How2Day: Winter Climbing Plants

Adding a bit of color to the garden can brighten up a bleak winter. Often the garden becomes bare and neglected during the colder season. Floral interest is likely to be minimal, and most of the character of the garden is defined by the bold shapes and foliage color of evergreen shrubs and trees. Winter climbers can add a colorful contrast to the garden, adding character and coverage.

Winter jasmine (Jasminum nudiflorum) is technically a shrub, however, its leggy growth makes it perfect for training up a trellis, hedge or even a tree. Small, yellow, trumpet-shaped flowers begin to appear on almost leafless stems from January through March. A reliable and tough plant, jasmine will adapt to any growing conditions and is content with sun or shade. Jasmine benefits from regular pruning; taking out older wood in spring will ensure a constant cascade of new growth. Winter jasmine can be grown in USDA Hardiness Zones 6 through 9.

The scarlet clematis (Clematis texensis, C. coccinea) is a rapid climber, providing red or purple bell-shaped flowers from summer until the weather becomes frosty. Pruning is vital as the vine flowers on new growth and can grow to a height of 10 feet. Scarlet clematis can be grown in Zones 6 to 8.

Winter honeysuckle (Lonicera fragrantissima) is also sometimes referred to as "standing honeysuckle'" and will grow well in USDA Hardiness Zones 5 to 9. These small, creamy white and highly fragrant flowers bloom during mid-winter and are followed by red fruit in the spring. Although the foliage is bluish-green in color, the flowers appear on bare branches. Growing to about eight feet tall, the winter honeysuckle is comfortable in most good garden soils and is very tolerant to cold.

The flame vine (Pyrostegia ignea) provides a fantastic display of reddish orange, tubular clusters of flowers. It is a fast-growing evergreen climber, and it's climbing tendrils make it ideal for covering fences, walls and hedges. As the plant can grow to over 30 feet, it's important to keep it under control before it becomes invasive. Flowers tend to appear more at the top of the plant, so trimming the plant at it's head will encourage flowers further down the plant. The flame vine will grow in USDA Hardiness Zones 9 to 11.

The English ivy (Hedera helix) is more commonly associated with a weed and is a naturally invasive plant in the wild. Under controlled conditions in the garden however, it can provide lovely ground cover or be trained to climb. It is easy to grow and can thrive in USDA Hardiness Zones 4 to 9 to provide year-round greenery for the garden. A wide variety of ivy is available, providing a choice of leaf color, shape and size. Many of these cultivars are less invasive, turning this evergreen weed into something more interesting for the garden.

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