Myles’ top three climbing plants
Virginia creeper ( Parthenocissus quinquefolia) is perfect for temperate climates. Its trunk remains bare, so it’s best suited to growing over a pergola to create a canopy. It turns brilliant red in autumn.
Boston ivy ( Parthenocissus
tricuspidata) has foliage coverage from the ground up, so it’s ideal as a surface cover, growing up walls or wires. Foliage turns a peach hue in autumn but can turn deep red when very cold. Gum vine ( Aphanopetalum
resinosum) is a climber we’re trialling as an alternative to omnipresent Chinese star jasmine and it’s proving a success. An evergreen rainforest plant, gum vine retains its foliage from the ground to the top, so it provides good surface coverage. It has a mid-green leaf, tolerates shade, and can be grown along the east coast from Melbourne to Brisbane. It’s highly recommended.