Climbing plants are particularly useful in the garden because they\nallow you to increase productivity by using vertical space that would otherwise\nbe empty. They are especially valuable in hotter climates, as they can be used\nto create the shade that is so essential for comfort. Their exuberance and\nappearance makes them one of my favorite groups of plants. See Where to plant\nfor ways to use them in the garden.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Climbing plants grow\nrapidly once established, because they don\u2019t waste a lot of energy creating a\nstructural skeleton for themselves. This lack of structure means they need\nsomething to hold them up and they have developed various methods for holding\non to their supports. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The twiners simply grow in a clockwise (or is it anti-clockwise?)\ndirection and twine themselves up around anything that gets in their way\n(including each other). Hop, Kiwi, Akebia, Beans and Malabar Spinach all grow\nin this way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The clingers (Ivy, Virginia Creeper) cling to walls or trees by\nmeans of roots or sticky tendrils. These species are the most effective plants\nfor training directly on to walls, but I don\u2019t know of any useful species in\nthis category.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tendril bearing plants grab on to small twigs with their tendrils. They include the Passion Vine, Peas and Cucurbits. These may also twine around their supports to some degree.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The sprawlers don\u2019t actually climb, so much as grow through other vegetation. Some (Blackberry, Rose) use thorny stems, other have Velcro-like hooks to get traction. These species often need encouragement to go where you want them, in the form of tying in. They grow best on wide supports that aren\u2019t very high.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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