Climbers for Small gardens

Short of space, but want a great display? The only way is up, says Anne Swithinbank

- Anne Swithinbank

FOR tiny gardens and intimate courtyards, growing plants upwards makes the best use of space. A soothing outlook of greenery and flowers full of insects and birds replaces bare fence panels and walls. Hardy, long-lived wall plants can take their time to get going, so to fill gaps while you wait, fall back on speedy annual climbers grown from seed or young plants. They make an abundance of growth smothered in colourful flowers in just one season, often peaking towards the end of summer and into autumn. There are neat-growers like Chilean glory flower (Eccremocarpus scaber) with blooms like small firecrackers, or wildly exuberant clambering nasturtiums. We once filled a long expanse of bare, south-facing fence with bizarre decorative gourds all raised from one packet of seeds.

‘Pop-up’ landscapes

These quick climbers are perfect for creating ‘pop-up’ landscapes in your borders. Rig up an installation of hazel poles or bamboo canes into wigwams and obelisks, to cloth with morning glories or black-eyed Susan. They’ll add height and dimension for a season, are taken down in autumn and put up again the following year in a different arrangement. Easier still, let existing shrubs act as climbing frames, but be aware that vigorous leafy characters like cup and saucer vine might swamp them.

Follow in Darwin’s footsteps