Actinidia kolomikta

This deciduous climber’s main attraction is the masses of purple-tinged young leaves, which later turn dark green with distinctive pink and silver splashes. Small, slightly scented white flowers appear in early summer. Although it is slow to establish, it is well worth the wait. Height 15 ft (5 m)

Akebia quinata

Also known as the chocolate vine, A. quinata is a vigorous semievergreen with attractive leaves and strong, twining stems. Clusters of cup-shaped, purplish female flowers in spring are followed by unusual sausage-shaped fruits. Grow against a wall or train into a tree or pergola. Height 30 ft (10 m)

Ampelopsis brevipedunculata

This vigorous, deciduous climber is valued for its attractive foliage and ornamental berries. The small summer flowers are green, and are followed by eye-catching, round, pinkishpurple berries, which later turn a clear blue. Ideal for a warm, sheltered wall since fruiting is best in a sunny site. Height 15 ft (5 m)

Campsis x tagliabuana ‘Madame Galen’

The trumpet creeper is a fast-growing, deciduous climber, which clings by aerial roots. In late summer or early fall, ‘Madame Galen’ bears clusters of tubular, reddish-orange flowers that look striking against the rich green divided leaves. It may take a few seasons to establish. Height 10–15 ft (3–5 m)

Clematis armandii

This popular clematis is a vigorous climber and one of the hardiest of the evergreen species, bearing glossy, dark green leaves and producing masses of small, white scented flowers in early spring. It prefers a sunny, sheltered site and will clothe a wall or shed with ease. Height 10–15 ft (3–5 m)

Clematis ‘Bill MacKenzie’

A vigorous, scrambling clematis, ‘Bill MacKenzie’ has small, single, yellow lantern-like nodding flowers in late summer and fall, followed by large silky seedheads. The plant needs support from wires or netting, or leave it to scramble through shrubs and trees. Height 22 ft (7 m)

Clematis ‘Étoile Violette’

From midsummer to late fall, this deciduous viticella clematis produces masses of small, nodding, deep violet flowers with cream stamens. Flowers are produced on the current year’s growth. ‘Étoile Violette’ can be grown through other shrubs or on a wall or fence. Height 10–15 ft (3–5 m)

Clematis florida var. sieboldiana

This deciduous or semievergreen clematis bears showy, single creamy white flowers with a distinctive domed cluster of purple stamens in late spring or summer. It does best in a warm, sunny, sheltered location where its roots are shaded and moist. It is also suitable for growing in large containers. Height 6–8 ft (2–2.5 m)

Clematis ‘Huldine’

A vigorous, deciduous, summer-flowering clematis, well suited to walls and fences. The small, cup-shaped, almost translucent white flowers with pale mauve margins and a mauve stripe beneath appear in summer. They are particularly attractive in sunshine when the stripes are more evident. Height 10–15 ft (3–5 m)

Clematis ‘Markham’s Pink’

This early-flowering macropetala clematis is vigorous and prolific, producing masses of bell-shaped, double, rich pink flowers from spring to early summer, followed by silky seedheads in fall. Try growing through a shrub or small tree, or against a wall or fence. Height 8–11 ft (2.5–3.5 m)

Clematis montana var. rubens

White-flowered Clematis montana is a popular favourite: easy to grow, vigorous, and very adaptable to a wide variety of garden conditions. Many cultivars are available, including this pale pink flowering form, which bears a mass of four-petalled flowers with cream anthers in late spring and early summer. Height 30 ft (10 m)

Eccremocarpus scaber

The Chilean glory flower is an evergreen, perennial, fastgrowing climber with attractive ferny leaves. In warmer areas it will quickly clothe a trellis or pergola, or scramble through a large shrub or small tree. From late spring to fall, spikes of orange-red tubular flowers appear. Height 10–15 ft (3–5 m)

Hardenbergia violacea

The purple coral pea is a strong-growing Australian native and does best in a sunny position outdoors, but is suitable for a greenhouse in cold regions. From late winter to early summer, clusters of violet pea-like flowers appear against the leathery rich green leaves. Height 6 ft (2 m) or more

Hedera colchica ‘Sulphur Heart’

The Persian ivy cultivars ‘Sulphur Heart’ and ‘Dentata Variegata’ have similar large light green leaves with cream splashes. ‘Sulphur Heart’ (also known as Paddy’s Pride) grows more rapidly, however, and the slightly more elongated leaves are splashed with creamy yellow. Height 15 ft (5 m)

Hedera helix ‘Oro di Bogliasco’

This striking ivy, also known as ‘Goldheart’, has dark, glossy evergreen leaves with a gold central splash. A self-clinging climber, it makes an excellent wall ivy, slow to establish but then fast-growing. Unlike most variegated ivies, it will tolerate shade. Height 25 ft (8 m)

Hedera helix ‘Parsley Crested’

As its name suggests, this ivy has dark green leaves with waved and crested margins. A vigorous, evergreen selfclinging climber with thick upright stems, it is hardy, easy to grow, and ideal for garden walls and fences, although its aerial roots may damage old brickwork. Height 6 ft (2 m)

Humulus lupulus ‘Aureus’

Hops make a good choice for shady walls and fences, although H. lupulus ‘Aureus’ produces its best leaf color in sun. This strong-growing, herbaceous perennial climber has yellow-green, boldly lobed leaves and hairy, twining stems; spikes of female flowers (hops) appear in late summer. Height 20 ft (6 m)

Hydrangea anomala subsp. petiolaris

The climbing hydrangea is vigorous and produces large, open lacecap heads of creamy-white flowers in summer, on a background of broad, rounded leaves. The stems have rich brown peeling bark. Young plants need support until they are established; they then climb by self-clinging aerial roots. Height 50 ft (15m)

Jasminum officinale ‘Argenteovariegatum

Strong-growing and semievergreen, climbing jasmine has pretty, ferny foliage and bears clusters of strongly scented, white star-shaped flowers in summer. The variegated cultivar ‘Argenteovariegatum’ (above) has finely divided, gray-green leaves with cream margins. Height 40 ft (12 m)

Lonicera periclymenum ‘Serotina’

A twining, vigorous climber, the late Dutch honeysuckle can be grown alone or through a small tree or shrub. The spring foliage is lush and new shoots are purple when young. In summer, it produces long-tubed fragrant creamy white flowers streaked with dark red-purple. Height 22 ft (7 m)

Parthenocissus henryana

This deciduous ornamental vine, sometimes known as the Chinese Virginia creeper, clings to surfaces by the adhesive tips of its tendrils, making it a useful climber for growing on a wall. It produces the best color in partial shade, its silverveined leaves turning a rich red in fall before they drop. Height 30 ft (10 m)

Parthenocissus tricuspidata ‘Veitchii’

Also known as Boston ivy, P. tricuspidata is vigorous and woody, and will clothe a wall or other support quite quickly, clinging without assistance. The cultivar ‘Veitchii’ is noted for its fall color, when the mid-green ivy-like leaves turn a deep red-purple before falling. Height 70 ft (20 m)

Passiflora caerulea

A good climber for a sunny, warm wall or fence, the blue passion flower is fast-growing, with rich green divided leaves. The striking flowers are usually white, with purple, blue, and white coronas. The orange-yellow fruits that follow are decorative, but not edible. Height 30 ft (10 m) plus

Rosa ‘Compassion’

A hybrid tea rose, ‘Compassion’ is an upright, freely branching climber with dark green leaves. The flowers are rounded and fully double, salmon pink tinged with apricot, and fragrant. They appear from summer to fall; deadheading will prolong the flowering season. It is a good choice for a wall. Height 10 ft (3 m)

Rosa ‘Félicité Perpétue’

This rambler is a semievergreen rose with long, slender stems and dark green leaves. The summer flowers are fully double, pale pink in bud, and opening to faintly pink-tinged white. It is a beautiful rose for an arch or arbor, or it can be grown through a shrub or small tree. Height to 15 ft (5 m)

Schizophragma integrifolium

Schizophragmas are slow-growing and mainly cultivated for their hydrangea-like blooms—flattened heads of creamywhite flowers with conspicuous, oval cream-colored bracts, which appear in summer among the pointed green leaves. The plant will attach itself to a wall surface by aerial roots. Height 40 ft (12 m)

Rosa ‘Golden Showers’

Cupped, double to semidouble, lightly fragrant yellow flowers are borne on this upright climbing rose from summer to fall, providing a long-lasting display against the glossy leaves. ‘Golden Showers’ will tolerate shady conditions, and works well with blue- and purple-flowered clematis. Height to 10 ft (3 m)

Solanum crispum ‘Glasnevin’

Vigorous and scrambling, S. crispum is a good choice for a warm, sunny wall or fence. The cultivar ‘Glasnevin’ produces sprays of long-lasting, deep purple-blue, star-shaped flowers from summer to fall, and is evergreen in warmer areas. It is ideal for training through a shrub or small tree. Height 20 ft (6 m)

Solanum laxum ‘Album’

Known as the potato vine, S. laxum is a scrambling semievergreen or evergreen climber which produces clusters of lightly fragrant flowers over a long season from summer to fall. The cultivar ‘Album’ is a white-flowered form of the normally blue-flowered plant. Height 20 ft (6 m)

Tropaeolum speciosum

The flame nasturtium has fleshy, twining stems and longstalked divided leaves, and is an excellent plant to train into trees, shrubs, or hedges, where its brilliant color will contrast with the green foliage. Long-spurred scarlet flowers appear from summer into fall, followed by spherical blue fruits. Height to 10 ft (3 m) or more

Vitis coignetiae

This ornamental vine is grown for its decorative foliage and vivid fall colour. It is a vigorous, deciduous climber with large, heart-shaped leaves, brown-felted beneath, that turn bright red in fall. Small, inedible, blue-black grapes appear at the same time. Train into a tree or shrub, or over a pergola. Height 50 ft (15 m)

Vitis vinifera ‘Purpurea’

An ideal climber for a warm, sunny wall or fence, the claret vine is a vigorous form of the grape vine, but is grown for its fall foliage rather than the inedible grapes. It is a woody deciduous vine with toothed leaves which are gray at first, then mid-purple, turning a very deep purple in fall. Height 22 ft (7 m)

Wisteria floribunda ‘Multijuga’

Showy, pendent spikes of pea-like early summer flowers make wisterias popular with garden designers. W. floribunda (Japanese wisteria) is a vigorous, twining climber with pretty leaves, available as a range of cultivars: ‘Multijuga’ (above) bears fragrant, lilac-blue blooms; ‘Alba’ has white flowers. Height 28 ft (9 m) plus