Advice needed on climbing plants

Hi folks,
Hope you all had a good christmas. Now that its over with I'm turning my thoughts to my garden - just can't wait for spring!

My garden is new to me and I want some advise on climbing plants if anyone can give it. I am looking for flowering climbers to cover ..

(a) an archway (sunny position)

(b) trellis (sunny position) that stands in front of the shed to hide the shed from view - this is a raised brick built bed with garden wire trellis attached and am willing to change for solid wooden trellis if need be

(c) a 20ft long fence (doesn't get much sun)

I've looked at honeysuckle from parkers http://www.jparkers.co.uk/plant-1004890-bb-1/fragrant-honeysuckle-collection/ for b and c but I am worried because someone said that honeysuckle can be poisonous and I have 5 small grandchildren, all of whom seem to enjoy eating plants! Above all I am looking for climbers that are safe for my plant devouring grandchildren!

I already have 6 clematis in the garden covering 3 other trellis' (planted last year but right now look as dead as dodo's and i don't know if I will have to take them out yet)

Any advice will be greatfully recieved
I will also post this in the other gardening forum that I visit

 

DON'T take them out! They are probably fine, clematis always look like goners in the winter. By February they will have fat buds on them.

 

Madahhlia ... bless your heart for taking the time to let me know that. Without that information I would have ripped em out.

 

As far as poisonous garden plants are concerned, I wouldn't put honeysuckle very high up the toxicity list. The flowers are used in jelly, and in some varieties the berries are eaten as a dessert fruit.

The grand kids need to be taught that they mustn't eat any plants without your say so. That is of paramount importance because your garden isn't going to be the only place where they encounter plants, and some very common garden plants (and weeds) are extremely toxic.

 

Hi Clueless,
Thanks for that information - we are constantly telling the kids not to eat the plants and the older ones have learnt but we still have 3 under 2 years old that ignore us all the time and happily munch on plants. Hence the reason for trying to be specially vigulent with what I buy

 

I suggest you grow some Nasturtium. It is really easy to grow from seed, pretty, very low maintenance (not fussy about conditions), can easily handle being pulled apart by tiny hands or trampled on, is pretty, and all parts of the plant are edible. Some varieties can also climb but even the ones that don't climb can be trained up against a fence and supported there with bits of tape or string. As if all these excellent attributes are not enough, there is one final twist (literally, the name comes from latin or something for 'nose twister'), is it tastes of strong pepper, which most youngsters don't like, so they can taste test it all they like without any harm coming to either child or plant, and the child will quickly learn that some plants taste horrible (to them - the taste is often favoured by mature taste buds).

 

Sounds like a plan

 

To cover the shed try Eccremocarpus scaber..................


Very fast growing, a prolific bloomer, hardy and evergreen. Dead easy from seed too.

 

Love that!!!

Oh :( Just checked it on RHS ... isn't recommended on clay :( :( :(

 

Trust me - it'll grow absolutely anywhere!
I can forward you some seeds..............

 

Really? So, all is not lost on my heavy clay soil?

 

Thanks for the tip Longk I actually grew Eccremocarpus scaber , Chilean Glory Vine a couple of years ago from seed , but didn't know it was an evergreen in our climate !
I am actually , like Auntpol , looking for a climber to cover a friends ugly pipework. The situation is sheltered but shadey will ES grow ok there to 9 feet?
You can buy ES pot plants on Ebay , red or orange.

 

Evergreen clematis is a handy climber - if you want evergreen. Can get a bit knocked back in some winters, but generally not. Clematis armandii - best variety I think is "Apple Blossom" or some name like that.

Personally I would put a Wisteria over an archway. Don't buy one with flowers that are too long though - otherwise you won't be able to get through the arch when it is in flower Get a grafted plant (ideally buy it from a nursery when it is in flower) otherwise you run the risk that it is seed-grown and won't flower until it is an adult - many years old.

 

Oooo I missed all these posts cause the emails went to spam! Going to look up the suggestions on RHS.

Should I wait till nice weather to buy?

 

A list of potential climbing plants;

Jasminum officinale (sold widespread)
Jasminum x stephanense (sold fairly widespread)
Lonicera henryi (sold widespread)
Passiflora caerulea (sold widespread)
Trachelospermum jasminoides (sold widespread)
Chaenomeles spp?
Rose variants
Solanum jasminoides
Grape vines

if you want something exuberrant with big showy flowers then Campsis radicans is a possibility..