by Kathleen Couch

Created on: July 30, 2010

Climbing and hanging plants can give the “WOW” factor to your garden, or patio.  But it is important to know the types of climbing and hanging plants and how to show them off to their best advantage.  This article is divided into two sections, with one explaining climbing plants and the other, hanging plants.

SECTION 1: Climbing Plants

Climbing plants have five main categories, tendril, twiners, scramblers, adhesive pad, and clinging stem root.  Each type has different climbing characteristics, and need different type structures to do their best.

Tendril Climbers

Tendrils are wiry, little structures that grow out from the stem or the leaf.  Slow motion film would show that they reach around in midair until they find a suitable surface to curl around.  The two different types of tendril climbers grow and climb in much the same way.  The only difference is that one forms the tendrils from the stem and the other forms it from the leaf.  The tendril is only about an inch long, so it needs something thin to curl around.  An example of an appropriate climbing assistant is wire or string.  A center bamboo pole can be used, with string set out from it in a vertical cone fashion.  Just make sure the strings are no farther than 4 inches apart, so the tendril can reach the next one.  Passionflower, and grape are examples of stem tendril plants.  Sweet peas are an example of a leaf tendril plant.

Twiners

Again there are two sub types of twiners.  They are twining stems or twining leaves.  Twining stems can twine around most any structure.  However twining leaves need thin wire or string.  Twining leaf vines are those such as clematis and climbing nasturtium.  A 1 inch slat, or a mailbox post will not help these to climb.  If you are set on having them in one of those places, use string or wire to help them along.

Twining stem vines will twine around almost anything.  Examples of twining stem vines are, pole beans, morning glory, moonflower, honeysuckle, gourds, and wisteria.  Some vines are tight twiners, such as morning glory, and some are loose twiners, such as gourds.  Wisteria is a very heavy vine.  Before planning to plant a wisteria, make sure you have a very strong support.

Scramblers

The two main types of scramblers are climbing or rambling roses, and bougainvillea. They have flexible, curvy stems but cannot climb on their own.  It is necessary

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