You are here: > Home > How to... > Grow specific plants for your garden or kitchen > Climbers for covering the house (and elsewhere) > 2. Clinging plants

Plants and gardening special offers from Gardening Direct

Gardening Direct

Plants, seeds and more

Blooming Direct

Blooming Direct

Previous page | Next page

2. Clinging climbing plants



Although these can get out of hand, you don't have to climb up to bring them back to earth. Just cut through major stems at a low level and let them put out new shoots from there.


Because ivies can withstand poor and dry soils, they are ideal for planting at the base of a house wall. Ivies cling onto rough surfaces with ease, but can loosen poor material so only choose these plants for walls in good condition.


Large-leaved types romp up walls, but can be just as quickly ripped down by high winds, whereas the small-leaved compact types mince their way upwards and outwards. A browse through a brochure will illustrate the choice of vigour, leaf shape and colour available.


Another clinger is the climbing hydrangea. It loses its leaves in winter, but shows off with large creamy-white flowerheads in early summer.


Boston ivy (Parthenocissus tricuspidata unrelated to the ivies above) and Virginia creeper are also able to support themselves. They're grown for their rich autumn colours, but are only suitable for those of you with 50 foot or more of wall to spare, unless you're happy to nip them in the bud.


Previous page | Next page

Garden Buildings Direct image

5% off sheds and storage if £150+ spent at Garden Buildings Direct. Use code: SAVEFIVE

Garden Buildings Direct

Furniture and more from Raw Garden

Raw Garden

Comment on '2. Clinging plants'

  Email address

  Name

  Website http://...(optional)

Type into the empty box (below) the four letters you can see.

If the letters are difficult to read, click on the blue arrows for a new set.



See our privacy statement


stars-character