5 Questions You Must Ask Yourself Before Buying a Climbing Plant

5 Questions You Must Ask Yourself Before Buying a Climbing Plant

All varieties of climbing plants will beautify the backyard. But did you know that they can do even more for you?


Each climber offers its own set of characteristics, such as its colour, its fragrance, the shape of its leaves or the maximum surface area it can cover. But don’t just choose one on a whim if you want a plant that will suit your needs. Here are 5 questions to ask yourself before buying a climbing plant.

1- Do You Want a Scented Plant?

Not all plants are aromatic; in fact, most are odourless. If you are looking for fragrance, you may want to take advantage of the perfumed produced by a climber’s flowers by planting it near some windows or the lounging area. In this case, choose a scented variety such as tropical white morning glory, five-leaf chocolate vine or white jasmine. The latter is unlikely to survive our winters however, so grow it in a container that you can bring inside until spring.

2- Is It to Shade Your Home in Summer?

Green walls offer a number of advantages: they protect homes from the elements, but above all they provide a natural barrier against the sun’s rays. Homes with green walls are significantly cooler in summer. The lusher the climbing plant is and the wider the area it covers, the more effective it will be. In this respect, some of the best performers are climbing hydrangea, Boston ivy or Dutchman’s pipe vine.

3— Is It to Be Planted in Full Sun or Shade?

Whether climbing or not, plants are capricious when it comes to light and shade conditions. If they are to thrive and provide the best display, you must give them what they need. The ultimate shade climber is the climbing hydrangea. Five-leaf chocolate vine will also survive away from the rays, as can the wild cucumber vine.

4— Is It Meant to Be Decorative?

Buyers love well tended, colourful landscaping! To beautify your home or backyard, flowers and plants are your best allies. They are a great way to add interest to a space. If a plant’s decorative appeal is important to you, choose your climbers based on their appearance. For example, for a streamline contemporary look, focus on a single variety and create a uniformly green tapestry over the wall. However, if a mix of tones and hues is what you are after, opt for the actinidia kolomitka kiwi with its pink flowers or the honeysuckle which offers show stopping yellow to red flowers when in bloom. Finally, you can’t go wrong with a clematis for a touch of violet. 

5— Are You Planting to Increase Privacy?

If given a vertical surface such as a wall or lattice, all climbing plants will naturally twist, twine and spread. But if your goal is to create a privacy screen, the plants must be able to grow quickly and thickly. Leaves that grow too far away from the stems will not shield you from the neighbours. Opt for bushier climbers such as passionflower or Virginia creeper.

Do you believe it’s too late in the season to plant? Many climbers can still be sown or planted in the fall. Talk to a specialist at your local garden centre.

RE/MAX Québec

By RE/MAX Québec

By RE/MAX Québec

A leader in the real estate industry since 1982, the RE/MAX network brings together the most efficient brokers.