Tired of looking at unattractive fences and bare boundaries? Transform them with our top-performing climbing plants; perfect for adding lush greenery, fragrance, and colour to your garden this season. Climbers are ideal for softening edges and creating a relaxing haven, especially if you’re working with a smaller space.
There’s no need to wait years for results; here at The Big Plant Nursery, we’ve done the growing for you. Our climbers are available on canes and frames, from compact young plants to mature specimens, including impressive 4‑metre Wisteria ready to drape beautifully over a pergola. Many of our popular shrubs are also trained as wall shrubs, and our larger framed varieties offer instant structure, privacy, and the feel of ready-made garden rooms.
Top climbers for spring include the ever-reliable Clematis montana, and we also stock a range of evergreen Clematis ideal for disguising fences. Wisteria bursts into bloom slightly later in spring, while summer brings the heady scent of honeysuckles and the exquisite fragrance of our favourite evergreen climber, Trachelospermum jasminoides. Plant it around a sunny patio and enjoy star-like white flowers in summer and rich, flame-coloured foliage through winter.
For a calm, cohesive look, try repeating the same climber around your seating area, it creates a sense of harmony and can make the space feel larger.
Drop into the nursery and let us help you choose the perfect climbers for your garden.
Our Favourite Climbers
Clematis montana ‘Elizabeth’ – A vigorous grower with pale pink, vanilla scented flowers which contrast against bronze young foliage. Flowering in late spring, the plant will be smothered in flowers, creating a waterfall of flowers when trailing from a tree or support. It will quickly cover walls or pergolas.
Clematis armandi – Clematis armandi is a large, vigorous, evergreen climber with leathery, dark glossy green leaves up to 15cm long and an abundance of single, fragrant creamy-white flowers, up to 5-6cm across, with creamy stamens and hang in clusters in early to mid-spring. This variety is perfect for growing against a sunny west or south-facing wall. Evergreen, it retains its glossy mid-green leaves throughout the year so it’s an excellent choice for screening walls, fences and pergolas. This Clematis is in pruning group 1, which flower early in the year and should be pruned after flowering in mid to late spring. Prefers full sun. Tolerates any soil condition as long as it’s moist and well drained. Final height: 4-8m tall, 1.5-2.5m wide.
Clematis montana var. grandiflora – A vigorous, deciduous climber celebrated for its stunning, pure white flowers that bloom profusely in late spring to early summer. The large, single blooms cover the plant, creating a spectacular, cascading display over walls, pergolas, trellises or fences. Dark green foliage provides a lush backdrop, turning soft yellow in autumn. Grow in full sun or partial shade with roots kept cool in moist but well-drained soil. Clematis montana ‘Grandiflora’ can reach 8-12 metres in height and 4 metres spread, making it ideal for covering large structures and adding abundant seasonal interest.
Exochorda x macrantha ‘The Bride’ – Also known as Pearlbush, Exochorda x macrantha is a popular deciduous shrub covered with showy white flowers in April and May. A small to medium sized bush with a weeping habit. Can be trained against a wall, pergolas, trellises or fences.
Garrya elliptica – Commonly known as the Silk Tassel Bush, is an elegant, evergreen shrub prized for its glossy, dark green leaves and winter interest. In late winter to early spring, long, pendulous catkins emerge, silver-grey in males and less showy in females, adding architectural drama to the garden. Ideal for borders and climb up a wall, fence, or trellis. Grow full sun, partial shade or full shade in well-drained soil. Garrya elliptica typically reaches 4 metres in height with a similar spread, offering year-round structure and ornamental appeal.
Jasminum officinale ‘Clotted Cream’ – A deciduous climber with very fragrant, cream flowers in summer and early autumn. They are admired for their perfume, vigorous growth and graceful appearance.
Parthenocissus quinquefolia var. engelmannii – A vigorous, deciduous climber prized for its outstanding autumn colour and reliable growth. Fresh green, five-lobed leaves emerge in spring, forming dense cover through summer before turning brilliant shades of crimson and scarlet in autumn. Ideal for covering walls, fences and pergolas, it is self-clinging and requires minimal support. Thriving in full sun or partial shade, and moist but well drained soil, it typically reaches 8-12 metres in height with a spread of around 4–8 metres, providing dramatic seasonal interest and effective coverage.
Wisteria brachybotrys ‘Okayama’ – This Japanese wisteria which also goes by the name of ‘Yokohama Fuji’, is another anticlockwise twining cultivar. Leaves are up to 35cm long with about 11 downy leaflets and flowers hang in sprays 10-15cm long. The April – June floral display is highly impressive as scented flowers open from rich violet buds to pale lilac.
The bean-like seedpods are velvety and up to 20cm long. Grow in any moist well drained soil in full sun or partial shade.
Like other wisteria, this variety will need support, pruning and training to retain its shape.
Wisteria floribunda ‘Domino’ – Japanese wisteria ‘Domino’ is a beautiful deciduous, clockwise-twining climber, with masses of fragrant, lilac-blue, scented pea-like flowers, produced in late spring/early summer in short trusses about 20cm long. Fantastic for early pollinators, this super bee-friendly plant is seen mostly trained up the front of houses but is also a worthy choice for training up walls, fences and pergolas and can even be grown as half-standards to create a stunning umbrella effect. They are a ‘must-have’ in a cottage garden setting and an excellent addition in any wildlife gardens. We supply ours on trellises, canes, and as half-standards. Does well in a sheltered sunny or partial sun position, in moist, well drained soil. Needs regular pruning in order to control size, shape and encourage regular flowering. Please follow our Wisteria pruning guide for the best floral display. Tolerates most soil conditions. Final height: 8-12m tall, 8+m wide. RHS Award of Garden Merit.
Wisteria floribunda ‘Kokuryu’ – A dramatic Japanese wisteria renowned for its exceptionally long, pendulous racemes of rich violet-purple flowers. Blooming in late spring to early summer, the cascading blooms create a breathtaking display. Fresh green, pinnate foliage follows, providing lush summer cover. Vigorous and long-lived, ‘Kokuryu’ thrives in full sun and moiat but well-drained soil. Regular pruning encourages abundant flowering, making this a spectacular choice for creating a bold garden feature.
Wisteria floribunda f. rosea ‘Hon-beni’ – A stunning deciduous climber renowned for its spectacular cascading flower racemes and vigorous growth. In late spring to early summer, it produces abundant, fragrant clusters of soft pink to lilac blooms that hang elegantly from trained branches, creating a breathtaking display. Its vigorous, twining habit makes it ideal for pergolas, arches, walls, or trained over structures, while lush green foliage provides summer interest once the flowers fade. ‘Honbeni’ thrives in full sun or partial shade with moist but well-drained soil. Combining dramatic floral impact, scent, and architectural beauty, it is a show-stopping feature in any garden.
Evergreen Wall Shrubs
Ceanothus ‘Italian Skies’ – A smaller variety, Ceanothus ‘Italian Skies’ is a spreading medium-sized evergreen shrub with small, glossy dark green leaves and small bright blue flowers in compact conical clusters in late spring.
Great for year-round interest Ceanothus are fast-growing but may be short-lived. This variety is worth consideration for hedges and screening as when pruned it retains its manageable size. Grows well in a sunny sheltered position. Prune after flowering, feed and mulch to provide the nutrients needed. An ideal plant for a wildlife garden. Likes well drained soil, does not do well on chalk. Final Height: 1-1.5m tall and 1-1.5m wide. RHS Award of Garden Merit.
Lonicera henryi ‘Copper Beauty’ (semi-evergreen) – This popular honeysuckle is semi-evergreen, so it’s a most useful plant for screening but it can lose some of its leaves in colder, exposed gardens during winter. Where this happens, new foliage appears again in spring emerging a distinctive bronze colour, gradually fading to green as it ages. From early summer, yellow flowers start to appear contrasting beautifully with the colourful foliage. Worth noting this honeysuckles’ flowers are not fragrant, forsaking its’ scent for the bonus of semi-evergreen leaves. Final height: when trained 10-12m.
Trachelospermum jasminoides (Star Jasmine) – Commonly known as the Star Jasmin or an Evergreen Jasmin, Trachelospermum jasminoides is a vigorous, evergreen, woody climber which can reach between 8-12m in height. With twining stems, glossy dark green, oval leaves, often turning deep bronze-red in winter, it’s a wonderful addition to any sunny garden. Clusters of highly fragrant, small white flowers smother the foliage from mid to late summer. A highly recommended climber for screening in an area where the fragrance can be enjoyed at its most it is an ideal choice for pergolas and trellis around seating arrangements. It’s a tough, vigorous climber so tying in and pruning is recommended to keep in shape. ‘Trach. jas.’ (as we like to call it!) likes a sheltered aspect with well-drained soil conditions. It can be easily grown in pots and containers where good drainage is present. Great for bees this essential climber works best in hot dry planting schemes. Height 8-12m when trained.
Evergreen Living Screens
Photinia x fraseri ‘Red Robin’ – A vibrant evergreen shrub renowned for its brilliant red foliage and versatile nature. This popular variety features glossy, leaves that emerge bright red, gradually maturing to deep green. Clusters of small, white flowers appear in spring, sometimes followed by red berries in the summer. Its dense and bushy growth habit, coupled with the striking coloration, makes it a favoured choice for hedges, screens, or as an eye-catching ornamental specimen in the garden. Height 4-8m Spread 4m. Grow in well drained or moist but well drained soil in full sun or partial shade.
Feeling inspired?
If you would like to start the first step of your journey with us then get in touch to book our consultancy service.
For just £75*, our experienced horticulturalists will provide tailored guidance to bring your vision to life. Whether you’re interested in fast-growing solutions for quick impact, seeking the enduring beauty of evergreen plants or looking to add colour and fragrance, we can offer expert advice.
**£75 fee applies if you live within a 15-mile radius of our office. Additional fees apply out