Looking for some of the best climbing perennials to plant this year in your landscape to add big interest to fences, light poles, arbors, pergolas and more?
Nothing adds color and beauty to an outdoor structure like a flowering climbing perennial. They truly are the perfect way to provide a canopy of shade underneath pergolas and arbors. They can also add a living hedge of foliage and flowers to fences, lean-to’s and more. Climbers can even be used to disguise poles, posts, and other unsightly features in the landscape.
But all too often, gardeners shy away from perennials that climb, worrying that they might take over the structure – or that they are difficult plants to care for and maintain. The good news is that both of those thoughts couldn’t be further from the truth!
The are really only two major keys to successfully growing and maintaining climbing perennials. The first is to select a variety that can perform well in your growing zone. And the second? To simply make sure to plant it in the right location with the right soil conditions.
With planting a little climbing flower power into your landscape in mind – here are three of the top perennials to plant that can weave and grow upwards like no other!
The Best Climbing Perennials To Plant For Soaring, Easy Care Flower Power!
1. Clematis
Without a doubt, clematis is a hands down favorite among gardeners when it comes to climbing perennials. Known for their gorgeous foliage and flowers – the plants can produce big, showy blooms of blue, purple, white, pink or even red flowers.
Even better, there is a variety that can fit almost any need. Although there are some types of clematis that can grow upwards of 30 feet or more, there are also varieties for smaller spaces too. In fact, some miniature versions of clematis grow just 3 to 5 feet, making them perfect for small patio gardens, arbors, and fences.
Depending on the variety, Clematis can grow in zones 4 through 9. Although this climbing perennial can survive some shade, it grows best in full sun. With that in mind, locate them in an area that receives at least 6 to 8 hours of daily sun. Affiliate Product Link: Jackmani Clematis Vine – Velvety-Purple – 2.5″ Pot
Clematis needs fertile, well-draining soil to thrive. To help with this, amend the soil with plenty of compost at planting. In addition, they are heavy feeders, so fertilizing each spring with a balanced fertilizer will promote good blooming as well.
Climbing Roses – The Best Climbing Perennials To Plant
When it comes to filling an arbor or trellis with overpowering color, this climbing perennial is an excellent choice! Unlike many other climbing options that may just bloom once or twice in a season, many varieties of climbing roses bloom continuously all summer.
But perhaps best of all, they come in every color imaginable! From red, pink, yellow and orange – to purple, white and all types of multi-colored varieties in between, there is a climbing rose to fit any need. Affiliate Link: Josephs Coat Climbing Rose Bush | Fragrant Apricot Pink Orange Flowers
Climbing Rose Care – The Best Climbing Perennials To Plant
Depending on the variety, climbing roses will grow well in zones 5 through 9. Roses require full sun, so plant them in a location that receives at least 6 to 8 hours of good sunlight. In addition, the more rich and fertile the soil, the better. Because of this, it’s important to add in generous amounts of compost when planting.
Once established, climbing roses can benefit from some timely doses of fertilizer. Since many will bloom for most of the season, they can use quite a bit of nutrients from the soil. See our article: How To Fertilize Climbing Roses – And Keep Them Blooming All Summer!
Lastly, don’t over-prune climbing roses. Unfortunately, excessive pruning results in far less blooms for this climbing perennial. The “less pruning is more” is just one more aspect that makes these climbers the perfect low maintenance perennial plant!
Wisteria – The Best Climbing Perennials To Plant
If you are really looking for big climbing power, wisteria is the way to go. Once established, this hardy perennial can grow for 20 years or more – an it can grow long and far!
Wisteria is known for its interesting and very long growth pattern as well as its big blooms. As it matures, it develops all kinds of knotty wood trunks and branches. Ones that bring just not beauty in the summer – but winter interest as well.
The blooms of Wisteria appear in late May and June, with large, fragrant, pendant-shaped flowers cascading down from the foliage. The blooms can be quite massive in size, adding serious color and beauty to the the landscape.
Wisteria Care – The Best Climbing Perennials To Plant
Wisteria will grow in nearly all soils and requires very little long term care. With that said, like Clematis and Climbing Roses, adding in compost at planting will help this perennial establish much faster. Depending on the variety, most wisteria plants are hardy from growing zones four through nine.
When planting Wisteria, you will need to think long-term as for the location. Wisteria grows bigger each year, and needs a sturdy support system to support its growth. They are an excellent choice for strong, sturdy pergolas and arbors, but the structures need to be secure.
There is one note of caution as some varieties of wisteria are considered to be invasive. However, there are plenty of native types that can provide tons on interest without worry. Affiliate Link: Spectacular Blue Moon Wisteria Tree Plant 8-11″ Tall Potted Plant
Here is to planting a climbing perennial or two in your landscape this year – and to bringing soaring beauty and interest – and more color than you ever imagined!
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This Is My Garden is a garden website created by gardeners, for gardeners. Jim and Mary Competti have been writing gardening, DIY and recipe articles and books and speaking for over 15 years from their 46 acre Ohio farm. They publish three articles every week, 52 weeks a year. Sign up today to follow via email, or follow along!