Gardening with Margaret Matthews
Wonderful Wanderers — Part 2
Last month we wrote about the many uses of climbing plants in the garden. Now it is time to decide what to grow and where.
Native climbers
PANDORA
These twining plants are among the most hardy and versatile climbers for the home garden. There are five species; the two most widely planted are described below.
P pandorana: This useful climber grows quickly to six metres and has a dense habit of growth, useful for concealing ugly buildings and can also be clipped into a hedge. It is less floriferous than other species, but has creamy-white flowers in summer with a red flush to the throat. It is not as tolerant of frost as other forms, so plant in a protected position. If it does get cut by frost, it will most likely recover quickly in spring.
P jasminoids: An attractive, fast-growing evergreen climber with glossy leaves. Grows to about six metres and in summer is covered with a profusion of creamy white funnel-shaped flowers with a reddish-brown speckled throat.
Both these climbers will thrive in a wide variety of climatic conditions and soils and withstand long periods with little artificial watering.
KENNEDIA
This is a dependable family of native climbers, all of which are very free flowering and drought resistant. (Some species, K Nigrecans and K macrophylla, are examples that have been known to disappear after a severe drought and emerge again after rain. They are very attractive to birds, as they produce nectar. Kennedias are well suited to native gardens and they are fast growing and trouble free.
SOLLYA FUSIFORMI (S heterophylla) is another native plant known as the Blue Bell creeper. An evergreen, it grows to a height of about two metres, so is ideal for a situation requiring a small climber. A native to Western Australia, this plant has small leaves and a twining habit. As its common name implies, it has clusters of small blue flowers, although pink and white forms are now also available. Sollyas are very compatible with exotics and fit into most gardens.
There are more native climbers, but I have chosen the above as examples of easy growing and drought resistant species. Any good nursery, but especially one devoted to Australian plants, will introduce you to many other attractive climbers.
Exotic climbers
ROSES
Roses are the first name that comes to mind; they fit into so many gardens. Every year sees the introduction of more and more hybrids and cultivars of existing species, so that it really needs a visit to a specialist rose nursery to make the most informed choice of climbers for your garden.
Personally, my choice would still favour the older tried and true roses that I know from experience have the qualities that make them specially loved and cherished. However, these days there are many considerations. So, what do we look for when choosing climbing roses?
First, size is important. Do you need a climber or a rambler? A climber may vary in height from two to say six metres. Ramblers are not only more vigorous, but can be much larger than a climber. Their uses might include covering walls of an unsightly old shed or outbuilding. Last month I wrote about the importance of strong supports, and this certainly applies to ramblers. Other considerations are colour, form, foliage, susceptibility to black spot, other viruses and pests, length and frequency of flowering and, last but not least, perfume.
There are some small climbers that can be grown in a container on, say, a balcony or anywhere space is at a premium. At the present time a wealth of container roses will be coming into bloom in your local nursery. Do go and browse, but take a check list with you and don’t get too carried away!
Finally, what about watering? In a drought free winter when roses are dormant, there is little need for artificial watering. If roses are pruned in July, they should receive their first feeding for the year in late August (this is based on Melbourne’s climate). From early September, they may need some watering during spring, but this may not be necessary if we have average rainfall. During summer they will need a weekly watering, making sure that mulch or groundcovers do not impede water reaching the roots. There is no need for additional sprinklings during the week. Even if restrictions are not in place, a hose in the hand is by far the best way of ensuring water reaches the roots.
OTHER NON-AUSTRALIAN CLIMBERS
The following list of non-Australian climbers is by no means complete. It is important to match your choice of climber with your style of garden. All the climbers named are hardy and not too dependent on water.
CLEMATIS
Clematis come in many different styles and can be deciduous or evergreen. The flowers can be in various forms, singly or in clusters, in various colours. They all like to have their feet in the shade and their heads in the sun. So use mulch, groundcovers, or pebbles or rocks to keep the roots cool. The only clematis that are not hardy or reliable are the beautiful large-flowered cultivars which can drop dead without warning. Plant them if you will, but be prepared for disappointment.
GRAPE VINES (Vitus)
You may elect to have vines bearing grapes, or the purely ornamental kind with their gloriously coloured leaves. They are ideal for trellises and pagodas, providing excellent shade in summer. You may complain about the leaves falling in autumn, but they make wonderful mulch.
HONEYSUCKLE (Lonicera)
There are several delightful forms of this old-fashioned sweet-smelling twining plant. They belong in a cottage or informal garden and will cover low fences or can be trained into a hedge.
JASMINE
There are at least 15 species of jasmine classed as climbers. There are both evergreen and deciduous varieties and many are named from the regions whence they came, such as Madagascar, Azores, Africa, East London, etc. Chinese Star jasmine is one of the most useful and popular of these. Most are sweetly scented (some, indeed, too strong for delicate noses!) and are mostly white, yellow or pale pink.
KIWI FRUIT (Chinese gooseberries)
You need both sexes and plenty of space for these versatile fruits to succeed. Not only are they delicious, but they are a rich source of Vitamin C.
LABURNUM vossi
This is actually a small deciduous tree. It is often grown as a creeper, to cover a trellis where several plants would be required. In a small garden, a plant could be trained to frame an archway, or cover a small pagoda. In early spring, racemes of golden pea-shaped flowers hang from the branches like golden wisteria.
PASSION FRUIT
They never go out of fashion, and if they have sun, space and lots of tucker, will reward you with many delicious fruits. Perhaps you may need to replace them with a new plant after several years.
SOLANUM
This is a large family of plants. You will certainly know S jasminoides, our old friend the potato vine. (Did you know that tomatoes and potatoes are also members of this family, which includes the deadly nightshade?) Solanuns need frequent and severe pruning after flowering. They are fairly frost tolerant but if affected by frost should not be pruned back until the danger is over. These creepers have grown in popularity because they are so tough. If you wish to cover a fence or screen an unsightly view, this is a good choice. There are two very attractive cultivars: Bower of Beauty and Lady Di have pink and cream flowers respectively.
WISTERIA
If you have room and strong support it is hard to pass over these old climbers which are covered in glory every spring. There are Chinese and Japanese forms, the latter having longer racemes. There is the well-known lavender-blue, the starry white and a rather wishy-washy pink. Make sure your plant is grown from a cutting and not from seed, or you may wait for 10 or more years for flowers. If you purchase an advanced plant in spring, when it is in flower, you will have no problems. Or, a cheaper alternative is to ask a friend for a cutting.
Do you remember Tom Garnett, former headmaster of Geelong Grammar School, once the owner of the beautiful Garden of St Erth at Blackwood, and a former editor of ‘The Age’ gardening pages? Some years ago he wrote a delightful book, ‘Stumbling on Melons’, which may be out of print, but is sure to be in your local library. Tom Garnett expressed the opinion that climbing plants need a year or two to reach their full potential. This supports my view that time is one of the most important elements in any garden, and one over which we have no control.
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