26 Trellis Plants For Expansive Growth | Horticulture.co.uk (2024)

By KERSASP SHEKHDAR

Underneath we present an assortment of fantastic climbers that will adorn your trellis, pergola, or any other structure.

Many wonderful climbing vines hail from tropical regions and are tender so we have excluded those from our list, preferring relatively hardy and perennial options.

This list is full of brilliant trellis plants for expansive growth that are suitable for British climates.

1) Common Ivy

• BOTANICAL NAME: Hederahelix
• COMMON NAME(S): Common Ivy / English Ivy
• HARDINESS RATING: H5
• FOLIAGE TYPE: Evergreen
• FLOWERING SEASON(S): Autumn
• FRUIT SEASON(S): Winter
• SUNLIGHT: Full Shade / Partial Shade / Full Sun
• SOIL PREFERENCE: Any soil type; any pH
• EXPOSURE: Exposed / Sheltered

Though you would almost surely have English Ivy climbing up the side of your two-storey dwelling and not a little trellis, we must start with this plant for the sake of tradition and in recognition of it as a quintessential feature of stately British homes and gardens.

All the numerous varieties are hardy evergreens and will grow in any type of soil and in any position with any aspect.

Most ivies are not only vigorous climbers but are massive in height and breadth.

Those that are not have lovely variegated foliage in greens, golds, yellows, or cream, as Master Horticulturist Colin Skelly explains in more detail:

“Many variegated or other-then-green ivy cultivars will send out reverted stems and new growth that reverts to the species type.

“This will usually be more vigorous than the cultivar and will outcompete it.

“When spotted, cut reverted stems right back to where it arose from the non-reverted part of the plant.”

They’re not simply about tradition, the evergreen, broad-leaved, glossy, fuss-free English Ivy is unquestionably a big statement for your garden.

2) Wisteria

• BOTANICAL NAME: Wisteria
• COMMON NAME(S): Chinese Wisteria
• HARDINESS RATING: H5 / H6
• FOLIAGE TYPE: Deciduous
• FLOWERING SEASON(S): Spring / Summer
• SUNLIGHT: Full Sun / Partial Shade
• SOIL PREFERENCE: Any soil type; any pH
• EXPOSURE: Sheltered

From over a hundred varieties of these very popular twining vines, all are fully hardy at H5 or better, and most are widely available.

Take your pick from varieties that grow to only 6m or those that grow to 16m, those that display foliage for the greater part of the year, or go all out with foliage and flowers for one season.

They also have plentiful flowers, with lush, pendent racemes in gradated pastel pinks and purples that exude a heady fragrance.

If you can provide a wisteria vine with a sheltered spot and with well-drained soil that is kept moist, you can enjoy its soothing charms for up to 20 years.

3) Climbing Rose

• BOTANICAL NAME: Rosa setigera
• COMMON NAME(S): Climbing Rose
• HARDINESS RATING: H6 / H7
• FOLIAGE TYPE: Deciduous / Evergreen
• FLOWERING SEASON(S): Summer / Autumn
• SUNLIGHT: Full Sun / Partial Shade
• SOIL PREFERENCE: Any soil type; Neutral / Alkaline pH
• EXPOSURE: Exposed / Sheltered

Imagine – proper roses growing over your trellis!

Climbing roses are fully hardy deciduous perennials with a few evergreens thrown in.

Cultivars range in height from 1-8m.

All they need is rich, fertile soil and regular watering, perhaps a bit of training, and they’ll bloom for 4 or 5 months straight.

Colours include creams, yellows, reds, and blush and tinged tones, and, as you may expect, the vast majority are sweetly fragrant.

Cultivars number over a hundred but ‘Aloha,’ ‘Climbing Handel,’ ‘New Dawn,’ ‘Debutante,’ ‘Alister Stella Gray,’ ‘Climbing Iceberg’ and ‘Etoile de Hollande’ are our top picks.

4) Clematis

• BOTANICAL NAME: Clematis
• COMMON NAME(S): Traveller’s Joy
• HARDINESS RATING: H6 (with variation)
• FOLIAGE TYPE: Deciduous / Evergreen
• FLOWERING SEASON(S): Summer / Autumn (with variation)
• SUNLIGHT: Full Sun / Partial Shade
• SOIL PREFERENCE: Any soil type; Neutral / Alkaline pH
• EXPOSURE: Exposed / Sheltered

Clematis are arguably the most beautiful vines but some of these deciduous perennials are clothed in green for fewer than three seasons.

These shortish but robust climbers usually produce flowers in the summer while some do so in spring or autumn, additionally or exclusively.

All are fully hardy and few have any special requirements.

Clematis’ wide-open, star-shaped flowers are very varied in hues and shades, but most are simply stunning and will enhance any garden trellis.

They can produce 10-20cm blooms in marvellous tones of reds and purples.

‘Fujimusume’, ‘Comtesse de Bouchaud’, ‘Ernest Markham’, ‘Daniel Deronda’, ‘Niobe’, ‘Prince Charles’ and ‘Perle d’Azur’ are our recommendations – which all have somewhat different foliage and flowering seasons.

5) Climbing Hydrangea

• BOTANICAL NAME: Hydrangea petiolaris
• COMMON NAME(S): Climbing Hydrangea
• HARDINESS RATING: H4 / H5
• FOLIAGE TYPE: Deciduous / Evergreen
• FLOWERING SEASON(S): Summer
• SUNLIGHT: Full Shade / Full Sun / Partial Shade
• SOIL PREFERENCE: Clay, loam, sand; Acidic / Neutral pH
• EXPOSURE: Sheltered

Plants from three or four genera are informally classed as climbing hydrangea, which works well because they are broadly similar, being woody climbers with brilliant green or dark green ovate or elliptic leaves and bearing types of creamy flowers in the summer.

These popular climbers are hardy to H4 or H5.

One – Hydrangea viburnoides – is an evergreen, but rises to 8m and another, Hydrangea petiolaris, is deciduous but can cross 12m.

Both of these species, as well as the others, are trouble-free, robust, and long-lived plants without special position, exposure, or aspect needs.

6) Honeysuckle

• BOTANICAL NAME: Lonicera
• COMMON NAME(S): Honeysuckle
• HARDINESS RATING: H6
• FOLIAGE TYPE: Deciduous / Evergreen
• FLOWERING SEASON(S): Summer
• FRUIT SEASON(S): Autumn
• SUNLIGHT: Full Sun / Partial Shade
• SOIL PREFERENCE: Any soil type; any pH
• EXPOSURE: Exposed / Sheltered

Honeysuckles are one of our top contenders for the best trellis plants going and it’s easy to see why.

They rise to 4-8m, are very hardy and are indifferent to position, aspect, and exposure.

The foliage is deep, rich green, they bear flowers throughout summer and produce colourful, glossy berries in the autumn.

Japanese Honeysuckle, Honeysuckle ‘Graham Thomas’ and Late Dutch Honeysuckle are choice options, producing, respectively, white, creamy-yellow and crimson blooms.

The distinctive flowers with their narrow, arched petals and exposed stamens and pistils are so exceptionally fragrant that their scents will waft through half your garden.

7) Chocolate Vine

• BOTANICAL NAME: Akebiaquinata
• COMMON NAME(S): Chocolate Vine
• HARDINESS RATING: H6
• FOLIAGE TYPE: Semi-Evergreen
• FLOWERING SEASON(S): Spring / Summer
• FRUIT SEASON(S): Autumn
• SUNLIGHT: Full Sun / Partial Shade
• SOIL PREFERENCE: Any soil type; any pH
• EXPOSURE: Exposed / Sheltered

Chocolate vine varieties attain heights and widths of 8m plus, are semi-evergreen, are very vigorous, and are pest-resistant and disease-free.

They are all hardy to H6 and are happy in any position, aspect or exposure.

Their brilliant green palmate-arranged leaves set the backdrop for marvellous little maroon-chocolate blooms in thick racemes in the species.

‘Shirobana’ has cream and lavender flowers, ‘Cream-Flowered’ has cream and russet and ‘Amethyst Glow’ has purple.

All of them have a rich, nutmeg-like aroma.

There is further adornment in autumn in the form of delicately-coloured oblong fruits.

8) Nasturtium

• BOTANICAL NAME: Tropaeolum
• COMMON NAME(S): Nasturtium
• HARDINESS RATING: H3
• FOLIAGE TYPE: Deciduous
• FLOWERING SEASON(S): Summer / Autumn
• SUNLIGHT: Full Sun
• SOIL PREFERENCE: Clay, sand, loam; any pH
• EXPOSURE: Exposed / Sheltered

Most nasturtiums have long blooming seasons and bear beautiful flowers but they are tender annuals.

However, one species, Flame Nasturtium, is hardy to H5.

This deciduous climber can reach up to 4m tall and bears brilliant red flowers in summer into autumn, and then colourful blue-hued berries.

Semi-hardy to H3 and requiring a sheltered spot, ‘Blue Nasturtium’, ‘Yellow Lark’s Heels’ and ‘Ken Aslet’ will display thick rich foliage and an abundance of blooms, each during a different season.

Take your choice from, respectively, lilac-blue in spring, sunny yellow flowers in summer, or orange-and-yellow in summer-autumn.

Lovely lobed leaves are a standard issue with this plant.

9) Star Jasmine

• BOTANICAL NAME: Trachelospermumjasminoides
• COMMON NAME(S): Star Jasmine / Chinese Jasmine
• HARDINESS RATING: H4
• FOLIAGE TYPE: Evergreen
• FLOWERING SEASON(S): Summer
• FRUIT SEASON(S): Autumn
• SUNLIGHT: Full Sun / Partial Shade
• SOIL PREFERENCE: Chalk, loam, sand; any pH
• EXPOSURE: Sheltered

Boasting perhaps the most ‘classic’ foliage of all climbers, Trachelospermum jasminoides varieties display glossy, elliptic leaves of a deep, brilliant green.

‘Variegatum’ ups the ante with leaves exhibiting sections and splashes of cream.

This cultivar and the species’ flowers are pure white, while ‘Selbra’ has yellow-centred cream flowers.

‘Selbra’ rise to about 10m while ‘Variegatum’ is relatively petite, topping out at 4m.

All of these varieties are evergreens that add the bonus of summertime scents and wintertime colours.

All are semi-hardy at H4, and they will grace your garden for many years if given a sheltered location.

10) Winter Creeper

• BOTANICAL NAME: Euonymusfortunei
• COMMON NAME(S): Winter Creeper
• HARDINESS RATING: H5
• FOLIAGE TYPE: Evergreen
• FLOWERING SEASON(S): Spring
• FRUIT SEASON(S): Autumn
• SUNLIGHT: Full Sun / Partial Shade
• SOIL PREFERENCE: Any soil type; any pH
• EXPOSURE: Exposed / Sheltered

Winter Creepers can shape-shift into climbers, and they make excellent trellis plants because, though they are slow-growing, they are all evergreen and hardy to H5.

These plants cover a greater length if grown vertically than they do in length when creeping.

All Euonymus fortunei have small ovate leaves and all display some or another variegation in the style of edging or bordering.

The species plant’s dark green leaves are dual bordered in narrow cream and yellow, whilst the variety ‘Sunshine’ has a small splotch of green in the middle surrounded by thick bands of sunny yellow.

11) American Wild Climbing Rose

• BOTANICAL NAME: Rosa setigera
• COMMON NAME(S): American Wild Climbing Rose
• HARDINESS RATING: H6
• FOLIAGE TYPE: Deciduous
• FLOWERING SEASON(S): Summer
• FRUIT SEASON(S): Autumn
• SUNLIGHT: Full Sun / Partial Shade
• SOIL PREFERENCE: Any soil type; any pH
• EXPOSURE: Sheltered

For a backdrop suggesting American ranches and prairies, you can try American Climbing Wild Rose which is quite different from cultivated climbing roses.

It is very hardy at H6 and it is a spare, rangy, open-habit plant from 1.5-3.5m in height.

The leaves are the most bright, summery shade of green imaginable and are downy underneath.

In summer, this species bears copious quantities of 7cm single flowers with big yellow central disks.

These blooms fall in the pink-purple spectrum, often lavender.

In autumn there is further colour in the form of glossy scarlet fruit: rose hips.

All in all, this is a perfect vine for a cottage garden.

12) Everlasting Pea

• BOTANICAL NAME: Lathyruslatifolius
• COMMON NAME(S): Everlasting Pea
• HARDINESS RATING: H7
• FOLIAGE TYPE: Deciduous
• FLOWERING SEASON(S): Summer / Autumn
• SUNLIGHT: Full Sun / Partial Shade
• SOIL PREFERENCE: Any soil type; any pH
• EXPOSURE: Exposed / Sheltered

If it’s floral charm you’re looking for in a trellis plant, Lathyrus latifolius is your vine.

These deciduous perennial climbers are quite compact at 1.5-2.5m with a narrow spread of about 1m.

Though fully hardy at H6 and H7, they prefer a sheltered spot and a southern or western aspect.

Everlasting Pea’s laterally symmetrical lobed flowers are seriously charming and the charm is heightened as they are borne in drooping racemes.

‘Rosa Perle’ is pink-flushed, ‘White Pearl’ is pure white, ‘Red Pearl’ is magenta-pink.

Their foliage is a brilliant greyish-green.

13) Virginia Creeper

• BOTANICAL NAME: Parthenocissus quinquefolia
• COMMON NAME(S): Virginia Creeper
• HARDINESS RATING: H6
• FOLIAGE TYPE: Deciduous
• FLOWERING SEASON(S): Summer
• FRUIT SEASON(S): Autumn
• SUNLIGHT: Full Shade / Full Sun / Partial Shade
• SOIL PREFERENCE: Any soil type; any pH
• EXPOSURE: Exposed / Sheltered

Firstly, Virginia Creepers are designated as invasive non-native species in the UK so care is required.¹Virginia Creeper: Ornamental or Nuisance? (2016, April 25). Anoka County Master Gardeners. Retrieved March 28, 2023, from https://www.anokamastergardeners.org/blog/2016/4/6/virginia-creeper-ornamental-or-nuisance

Foliage lovers may take the chance, for this climber is all about the leaves, which are palmate with ovate leaflets.

‘Monham’ has marvellously variegated leaves that can vary from entirely green to entirely cream.

But it is in autumn that this climber shows spectacular colours.

The foliage of P. quinquefolia var. engelmannii turns into a blaze of oranges and even purples, while the species P. quinquefolia produces shiny blackish-blue berries.

P. quinquefolia is the biggest at 12m plus, whilst ‘Monham’ is the shortest, reaching heights of up to 8m.

All are fully hardy at H6.

14) Common Jasmine

• BOTANICAL NAME: Jasminumofficinale
• COMMON NAME(S): Common Jasmine
• HARDINESS RATING: H5
• FOLIAGE TYPE: Deciduous
• FLOWERING SEASON(S): Summer / Autumn
• FRUIT SEASON(S): Autumn
• SUNLIGHT: Full Sun / Partial Shade
• SOIL PREFERENCE: Any soil type; any pH
• EXPOSURE: Sheltered

Jasmine comes not only in ‘tree’ form but also as a climbing shrub, and it is a really fast grower.

What’s more, this touch of the tropics is very hardy at H5.

Two options are Common Jasmine and Stephan Jasmine.

They commonly grow to about 6m and thrive in any soil so long as it is free draining and moist.

As these are deciduous plants, there is nothing on offer in winter, but you get a vibrant mass of foliage the rest of the year, an abundance of flowers in summer and autumn, plus small berries in the autumn.

The heady, exotic fragrance in summer is another present from the East.

15) Hardy Kiwi

• BOTANICAL NAME: Actinidia arguta
• COMMON NAME(S): Hardy Kiwi
• HARDINESS RATING: H5
• FOLIAGE TYPE: Deciduous
• FLOWERING SEASON(S): Summer
• FRUIT SEASON(S): Autumn
• SUNLIGHT: Full Sun
• SOIL PREFERENCE: Clay, loam, sand; Acidic / Neutral pH
• EXPOSURE: Sheltered

That’s right, Kiwi plants also come as fully hardy climbing vines; species Actinidia arguta.

Its kiwifruits are not the fuzzy kind which are found in stores but are smooth-skinned ones that provide a sweeter taste.

The reason they are not available commercially is that these perishable fruits do not keep well.

Take any cultivar of Actinidia arguta, such as ‘Ken’s Red’ or ‘Issai,’ which are hardy to H5, plant it in a sunny but sheltered spot, and you’ll have lush green foliage on that trellis.

It will be decorated with small creamy flowers in summer and in autumn, you’ll reap a bounty of sweet, delicious, garden-grown kiwifruit.

16) Multi-Leaved Akebia

• BOTANICAL NAME: Akebia trifoliata / Akebia×pentaphylla
• COMMON NAME(S): Three-Leaf Akebia / Five-Leaf Akebia
• HARDINESS RATING: H6
• FOLIAGE TYPE: Deciduous / Semi-Evergreen
• FLOWERING SEASON(S): Spring
• FRUIT SEASON(S): Autumn (if any)
• SUNLIGHT: Full Sun / Partial Shade
• SOIL PREFERENCE: Any soil type; any pH
• EXPOSURE: Exposed / Sheltered

Making up the name ‘Multi-Leafed Akebia’, we introduce two vigorous climbers, Akebia trifoliata and Akebia × pentaphylla.

Both rise to about 10m and are nearly as wide.

Both are also fully hardy at H6 and have no position, aspect or exposure needs.

They have broad, scalloped light green leaves.

Imports from the Far East, in spring ‘Multi-Leafed Akebia’ produce small salver-shaped flowers.

Their unusual colour spans maroon, purple and chocolate tones but the mild scent is undeniably reminiscent of chocolate.

The hybrid is semi-evergreen while the species is deciduous, but the latter produces additional autumn colour in the form of purple berries.

17) Kolomikta

• BOTANICAL NAME: Actinidia kolomikta
• COMMON NAME(S): Kolomikta
• HARDINESS RATING: H5
• FOLIAGE TYPE: Deciduous
• FLOWERING SEASON(S): Summer
• FRUIT SEASON(S): Autumn
• SUNLIGHT: Full Sun
• SOIL PREFERENCE: Any soil type; any pH
• EXPOSURE: Sheltered

An exceptional ‘import’ from East Asia, Actinidia kolomikta has unique foliage.

It is a vigorous deciduous vine that is fairly hardy at H5.

In the UK it needs a sunny but sheltered spot, preferably with a southern aspect.

Growing to 5-6m, it is, unusually, almost as wide.

Though Actinidia kolomikta produces big white flowers followed by yellow berries, this vine is about beautiful foliage.

The perfectly ovate leaves are emerald green and start taking on whites and pinks from the tip inward.

The leaves eventually become white, rose pink, or white-and-pink, producing colour effects that are unmatched by other vines.

18) Boston Ivy

• BOTANICAL NAME: Parthenocissustricuspidata
• COMMON NAME(S): Boston Ivy
• HARDINESS RATING: H5
• FOLIAGE TYPE: Deciduous
• FLOWERING SEASON(S): Summer
• FRUIT SEASON(S): Autumn
• SUNLIGHT: Full Shade / Full Sun / Partial Shade
• SOIL PREFERENCE: Any soil type; any pH
• EXPOSURE: Exposed / Sheltered

Boston Ivy and its cultivars are a fuss-free pure foliage play.

These deciduous climbers are hardy to H5.

The species plant and ‘Fenway Park’ are very robust and fast growing and can exceed 12m.

If you want something less massive, try ‘Lowii’, the baby of the family.

Boston Ivies have trifoliate leaves except ‘Lowii’ which has palmate leaves.

All put on a wonderful autumn show as the foliage turns bright red and even purple.

These climbers’ ability to thrive in any position, aspect or exposure is a big plus point.

19) Russian Vine

• BOTANICAL NAME: Fallopiabaldschuanica
• COMMON NAME(S): Russian Vine
• HARDINESS RATING: H7
• FOLIAGE TYPE: Deciduous
• FLOWERING SEASON(S): Summer
• FRUIT SEASON(S): Autumn
• SUNLIGHT: Full Sun / Part Shade
• SOIL PREFERENCE: Any soil type; any pH
• EXPOSURE: Sheltered

A massive option that is perhaps the fastest growing climber, Russian Vine can attain heights of 10-12m and a spread of about 6m.

It is a deciduous woody plant that is fully hardy at H7.

It can be grown in any position or aspect but because of its bulkiness, it is wise to site it in a sheltered spot.

Russian Vine, also known as ‘Mile a Minute Plant’, has chordate leaves of a rich green shade.

In summer it is simply covered with a profusion of pinkish-white little flowers borne in panicles and afterwards, it bears clusters of berries that vary in hue from pink to dull orange.

20) Grape Vine

• BOTANICAL NAME: Vitisvinifera
• COMMON NAME(S): Grapevine / Wine Grapevine
• HARDINESS RATING: H5
• FOLIAGE TYPE: Deciduous
• FLOWERING SEASON(S): Summer
• FRUIT SEASON(S): Autumn
• SUNLIGHT: Full Sun
• SOIL PREFERENCE: Chalk, loam, sand; Alkaline / Neutral pH
• EXPOSURE: Sheltered

Grapevine may not be thought of as a plant you can grow in the UK on a trellis, but a few wine grape vines (not dessert grape vines), such as ‘Boskoop Glory’, ‘Muller-Thurgau’ and ‘Frovit’ definitely fit the bill.

Many varieties, almost all frost-hardy, are available as potted plants.

The mean height range is 5-10m.

If you have a sunny and sheltered location in your garden in England, preferably in a not-too-cold region, a wine grape vine will tick the expansive growth box.

Most varieties will also bring ornamental value with bronze and red tones in autumn, and a harvest of grapes – and there’s that homemade wine!

21) Trumpet Vine

• BOTANICAL NAME: Campsis radicans
• COMMON NAME(S): Trumpet Vine
• HARDINESS RATING: H4
• FOLIAGE TYPE: Deciduous
• FLOWERING SEASON(S): Summer / Autumn
• FRUIT SEASON(S):
• SUNLIGHT: Full Sun
• SOIL PREFERENCE: Any soil type; any pH
• EXPOSURE: Sheltered

Three species of the Campsis genus are lumped together as ‘Trumpet Vine’ and that’s because they bear the most wonderfully shaped trumpet-like flowers through summer and into autumn.

The flowers of the three species are red or orange while those of a sub-species, ‘Yellow Trumpet Vine’ are – you guessed it – yellow.

They all have bright green serrated leaves.

All are vigorous climbers, they can grow up to 8-12m and all are semi-hardy at H4.

Sited in full sun and in a sheltered spot, any Trumpet Vine will bring an abundance of vibrant colour for months on end, with our pick being the vermilion-to-scarlet of Campsis radicans.

22) Potato Vine

• BOTANICAL NAME: Solanumlaxum
• COMMON NAME(S): Potato Vine / Japanese Nightshade
• HARDINESS RATING: H4
• FOLIAGE TYPE: Semi-Evergreen
• FLOWERING SEASON(S): Summer / Autumn
• SUNLIGHT: Full Sun
• SOIL PREFERENCE: Chalk, clay, sand; Alkaline / Neutral pH
• EXPOSURE: Sheltered

Japanese Nightshade and its varieties are vigorous climbers reaching 8-9m.

They are semi-hardy at H4, and require a sunny, sheltered spot with a southern or eastern aspect.

They are also semi-evergreen, so the foliage is on display for almost the whole year in most years.

This foliage is rich, deep green and the leaves are ovate or elliptical.

Japanese Nightshades bear a profusion of five-petalled star-shaped flowers in thick clusters through summer and part of autumn.

These are white or blue-tinged in the species, pure white in ‘Album’ and pale lilac in ‘Coldham’.

Their sweet, somewhat exotic scent is the icing on the cake.

23) Potato Tree

• BOTANICAL NAME: Solanum crispum
• COMMON NAME(S): Potato Tree
• HARDINESS RATING: H4
• FOLIAGE TYPE: Semi-Evergreen
• FLOWERING SEASON(S): Summer / Autumn
• FRUIT SEASON(S): Autumn
• SUNLIGHT: Full Sun
• SOIL PREFERENCE: Chalk, clay, sand; Alkaline / Neutral pH
• EXPOSURE: Sheltered

So-called Potato Tree is, in fact, a scrambling climber that is not even woody.

It grows to about 6m, is semi-hardy at H4, and requires a sheltered and sunny spot.

Cultivar ‘Glasnevin’ is very widely available but there is little to choose between it and the species as these climbers are all about year-round colour.

They are semi-evergreen and their elliptic leaves are a brilliant green.

Star-shaped flowers are borne in thick clusters over a long blooming season in summer and autumn.

They vary from lilac to purple and have a complementary yellow centre and there are small yellowish berries in autumn.

24) Hops

• BOTANICAL NAME: Humulus lupulus
• COMMON NAME(S): Hop / Common Hop
• HARDINESS RATING: H6
• FOLIAGE TYPE: Deciduous
• FLOWERING SEASON(S): Summer
• FRUIT SEASON(S): Autumn
• SUNLIGHT: Full Sun / Partial Shade
• SOIL PREFERENCE: Any soil type; any pH
• EXPOSURE: Sheltered

Hops are deciduous herbaceous vines and are dioecious, which means that male and female flowers are on separate plants.²Sirrine, R. (2017, September 26). Why are my hops producing male flowers? MSU Extension. Retrieved March 28, 2023, from https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/why_are_my_hops_producing_male_flowers

Cultivars vary quite widely in height and growing requirements but all are fully hardy at H6.

They even vary in their leaves which may be whole, trifoliate, or palmate, though all serrated.

‘Aureus’ has golden-green leaves and can reach about 6m, ‘Prima Donna’ has yellowish-green leaves and reaches about 3m, while ‘Golden Tassels’ has green-gold leaves and is only about 2.5m.

All produce pendent, cone-shaped, scented flowers in summer, and in autumn, hops, which are as pretty as they are aromatic.

25) Crimson Glory Vine

• BOTANICAL NAME: Vitiscoignetiae
• COMMON NAME(S): Crimson Glory Vine
• HARDINESS RATING: H5
• FOLIAGE TYPE: Deciduous
• FLOWERING SEASON(S): Summer
• FRUIT SEASON(S): Autumn
• SUNLIGHT: Full Sun / Partial Shade
• SOIL PREFERENCE: Chalk, loam, sand; Alkaline / Neutral pH
• EXPOSURE: Sheltered

Crimson Glory Vine is a vigorous option and a massive one, up to 15m in height.

The leaves too are comparatively massive at about 30cm.

This deciduous vine is very hardy at H5 but it is advisable to grow it in a sheltered position with a south or west-facing aspect.

The chordate leaves come into season in autumn showing orange, rust, and red shades, as the climber lives up to its name of ‘Crimson Glory Vine.’

These colours are further enhanced by clusters of little dark blue berries.

This import from East Asia is, however, susceptible to several pests and diseases.

26) Chinese Virginia Creeper

• BOTANICAL NAME: Parthenocissushenryana
• COMMON NAME(S): Chinese Virginia Creeper
• HARDINESS RATING: H4
• FOLIAGE TYPE: Deciduous
• FLOWERING SEASON(S): Summer
• FRUIT SEASON(S): Autumn
• SUNLIGHT: Full Shade / Full Sun / Partial Shade
• SOIL PREFERENCE: Any soil type; any pH
• EXPOSURE: Exposed / Sheltered

Chinese Virginia Creeper is, in fact, a very vigorous climber that clears 10m in height.

It is semi-hardy at H4 but this robust option is indifferent to position, aspect or exposure.

It has particularly lush growth and is a great choice to create a wall of foliage.

Chinese Virginia Creeper has palmate leaves with a smooth sheen of a bronze-green hue, on which the prominent silver-white venation stands out.

In autumn the foliage takes on deep, rich tones of orange and red, with further colour supplied by the deep blue berries.

It is disease-resistant and generally pest-free.

• 1

  Virginia Creeper: Ornamental or Nuisance? (2016, April 25). Anoka County Master Gardeners. Retrieved March 28, 2023, from https://www.anokamastergardeners.org/blog/2016/4/6/virginia-creeper-ornamental-or-nuisance

• 2

  Sirrine, R. (2017, September 26). Why are my hops producing male flowers? MSU Extension. Retrieved March 28, 2023, from https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/why_are_my_hops_producing_male_flowers