The best summer climbers every gardener should grow, chosen by gardening experts for colour, fragrance and outstanding performance
High-performing, summer-flowering climbers will make the season extra special, showing off their finery and demanding the gardener’s attention
Can a garden ever have enough climbing plants? In summer, they are priceless for clothing arches, softening backgrounds, enveloping boundaries and exaggerating the abundance that the season brings.
Standing tall and proud, there is no hiding place for climbers in the garden (discover our complete guide to climbing plants), not even in summer when so many plants show off their finery and demand the gardener’s attention.
With so much to offer – seclusion, privacy, colour, scent, a chance to soften edges and hide unwanted views – it pays to choose wisely. Select high-performing, summer-flowering climbers that are well-suited to the position and style of the garden, and the season will be extra special.
The best summer climbing plants
1. Solanum crispum ‘Glasnevin’
Related to the humble potato, this climber can make a glorious display all summer long. Its lilac flowers are produced in broad clusters and create magnificent clouds of colour. A particularly vigorous grower, capable of reaching up to 6m in height, it is best for a large wall or trellis where it can run free.
The wiry stems need training to support them initially, but it is worth allowing them some freedom – its arching branches can create a charming scene if allowed to hang gracefully when bearing their summer bounty.
2. Clematis tangutica
The bright yellow colouring of this clematis may be loud, but this stately climber scores highly for subtlety and finesse. The flowers resemble delicate paper lanterns when in bud, before maturing into mini-lampshades. Later, they are followed by a fine show of fluffy silver seedheads.
3. Berberidopsis corallina
Also called the coral plant, this South American climber produces a spectacular show in the right conditions. Rich fertile soil, the shelter of a warm wall, some shade and a minimum temperature of -5˚C are all essential, but the results are tremendous.
A glossy-leaved evergreen, it bursts into life towards the end of summer with stems dripping with coral coloured buds that look more like fruits than flowers, its stems bowing under their weight. Provided the soil isn’t too dry, this is good for growing up a tree.
4. Ipomoea lobata
Previously known as Mina lobata, this half-hardy annual climber from Mexico climbs rapidly. Its deeply cut leaves and red and yellow blooms will add a tropical finish to the terrace or garden. This is an ideal plant for adding height and colour to obelisks and arches temporarily while longer-term permanent climbers reach their full height.
5. Lonicera ‘Dropmore Scarlet’
This honeysuckle is a tropical-looking alternative to the classic, romantic cottage garden climber. The vivid trumpets are scarlet at first, but burst into a hot orange as the flower tubes open. Thick, glaucous foliage adds to the intrigue and provides eye-catching colour all over the plant. In mild areas, it can hold its leaves throughout winter to make an attractive year-round screening plant.
6. Passiflora ‘Amethyst’
Arguably, the holy grail of climbing plants in terms of successful growing in the UK, a mature passionflower in full bloom is truly a plant of which to be proud. ‘Amethyst’ has an RHS Award of Garden Merit, which is given to plants considered reliable to grow in the UK. Discover West Dean’s head gardener, Tom Brown’s, favourite varieties of passionflower. It can survive temperatures down to -8˚C, belying its tropical looks. A sunny position is needed, and shelter from strong winds will help the plant establish.
7. Trachelospermum jasminoides
.jpg?imwidth=1440)
This is the perfect plant for providing a wonderfully fragrant screen in a sheltered garden. Star jasmine’s slender stems will self-twine to make a light and airy barrier, with the plant peppered with clusters of creamy white, sweetly scented starry blooms during summer.
An evergreen with very dark foliage, it manages to be both understated and unmissable when the blooms release their fragrance. It needs a warm, sunny position in order to thrive, and in these conditions it can grow to 5m in height.
8. Schizophragma hydrangeoides ‘Moonlight’
The toothed leaves of this woody climber have a mysterious, silvery sheen that emphasises the intricate network of leaf veins. Known as the hydrangea vine, its flowers resemble those of dainty lace-cap hydrangeas and, like the shrub for which it is named, it grows well in part-shade, too. The stems of this plant have aerial roots, which will cling to a wall or fence, saving the need for training.
9. Rosa ‘Gloriana’
This neat and healthy climber produces a spectacular show that is perfect for obelisks and short arches. Leaves are small but are produced in great numbers, which makes this much bushier than many other climbing roses. Flowers are an unmissable vibrant magenta, and the blooms hold their colour well.
What really separates this climbing rose from others, however, is its ability to produce flowers from low down on the plant, creating a pillar of colour from top to bottom. ‘Gloriana’ reaches about 3m in height.
10. Clematis ‘Rebecca’
‘Rebecca’ is the climber for a confined space, where its blooms will fill a gap with a sumptuous show of raspberry red. A neat grower, forming a pillar around 2.5m in height, consider it for an obelisk, short trellis or a sturdy wigwam attached to a large container. Placed in a sunny corner, it will produce its special blooms from June to September.
11. Lonicera ‘Serotina’
A Dutch honeysuckle that boasts the most dramatic deep red purple flowers in the summer, it is incredibly vigorous and known for its startlingly rich fragrance and attractive red berries that follow its flowering. I’d recommend planting it near patio areas or around pergolas to make the most of its exquisite scent.
12. Wisteria floribunda ‘Macrobotrys’
Dazzling with its exceptionally long flower racemes, which can reach 50cm long, this Japanese wisteria typically flowers in the spring, although with repeat blooming, it can last into the summer months. The displays are truly jaw-dropping and fill the air with the sweetest of fragrance.
13. Climbing rose ‘Gertrude Jekyll’
If it is scent you are searching for, look no further than the English climbing rose ‘Gertrude Jekyll’ bred by David Austin. It’s one of the first English roses to flower, its petals unravelling to reveal the most sublime rosette-shaped blooms throughout the summer season. If you have a cottage garden or are searching for the dreamiest rose to grow up the pergola, this would be a beautiful choice.
A repeat-flowering short climber, ‘Gertrude Jekyll’ will reach a height of 8ft (2.5m). This rose would be perfect for a garden obelisk or a pergola.
14. Lathyrus odoratus ‘Matucana’
This sweet pea variety is adored for its striking and rich perfume and pretty maroon and purple flowers that are delicate and eye-catching. It will flower prolifically throughout the summer time, typically July to September. If you’re wondering where to position it, trailing over bamboo canes will give it the support it needs and beautifully showcase its fragrant flowers.
If you are sowing Lathyrus odoratus ‘Matucana’, you can do so from October to late February using a good seed compost from Amazon and placing them in a cold frame. You should pinch out the tips to encourage bushier growth and harden off before planting out. Crocus recommends doing so in early April.
15. Akebia quinata
A stunning semi-evergreen climber that has lovely maroon-chocolate flowers with a spicy fragrance. Train the chocolate vine over a pergola or against the wall, and in warm springs and even early summers, these large and delightfully perfumed blooms will appear.
16. Actinidia kolomikta
A wonderfully striking ornamental climbing plant that is known for its fantastic foliage. It’s a hardy kiwi relative and has the most sensational leaves that develop into pretty shades of green, white and pink in the late spring and summer. It can reach a dazzling height and grows vigorously, and so it’s a great choice for expansive trellises and pergolas.
17. Humulus lupulus
Known most commonly as hops, this perennial climbing plant is used notably in beer production, but also looks beautiful in the garden, with its green foliage and light cone-shaped flowers. Hops are favoured for their fast growth, often within a single season, adding height and texture.
Preferring a sunny position with fertile, moist, and well-drained soil, Humulus lupulus dies back in winter and regrows vigorously in spring. Train their young shoots to encourage both an even and full display.
Once you’ve chosen the perfect climber, it’s now time to find the best garden obelisk. Some of our favourites include this elegant, solid ball top obelisk from Crocus, a rusted garden obelisk from Rowen and Wren and this metal garden obelisk from Amazon, all of which will provide the perfect backdrop to these fantastic summer climbing plants.
d010.jpg?imwidth=320&impolicy=utilities-thumbnail)
More from The English Garden
6138.jpg?imwidth=320)
