You must have seen some old buildings, houses, and even trees covered up with a type of climbing plant called creeping fig. Its Latin name is ficus pumila. It is quite interesting how people can have totally opposite reactions regarding this plant, and climbers in general. Some people really love it, cause it gives that old fairy-tale cottage look, you know, the one where the seven dwarfs live in. Suddenly you find yourself being a Snow White and just longing to see what’s inside… Some people, however, do not like it at all. Maybe, this separation is caused by their chaotic growth, however, when looked after properly, these plants can be quite the amazing décor.
I guess the question here is where to get started and how to choose the perfect climbing plant, and of course, where to plant it. Well, here are some tips that can help you make a good decision and get several steps closer to creating your dreamy portion of greenery.
For Step 1, you need to check which climbers can grow in your area and what is the best climate for the type of climber you have in mind. Be prepared to let go of ideas since there might be many plants the appearance of which you just adore, but can’t grow it in your backyard. For example, the Golden Trumpet Vine, the Madagascar Jasmin and the Orange Trumpet Creeper are suitable for growing in middle to northern Australia; the Bower Vine, the Star Jasmine and the Guinea Flower are suitable for growing in middle to southern Australia; and the Chilean Bellflower and the Clematis could be grown in cooler areas and mountainous zones.
After finding Australian climbing plants you can grow in your area, move on to Step 2 by looking at your backyard and imagining which areas you would like to cover with your new plants. Do you need something massive that can cover a whole wall or some sort of ground cover, or maybe you prefer long stems with cute flowers, just to emphasize the doors and windows or let crawl around the fence?
Step 3 is to choose the color. Australian climbing plants vary a lot when it comes to the colours of the stem, the leaves and the flowers. Snowy white, dreamy pink, or the “green carpet” type, you can mix and match the colors with your outdoor furniture, pots, lights and other objects.
Step 4, pay attention to the shapes of the leaves and flowers and how thick the plant gets when full coverage is reached. This will help you define the texture of the area you are planning to create. Texture is so important when it comes to climbers. It would be best to consult with a florist or someone that has a better understanding regarding how the plant develop and what you can expect.
And last, leave some space for your authentic creative self to lead you to the final scenery you want to create as well. Do you have a picture in your mind already?