Climbing perennials

vivaces grimpantes

Covering walls and other vertical surfaces with climbing plants

In addition to being beautiful and giving life to our decor, plants have many health benefits. In fact, they help lower the temperature by creating islands of coolness, filter dust and improve air quality. That’s why people are always looking for new places to green. Of course, green roofs are gaining in popularity, but they often require significant structural adjustments to support the weight of the plants that will grow on them. There are also pocket walls where plants are planted in substrate, but irrigation is often a hindrance to its implementation. An easy and effective solution: climbing perennials!

Most climbers grow quite easily, in very little soil or even in a container, and often expand very little horizontally. They are therefore ideal for covering walls, fences or stair railings and thus creating new vegetated surfaces in height that create a wow effect every time.

There are many varieties of climbing plants that are very interesting both for their foliage and for their flowering. Climbing perennials are divided into two groups that require different installation and maintenance:

Those that are attached directly to the building 
These varieties of climbing plants cling to surfaces by themselves, without any structure. This is the case for Boston Ivy, Virginia creeper and climbing hydrangea, among others. Contrary to popular belief, climbing plants do not damage buildings with their roots, on the contrary. They protect them from the sun’s UV rays and enhance their aesthetic appeal. So don’t hesitate!

Advantages: 

  • No need for a structure, trellis or wire mesh to make it climb, therefore very little cost.
  • Can climb very high, as long as the surface allows it

Disadvantages:

  • Need more maintenance: pruning for windows, gutters, etc.

Those that cling to a structure or volubile climbers

The majority of climbing plants need a trellis, wire mesh or wires to hang and grow. Think of clematis, wisteria, hips or grapevines. It is therefore necessary to provide this structure to your plants if you want them to grow tall.

Advantages: 

  • Will stay close to the trellis, so less maintenance to do for overgrown branches
  • Controlled height due to the structure

Disadvantages: 

  • The installation of the structure requires a larger investment.

Please note that there are also several varieties of annual climbing plants that you will have to replant each year: morning glories and sweet peas, for example. Ask our nursery consultants to make sure you plant the right species of climbing plants for your needs. Vertical greening is a great way to increase the vegetation cover in your yard and even in your city: let yourself go!