trumpet climber (Campsis radicans)
The deciduous American trumpet vine has funnel-shaped yellow to brick-red flowers. The fast-growing self-climber tolerates temperatures down to minus 20 degrees Celsius.
- Height of growth: 5 to 10 meters, some varieties even more
- Planting time: late spring
- Location: sunny to semi-shady
- Flowering period: July to September
Tip: All parts of the plant are poisonous. Because it can cause skin irritation and reddening of the skin, you should always wear gloves when handling the plant.
Trumpet vine, Campsis radicans
Wisteria (Wisteria)
Wisteria, also known as wisteria or wisteria, forms flower clusters that are up to 50 centimeters long, depending on the variety. The colors of the flowers are white, blue or purple. With an annual increase of up to 150 centimeters, the wisteria is a truly fast-growing climbing plant.
- Growth height: 4 to 8 meters and more, depending on the variety
- Planting time: late spring
- Location: sun to semi-shade
- Flowering period: May to July
Tip: The wisteria must be cut regularly, otherwise damage to building facades can occur.
Wisteria, Wisteria
Ivy (Hedera helix)
The evergreen ivy grows tirelessly up the walls of houses and walls. In adulthood, it even develops small, yellowish-green flowers. The fruits of the ivy are inedible for humans, but are on the menu of many birds.
- Growth height: 20 meters and more
- Planting time: spring
- Location: sunny to shady
- Flowering time: autumn
Tip: To prevent the ivy from overgrowing everything, you should cut it regularly.
Ivy, Hedera helix
Plants from G to K
Honeysuckle (Lonicera)
Fast-growing honeysuckle, also known as honeysuckle, gives off an alluring scent that attracts bees, bumblebees and butterflies. The lush blooms shine in yellow or red. Depending on the variety, the climbing plants are evergreen or deciduous.
- Growth height: from 3 meters
- Planting time: early spring (frost-free soil)
- Location: Sun to semi-shade, depending on variety
- Flowering time: May to September, depending on the variety
Tip: With a trellis, the honeysuckle also thrives magnificently in the bucket.
honeysuckle, honeysuckle, lonicera
Maidenhair Vine (Parthenocissus)
Jungfernreben, also called fence vines or wild wine, have inconspicuous creamy white to slightly yellow flowers. After flowering, small, blue-black berries develop, reminiscent of grapes. Most varieties of the virgin vine shed their leaves after an impressive fall coloration.
- Growth height: up to 20 meters, depending on the variety
- Planting time: mid-May after the ice saints
- Location: sun to shade
- Flowering time: early or late summer
Tip: Jungle vines are an important food source for bees.
Trumpet vine, Campsis radicans
Climbing Hydrangea (Hydrangea petiolaris)
Climbing hydrangeas have large, white, panicle-shaped flowers. The hardy and urban climate-resistant climbing plants are good insect-feeding wood. After the autumn colours, the climbing plants shed their leaves.
- Growth height: 3 to 6 meters
- Planting time: early spring (frost-free soil)
- Location: sun to shade
- Flowering period: June to July
Tip: In the first two years, the climbing hydrangea should be supported, after which it will continue to climb without help.
Climbing Hydrangea, Hydrangea petiolaris
climbing rose
Climbing roses are suitable for arches, fences or trellises. Depending on the genus, climbing roses bloom once or several times a year. In winter, the plants need good winter protection at the foot, such as brushwood or spruce branches.
- Height of growth: 1.5 to 5 meters, depending on the variety
- Planting time: autumn
- Location: sunny to semi-shady (no extremely hot locations)
- Flowering time: late May to October, depending on the variety
Tip: In order for the climbing roses to climb, they have to be tied up.
climbing rose
Plants from P to W
Passion flowers (Passiflora)
There are over 530 species of the passion flower in a wide variety of colors. Since the climbing plants are only hardy in very mild regions, they should be kept in buckets. The fast-growing plant is evergreen and can be overwintered in a light spot indoors.
- Growth height: 10 to 12 meters
- Planting time: mid-May after the ice saints
- Location: sun
- Flowering period: April to September
Tip: If the climbing aid is connected to the planter, you do not need to unwind the climbing plants for the winter.
Passion flowers, Passiflora
Rose cup (Rhodochiton atrosaguineus)
The rose calyx, also called rose coat, rose dress, purple bell wine or purple bells, impresses with its long-lasting, scarlet flowers. In order to survive the German winter, the fast-growing climbing plant has to move to winter quarters during the cold season.
- Growth height: up to 2 meters
- Planting time: mid-May after the ice saints
- Location: full sun
- Flowering period: July to August
Tip: Prune the rose calyx before moving to winter quarters.
Rose cup, Rhodochiton atrosaguineus
clematis (clematis)
There are around 300 species of hardy clematis, also known as clematis. Depending on the variety, they are evergreen or deciduous. Clematis comes in a wide variety of flower colors, and the flower size also varies from variety to variety.
- Growth height: 2 to 8 meters, depending on the variety
- Planting time: from mid-May after the ice saints
- Location: sunny to semi-shady
- Flowering time: May to October, depending on the variety
Tip: To extend flowering, combine spring and summer flowering clematis varieties.
clematis, clematis
Grape Vines (Vitis)
Vines quickly climb up facades or climbing aids. Depending on the variety, vines grow up to three meters a year. There are different varieties of Vitis, so that green or blue grapes can be harvested in autumn.
- Growth height: 2 to 8 meters, depending on the variety
- Planting time: from April
- Location: sunny and sheltered
- Flowering time: April to early summer
Tip: Grape vines need to be pruned regularly.
Grapevines, Vitis