Evergreen Climbers

Evergreen climbers hold their leaves throughout the year, giving you a plant with genuine year-round interest, rather than something which only impresses for a season (or two). They're the ideal plants for quickly covering an unsightly wall or fence, are easy to look after, require very little in the way of maintenance, and some even flower in the winter!

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Climbers grown by specialists at the height of their game

What does it take to grow the strongest and best climbing plants in the show tent? Organic fertilisers, natural pest control and years of dedication from Mollie, our expert grower in Worcestershire. Professionally pruned and checked by hand, they’re guaranteed to put on a gold standard display in your garden, too.

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What are evergreen climbers?

What are evergreen climbers?

Evergreen climbers are those that hold their leaves throughout the year, rather than shedding them for the winter. This gives you a plant that offers genuine year-round interest, as opposed to something which only impresses for a season or two. Some evergreen climbers even flower in the winter, adding much-needed colour in what is otherwise typically a grey and gloomy time of year. These plants are particularly impactful given their vertical aspect – there are many evergreen plants out there, but few that can scale the heights like evergreen climbers can.

What are our favourite evergreen climbers?

What are our favourite evergreen climbers?

For this, we’re going to break it down into our favourite flowering evergreen climbers and our favourite foliage evergreen climbers. On the flowering front, it’s hard to look past Clematis cirrhosa ‘Freckles’, with its paint-splashed petals in winter and glossy green leaves. It also holds the RHS Award of Garden Merit as well as Plants for Pollinators status. From a foliage perspective, we’re going to opt for Hedera colchica 'Dentata Variegata' (variegated ivy) due to its lovely cream-margined leaves – oh, and the fact it’s another RHS award winner.

How do you care for evergreen climbers?

How do you care for evergreen climbers?

Evergreen climbers are generally nice and easy to care for; they’ll need regular watering throughout their first growing season (or two) to aid establishment, while beyond this watering will primarily be needed during hot, dry spells. Certain evergreen climbers, like ivies, are more shade-tolerant than others, while other species, such as Clematis armandii, for instance, don’t require any routine pruning. Make sure to check out a plant’s individual product page for more detailed care instructions. As a rule of thumb, moist but well-drained, loamy soil is preferable, with climbers grown in containers requiring more watering than those grown in the open ground.

Evergreen Climbers FAQs

What is the best evergreen climbing plant?

The best evergreen climbing plant is a subjective topic, but there are certainly some we can think of that could really stake a claim with no objections. This includes the cirrhosa clematis, ‘Ourika Valley’, whose cream winter flowers punch through even the bleakest of winter afternoons, and ‘Halliana’, a honeysuckle whose fragrance is so bloomin’ delightful we can barely put it into words.

What climbers grow in winter?

Several climbers grow in winter, including a few evergreen options. Clematis armandii and Clematis cirrhosa varieties, for instance, are excellent options to add interest at the end of one year and the start of another. ‘Freckles’ is an utterly fabulous cirrhosa variety, boasting flowers in winter like a Jackson Pollock painting. Blooming from December through to February, this award-winning evergreen climber is the definition of a head-turner. Other evergreen climbers that look good in winter include star jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides) and ‘Dentata Variegata’ ivy.

What is the best evergreen plant to hide a fence?

If you’re wanting to cover an unsightly fence, then evergreen climbers are your solution. Opt for an ivy (like ‘Goldchild’ or ‘Glacier’) as these grow incredibly quickly and have the added benefit of being self-clinging, meaning you don’t need to provide any kind of additional support, it will adhere to the fence all by itself. Within just a few months you should have seen some fairly prolific fence coverage.

Can you plant evergreen climbers in September?

Yes, September is a great time to be planting most evergreen climbers; that’s because the soil is still nice and warm coming off the back of summer, giving your climber an entire season to get itself set and established with a healthy network of roots. Alternatively, you can plant your evergreen climber in early spring, once the harsh temperatures of winter are in the rear-view mirror.

Is there an evergreen clematis?

Yes! Clematis armandii is one of the most popular clematis plants, thanks to its wonderful fragrance (notes of vanilla and almond) and prolific flowering nature. Other evergreen options include the cirrhosa varieties like ‘Wisley Cream’.

Can evergreen climbers be flowering?

Absolutely, they can! There are heaps of flowering evergreen climbers, including akebia, sollya and solanum (or chocolate vine, bluebell creeper and potato vine respectively). Alongside these, there are the exotic blooms of the passion flower, the bugles of honeysuckle and the starry flowers of different star jasmine types.

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