climbing plants for south facing garden?

dreaming

I am lucky enough to have a south facing garden, and have spent a while getting some structure into it - it was just lawn when I moved in, with an old concrete garage base at the side, next to the neighbour's garage. I had a wooden pergola erected there to form a seating area and have tried a few things to get some greenery going around it. Unfortunately there is no soil whatsoever - just a small strip of gravel between my base and next door's (and I have managed to get some chamomile growing there) so have tried a few things in pots, but so far nothing seems to work. First I tried clematis but it was just too hot I think as I know they like to keep their roots cool. Honeysuckle wasn't too bad but was too "shrubby" and had to be clipped and tied back too much. Lat year I planted a grape vine into a pot but that seems to have given up the ghost. So before I go spending any more cash I wondered if there was anything that people might think would do ok in a pot in full sunshine all day? I would prefer something that has flowers but to be honest anything will be considered.

Fruittea

How about a passion flower. They look lovely and if you have the right conditions which it sounds as though you have - you get to eat the fruit.
https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=295

dreaming

Fruittea wrote: »

How about a passion flower. They look lovely and if you have the right conditions which it sounds as though you have - you get to eat the fruit.
https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=295

Yes, I have a passion flower on the other side of the garden and it has done very well. I was unsure as to how it would do in a pot, although I have 2 water butts close by so watering wouldn't be too onerous.
Thanks.

andrewf75

How about star jasmine trachelospermum jasminoides?

Mojisola

dreaming wrote: »

I am lucky enough to have a south facing garden

I had a wooden pergola erected there to form a seating area and have tried a few things to get some greenery going around it. Unfortunately there is no soil whatsoever - just a small strip of gravel between my base and next door's

Is it just the roof area you want covered - if you can put up some trellis, that spot would be perfect for a fig. Normally, you have to restrict a fig's root growth but you've already got just the soil conditions it needs.

If you want stuff to grow over the top of the pergola, get some big pots and plant in those. You can feed and water well and get some climbers growing vigorously in those.

dreaming

Thank you for the suggestions so far. The Jasmine I wasn't really aware of (I only think of the winter jasmine). I have considered a fig, and actually have trellis on one end of the pergola. I have a fig in another area (planted in builder's rubble basically) and that is doing quite well.
I was hoping to cover the trellis I already have, then also some of the roof - hence the grape. I was really hoping for something with a bit of colour for the summer (e.g. the clematis) but I think it is just a bit too hot for the roots. Despite tending them very gently they flowered for about 2 days then wilted.
I do have lots of pots on the ground (have just potted up 20-odd pelargoniums) but I would like to draw attention away from next door's grey, concrete garage wall, as well as adding a bit of height. I did ask if I could paint the wall but she said no. I may have to add more trellis and try something like a golden hop but need to watch the budget. Probably need to raid my SIL's garden again.

Chris25

Fremontodendron - sounds as though you have ideal conditions for this. A friend of mine has one and it looks stunning.

https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/96406/Fremontodendron-California-Glory/Details


*** sorry, just re-read your post and you say you're watching your budget - you might not find the plant I mentioned within your range. You could have a look in your local paper for planting groups/horticultural clubs near you that sell off plants. There are several organisations near me which hold their annual sales this time of year and you can often get great bargains - and advice too!***

dreaming

Lovely plant Chris25 - will do a bit of research on whether it would work planted in a container.
Although I am watching the pennies (the pounds all seem to have vanished already) I don't mind paying for something of I think it is "the one". It's just that what I have tried so far, although not costly individually, hasn't worked. I have re-used the plants elsewhere so that's all good. It is the container element that's the main problem I think. It was much too much for the clematis which just baked. As I said - there is no soil whatsoever, just the gravel strip in which I did manage to get some chamomile to take. So everything has to go into pots but then the roots get too hot - is it possible to insulate them I wonder?
I've just been sitting out there having a cup of tea and it is absolutely scorching already. I tried talking lovingly to the "stick" which was a grape plant last year (and bought specifically to be grown in a container) but it just sat there. I shall probably leave it for a few months "just in case" as I did with the mini-apple tree which suddenly sprang into life last year and was covered with blossom a couple of weeks ago.
I picked up a wisteria plant yesterday which states that it is suitable for growing in a pot. It was intended for elsewhere but I may try that for the pergola instead. What a lovely problem to have!

DaftyDuck

There's no reason to restrict it to one plant. Spread the flowering season with combination planting. Don't forget common scented jasmine -Jasminum officinale - as it has long lasting flowers and a scent to die for. That trachelospermum has a variegated form that's not quite so vigorous, and doubles the appeal. The foliage of both will give some summer shade.

If you can get a climbing scented rose in, thorns and all, that will add framework. Roses are abundant, and cheap, so there's no point in recommending one, but do check it's not TOO vigorous!

Pots can be buried underground, in which case clematis will flourish, as the roots will stay cool. Mind you, if you do that, you might as well dig enough out to root them directly.

Climbers will grow in pots, but it's quite a big ask, particularly in a hot summer.

Chris25

dreaming wrote: »

I tried talking lovingly to the "stick" which was a grape plant last year (and bought specifically to be grown in a container) but it just sat there. f

:rotfl: .

dreaming

DaftyDuck wrote: »

There's no reason to restrict it to one plant. Spread the flowering season with combination planting. Don't forget common scented jasmine -Jasminum officinale - as it has long lasting flowers and a scent to die for. That trachelospermum has a variegated form that's not quite so vigorous, and doubles the appeal. The foliage of both will give some summer shade.

If you can get a climbing scented rose in, thorns and all, that will add framework. Roses are abundant, and cheap, so there's no point in recommending one, but do check it's not TOO vigorous!

Pots can be buried underground, in which case clematis will flourish, as the roots will stay cool. Mind you, if you do that, you might as well dig enough out to root them directly.

Climbers will grow in pots, but it's quite a big ask, particularly in a hot summer.

Unfortunately without getting in a jackhammer there is no way I can bury the pots - and if I were to do that I would create beds instead. It is literally a concrete garage base, surrounded by concrete (the original driveway plus the garden path) with the neighbour's garage on one side. I've picked up a couple of decorative wall planters from the local £shop so may have to see what I can do with those to take away the starkness.
The rest of the garden is bloomin' lovely, and the circular bed I made based on Jekka McVicar's Chelsea Garden from last year is fab with lots of thyme, chamomile, lavender and rosemary. When the weather is as good as today I really could be in the Med. Thank goodness I no longer work and can take full advantage of it.