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Climbers are important group of ornamental plants and the beauty of any garden can be significantly enhanced by carefully selecting and planting them in suitable places.
Plants which have a special structure to climb on supports are defined as climbers. These structures may be tendrils, modified stalks, rootlets or hook-like thorns. For instance, in bougainvillea, thorny structures on the woody stems help the plant in taking the necessary grip. Climbing plants are described as twiners when in absence of supporting plant structures, they twine themselves around another plant or some other object.
Climbers are commonly used on walls, arches, pergolas, trellises, porches, arbours and pillars. Their utility has increased for the purpose of screening the premises from adjacent houses and maintaining privacy. Bare walls can be effectively decorated by growing colourful climbers on them. It is often felt that among the various types of ornamental plants, the least interest is taken on climbers and only few species are found to be growing in a locality.
Many climbers which grow and flower for several years are perennials and they are valued because once established and trained on support, they continue to flower with little care.
Annual climbers grow, flower and complete their life cycle within one year.
As some trees and shrubs are grown in gardens mainly for their attractive foliage, a number of climbers with beautiful leaves are grown in the same way. Examples are syngoniums and philodendrons.
Most flowering climbers need full sun for normal growth and profuse flowering. It often happens, however, that one may wish to plant a flowering climber in partial shade; there are a few climbers which thrive under such conditions. Examples are Trachelospermum jasminioides and Quisqualis indica.
There is also a marked difference in the amount of growth which different climbers can make. In some climbers, the growth is slower, the foliage is smaller and plant covers less space. While in many, the size is enormous, covering larger area. For example bougainvillea and clerodendrum splendens are heavy climbers, while quamoclit pinnata is a light climber.
Climbers that grow quickly and show thick and neat growth are mostly used for screening. Vernonia elaeagnifolia has been found to cover high wall or fences very effectively in warm and humid climate.
Climbers for low walls and trellis are normally a light type, such as Lonicera spp. For long pergolas in a public garden, usually heavy climbers are grown which include Allamanda cathartica. Selection of a good flowering climber on a sunny porch is important for colour display. It not only adds beauty to the house, but also enhances the beauty of the garden in front of the building.
For growing in pots, light and free flowering climbers should be selected. Pots 20-25 cm in size should be used and suitable support should be provided. Jacquemontia violacea and lonicera japonica are among the plants that have been found to grow and flower well in pots.
