TOP 10 CLIMBERS FOR WILDLIFE

l HEDERA HELIX (IVY)

Native ivy is an all-round, evergreen winner for wildlife. It needs light to flower and produce berries, which offer a late feast for bees and butterflies. Brimstone butterflies hibernate in it and birds gorge on the berries, but be aware that its aerial roots can damage loose mortar. H1-25m (3ft 3in-80ft)

LONICERA PERICLYMENUM (HONEYSUCKLE)

Native climber with exotic flowers that pump out rich scent, especially in the evening, luring in hawkmoths. Cultivar ‘Graham Thomas’ is also good. Flowers July-Oct are followed by glassy red berries that many birds eat. Max H6m (20ft)

PILEOSTEGIA VIBURNOIDES (CLIMBING HYDRANGEA)

Slow-growing evergreen climber that’s self supporting. Smothered in heads of tiny white flowers Aug-Sept that can be alive with pollinating insects. Ideal for training through a tree or covering a shady wall. Max H6m (20ft)

SPECIES ROSES

Single-flowered cultivars are best for pollinators. Most of these also then develop hips that are eaten by birds such as greenfinches. Try deep-pink flowered ‘American Pillar’ (pictured) or white ‘Francis E Lester’, which flower once, from June. Max H8m (26ft)

HYDRANGEA PETIOLARIS (CLIMBING HYDRANGEA)

Self-clinging deciduous climber that will spread to cover much of a wall and is adorned with heads of white flowers June-August. Robins and blackbirds nest in the network of woody stems.

Max H15m (50ft)

PARTHENOCISSUS TRICUSPIDATA (BOSTON IVY)

Deciduous, sticky tendril climber with intense fiery leaf colour and sometimes berries in autumn. House sparrows may nest in the dense cover as it spreads across walls. Its relative,

P. quinquefolia (Virginia creeper) is now classified as an invasive non-native. Max H20m (70ft)

● WISTERIA SINENSIS

Its dangling racemes of lilac or white flowers rich with scent are loved by bees. Needs pruning twice a year to flower well. Don’t feed it as this favours foliage over flower. Needs sturdy supports as the woody stems can be heavy, but they provide perfect nest sites for many birds. Max H30m (100ft)

CLEMATIS TANGUTICA

With attractive yellow bell-shaped flowers (July-Oct) and fluffy seedheads, it can be grown up a wall, along a fence or left to ramble through a fruit tree. Smaller C. alpina is also useful but largeflowered clematis have little wildlife value. Max H6m (20ft)

HUMULUS LUPULUS (HOP)

Herbaceous, twining native with dangling clusters of greenish flowers that brown as they fade. Ideal for sending up into a tree or over large obelisks and pergolas. Foodplant of the comma butterfly’s caterpillars. Golden form is also gorgeous. Max H8m (26ft)

PASSIFLORA CAERULEA (PASSIONFLOWER)

Evergreen or semievergreen climber, ideal for covering a pergola in a warm, sunny position. The curious, exotic flowers (July-Sept) are loved by bees, and can develop into plumsized orange fruits. Max H9m (30ft)