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Mixed Greening with Climbing Plants

Several climbing plants on one wall ~ is that possible? Can you create a multi-coloured wall garden? But of course ~ as long as the plants you choose thrive in the same conditions and can grow compatibly side by side without growing significantly into each other. It gets more complicated with the latter scenario when plants on the same support system and same section of wall intertwine. Here we'll share with you a few good plant combos and ways to combine them.

Clematis and roses on a wooden trellis
Clematis and roses on a wooden trellis

Side by Side and Intertwining

Various climbing plants -- be they woody perennials, herbaceous perennials, or annuals -- can easily co-existence on your facade. Maybe you've seen such combinations from display gardens, where various types of grapevines and roses, for example, grow happily side by side.

 

One has to be aware, however, of the growth habit and vigour of each of the plants, as the more vigorous climbers (silver lace vine (Fallopia baldschuanica), wisteria, clematis vitalba) will readily overgrow and smother the others. Pruning back the different plants with their individual requirements ('species-specific cut') becomes more difficult when their shoots have become intertwined. We recommend planting the plants in separate planting holes or well separated from each other in a planting trench. If there is only one planting hole available, it is best to keep the rootballs of the individual plants separated by root barriers.

Various climbing plants
Various climbing plants
Akebia and wild grapevine (unknown Vitis vinifera sp.)
Akebia and wild grapevine (unknown Vitis vinifera sp.)
Botanical display wall with climbing plants
Botanical display wall with climbing plants
Firewall greened with silver lace vine (Fallopia baldschuanica), Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia 'Engelmannii') and Dutchman's pipe (Aristolochia macrophylla) in autumn
Firewall greened with silver lace vine (Fallopia baldschuanica), Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia 'Engelmannii') and Dutchman's pipe (Aristolochia macrophylla) in autumn
Wisteria on the left; to the right on the gable: Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia 'Engelmannii'), woodbine/thicket creeper (Parthenocissus vitacea in autumn colour) and Dutchman's pipe (Aristolochia)
Wisteria on the left; to the right on the gable: Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia 'Engelmannii'), woodbine (Parthenocissus vitacea, with autumn colouring) and Dutchman's pipe (Aristolochia)

Leafy Plants and Flowering Plants

Some climbing plants have wonderfully lush foliage (resulting in high surface coverage) but are reticent when it comes to blooming. It makes sense then to combine the '5-star' leafy climbers with flowering friends. Most popular vines are the ivy (Hedera helix), Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia 'Engelmannii'), woodbine (Parthenocissus vitacea), Boston ivy (Parthenocissus tricuspidata) or the grapevine (Vitis vinifera), which are then combined with flowering annuals. These can be grown in separate pots, watered and fertilised separately, removed yearly in late autumn, and brought out again in spring for re-planting. Where large facades are greened with self-clinging climbers, flower (window) boxes can provide beautiful splashes of colour.

Mixed facade greening: ivy and honeysuckle
Mixed facade greening with ivy and honeysuckle
Grapevine and clematis 'Jackmannii' climbing along a housewall
Grapevine and clematis 'Jackmannii' climbing along a housewall
Ivy and rose
Ivy and rose
Nope, not a lush-leafing AND flowering plant in one, but grapevine and annual morning glory dancing as a climbing duo
Flowering and nonflowering (but lush-leaved) climbing plants in combination
Mixed greening with ivy and annual Thunbergia (Black-eyed Susan)
Mixed greening with ivy and annual Thunbergia (Black-eyed Susan)
Clematis intertwined with another climber
Clematis intertwined with another climber
Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia 'Engelmannii') and flower boxes
Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia 'Engelmannii') and flower boxes, Town Hall Quedlinburg / Saxony-Anhalt

Various Flowering Plants

A much loved and undeniable duo are the clematis and climbing roseAnnual climbers can also be easily combined. The art lies in coordinating their flowering times ~ so, chooding the species that allow for either a simultaneous blooming or one that is staggered.

Clematis and roses on a freestanding climbing trellis
Clematis and roses on a freestanding trellis
Annual morning glory (Ipomoea indica) and scarlet runner bean (Phaseolus coccineus)
Annual morning glory (Ipomoea indica) and scarlet runner bean (Phaseolus cockiness) on a downpipes
Small facade greening: ivy and various flowering plants in a planter
Small facade greening with ivy and various flowering plants in a planter box
Annual climbing plants: combo of black-eyed Susan and blue morning glory
Annual climbing plants (black-eyed Susan and blue morning glory) in combination