Native Climbing Plants are Great on a Balcony or Patio!Carefully chosen native climbing plants can make a spectacular addition to your wildife friendly garden! These plants are like no other, they can provide more greenery and more flowers in a small garden, that any other plant, or group of plants. Because they grow upwards, they are very good in limited areas, and narrow walkways that are difficult to landscape. They can be used as shade, to shelter a room or patio from wind and sun. They can also be grown in an hanging basket. They are great for covering a fence, and some can produce fruit for birds, and some can produce beautiful flowers. Their usefulness is unlimited, and best of all the birds love them. Climbing plants provide food and shelter, and convenient nesting areas. Climbing plant stems move in either a clockwise of anti-clockwise direction, and spiral around the support. A large climber can choke its support, if the support is another plant. They are good on wire-netting fences, and can be identified in a nursery by the way the twine around the support in the pot.
Above, the white native passionfruit uses tendrils to climb!
Some introduced climbers, particularly the vigorous large leafed ones, can pull down a large tree. Other plants cling by using aerial roots. The most well known native climber with aerial roots is probably the climbing fig.
Tendrils are used by some plants to climb upwards. Native passion-fruit have tendrils, which climb upwards even into the air, until they fall over, and attach themselves to something, and away they go again! A Lewins honeyeater is drinking nectar off a native passionfruit in the webpage header above! If growing a tendril plant over a pergola or similar structure, you will need to provide wires over the roof, so the climbing plant can spread out and cover the top of the pergola. Some plants use hooks, or thorns, and are not the best in some garden situations. These plants include calamus, the climbing cane, and similar rainforest type ‘wait-a-while’ plants. However, birds love to nest in plants with prickles, because it provides security from cats and other predators.
Above, this rainforest climber digs its roots into the bark as it climbs!
Even with diligent care, most climbers will need at least two seasons to develop into large and effective screeners or shelters. If planting on a dividing or boundary fence, you will need to ensure you do not plant native vines which will layer and cause problems with the neighbors. Its best to plant evergreens, unless you live in an temperate area where you will need an open canopy to catch the winter sun. Some vines grow well from cuttings just placed in water. Just cut off a 4 inch section which includes anode or two, or a tip. Don’t forget the colors. All the colors of the rainbow are in the climbing plant flowers. There are literally hundreds of spectacular native vines, and Some nurseries and botanists are currently investigating which native climbing plants are most easily grown. You can easily pick a color that suits the house, or house surrounds. You can also use climbing plants for ground cover, and all the plants below are suitable. Climbers grow well in pots and hanging baskets, in sunrooms, patios, under the eaves, and around barbecue areas. When choosing climbers, please remember that many introduced climbers have become rampant weeds, because they have no natural enemies in another country. Madeira Vine and Morning Glory come to mind. Ensure that you buy your native climbers from a reputable registered native plant nursery, where they are aware of the introduced climbing weed problem. Do NOT pick them from the bush or the side of the road, unless you know which vine is native and which is not! Native vines grow quickly and easily if carefully chosen for a particular setting. Because there are so many varieties, it is easy to find the perfect climber. For temperate climates try; Billardiera ringens, Chapman River Climber This is a beautiful WA plant, with clusters if orange to red flowers. An excellent plant for fences and to cover a log pile. Gompholobium polymorphum, Climbing Wedge Pea Hardenbergia comptoniana, Native Lilac Hardenbergia violacea, Purple Coral Pea Grows in every State except WA. This lowgrowing climber can put up with harsh dry conditions. Sometimes incorrectly called Sarsparilla. Jasminum dallachii, Soft Jasmine There are two other native jasmines, one a rainforest climber from NQ and NT, the other a shrubby semiclimber from every State except Tasmania. Millettia megasperma, Native Wisteria. From NSW and Sth Q, but can be grown as far South as Melbourne. A strong climber, with glossy leaves and purple flowers in trusses. Pandorea pandorana, Wonga Wonga Vine. Pandorea Jasminoides, Bower-of-beauty. A tall climber, with trumpet white or pink flowers. From NSW and Qld, but will grow as far South as Melbourne. For warmer climates try; Cayratia trifolia, Slender Water Vine Clematis pickeringii, Tropical Clematis. There are several native clematis, aristata suits more temperate climates. White floweras and fluffy seed pods. Clerodendron inerme, Scrambling Clerodendron. Hoya australis, Common Hoya. Grows in NSW, Q, NT, WA. Hoya likes warm coastal areas, has many fragrant white waxy flowers. Hoya Macgillivrayi grows in N. Qld, and has deep red flowers in loose clusters. Lygodium reticulatum, Climbing Fern. There are four species of Lygodium in Australia, all can be grown fairly easily. Stenochlaena palustris. A vigorous climbing fern from Q, NT, and WA. Many ferns are suitable for backyard and balcony gardens, including many hanging ferns such as the Tassell fern. Pandorea jasminoides, Bower Climber. Pandorea pandorana, Wonga Wonga Vine. Strong growing climber, can tolerate cooler tempatures, many small flowers in variable colours. Easy to grow but likes richer soil. Parsonsia straminea, Common Silkpod. Sometimes confused with other related species (about 20 of them). Buff flowers, and will grow to great heights. Passiflora herbertiana, and cinnabarina. Native Passionfruit, climbers that attract birds and butterflies. Cinnabarina has red-orange flowers.
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