Climbing plant combinations
Feast your eyes on some of our favourite climber combinations, including picks for fragrance and for growing in containers.
Whether they're concealing walls and fences, or cloaking arches and pergolas with foliage and flowers, every garden should make room for a climbing plant or two.
While they're often grown solo, there are some beautiful ways to combine climbers with one or more plants either at their base or scrambling through them.
Be inspired by some of our favourite climbing plant combinations, below.
Morning glory vine and verbena
This containerised climbing plant combination is peppered with the purple blooms of the morning glory vine, Ipomoea 'Grandpa Ott' and Verbena 'Imagination'. Both are annuals, so will grow quickly to cover obelisks and other supports. Take a look at Monty Don's advice on how to grow annual climbers in pots.
Thunbergia and gazania
This combination of black-eyed Susan, Spanish flag and gazanias is all about fiery, vibrant colour. Here's our step-by-step guidance on how to create this fiery gazania and black-eyed Susan container display.
Honeysuckle and sweet rocket
This sweetly-scented combination of honeysuckle (Lonicera periclymenum 'Scentsation') and sweet rocket (Hesperis matrionalis) is ideal for full sun or part shade. Create an area for scented plants to make the most of the fragrances.
Clematis and ornamental grasses
Here, the huge blooms of Clematis 'Fujimusume' take centre stage, while the grey-blue koeleria (Koeleria glauca) bring movement and texture. Other ornamental grasses you could try include quaking grasses like Briza media and Briza maxima, plus the hare's tail grass, Lagurus ovatus.
Verbena and Spanish flag
Opposites attract in this border combination, with the vibrant Spanish flag blooms standing out all more against the backdrop of Verbena bonariensis. Here's how to grow annual climbers from seed, including Spanish flag.
Clematis montana and ivy
Shady corner to fill? Try combining tough, scented Clematis montana with variegated Persian ivy (Hedera colchica 'Sulphur Heart') ivy to light up gloomy spots.
Wisteria and clematis
Wisteria floribunda 'Rosea' kicks off this floral bonanza in May and June, after which Clematis 'Kermesina' takes the reins. Trying creating a home-made pergola or arbour to support the plants.
Other scented climbers to grow:
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