PLANT OF THE WEEK
This plant should be labelled “handle with care”. It’s not toxic but it’s big and invasive, making it unsuitable for small or averagesized gardens.
The reason they need treating with caution is they climb using little suckers at the end of tendrils that enable them to self-cling. This is good when you want something to cover an old wall quickly, but when planted against houses it is notorious for damaging the mortar.
Worse still, if left to ramble at will, it’ll be up on the roof working between tiles, across gutters and wrapped round downpipes doing untold damage.
The best way to grow it is to let it run loose through big trees, where the autumn colour shows off brilliantly against the green background, or to train it out along a pergola or an old brick or stone wall. It makes stunning ground cover but few gardens have the space. This is one plant to enjoy at stately homes and gardens, as part of the autumn spectacle.