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Evergreen climber for an east facing wall

KmehKmeh Posts: 173
in Plants
Can I firstly just say how much i love this forum. I learn more on here from 4 or 5 replies than i do from hours of googling!

I have a very exposed east facing wall that I would love to put a climber on. We get serious winds so it needs to be hardy. Ideally evergreen to give me some winter foliage. 

Any suggestions? 
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Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Hi @Kmeh - evergreen is trickier, but Hydrangea petiolaris is excellent for a wall in that aspect. Things like Virginia creeper [Parthenocissus quinquefolia] will give you a long season, and is at it's best in Autumn, but again, not evergreen.
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    Given the " serious winds" I'd avoid evergreen. You might go out after a storm to find the whole lot ripped off the wall. 
    Devon.
  • KmehKmeh Posts: 173
    Goodness hadn't thought of that @Hostafan1.

    Ok maybe something with a long foliage season. The winds are generally worse during autumn and winter so makes sense. That said, I have a climbing rose that probably gets 3/4 of the wind intensity in another location in the garden and its seems to have thrived.

    Thoughts on Virginia creeper? Love how they look in autumn but they do seem rather vigorous on some walls. Are they difficult to maintain?
  • Ladybird4Ladybird4 Posts: 37,906
    Hello @Kmeh. Hydrangea seemanii is an evergreen climber. I have one growing on my east facing (and wind blown) garage wall.
    Cacoethes: An irresistible urge to do something inadvisable
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    How big is your wall?
    I love V.C but they like a bit of room once they get going. It depends entirely on your size of wall, ability to mainatin etc.
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • KmehKmeh Posts: 173
    Did your semantii take long to establish? I already have a petiolaris which is hardly grown although apparently that's normal and which is not helped by the fact that it's in too small a pot.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    You really can't grow these plants in a pot.
    They need to be in the ground, or you need to build a large raised container of some kind for them.
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • KmehKmeh Posts: 173
    Yes dont worry @fairygirl I heeded yours and others advice  and I'm digging up the path around the house for 5 climbers I have in pots. Back breaking work but the hard core wasnt as compacted as I feared. 2 containers done 3 to go!
  • Ladybird4Ladybird4 Posts: 37,906
    Hi Kmeh. The seemanii has been in just under two years and it is already curling over my garage roof.
    Cacoethes: An irresistible urge to do something inadvisable
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Ah - good stuff @Kmeh. I hadn't realised it was you!
    Just make sure you prep the holes you're digging really well. The ground next to houses can be a a bit rubbish, and very dry. A good mulch after watering your plants in will help, if you have anything suitable.
    The watering initially, and for the foreseeable, is the most important thing. Any rain you get won't necessarily reach them as well as when they're in a more open position. 
    Good luck with them.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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