Climbers

Climbing plants are excellent for covering or decorating walls, fences, pergolas, arches and arbours. They are also very good screening plants in areas where trees and shrubs are too large. Don looked at a typical range of climbers available right now at nurseries throughout Australia.

Happy Wanderer (Hardenbergia violacea 'Happy Wanderer')

Australian native twining plant which is not overly vigorous but will cover a fence or trellis. It has leathery, dark green leaves and pea-shaped purple flowers in late winter and spring. There are also white, pink and mauve flowered forms of hardenbergia available. Happy Wanderer likes a well-drained soil in sun or part shade, and it will grow in all areas of Australia.

Wonga wonga vine (Pandorea pandorana)

A vigorous, fast growing Australian native climber. The tubular flowers are usually creamy white with a rosy throat. There is a form with gold and brown flowers called Golden Showers (Pandorea pandorana 'Golden Showers'), and a white form called Snowbells (Pandorea pandorana 'Snowbells'). Pandoreas prefer well-drained friable soils with adequate moisture in summer. Golden Showers and Snowbells grow well in most areas of Australia, except for the mountainous zones.

Bower of Beauty (Pandorea jasminoides)

Moderately vigorous Australian climber. Its flowers are pink or white with a maroon throat. Lady Di (Pandorea jasminoides 'Lady Di') is a cultivar which has white flowers with yellow throats. Lady Di does best in the warmer areas of Australia.

White Potato Creeper (Solanum jasminoides)

A vigorous, evergreen or semi-evergreen twiner from Brazil. It has white flowers with yellow stamens in summer and autumn, followed by purple black berries. It prefers a warm, sunny position and will grow well in most areas of Australia, except for cold mountainous zones.

Further information

To find out more about the wonderful climbers available at the moment, visit your local nursery. The horticulturists there can advise you on the right climber for your particular climate and situation.

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