Annual Climbers fast growers for

Give a climber like morning glory something to scramble up and it will romp away, keeping you in colourful fl owers all summer long

Get speedy returns with

Annual climbers

Whether you want wall coverage, shade for a seating area or optimum eye level interest, these fast growers will tick all of the boxes in minimal time, says Louise Curley

THE ultimate ‘Beanstalk’ plants (although, unlike Jack, you won’t need to trade a cow for the seeds), annual climbers grow at an astonishing rate. Sown in late winter, many will reach 8ft (2.5m) over the course of the summer, while some will romp away to 16ft (5m). Thanks to their height, they’ll add colour and interest at eye level and create another dimension within a planting design. A they’ll flower all summer, in some cases right through to the first frosts. Their speedy growth makes them ideal for new gardens, where they add useful focal points while you wait for other plants to mature. They’re perfect for covering walls or trellis, too, or used to create temporary screening around seating areas during the summer , if you want a little bit ivacy. Best of all: their eap price and short life pan allows you to be a ttle more experimental han you might otherwise be–one year you might fancy omething exotic; the xt something fragrant cottage garden-like. uiring little ground space, annual climbers are ideal for squeezing into small areas, but they do need something to scramble up, whether it’s a willow wigwam, metal or wooden obelisk, pergola or trellis panels Black-eyed Susan is a fast grower

attached to a wall or fence. Some, like runner beans and nasturtiums, are even edible –use these to make a vegetable patch look pretty, or weave them among ornamentals and other edibles for a potager effect in the border.

Long growing season Most of these plants come from warmer, sunnier climates than ours. In their native countries they’re often perennial, but here they won’t survive a typical winter outdoors. Easy to grow from seed, they need a long growing season if they’re to bloom, so you’ll need to sow over the coming weeks –on a warm windowsill, or with the help of a heated propagator. More tender types need protection from frost before they can be planted out in late spring or early summer. But don’t worry if you haven’t the space to house

6 classic climbers

Lathyrus odoratus It’s difficult to trump sweet peas –they’re hardy, easy to grow and come in such a wide range of colours and combinations. They make great cut flowers, too. If not picking for the vase, you’ll need to deadhead regularly to keep the blooms coming. HxS: 8ftx16in (2.5mx40cm).

Tropaeolum majus Jewel of Africa Group With round leaves (this variety has variegated foliage) and large, trumpetshaped flowers in oranges, reds and yellows, climbing nasturtiums will reach heady heights in no time. Some make lowgrowing clumps, so look for the climbing varieties. HxS: 6x1½ft (1.8mx45cm).

Rhodochiton atrosanguineus AGM Purple bell vine is a tender perennial from Mexico. It combines slender, twining leaf stalks (covered in a mass of heart-shaped leaves) with pendulous tubular blooms in deep purple and cerise. Flowers from July to the first frosts. HxS: 10x1½ft (10mx45cm).

Ipomoea lobata AGM Spanish flag is a tender climber with twining purple stems and small tubular flowers –they start off red before fading –first to orange, then to creamy-yellow. All colours will appear on the plant at any one time, with glorious results. HxS: 16ftx1½ft (5mx45cm).

Ipomoea purpurea ‘Grandpa Otts’ The best morning glory plant to grow in our cool British climate. It has long, wiry, twining stems, and from July to October produces large trumpet-like flowers in a velvety dark purple with rose-pink throats. Requires shelter and warmth. HxS: 8ftx39in (2.5x1m).

Thunbergia alata ‘African Sunset’ A tender climber with a warm mix of terracotta orange, golden yellow and cream flowers –all with trademark black centres –appearing among a mass of elongated heart-shaped foliage. Suitable for growing in large containers. HxS: 8x2ft (2.4mx60cm).

Annual climbers for containers

Lathyrus chloranthus An unusual species pea that produces small green-yellow flowers throughout summer. Unscented, it makes an interesting choice for large containers – try underplanting with tumbling bedding plants such as a dark-flowered calibrachoa or petunia. HxS: 61/2ftx20in (2mx50cm).

Try these ornamental edibles…

Phaseolus coccineus ‘Painted Lady’ Worth growing for the pretty bi-coloured red and white pea-like flowers, this heritage runner bean produces tasty, medium-sized pods from mid summer. Needs a deep, fertile soil, so dig in plenty of organic matter. HxS: 10x11/2ft (3mx45cm).

A few unusual options…

Eccremocarpus scaber Chilean glory flower is a slender climber that is smothered in pinkyorange, tubular flowers from June to the first frosts. In a sheltered spot in a mild garden it may be perennial; otherwise treat as an annual. HxS: 8x2ft (2½mx60cm).

Asarina scandens Also known as the trailing snapdragon, this is a fantastic plant that looks equally good covering a wall or cascading over the sides of a tall pot. The drooping, trumpet-shaped flowers come in white, pink, purple and lavender blue, all with white throats. HxS: 8ftx20in (2½mx50cm).

Phaseolus vulgaris ‘Borlotti’ Long, dangling pods, in an eye-catching combination of pale green with deep pink markings, will add a splash of colour to your vegetable patch. The beans themselves are a popular addition to Italian cookery. HxS: 8x11/2ft (2½mx45cm).

Lablab purpureus The hyacinth bean offers a double whammy of attractions: the small, pale purple flowers are followed by gleaming purple pods. There’s purple-green foliage, too. Can be grown up a teepee, or in a suitably large container. HxS: 16ftx20in (5mx50cm).

Lophospermum erubescens AGM With its with twining stalks, triangular leaves and rose-pink trumpet flowers in summer and autumn, this tender creeping gloxinia is a delight. It isn’t as rampant as some climbers, making it suitable for growing in a large pot with support. HxS: 8x2ft (2½mx60cm).

How to grow annual climbers

Sow ann climbers this month. Plant out hardy climbers in April, but keep tender climbers fro free until Ju Fast-growing nasturtiums and runner and borlotti beans should be sown in early May under cover. Or you can sow direct in late May. Put supports in place when planting out, and tie in stems regularly, using soft twine to help prevent any bruising. Use John Innes No2 compost for container-grown climbers. Climbers in pots can dry out quickly – water frequently to prevent this. Feed every two weeks – a liquid tomato fertiliser is ideal. Tender types like ipomoea need protection until late spring

Try the best for... Late flowers Fragrance

Cobaea scandens AGM Starting off greenish-white and maturing to purple, the large, bellshaped blooms are a dramatic sight. A tender climber, it takes a while to get going, but once it does it will happily keep on blooming until the first frost. HxS: 16ftx28in (5mx70cm).

Lathyrus odoratus ‘Cupani’ The pretty bi-coloured magenta and purple blooms are held on shorter stems than other sweet peas, so you’ll need small vases if picking. However the knockout scent easily makes up for this – it’s the best of all the sweet peas! HxS: 8ftx16in (2½mx40cm).

Did you know?

Primula Belarina

rare | unusual | exciting

Rare variety

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