Top 10 Trellis-Friendly Plants to Elevate Your Garden
In the heart of tropical and warm-climate gardens, trellis gardens come alive with a stunning array of colour, fragrance, and unique growing habits. These climbers, known for their vibrant colours and often fragrant blooms, add a touch of tropical beauty to outdoor spaces.
One such climber is the Metrosideros carminea, also known as the Climbing Rata or Crimson Rata Vine. This vigorous New Zealand native can reach heights of 3-6 meters and boasts glossy dark green foliage. Its most striking feature is the vivid red flowers that bloom from late winter into spring, attracting native birds. The plant thrives in sheltered, frost-free areas with well-drained soil and regular moisture.
Another popular choice is Hardenbergia 'Happy Wanderer', an evergreen climber with deep purple flowers on slender stems. This versatile plant can climb fences, trellises, or pergolas, or sprawl as groundcover if no support is available. It flowers late winter through spring and has dense lush dark green leaves.
Star Jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides) is a perennial vine suitable for partial shade, growing up to 30 feet tall. It produces highly fragrant star-shaped flowers that start pure white and age to cream. Its dark green leaves turn bronze-red in fall. This plant is disease resistant, drought tolerant, and deer resistant, thriving in well-draining soil protected from cold wind.
Sweet Autumn Clematis (Clematis paniculata) is a vigorous perennial vine that grows 15-30 feet tall with bright white blooms and yellow centers appearing from August to November. It has glossy dark green leaves and prefers consistently moist soil in partial shade. The flowers are fragrant and it can create a long-lasting floral display on a trellis.
The Double Red Tropical Hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis 'Double Red') is a tropical shrub with large ruffled double red flowers and glossy green foliage. It blooms nearly year-round in frost-free areas in full sun. It attracts hummingbirds and butterflies, adding vivid tropical color and wildlife interest to trellis gardens.
The care tips for these tropical plants vary. Star Jasmine should be planted in well-drained soil with plenty of sun. The care tips for the Arctic Kiwi are to plant 10 to 15 feet apart and in well-drained soil. Mandevilla requires guidance to train its vining branches and prefers sandy soil. Moonflower vines need at least six hours of direct sunlight. The care tips for the Chocolate Vine are to avoid excessive watering. The care tips for Clematis are to plant in well-drained and rich soil. Bougainvillea is a tropical flowering vine reaching up to 30 feet tall, available in various colours like pink, red, orange, white, purple, and yellow. It prefers infrequent deep watering.
These plants bring a mix of bold colours (reds, purples, whites), fragrant blooms (star jasmine, clematis), and diverse climbing or sprawling habits ideal to cover trellises and vertical garden structures in tropical or warm-climate gardens. Some attract wildlife, such as birds and butterflies, adding to their appeal.
The Metrosideros carminea, or Climbing Rata, with its vibrant red flowers and glossy dark green foliage, can add a touch of tropical beauty not only to trellises but also to home-and-garden structures, making it a perfect fit for home-and-garden lifestyle.
The Hardenbergia 'Happy Wanderer', with its deep purple flowers and versatile climbing habit, is an ideal choice for those who love gardening, as it can thrive in various outdoor spaces, including trellises, fences, and pergolas.
