Fast-growing half-hardy plants to cover an eyesore
If you have a large empty fence or an eyesore to cover and you don’t want a permanent commitment, try using tender climbers. They’re half-hardy, so they won’t withstand frost, but are usually perennials in their tropical homes. Some can be overwintered under glass, but most people grow them from seed and treat them as annuals. I have overwintered a cup-and-saucer vine (Cobaea scandens) with success, so if you have the room, give it a go. Read more on overwintering tender plants.
All of the plants listed here can reach at least 3m in a good summer, so mind where you plant them! Five came from Mr Fothergill’s Mixed Climbers Collection (www.mr-fothergills.co.uk), which included a packet of sweet peas! These are the Cardinal climber, morning glory, Grandpa Otts, Chilean glory flower, Spanish flag and hyacinth bean. You’ll find lots more information on climbers in my posts on growing Mac’s Mix IV from Chiltern Seeds.
Growing tender climbers from seed and how they fared
Cardinal climber (Ipomoea quamoclit)
Intense scarlet flowers open out into small funnels, and fern-like foliage turns purple in late summer. Really took off after I moved it into the greenhouse. It wasn’t happy outside.
Tender climbers – Spanish flag (Ipomoea lobata syn. Mina lobata)
Masses of exotic, tubular flowers in shades of crimson to lemon on arching stems. Foliage turns purple in late summer. This one stayed in the greenhouse all the time and flowered beautifully well into autumn.
Morning glory Grandpa Otts (Ipomoea purpurea)
intense violet-blue flowers marked with a vivid, ruby ‘star’. Fast-growing with a long flowering season. Harmful if eaten. Another one that stayed indoors, a prolific flowerer.
Tender climbers – Cup-and-saucer vine (Cobaea scandens)
This graceful, fast-growing climber with 7cm bell-shaped flowers changes from green to deep purple. I nearly lost it in a late frost, but it grew at least 2m after that. It formed flower buds rather too late in October during its second year. After overwintering in the greenhouse, it was still flowering in February.
Hyacinth bean (Dolichos lab lab)
This twining vine has leaflets in threes and showy, fragrant, bright pink/purple pea-like flowers and pods (apparently). My plant had a lot of leaf growth outside, but no flowers, and I grew it in a cool, dull summer.
Tender climbers – Chilean glory flower (Eccremocarpus scaber)
This one was the only one in the collection that didn’t germinate. Not so glorious then!
