Climbing Plants -- Vertical Garden and Screen

Climbing plants are an invaluable helper for every gardener. Within a few seasons, they can cover an unsightly wall, create a living screen for privacy, green a pergola or arbor, and transform bare vertical surfaces into lush green walls. Many of them are also decorative thanks to beautiful flowering and stunning autumn leaf coloring.

You can find our complete range of climbing plants in the category climbing plants.

How Climbing Plants Grow

Not all climbing plants climb in the same way. The attachment mechanism to the support is a key factor when choosing the right structure -- an incorrectly chosen support can cause the plant to grow in an undesired direction or not attach at all.

Types of Attachment Mechanisms

• By adhesive discs (suction cups): Boston ivy, ivy. They form small adhesive discs on the ends of shoots, which adhere directly to the wall without any additional support. When torn off, they can damage plaster.
• By twining stems: Wisteria, kiwi, hop. The stem spirals around the support. They require stakes, posts, or ropes of sufficient strength.
• By tendrils: Clematis, pea. They form thin tendrils that grip onto a trellis, net, or wire.
• By leaning: Climbing roses, brambles. They have no specialized attachment mechanism -- they must be tied to the support.

How to Choose the Right Support

Most Popular Climbing Plants

Boston Ivy (Parthenocissus)

Boston ivy is a fast-growing and undemanding climbing plant, famous primarily for its stunning red autumn coloring. Two species are most commonly cultivated in gardens:

Virginia creeper (P. quinquefolia): Palmate compound leaves, fast growth, tolerates partial shade. It adheres to any surface with suction cups. Can reach 15--20 meters.

Japanese creeper (P. tricuspidata): Simple, three-lobed leaves closely adhering to the wall, creating a perfect green tapestry. Autumn coloring is even more intense than in the Virginia creeper.

Growing: Tolerates full sun and deep shade and is undemanding regarding soil. Grows quickly -- 1 to 3 meters per year. The only necessary maintenance is growth control, as left untrimmed it can cover an entire house including windows.

Ivy (Hedera)

An evergreen climbing plant that will green walls throughout the year and is the only commonly available evergreen climbing plant in Czech garden centers.

Common ivy (H. helix): Classic species with dark green, lobed leaves. It adheres with suction cups and tolerates deep shade. In the first years it grows slowly, then accelerates significantly.

Interesting varieties:
- 'Goldheart' -- green leaves with yellow centers
- 'Glacier' -- gray-green leaves with white edges
- 'Hibernica' (Irish ivy) -- larger leaves, faster growth

Growing: Prefers moist, humus-rich soil. May damage old and cracked plaster, on healthy facades it is safe. Fully frost-hardy.

Clematis (Clematis)

Clematis is the queen of climbing plants thanks to its beautiful, often large flowers in a wide color range.

Main groups:

• Large-flowered hybrids: Flowers 10--20 cm in colors from white through pink and blue to purple. They bloom from May to September depending on the variety.
• 'Nelly Moser' -- pink with dark stripe
• 'Jackmanii' -- deep purple, profusely flowering
• 'The President' -- deep blue
• Mountain clematis (C. montana): Small pink or white flowers in great quantity, blooming in May. Very vigorous growth, easily covers an entire pergola.
• Tangut clematis (C. tangutica): Yellow bell-shaped flowers, decorative silky fruits after flowering. Blooms from June to September, undemanding regarding location.

Growing: The rule is "head in the sun, feet in the shade" -- shade the base of the plant with a low perennial or stone. Clematis needs support: a trellis, net, or another climbing plant as a base. The pruning method differs significantly depending on the group and variety, so always consult specific instructions.

Wisteria (Wisteria)

Wisteria is among the most romantic climbing plants of all. Long flower clusters (30--50 cm) in purple, white, or pink are an unforgettable sight every year, attracting the attention of the entire surroundings.

Chinese wisteria (W. sinensis): Blooms before leafing out (April--May), clusters reach 20--30 cm. It twines counter-clockwise.

Japanese wisteria (W. floribunda): Longer clusters (up to 50 cm), blooming simultaneously with leafing. It twines clockwise.

Growing: Requires full sun, a warm and sheltered location -- ideally a south or west-facing wall. The support must be very sturdy, as a vigorous wisteria can eventually damage the roof covering. Prune twice a year: in summer shorten shoots to 5--6 buds, in winter to 2--3 buds. Expect first flowering only 3--7 years after planting.

Other Interesting Climbing Plants

• Climbing hydrangea (Hydrangea petiolaris): Climbing hydrangea with white flowers. Tolerates shade, ideal for north-facing walls. Slow start, then grows vigorously once established.
• Hop (Humulus lupulus): Extremely fast growth -- up to 6 m per season. The above-ground part dies back in autumn. The 'Aureus' variety offers decorative golden leaves.
• Kiwi vine (Actinidia): Relative of kiwi with edible fruits. A. kolomikta has striking pink and white-colored leaves and is fully frost-hardy.
• Sweet pea (Lathyrus odoratus): Annual with exceptionally fragrant flowers in various colors. Ideal for fences, trellises, or as a quick seasonal screen.

Vertical Garden -- Practical Solutions

Greening a House Wall

The choice of plant should always correspond to the facade's orientation:
- North-facing wall: Ivy, climbing hydrangea
- South-facing wall: Wisteria, clematis, grapevine
- East or west-facing wall: Boston ivy, clematis, kiwi vine

Living Screen for Privacy

If you need to create a screen as quickly as possible, follow these steps:
1. Install a wire or rope support at least 10 cm from the wall.
2. Plant Boston ivy or hop as the fastest-growing species.
3. For a year-round screen, combine ivy (evergreen) with Boston ivy (deciduous but dense).

Greening a Pergola and Arbor

Wisteria, clematis, and grapevine are classic choices for pergolas. By combining several species with different flowering times, you extend the decorative effect throughout the season -- for example, wisteria in spring, clematis in summer, and grapevine with autumn leaf colors in fall.

Check out our range of climbing plants and choose the right one for your garden.

FAQ -- Frequently Asked Questions

Can Climbing Plants Damage a House Facade?

Boston ivy and ivy attach with suction cups, which can damage older and cracked plaster. On modern, healthy facades, the risk is minimal. After removal, however, traces will remain visible. A reliable alternative is to install a wire support or trellis at a distance from the wall -- the plant then grows on the structure and doesn't touch the facade at all.

How Quickly Do Climbing Plants Cover an Entire Wall?

It depends on the species. Hop grows up to 6 m per season (its above-ground part, however, dies back in winter). Boston ivy grows 1--3 m per year and will cover a typical wall in 3--5 years. Ivy is slow in the first 2--3 years, then accelerates to 1--2 m per year. Wisteria and clematis grow at a medium pace.

Do I Need to Protect Climbing Plants in Winter?

Boston ivy, ivy, mountain clematis, and hop are fully frost-hardy throughout the Czech Republic. Wisteria may freeze in harsher regions -- it is recommended to protect the plant base with mulch. Large-flowered clematis varieties are mostly frost-hardy, but appreciate sheltered locations and light winter protection of the roots.

How Do I Combine Multiple Climbing Plants on One Support?

A proven combination is clematis intertwining with another climbing plant -- for example, Boston ivy as a green background, across which clematis winds with decorative flowers. A popular combination is also wisteria and clematis: wisteria blooms in spring, clematis takes over in summer, and in autumn the foliage shines. Make sure the species don't overgrow each other and don't compete for growth.