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Green climbers plants


20 Best Evergreen Climbers | BBC Gardeners World Magazine

Climbing plants are useful in the garden in lots of ways. They clothe and beautify walls, fences, and buildings, and can be grown on screens, arches, pergolas, and obelisks. They create privacy and mask unsightly features, as well as providing additional interest and wildlife value. Climbers take up little soil space, enabling you to squeeze more plants into your growing space. Evergreen climbers, which keep all or most of their leaves year-round are particularly valuable for screening and interest.

Most climbing plants will need some form of support to grow on, apart from self-clinging types. This can be provided in a range of ways including trellis, mesh panels or strong galvanised wires run through vine eyes (metal fixings that are screwed or hammered into a wall or fence).

Alan Titchmarsh's favourite evergreen climbers

Alan Titchmarsh discusses his favourite evergreen climbers, including chocolate vine, ceanothus and euonymus:

Looking for plant supports for your evergreens? Here are a few suggestions:

Climbing plants climb in a number of different ways. Some 'true climbers' climb by means of self-clinging aerial roots, which stick to walls and fences. They may need support initially but otherwise will romp away without any help. Other true climbers use twining stems to climb, and need support such as a trellis or wires to climb up. Wall shrubs are slightly different as they don’t ‘climb’ as such but need to be tied into vertical support such as a trellis or wires.

Sunny or shady: choosing the right climber

Identifying which direction a wall, fence or screen faces is important as many climbers and wall plants are very particular about the amount of sun or shade the receive. There are plants for every situation, from complete shade to baking hot sun, but matching the right one to the right place is key for success. Walls that get sun for all or part of the day are perfect for growing plants that wouldn’t be hardy elsewhere, because a wall creates a mini-microclimate that has a storage-heater effect to protect plants from the cold.

Tips for planting climbers

Browse our selection of the best evergreen climbers and wall shrubs to grow in your garden.

Chocolate vine,

Akebia quinata

Best climbers - Akebia quinata

This fast-growing climber bears dark maroon chocolate-scented flowers in summer, against attractive light green foliage. Grow in sun or part shade, and shelter in cold areas. in colder regions it may lose some or all of its leaves, but they will grow back in spring.

More like this

Height x Spread: up to 10m x 2m

Californian lilac,

Ceanothus

Best climbers - Ceanothus

This shrub can be trained on a sunny wall, where it benefits from the shelter and protection. Woody stems bear masses of tiny blue flowers in clusters, in early or late summer, against tiny, crinkled, evergreen leaves. Popular with bees.

H x S: 3m x 4m

Clematis armandii

Best evergreen climbers: Clematis armandii

Tis spring-flowering clematis bears large clusters of white or pink-flushed scented flowers that show off well against big, leathery, dark green leaves. Site in a sunny, sheltered spot to avoid wind damage to the leaves.

H x S: up to 5m x 3m

Winter-flowering clematis,

Clematis cirrhosa

Best evergreen climbers: Clematis cirrhosa var. balearica

Winter-flowering clematis are not only evergreen but they flower in winter, too. Varieties ‘Early Sensation’ and ‘Winter Beauty’ are particularly lovely, offering delicate, bell-shaped cream or white flowers against fern-like foliage. Only suitable for milder areas. Grow in sun and shelter.

H x S: up to 4m x 1.5m

Climbing hydrangea,

Hydrangea seemannii

Hydrangea seemanii

Hydrangea seemannii is less common than its deciduous cousin Hydrangea petiolarris, but does offer year-round interest with large heads of white summer flowers and bold, leathery, dark green leaves. Self-clinging but slow to get going.

H x S: up to 10m x 3m

English ivy,

Hedera helix

Best evergreen climbers: Hedera helix

Our native English ivy is small-leaved and versatile, easy to grow in any situation, wonderful for wildlife, and provides attractive, year-round evergreen foliage in a wide choice of varieties and variegations. Mature plants produce clusters of green-yellow flowers in autumn, popular with insects, and black winter berries for birds. Provides excellent shelter for nesting birds and hibernating insects.

H x S: up to 10m x 10m

Euonymus 'Silver Queen'

Best evergreen climbers: Euonymus fortunei 'Silver Queen'

This neat, compact self-clinging climber is grown for its attractive foliage. Ideal for brightening up a dark spot with leathery evergreen leaves that are brightly variegated in white and green.

H x S: 1.5 m x 1m

Silk tassel bush,

Garrya elliptica

Best evergreen climbers: Garrya elliptica

As well as evergreen leaves, silk tassel bush bears silvery catkins throughout winter. This wall shrub does best in a shady or part-shaded site and needs training to grow closely against its support.

H x S: 3m x 2.5m

Japanese honeysuckle,

Lonicera japonica

Best evergreen climbers: Lonicera japonica 'Halliana'

Japanese honeysuckle is a vigorous, twiggy, self-clinging twining climber bearing masses of very fragrant flowers in small clusters through summer. Rounded leaves are semi-evergreen and may fall after a hard winter. It's a useful plant for screening or covering unsightly features in natural-looking areas of the garden, being rather untidy in habit. Grow in sun or part shade.

H x S: up to 10m x 4m

Henry's honeysuckle,

Lonicera henryi

Planting Lonicera henryi

Henry's honeysuckle bears clusters of unscented yellow flowers, against long, oval, dark green leaves that are coppery-green when young. May be semi-evergreen in a cold winter.

H x S: up to 10m x 2m

Maidenhair vine,

Muehlenbeckia complexa

Best evergreen climbers: Maidenhair vine, Muehlenbeckia complexa / Getty Images

Maidenhair vine is an unusual foliage climber from New Zealand that produces a mass of slender, wiry, twining stems clothed with tiny dark green leaves. Trim with shears if a neat shape is required. Grow in part or full shade.

Height up to 4m x 2.5m

Passion flower,

Passiflora caerulea

Best evergreen climbers: Passiflora caerulea

This vigorous grower is loved for its large, unusually shaped blue and white or pure white flowers, borne against dark green leaves that may fall after a hard winter. Orange fruits can sometimes be produced after a hot summer.

H x S: 12m x 4m

Persian ivy,

Hedera colchica

Best evergreen climbers: Hedera colchica 'Sulphur Heart'

Persian ivy is a handsome self-clinging climber with exceptionally large, glossy, lobed leaves variegated with white or lime-green. Greenish flowers can be produced in autumn on mature plants. Excellent for wildlife. An easy climber that thrives in sun or shade.

H x S: 5m x 5m

Climbing hydrangea,

Pileostegia viburnoides

Best evergreen climbers: Hydrangea seemanii

Pileostegia viburnoides has bold, leathery green leaves on self-clinging vines that make an excellent backdrop for its large white flowers in late summer and autumn. Grow in sun or shade but avoid cold winds.

H x S: up to 8m x 1.5m

Firethorn,

Pyracantha

Best evergreen climbers: Pyracantha

Pyracantha is a thorny shrub that can be trained on wires or trellis to grow closely against its support. Small oval green leaves provide year-round interest, clusters of white flowers are borne in spring, while the bright, autumn berries will attract birds.

H x S: up to 3m x 3m

Potato vine,

Solanum laxum ‘Album’

Best evergreen climbers: Solanum laxum ‘Album’

Potato vine is a fast-growing flowering climber for a sheltered site, bearing masses of white, yellow-centred small flowers in clusters in summer and autumn. Bear in mind that it's only semi-evergreen – it may lose some leaves in a cold winter.

H x S: up to 6m x 6m

Bluebell creeper,

Sollya heterophylla

Best evergreen climbers: Sollya heterophylla

Bluebell creeper is a neat, dainty little flowering climber for a sunny, sheltered spot or a very mild location. Tiny deep blue flowers are borne on slender stems, in summer.

H x S: up to 2m x 2m

Star jasmine,

Trachelospermum

Best evergreen climbers: Trachelospermum jasminoides

Star jasmine bears wonderfully fragrant flowers for a long period through summer and into autumn which, coupled with handsome evergreen foliage and moderately fast growth, make it extremely popular. Grow in full sun or part shade, sheltered from winds, although not suitable for very cold areas.

H x S: up to 9m x 5m

Stauntonia hexaphylla

Stauntonia hexaphylla. Getty Images

This uncommon climber quickly covers a sheltered, part-shaded wall with vigorous twining stems clothed with oval dark green leaflets. Clusters of white, purple-tinged, spring flowers are unobtrusive but are wonderfully scented.

H x S: 10m x 2.5m

Wall germander,

Teucrium fruticans

Teucrium fruticans. Getty Images

This shrub does best in the shelter of a sunny wall, where its slender stems of silvery leaves can be tied in to make a contrasting backdrop to its blue summer flowers.

H x S: 3.5m x 3.5m

Best evergreen climbers:10 evergreen climbing plants

(Image credit: Alamy)

Whether you are redesigning your backyard from scratch or simply want to introduce some screening for privacy or shade, it's vital to include evergreen climbers.

Perfect for scrambling up and covering walls, fences and trellises – visually extending your garden's boundaries year-round, evergreen climbers can add much-needed color, texture and shelter for wildlife if trained over pergolas and arches, too.

Best evergreen climbers

These are the perennial climbers are amongst the best climbing plants you can plant.

1. Best evergreen climber for shade

(Image credit: Alamy)

Hedera colchica ‘Sulphur Heart’ AGM – Paddy’s Pride is an excellent Persian ivy with large heart-shaped green leaves splashed with lime and gold. It can be used either to clad walls or create ground cover and is perfect if you are looking for garden shade ideas as it will clad any trellis densely. 

‘Hederas are great for shade,’ says Irene Kalina-Jones, landscape designer at Outside Space NYC in New York City. ‘I like ‘Sulphur Heart’, as it is variegated, so gives a bit of light reflection in the shade. I like it against walls or trees, mixed with other varieties. It’s also great in seasonal winter pots.’

Note that some other forms of ivy (such as H. helix) can be invasive in parts of the US, so check what is advised in your area before selecting an ivy. 

Mature plants allowed to climb will produce globes of fall flowers that feed bees, followed by black berries that feed birds. 

This self-clinging climber is best in well-drained neutral to alkaline soil in semi-shade. 

Hardiness: USDA 6-9 (UK H5). 

Hardiness: USDA 6-9 (UK H5). : 20ft (6m).

2.

Best evergreen climber for pots

(Image credit: Alamy)

Sollya heterophylla – the bluebell creeper is an Australian climber that has clusters of beautiful azure bells in summer. 

In warm regions, it can be grown outside in well-drained, moist, fertile soil in sheltered sun. But in cold areas, it’s best in a conservatory; alternatively, young plants can be grown as container gardening ideas, which are overwintered in a heated greenhouse.

Hardiness: USDA 10-11 (UK h4). 

Height: 6ft (1.8m). 

3. Best evergreen climber for scent

(Image credit: Future / Mark Bolton)

Trachelospermum jasminoides AGM is a superb evergreen climber with glossy green leaves that take on crimson hues in winter and jasmine-like ivory summer flowers that have a strong tea scent – making it one of the best flowering climbers. 

‘Every garden should have a T. jasminoides,’ says London-based garden designer Claire Mee , ‘ – it is without doubt one of the best evergreen climbers. The neat, dark-green foliage can be trained in any manner of shapes: for example, on diamond-shaped wiring to attractively cover walls. It is well behaved and won't drop masses of leaves all over your garden. When in flower during the summer months, the heady fragrance is unbeatable.’ 

Its common names are star jasmine or confederate jasmine (which refers to the Greater Malayan Confederation because the plant hails from Southeast Asia). 

Grow jasmine on a sheltered south or west-facing wall. 

Hardiness: USDA 8-10 (UK h5). 

Height: 20ft (6m). 

4. Best evergreen climber for trellis

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Clematis armandi (syn. C. armandii) – you will smell the marzipan-scented blooms of this clematis before you see them. The white starry flowers open in spring above long, dark-green leaves.  

‘C. armandi is highly perfumed,’ say Chris and Suzy Cocks at specialist clematis nursery Taylors , ‘and it has laurel-like foliage that is great for lots and lots of good, dense coverage.’ 

When you grow clematis, give this twining climber something to cling to, such as trellis, in fertile, well-drained soil. This variety is among the best clematis to grow. The upper plant needs sheltered sun, but the roots require shade provided by plants in front of them. Prune clematis twice a year to keep in shape. Be aware that the plant is toxic to dogs. 

Hardiness: USDA 6-9 (UK h5). 

Height: 23ft (7m). 

5. Best evergreen climber for flowers and fruit

(Image credit: Alamy)

Holboellia latifolia (syn. Stauntonia latifolia) – the name 'broad-leaved sausage vine' doesn’t make you sprint to buy, but this is one of the best evergreen climbers. 

As well as large, dense, glossy leaves, it produces purple or creamy-green spring flowers that smell of melon and jasmine, and edible sausage-shaped purple autumn fruit.  

Grow in well-drained soil in sheltered sun or semi-shade. 

Hardiness: USDA 8-11 (UK h5). 

Height: 20ft (6m). 

6. Best evergreen climber for summer and fall color

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Lapageria rosea AGM – the Chilean bellflower is hung with enchanting, big, waxy pink-red blooms during late summer and fall. 

In cold regions, this tender plant can be grown in a conservatory, as long as it’s shielded from bright sun. 

Provide it with something to twine around, such as trellis, in moist, well-drained acid to neutral soil, in sheltered semi-shade or shade. 

Hardiness: USDA 9-11 (UK h4). 

Height: 16ft (5m). USDA 9-11 (UK h4). 

7. Best evergreen climber for walls

(Image credit: Alamy)

Hedera helix ‘Buttercup’ AGM – this yellow English ivy injects the garden with golden warmth, even in the depths of winter. Being slow-growing and compact, it can be used to illumine the base of a tree trunk or a statue. 

‘I love this ivy variety,’ says Pennsylvania-based landscape designer Nathan Tuno , who works at Roots Landscape Inc. ‘The lime-butter color of the leaf, its trailing habit, and slow-growing nature make it great for containers and small spaces.’ More vigorous forms of H. helix ought to be avoided in the midwest US, where they are invasive. 

The small lobed leaves are rich yellow in sun, but lime green in shade. This self-clinging climber dislikes competition from other plants and thrives in well-drained neutral to alkaline soil. 

Hardiness: USDA 4-9 (UK H5). 

Height: 7ft (2m). 

8. Best evergreen climber for pollinators

(Image credit: Alamy)

Pileostegia viburnoides is a leafy self-clinging hydrangeas for shade. The tiny ivory flowers open in fleecy clumps in August and fall, above long, glossy green leaves.  

‘Pileostegia viburnoides is a great evergreen climber for shade,’ say the evergreen experts at Architectural Plants . ‘At its best, the lushest, greenest, shiniest, fleshy and exotic thing you’ll ever meet.’

It can take a few years to bloom, but it’s worth the wait. Possessing the nectar power to attract every insect in the area, it is best planted a good distance from seating areas. 

Plant in fertile, well-drained soil in sheltered semi-shade or shade and give nitrogen-rich food. 

Hardiness: USDA 8-10 (UK H5). 

Height: 20ft (6m). 

9. Best evergreen climber for winter color

(Image credit: Alamy)

Clematis cirrhosa var. purpurascens ‘Freckles’ AGM – from November to February, this evergreen clematis is hung with primrose-yellow bells that are heavily speckled maroon and provide food for bees. It is named after clematis breeder Raymond Evison’s daughter Rebecca, who had lots of freckles when she was little.  

‘There is a perfect clematis for each time of the year,’ says Irene Kalina-Jones, landscape designer at Outside Space NYC in New York City. ‘You can pretty much grow them anywhere in the garden. I like them on fences and free-standing trellis.’ 

Being more tender than most other clematis, ‘Freckles’  requires a sheltered south or west-facing wall, in moist, well-drained neutral to alkaline soil. 

Hardiness: USDA 7-9 (UK h5). 

Height: 13ft (4m). 

10. Best evergreen climber for privacy

(Image credit: Alamy)

Solanum crispum ‘Glasnevin’ AGM – this Chilean potato tree is a climbing shrub that produces fragrant blue-purple flowers in summer and early fall, followed by inedible yellow fruit. 

Although it is in the potato family, and although it's one of the prettiest evergreen plants, all parts of it are poisonous. Grow in moist, well-drained neutral to alkaline soil in sun and tie in to a wire framework or trellis. Evergreen in warm regions. 

Height: 13ft (4m). USDA 9-11 (UK h5). 

What is a fast-growing evergreen climber?

Clematis armandii is a fast-growing evergreen climber that will happily scramble over trellis, pergolas and arches. It does need to be tied in and pruned a couple of times a year to keep it shapely, but it retains its glossy green leaves throughout the year, and rewards you with star-shaped, scented flowers in spring. Plant the roots in shade and prepare for the stem to get woody over time, so neat training from the start is a must.

What climbing vine stays green all year round?

Our favorite evergreen climbing vine is Trachelospermum jasminoides – which is a superb evergreen for patios and decks. Denser and more sturdy looking that classic jasmine, it has glossy green leaves that take on crimson hues in winter, and jasmine-like ivory summer flowers that have a strong tea scent.

Lucy Searle has written about interiors, property and gardens since 1990, working her way around the interiors departments of women's magazines before switching to interiors-only titles in the mid-nineties. She was Associate Editor on Ideal Home, and Launch Editor of 4Homes magazine, before moving into digital in 2007, launching Channel 4's flagship website, Channel4.com/4homes. In 2018, Lucy took on the role of Global Editor in Chief for Realhomes.com, taking the site from a small magazine add-on to a global success. She was asked to repeat that success at Homes & Gardens, where she has also taken on the editorship of the magazine. 

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