Pergola

I'm not sure whether I am posting this in the right area - I have had a pergola built recently and wondered if you have any ideas what I can grow up it apart from the usual vines and wisterias. It's a lean-to one attached to the back of the house. I just fancy doing something a little different.
I was also thinking of getting a bamboo cane roof put on it - what do you think??
Looking forward to your replies
Kelly

 

Kelly, what about planting a couple of non-invasive bamboos, or perhaps some fruit trees if in a sunny position? With the latter, you'll have both flowers and fruit too.

 

Passionflower looks great growing through it too.

 

We had a pergola in our last house similar to the one you describe, we didn't actually put a 'roof' on it per se, but did have a fairly young wisteria growing over it and my advice would be ... if the pergola is outside a window, then don't be tempted to 'roof' it with anything - not until we had the thing taken down to build an extension, did we realise just how much light it had been cutting out, even in winter when there were no leaves on it. The other thing we discovered was, that over the years as the plant grew, it was impossible to get any preservative onto the wood and even pressure treated wood will need some looking after eventually.

If you want something permanent, you could perhaps consider:

Roses
Clematis
Honeysuckle
Jasmine
Solanum
Passion Flower

Fruit would be good, as has already been suggested, maybe a grape vine or a peach if it's a really sunny spot or perhaps something less permanent like sweet peas or runner beans?

My neighbour has put some pretty sturdy hooks into his, and as an alternative to permanent planting, has innumerable hanging baskets and those hanging 'flower bags', in most he's grown flowers, but he also has a number containing strawberries or tomatoes as well as some with herbs.

 

Thankyou for your suggestions, it's been really useful. I am definately going to put some sort of jasmine up. I just love the smell of them. The flower bags seem a good idea too.
Regarding the roof. It is outside a bathroom window which wont be a problem because we do have two windows in there, one being around the corner away from the pergola. I was thinking of putting a bamboo roof on there for possible shade. What do you think?
Kelly

 

It's a matter of choice, if you like the look of bamboo then why not use it? Personally I think if I wanted shade, I'd probably use something 'temporary' like greenhouse shading - but that's because I don't much like bamboo.