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Climbers and scramblers
There are lots of very attractive creepers and climbing plants which deserve a place in the garden for their value for wildlife as well as their beauty. Ivy is the best, providing excellent cover, food for caterpillars, nectar and fruits, but is a bit inclined to get out of hand. Honeysuckle (native and exotic species) are very rewarding climbers and nearly as good as ivy, look for moths on them at night.
Another valuable but rather irresponsible climber is the humble bramble, but it is better to grow modern thornless varieties in a designated spot in a small garden. There are wild and many cultivated climbing roses worth considering, and of course many ornamental clematis. The native travellers' joy Clematis vitalba is a bit vigourous for a small garden. Non-native Clematis montana makes good woody cover habitat against a shed, Morning glory, cup-and-saucer vine, annual sweet pea and everlasting pea, climbing hydrangea and ornamental grapes are other worthwhile but non-native species.
Climbing plants are ideal for making a tedious larch-lap fence look beautiful, and you can use evergreen species like ivy as well as deciduous types. They also look great growing through a multi-species hedge.
Our recommended garden climbers Click on the pictures or links to go to the pages
Climbers and scramblers
There are lots of very attractive creepers and climbing plants which deserve a place in the garden for their value for wildlife as well as their beauty. Ivy is the best, providing excellent cover, food for caterpillars, nectar and fruits, but is a bit inclined to get out of hand. Honeysuckle (native and exotic species) are very rewarding climbers and nearly as good as ivy, look for moths on them at night.
Another valuable but rather irresponsible climber is the humble bramble, but it is better to grow modern thornless varieties in a designated spot in a small garden. There are wild and many cultivated climbing roses worth considering, and of course many ornamental clematis. The native travellers' joy Clematis vitalba is a bit vigourous for a small garden. Non-native Clematis montana makes good woody cover habitat against a shed, Morning glory, cup-and-saucer vine, annual sweet pea and everlasting pea, climbing hydrangea and ornamental grapes are other worthwhile but non-native species.
Climbing plants are ideal for making a tedious larch-lap fence look beautiful, and you can use evergreen species like ivy as well as deciduous types. They also look great growing through a multi-species hedge.
Our recommended garden climbers Click on the pictures or links to go to the pages
Garden Wildplants
Garden Wildplants
