What are climbers and wall shrubs?
Climbers are plants that have evolved methods such as twining stems, tendrils, stem roots and sticky pads, to enable them to grow through shrubs, trees or up vertical surfaces such as cliff faces to reach more light. In our gardens we can grow them up all kinds of vertical features, from walls, fences and trellis to arches, obelisks and pergolas.
Many climbers can develop a framework of permanent woody stems, such as wisteria and campsis, while others die down in winter and re-sprout in spring, such as golden hops.
Wall shrubs, by contrast, aren’t natural climbers. If left to their own devices, they would bush outwards and grow like shrubs often with lax, spreading stems. They can easily be trained onto supports to add colour and interest to bare walls and fences, while often benefiting from this more sheltered setting. Many of these plants can be long lived, .
Climbing annuals are fast and fun to grow, and complete their lifecycle in a single year. They grow rapidly from seed sown in spring, flower abundantly in summer, then die once they set seed and temperatures drop in late autumn. They include sweet peas and morning glory.
Choosing the right climbers and wall shrubs
There is a huge range for you to choose from, with plants to suit every aspect, from shade to full sun, and most types of soil. See our guide to assessing your conditions.
Many are hardy, although wall shrubs are often grown in this way because they need the shelter and warmth of a sunny wall.
There are also plenty of tender or half-hardy climbers with vibrant, exotic blooms, for growing as a temporary splash of summer colour or as conservatory plants.
When buying a wall plant, bear in mind the amount of room you have available. Even though they don’t take up much space on the ground, some can grow vigorously, both vertically and horizontally. Check plant labels for their eventual height and spread.
All wall shrubs and many climbers need a system of sturdy wires or trellis for support, which should be put in place before planting. Wall shrubs need tying to these supports regularly as they grow. Some climbers will cling securely to wires or trellis using their tendrils, such as grapevines and passionflowers, while others need tying in, such as climbing roses. Only a few climbers are able to attach themselves directly to vertical surfaces – ivy, campsis and Virginia creeper are examples.
Getting the right look
Wall plants are great for adding colour and interest to walls, fences and other vertical features. You can also let climbers scramble through other shrubs, or even up into trees, to add extra interest.
They come in all shapes, sizes and styles, so you’re sure to find plenty to fit your requirements. There are various options to consider to help narrow down your choices:
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Eventual size
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Colour (and fragrance) of flowers and foliage
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Season(s) of interest
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Style – such as exotic or naturalistic, traditional or unusual
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Evergreen (retains its leaves all year), or deciduous (loses its leaves over winter)
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Short-lived (annual) or long-term (perennial) plants
Climbers and wall shrubs are a great way to soften hard boundaries, improve the appearance of buildings, hide unattractive sheds or other structures, and create extra screening or shade. Evergreen wall plants may even help to insulate buildings if grown on exposed north- or east-facing walls and keep them cool in summer, if grown on the south or west facing walls. And you'll create a warm welcome to your home if you grow climbing roses around your door.
These plants can be beneficial to wildlife too, offering shelter and nesting sites for birds, as well as flowers for pollinating insects.
For more on the benefits of covering your home's walls with plants, see our guide to green walls.
How and what to buy
Most hardy climbers and wall shrubs are on sale all year round in garden centres and from online suppliers. They are usually sold in a choice of sizes, from about 30cm (1ft) tall and upwards, ready for planting directly into the garden. Prices usually increase with size.
Some climbers, such as clematis, may also be available as young plants or plug plants, which need to be grown on in containers until they are large enough to be planted out. These are cheaper, but take longer to reach flowering size.
Some tender or half-hardy climbers, such as rhodochiton and eccremocarpus, are sold through spring as small plants, in garden centres and from online suppliers. They can also be bought as seeds for sowing in early spring, including morning glory and cobaea.
When buying wisteria, it is best to choose a plant that is in bud or bloom. Young wisteria may take quite a few years to become mature enough to flower, so this will help avoid a potentially long wait.
Where to get ideas and advice
To explore the exciting range of climbers and wall shrubs, you can:
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Visit gardens of all kinds, in all seasons – you’re sure to see a wide range of beautiful wall plants. The RHS Gardens are a great source of inspiration, and all the plants are labelled, so you can note down your favourites.
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Ask at local garden centres, which should offer a selection of climbers and wall shrubs that would do well in your local conditions.
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Go to RHS Find a Plant: Climbers to browse photographs and plant descriptions, and find out where to buy them.