Climbers

Growing climbers

Apart from clematis, there exists a large group of climbing vines worth popularising. Climbers take up little space in the garden all the while giving a spectacular display owing to the mass of greenery they produce: Silvervine Fleeceflower (Fallopia), Dutchman’s Pipe (Aristolochia), Oriental Bittersweet (Celastrus), Trumpet Creeper (Campsis), Vitis, Parthenocissus, Monks Hood Vine (Ampelopsis), Actinidia, beautiful flowers: Wisteria, Trumpet Creeper (Campsis), Honeysuckle (Lonicera) and ornamental fruit: Oriental Bittersweet (Celastrus), Nightshade (Solanum), Ampelopsis, as well as edible fruit: Actinidia, Magnolia Vine (Schisandra) and Akebia. The majority of climbers climb by twining spirally round the support, while others, owing to the presence aerial rootlets e.g. Ivies (Hedera), Climbing Hydrangea (Hydrangea anomala subsp. petiolaris), Trumpet Vine (Campsis), Japanese Hydrangea Vine (Schizophragma hydrangeoides) and Wintercreeper Euonymus (Euonymus fortunei), or adhesive tendril tips, e.g. Japanese Creeper (Parthenocissus), are self-clinging and can scale a flat wall, without added support.

Climbers are particularly useful for covering outer walls of buildings. Apart from their decorative aspect, they also act as insulation during winter, and retain a pleasant coolness inside the house during hot summer days. They also help keep the walls dry by shielding them from the rain, and draining excess water away from the foundations. Creepers are best suited to this end, but you can equally well use ivies or Trumpet Vine, or any other climber on condition that a suitable support is provided.

Climbers can cover unsightly buildings, sheds, warehouses, rubbish sheds, etc. hiding them quickly from view. If you want to have the effect in just one year, you should try Silvervine Fleeceflower (Fallopia aubertii), Hop (Humulus), on clematis belonging to the Tangutica Group e.g. 'Bill MacKenzie' or ‘Lambton Park’ or alternatively, Clematis'Paul Farges' of the Vitalba Group. If you can wait 2-3 years, you can use any climbing vine described in this section.

Climbers can grow up various kinds of fences (np. siatki) (e.g. wire meshes). They will not only provide decoration, but will also screen us from nosy people's eyes and protect us against winter and dust. The following plants are excellent for this purpose: Common Ivy (Hedera helix), Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera acuminata), clematis of the Atragene Group (especially 'Pamela Jackman'), the Tangutica Group (especially 'Lambton Park'), the Viticella Group (especially 'Etoile Violette' and 'Polish Spirit') and the Vitalba Group (especially 'Paul Farges'), Monks Hood Vine (Ampelopsis aconitifolia), Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) and Boston Ivy (Parthenocissus tricuspidata).

The majority of climbers don’t require any special soil conditions, but since they produce a large mass of greenery, they don’t like very dry and poor soils. Heat-loving species, such as actinidias (Actinidia), wisterias (Wisteria) and trumpet creepers (Campsis), prefer warm, sheltered and sunny sites, while Common Ivy (Hedera), Climbing Hydrangea (Hydrangea anomala subsp. petiolaris), Dutchman’s Pipe (Aristolochia), Schizophragma (Schizophragma), Wintercreeper (Euonymus fortunei), Akebia (Akebia), Hop (Humulus) and some honeysuckles (Lonicera) will feel better in a cooler, shaded and moist site.

When planting climbers dig a hole of 50x50x50 cm and fill it with fertile soil. Depending on the species, put the plant 0-10 cm deeper than it used to grow in a pot, at least 30-50 cm away from the wall and 50-100 cm away from the trees. Well chosen and correctly planted climbers can grow for many years, decorating your garden all year round and providing excellent shelter for birds.

The list has been created by the Clematis Source of Good Climbers to help especially those who are to begin their adventure with clematis. The list presents species and cultivars that have proven themselves in Polish climatic conditions and are available on our market, that are easy to grow in average garden conditions, fairly resistant to diseases, and at the same time decorative. The concept originates from the Clematis for Beginners List composed by the International Clematis Society.

Viticella Group
(Pruning 3 – hard pruning in early spring)

This group includes clematis derived from Clematis viticella (Italian Clematis), a species that grows naturally in southern Europe. They tolerate hot climate as well as the coolness of northern Europe very well. They prefer well-lit positions, therefore planting them in the shade or against northern walls is not recommended. They withstand average or even poor soils and are easy to cultivate and resistant to clematis wilt. Moderately vigorous, they reach about 3 m in height. Small or medium-sized flowers (4 to 13 cm in diameter) appear abundantly on new growth, in summer (from mid-June) and autumn. Plants require hard pruning in early spring. They can be grown against all kinds of supports, fences or amongst shrubs, roses or small trees, as they will climb quickly decorating them with flowers.

Clematis ‘Betty Corning’

3 - 4 m

6 cm

VI - IX

Clematis ‘Carmencita’

2,5 - 3 m

6 - 7 cm

VII - IX

Clematis ‘Emilia Plater’

3 - 4 m

10 cm

VI - IX

Clematis ‘Etoile Violette’

3 m

8 cm

VI - IX

Clematis ‘Krakowiak'^PBR

3 m

5 - 8 cm

VI - IX

Clematis ‘Mazurek’^PBR

3,5 m

8 - 10 cm

VI - VIII

Clematis ‘Purpurea Plena Elegans’

3 - 4 m

6 - 8 cm

VII - IX

Clematis ‘Venosa Violacea’

2 - 3 m

12 cm

VI - IX

Late large-flowered Group
(Pruning 3 – hard pruning in early spring)

They start flowering between mid-June and July, on new growth. They often repeat flowering in late summer or autumn. Flowers are 13 to 20 cm in diameter. Plants grow up to 2-3.5 m in height.

Clematis ‘Ashva’

1,5 - 2 m

5 - 8 cm

VI - IX

Clematis ‘Błękitny Anioł'

3 - 4 m

12 cm

VI - VIII

Clematis ‘Cloudburst'^PBR

3 m

10 - 12 cm

VI - IX

Clematis ‘Comtesse de Boushaud ’

3 - 4 m

12 cm

VI-VII, VIII-IX

Clematis ‘Grunwald'^PBR

3 - 3,5 m

10 - 12 cm

VI-VII, IX-X

Clematis ‘Hagley Hybrid'

2 - 3 m

13 cm

VII - IX

Clematis ‘Huldine’

3 - 5 m

8 - 10 cm

VI - IX

Clematis ‘Kardynał Wyszyński'

2 - 3 m

14 cm

VI - IX

Clematis ‘Kryspina'

2,5 - 4 m

12 -15 cm

VI - VIII

Clematis ‘Polish Spirit’

3 - 4 m

8 - 10 cm

VI - X

Clematis ‘Prince Charles'

2 m

10 cm

VI - IX

Clematis ‘Skayfall'^PBR

3 m

10 - 12 cm

VI - VIII

Clematis ‘Snow Storm’^PBR

2,5 - 3 m

10 - 12 cm

VI - VII, IX

Clematis ‘Solina'

2,5 - 3,5 m

12 cm

VI - VIII

Clematis ‘Vistula'

2,5 - 3 m

15 cm

VI - IX

Clematis ‘White Prince Charles'

2,5 m

6 - 8 cm

VI-VII, VIII-IX

Early large-flowered Group
(Pruning 2 – light pruning in early spring)

They start flowering in mid-May to early June, on last year’s shoots. Blooming often reoccurs in summer on this year’s shoots. The flowers are 15 to 25 cm in diameter. Plants grow up to 2-3 m in height. Cultivars from this group are relatively susceptible to a group of symptoms known as "clematis wilt".

Clematis ‘Guernsey Cream’

2 m

12 - 15 cm

V-VI, VIII-IX

Clematis ‘Jan Paweł II'

3 - 4 m

13 cm

VI - IX

Clematis ‘Julka'^PBR

2 m

15 cm

VI - VIII

Clematis ‘Maria Kaczyńska’

1,4 - 1,7 m

10 - 12 cm

V - VI

Clematis ‘Mrs Cholmondeley'

3 m

15 - 20 cm

V-VI,VIII

Clematis ‘Piilu'

1,5 m

8 - 12 cm

VI, VII - VIII

Clematis ‘The Heroes of Warsaw’

2,5 - 3 m

10 - 14 cm

VI - VIII

Clematis ‘Warszawska Nike'

2 - 3 m

12 - 14 cm

VI - VII, IX

Clematis ‘Westerplatte'

2 m

12 - 14 cm

VI - VIII

Early small-flowered (botanical) Group
(Pruning 1 – prune when faded if required)

Atragene Group – most cultivars derives from C. alpina and C. macropetala.

Relatively easy to grow and undemanding. Highly frost-hardy. They do not like hot (sun-exposed) places and heavy or wet soils. They thrive in partial shade. They grow up to 2-4 m in height. Blooming in late April to May sometimes reoccurs in August. They produce bell-shaped flowers and decorative, fluffy seed heads after they fade.

Clematis ‘Pamela Jackman'

2,5 m

4 - 6 cm

IV - V

This group includes many more valuable cultivars worth recommending if the above conditions are met.

Montana Group – cultivars derived from C. montana.

KThey bloom very profusely in May to early June. Grow vigorously up to 8 m. They are not fully frost-hardy. Flower buds, and in harsher winters also shoots, may freeze and will not bloom that year. Planting in warm, sheltered places, near high supports, e.g. trees, is recommended. This cultivar is not suitable for planting in northeast and eastern Poland.

Clematismontana ‘Mayleen'

4 - 8 m

5 - 7 cm

V - VI

Clematis montana ‘Freda'

3 - 5 m

4 - 5 cm

Texensis Group
(Pruning 3 – hard pruning in early spring)

The group is comprised of clematis derived from Clematis texensis that grows naturally in Texas in the USA. They require a little more care than most of the cultivars on this list, but their attractive appearance makes up for it. They have flowers that resemble lily-shaped tulips. They bloom in summer (from July) and early autumn on new shoots. They grow up to 3 m. They require pruning close to the ground in early spring, because last year's shoots usually die anyway. They are easily affected by powdery mildew. Planting them in a well-lit, ventilated, regularly watered but well-drained place significantly reduces the risk of this disease.

Clematis ‘Gravetye Beauty'

2 - 3 m

8 cm

VII - VIII

Clematis ‘Princess Diana'

2- 3 m

7 - 8 cm

VII - VIII

Tangutica Group
(Pruning 3 – hard pruning in early spring)

These clematis produce small, bell-shaped, yellow flowers, and after they fade fluffy, silky seed heads take their place. Depending on the cultivar, they bloom from the beginning of June to late autumn on new growth and reach 2 to 6 m in height. They grow and bloom best in well-lit places and in permeable, well-drained soils. They tolerate dry soils well. Perfect for forming covers and for planting near large trees. Hard pruning is most apropriate for these clematis.

Clematis ‘Bill MacKenzie'

6 m

4 - 5 cm

VI - X

Clematis GOLDEN TIARA^® ‘Kogutia'^PBR

3,5 m

8 -10 cm

VI - VIII

Clematis ‘Kaśka'

3 - 4 m

7 - 9 cm

V - X

Clematis ‘Lambton Park'

4 - 5 m

5 - 7 cm

VI - X

Grupa Integrifolia
((Pruning 3 - hard pruning in early spring)

The group comprises cultivars originating from Clematis integrifolia. Depending on the cultivar, shoots range in length from 40 to over 200 cm, and do not cling to supports, but lean against them, overgrowing perennials, shrubs or low trees. They can also be used as ground cover. They bloom on this year’s shoots in June-October. They are perennials, so their shoots die in winter and in spring they have to be cut back close to the ground.