Aerial roots
Ivy is the obvious one among a small but very useful group of climbers that attach themselves to walls, fences and tree bark using aerial roots. Wherever a stem touches another surface, a line of very short roots develops where the two come together and the root tips insinuate themselves into the tiniest cracks and fissures. These aerial roots are quite different from normal roots and don’t grow into soil or take up nutrients.
The more vigorous forms of Euonymus fortunei cling in the same way as ivy, as does the rarely seen Ercilla volubilis, a fine plant for north and east walls with stubby, pink, spring flower spikes.
■ Top for aerial roots: Euonymus fortunei ‘Emerald Gaiety’, and other vigorous variegated varieties such as ‘Silver Queen’, are fine small climbers.
■ Growing tip: Encourage aerial roots to get a grip by taping them to the wall or tree trunk with sticking plaster.