You can improve small spaces, or soften the edges of larger ones, easily by growing an assortment of climbers and creepers which, with plenty of tender loving care, will reward you with cascades of glorious blooms, delectable fruits or gently painted leaves if they are of the purely foliage variety.

Climbers and creepers are often perfectly at home in garden/courtyard spots where there is very little actual garden space as, in the vast majority of cases, at least 90 percent of their growth is above ground. Yet on limited root systems and quite a few, especially purely annual ones, thrive in suitably large clay or concrete pots.

An excellent alternative to greening up spaces with trees, climbers and creepers are perfect for improving urban environments as, with correct planting and follow on procedures, they can transform heat radiating concrete/cement walls/support structures into cool green paradises which are gentle on the eye and food for the soul. They will provide food and habitats for birds, butterflies, bees and other beneficial insects, too.

Play up the vertical plane of your garden with plants that creep, climb and twist

Climbers, as the name itself implies, need something to climb up or over. Trellises, walls, buildings, garages, archways and so on are all ideal for the purpose along with some species of trees. Climbers need no encouragement to reach for the sky but they will need to be firmly secured in place otherwise climatic events, a strong wind for instance, may bring them crashing down.

Creepers on the other hand, generally attach themselves firmly in place, using a combination of rootlets and/or tendrils, as they climb/ramble up, over and along any convenient structure but it is still a good idea to ensure that, especially if large and ‘top heavy’, they won’t break or come crashing down during a heavy monsoon shower or something similar.

Climbers and creepers are, along with trees, shrubs and other perennial plant forms, best transplanted during either the summer or winter monsoon periods. As the planting/transplanting time vary from species to species so please check with your local nursery before making any investment. Also, ask for specific growing information as well as it is not possible, due to restrictions on space, to provide all of this here.

A basic guide to easily available perennial climbers and creepers that are easy to cultivate in our climate and soil conditions:

Shade lovers: Money plant (Pothos aurea), Swiss cheese plant (Monsteria deliciosa) which bears edible fruit, Asparagus plumosa and Philodendron.

Very light shade: Passiflora including fruiting varieties, Clerodendron, Honeysuckle (Lonicera), Jacquemontia, Rhyncospermum jasminoides, Tristella, Trumpet vine (Tecoma grandiflora), Sandwich Island creeper (Antigonon), Allamanda, Bignonia venusta, climbing/rambling roses, Quisqualis, Kiwi fruit, Petrea and Poiverea coccinea.

Flowering climbers/creepers: All­a­manda, Antigonon, Banisteria laurifolia, Beaumontia grandiflora, Golden shower (Bignonia venusta), Bignonia chamberlayne, Bougainvillea, Clerodendron, Jacquemontia, Petrea volubilis, Poiverea coccinea, Rangoon creeper (Quisqualis indica), Star jasmine (Rhyncospermum jasminoides), various types of jasmine, Potato creeper (Solanum seafortheanum), trumpet vine (tecoma grandiflora), lots and lots of rose varieties, Clematis, Stephanosis floribunda, Solandra maxima, Wisteria, Mexican flame vine (Senecio confuses) and Thunbergia grandiflora.

Ornamental climbers/creepers grown for their foliage: Ivy species, Virginia creeper, Asparagus plumosa, Money plant (Pothos aurea), Philodendron and Monsteria deliciosa.

Now let’s take a look at some of those annual eye-catching climbers/creepers that deserve pride of place in any garden be it a large or small one and on balconies/verandas and rooftops too: Sweet peas, climbing nasturtiums, Morning glory (Ipomea) varieties, Cobea scadens and Black-eyed Susan (Thunbergia alata).

A ‘mix ‘n match’ selection of climbers and creepers can — providing that you make your choice with care — provide year round colour and interest which, ever so slowly, undergoes subtle alterations as the months flow by with oranges changing to lemons, reds to purples and also through every shade and depth of green imaginable.

It is wise to select species that will thrive in exactly the same soil and light conditions as the other and which also have the same watering requirements as this makes it easier all round.

Planting distances between species should also be checked and care should be taken not to squeeze far too many plants in a small space as overcrowding is bad news and leads to poor plant growth, stress, disease and, for some fragile species, actual death and we certainly do not want that!

If unsure of which species is suitable for your location and if, as can happen, the nursery person cannot advise, restrict yourself to buying just one and see how it goes before investing in any more.

In our climate annual climbers are often best grown over the winter months, and can often be grown up the base stems of established perennial climbers and creepers or, over the winter, bare branches of deciduous ones to excellent effect.

Let climbers and creepers into your world, allow them a chance to transform your home environment and then sit back and enjoy the ever-changing show.

Please continue sending your gardening queries to zahrahnasir@hotmail.com. It is important to include your location. The writer does not respond directly by email. Emails with attachments will not be opened.

Published in Dawn, EOS, August 27th, 2017