Are you looking for a cost-effective way to add some color to a wall, to cover it up or add privacy? Climbing plants are a great way to do just that! They often grow in small areas and require little maintenance producing great results. Before we dive deeper into these plants, here’s our list of the 7 fastest growing climbing plants to choose from:
- Wisteria
- Star jasmine
- Bougainvillea
- Boston ivy
- Crimson glory vine
- Passionfruit vine
- Mandeville
Why use climbing plants at your home?
Camouflage
Maybe you have a tired looking area outside your house that you’d rather hide than fix up. It sounds counterintuitive but fixing it up can cost thousands while getting a climber plant has very little cost. All you need is the plant, a pot if not space for planting and some time for it to grow.
A climber like a Bougainvillea can offer great coverage for any area. They also come in different colours, purple, orange and red flowers. However, be careful, if not kept in check, this plant will become a problem. You’ll need to trim it from time to time.
Privacy
Another great reason to use climber plants is to provide some privacy or separation between two areas. It can be some exterior structure outside that provides some privacy but not enough. Again, adding a plant to help cover up the area and provide additional privacy is a great idea. If it’s a wall that is too low where neighbors can look into your property, attach a wooden wall addition or even some wooden poles helping the plant to climb. Star Jasmine might be a great option to consider here.
Shade
My favorite climber would be a Passionfruit vine. This plant grows so easy if given the space making amazing flowers and fruits. You can create a pergola or lead the vine up any area to create a nice shading effect. Just keep in mind that like with any plant, you might need to do some upkeep. Depending on the age of the plant, some vines might grow old and start dropping leaves which can be a mess for a shading area.
It’s looks amazing
Boston Ivy can easily cover a wall an add some color to a boring area without any character. Best of all, as the seasons change, so does the color of the leaves and the feeling of your outside area. Not to mention some of the plants producing beautiful flowers, enough to brighten up any outdoor living space.
Look at the flowers produced by a Wisteria plant.
Tips for growing climbers correctly at your home
As with most plants, you need to consider the characteristics of each plant before considering which to choose for your house. Some plants prefer direct sunlight, others more shade, while some need semi-shade.
There are so many different varieties of plants, that it would be best to go to your local garden centre and ask the gardener which plant would be best suited for your house. Take note how much sun an area receives and the space available for the plant to grow.
When it comes to planting each vine, typically it is best to plant directly in the ground as this gives the plant all the room it needs to grow and reach its full potential. Alternatively, your house is smaller, or you don’t have direct ground garden space, you can purchase a big pot for the plant.
The larger the pot the better, add some fertile soil, compost, maybe some chicken manure and plant out the vine.
For more information on plants and waterwise garden layouts go here.
Houzz has an amazing article on adding character to a garden space which is a must-read if you consider adding plant to any outdoor area. You can read it here.
Source: https://www.homestolove.com.au/fast-growing-climbing-plants-1584