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Wall carpet: Some climbers with distinct root system use walls as support structures and spread over the entire surface.

“Climbers may be categorised in different ways according to size, flowering disposition, fragrance, growth pace and pattern. One should keep all these considerations in mind before acquiring a climber,” says M. M. Hussain (Ph: 9848024654), Managing Director of ‘Plants Land’ nursery and founder-cum-vice chairman of Hyderabad Nurseries Consortium.

Climbers which grow up to a height of 6-8 feet might be termed as small while the heavy climbers can grow multi-fold. Clematis, Tristollatia australisae and Combretum species are a few examples of tiny climbers which may be trained from large pots up the length of lamp posts or small grilles. Some of them may also be planted indoors with the support of shafts.

By their weak-stemmed nature, climbers need structures to climb up such as frames, grilles, posts, and trellises. Most of them are endowed with tendrils, thorns, roots or claws which will help them to cling on to their supporters. However, some other species such as Beaumontia grandiflora, Clerodendron splendens, Cryptostegia grandiflora, Petrea arborea will need to be trained up the support manually.

Climber plants with faster growth rate are ideal for garden shades. Thunbergia grandiflora, Thunbergia mysorensis, Echitis caryophyllatis (Madhu Malathi), Allamanda grandiflora and Grandiflora purpurea are some of the fast-growing climbers that may be trained up the shades. Aristolachia elegans (Duck Creeper) and Thunbergia mysorensis with their hanging flowers are ideal for covering trellises. Vernonia (Brindavan Creeper) is another plant species which grows like a curtain. It is ideal for homes situated on the roadside as it blocks pollution, dust, and sound while allowing privacy. Climbers such as Ficus pumila repens with their distinct root system, use walls as support structures. In effect, they are capable of spreading over an entire wall by growing roots at every node and planting them to the wall. The roots thus developed are capable of accepting food from the atmosphere. While Ficus pumila repense is an outdoor climber, some others with similar root system such as Singoniums, Pothos (Money Plant) and Philodendron are shade loving and are good for indoor planting.

Frequency of flowering is another aspect that influences the choice of climbers. Many of them do not mind blooming all through the year, while a few could be very choosy. While species such as Antigonon leptopus, Bignonia venusta and Ipomoea candy king show their true colours only once a year, those like Bignonia camberlin, Clerodendron splendens, and Thunbergia mysorensis are a little more generous with twice-a-year blooms.

“Flowering climbers render a very colourful look to the environs and make for a pretty sight. Those with white flowers most often give off fragrance and most of the fragrant ones bloom in the night,” says Mr. Hussain.

He says that climbers with a height from six inches up to three or four feet may be chosen from a nursery. They are quite affordable with a price range that begins at Rs.10 and ends at Rs.100 maximum. They are least prone to diseases except during monsoons when there might be insect attacks.

Some plants may be susceptible to sucking pests that drain out moisture. Dressing the plant regularly, trimming the ends, cleaning and removing unwanted portions will keep the plant fit for a long time. Watering should be normal, while an occasional shower will help remove dust and polluting elements.

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