Many gardens feature some species of climbing plants.
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Who can resist the brilliant, vibrant colour of the orange flame vine or the heavenly scented perfume of the snail vine?
Flowering creepers provide shade for patios, porches, pergolas and decorating walls or fences and untidy buildings.
They are also useful for covering dead tree trunks and on paling fences, and can also be used as ground covers.
There are four main categories of climbers:
1. Climbers that bear hooks or prickles that curve downwards enabling long stems to take hold of nearby plants or objects such as roses or bougainvilleas.
2. Root climbers are those that are quick growing ensuing from long supporting stems. The roots wend their way into small cracks and joints of masonry and rough timber. Their chief function is one of mechanical support i.e. ivy, climbing fig and bignonia.
3. Tendril climbers are those that climb by means of their curling, thread-like tendrils i.e. grapevine and clematis.
4. Twiners are those in which the entire shoots coil around the support with direction of rotation being either clockwise or anti-clockwise, i.e. wisteria and honeysuckle.
To enhance your garden, plant a climber. When grown, the flowers are prolific and make a beautiful show.
When selecting climbers, exercise care when considering the size and growth of these plants as many can be vigorous in size while others are slow to grow.
Tamworth's climate, aspect and soil are suitable for most climbers.
Some examples of the many vines that are suitable for the Tamworth area include the coral vine, bignonia, clematis, cup and saucer vine, doxantha (cat's claw which is currently flowering), Ficus pumila, gelsemium (Carolina Jasmine), hoya (wax plant), ionicera (honeysuckle), Virginia creeper, pyrostegia (flame vine), solanum and the black-eyed Susan.
Flowering climbers bloom more profusely the following season after pruning. It is preferable to prune once the vines have finished flowering.
To enhance your garden, plant a climber. When grown, the flowers are prolific and make a beautiful show.
Until next time, happy gardening.