A review of perennial climbing plants for arbors

To decorate a summer cottage, you can use not only garden beds and flower gardens, but also hedges, fences, and mesh decorated with flowers. Even the simplest element can be given a splash of color by beautifully accenting it with a floral arrangement. Climbing plants are often used in landscape designs. Their stems are elastic and flexible, allowing them to twine around any object. Plants can be flowering or evergreen, annual or perennial.

Perennial plants for the gazebo

Perennial vines, although they take longer to grow than annuals, easily tolerate frost and cold winters, and in early spring, they re-green or bloom. Flowering varieties bloom to a lesser extent than annuals, but continue to bloom annually for 3-8 years. Perennials don't need to be replaced, and in warm southern regions, vines grow and bloom naturally. When grown in other regions, they require care, which depends on the vine species.

Wild grapes

If you don't want to constantly tend to a crop, it's better to plant wild grapes, or, as they're more commonly known, maiden grapes. For hundreds of years, grapes have adorned the fences, balconies, and terraces of southern residents. The vines are adorned with smooth green leaves, and in summer, they begin to bear black berries. Creating a real vineyard on your property will add a special charm to your dacha and attract everyone's attention.

Culture has a number of advantages:

• not afraid of frost;
• does not require pollination to form berries;
• grows very quickly;
• can be grown in both sun and shade;
• not sick;
• reproduces well.

Planting grapes is very simple. They have no special soil requirements; they thrive even in poor soil. The seedling is planted in a hole, covered with soil, and then watered. As soon as the vines begin to actively grow upward, a portion of them is attached to a high fence or gazebo. Within a year, berries form on the branches. They are not edible, but they are incredibly beautiful. The clusters of berries hang from the branches all summer long and do not fall off.

One of the drawbacks of maiden grapes is its vigorous growth across the entire perimeter of the plot. The root system fills every available space, literally squeezing out neighboring crops. To prevent this growth, shoots are monitored annually, pruned, and the roots are dug up and rejuvenated by pruning every three to four years.

Vineyard

The vine belongs to the climbing species and is often used in landscape projects. It comes in two varieties: short-stemmed and aconite-leaved. The former is grown only in warm climates, as it is frost-resistant. The aconite-leaved vine can be grown throughout the country; it tolerates winter well, its shoots not freezing.

Both varieties begin to bear fruit towards the beginning of summer. Pale yellow berries form on the bushes. The fruits look especially beautiful against the bright green foliage. Beginning in late summer and continuing into autumn, the berries begin to change from yellow to blue. The leaves also change from green to red.

Actinidia kolomikta

Actinidia kolomikta is a suitable arbor decoration for growing in Siberia and the Urals, where winters are long and cold. It is a vine with a woody stem and dense green foliage. The foliage changes color depending on the ambient temperature: leaves can be not only green, but also yellow, red, pink, and crimson.

In the first months of summer, the plant begins to bloom, producing beautiful white, pleasantly scented inflorescences on the branches. In the second half of summer and in autumn, the vine produces clusters of green berries, often mistaken for a grapevine. The berries are green-yellow and edible. They fully ripen only in autumn, turning a rich green. The pulp has a pleasant sweet-sour taste. The fruits are very beneficial for the human body, as their juice contains ascorbic acid, vitamins A, B, and D.

The vine reaches a height of 8-15 meters. It is suitable for planting in a shaded area, as actinidia does not like direct sunlight. The vine actively reproduces through lateral shoots, so the plant requires annual pruning.

Honeysuckle caprifolium

If you're planning on creating a hedge in your garden, honeysuckle is a good choice. It blooms in spring and summer. The white flowers exude a wonderful fragrance, which becomes especially intense in the evening. During flowering, honeysuckle bushes resemble orchids due to their large, intricate inflorescences. When flowering ends, red, inedible berries appear in the place of the inflorescences.

Honeysuckle grows up to one meter per year. A mature plant reaches 5 meters in height. Honeysuckle is suitable for planting in any area; it exhibits high frost resistance and good immune properties. Pruning of side and upper branches is performed once or twice a year, during the shrub's dormant period—in autumn and early spring.

Wisteria Blue Moon

The Blue Moon wisteria is unparalleled in its beauty. The vibrant, delicate lilac clusters of flowers dangling from the branches give the vine a fairytale-like appearance. At night, the flowers shimmer with a silvery hue. The flowers are borne in clusters, reaching 20 to 30 centimeters in length. The green leaves on the vine are also gathered in small groups of 6 to 9.

Wisteria blooms in warmer months, and Blue Moon is considered the strongest frost-hardy variety, able to withstand temperatures as low as -40 degrees Celsius. The plant has several specific growing and care considerations:

• the need for bright sunlight for at least 6 hours a day;
• infrequent watering;
• constant removal of excess shoots;
• fear of drafts, need for reliable shelter from the wind.

Mature shoots grow up to 8-10 meters in length, bend well and are suitable for decorating fences, gazebos and balconies.

Climbing ivy

One of the most common climbing plants in our country, ivy remains popular. It continues to be used to create hedges and decorate the facades of houses and gazebos. It is especially common in the Caucasus and Crimea.

Ivy is considered an evergreen perennial. Depending on the variety, leaves vary in size but are uniform in shape. The leaflets are five-lobed, and young leaves may have rounded edges. The leaf blade is dense, smooth, and green. In the wild, other varieties of the plant occur with more vibrant colors: red, pink, and purple.

The shoots can reach heights of up to 30 meters. The plant grows vigorously, reaching several meters in length in a single year. Ivy blooms in early summer, but its inflorescences are of no value. The inflorescences consist of green-yellow flowers that form a cap at the top. The flowers emit virtually no scent.

Climbing ivy is a heat-loving plant. It is not recommended for growing in northern regions, as the shoots may die over the winter. Otherwise, there are no special requirements for growing ivy. Young shoots root well in any soil and quickly adapt to their surroundings, clinging to any support with aerial roots.

Clematis

Clematis is ideal for lovers of small flowering vines. This flower is a true beauty, captivating with its vibrant colors. The buds that bloom in summer are rich in purple-pink, white, and lilac. The flowers have 6-7 petals and a central calyx, and the blooming period is long, lasting at least 3 months. The leaves are standard, green, and glossy. A mature clematis rarely exceeds 5 meters in height.

Clematis is considered a demanding vine. To ensure it blooms, it requires proper and consistent care. Improper watering and untimely or infrequent pruning are often the reasons why the vine fails to bloom. Clematis is grown in warm climates and does not tolerate sudden temperature changes. Plant it in a sunny location, away from shade. Avoid planting it close to fences, as this will result in insufficient light.

For abundant flowering, clematis requires regular watering. During the summer, watering should be done at least once every two days. Water should not stagnate in the soil. Even when planted in southern regions, the shoots should be covered with agrofibre for the winter. With the arrival of spring, the covering is removed and the shoots are pruned. By early May, the clematis begins to revive, with green foliage once again appearing.

Schizandra

Also known as Schisandra chinensis, this perennial vine grows up to 8 meters tall. Its stems are flexible and capable of twining around even large supports. Leaf color varies depending on the plant's age: young vines have light green foliage, while mature vines have dark green foliage.

Chinese magnolia vine bears red berries about 1 centimeter long in the second half of summer. They stand out against the green foliage. The berries are renowned for their medicinal properties and are used in medicine to treat a wide range of ailments. The fruits have a choleretic effect, normalize gastrointestinal function, and improve metabolism. The fruit has a distinctive flavor, combining bitterness and sweetness.

With good frost resistance, schisandra thrives and bears fruit in the Far East and on Sakhalin. The plant is often grown not only for its beauty but also for its valuable medicinal berries.

Baljuan highlander

The plant is considered a vigorous vine, growing at least 3-4 meters annually. During the summer, small white flowers bloom on all the upper shoots. The flowers form paniculate inflorescences and are very attractive. Flowering continues until late autumn.

Baljuan knotweed blooms only in sufficient light, so when planting, locate it in the sunniest spot. Cover it for the winter. Even if some shoots freeze slightly over the winter, it's no big deal—the perennial quickly recovers in the spring. After a while, new branches will form where the cuts were.

Planting and caring for knotweed is easy. It thrives in a wide variety of soils, doesn't require much watering, and grows naturally.

Climbing roses

These royal flowers grow not only in flowerbeds and gardens, but also adorn arbors, fences, and hedges. Roses are unmatched in beauty, captivating everyone's gaze. The wide variety of cultivars allows for a wide range of planting colors, from muted solids to marbled and vibrant hues. Furthermore, the inflorescences vary in bud shape and size.

When grown properly, rose shoots can grow up to 10 meters long. The shoots bend easily, as their stems are resilient yet strong. Caring for climbing roses is not easy. Temperature is a key factor. Temperatures should not drop below freezing in winter, otherwise the plants will die. Covering all shoots with windproof fabric is essential for the winter.

Water the rose as the soil dries out, no more than once a week. For better flowering, prune the rose twice a year during the dormant period, removing most of the shoots and cutting the remaining branches back by half. Proper pruning constantly rejuvenates the shrub, resulting in longer and more intense flowering.

Hop

This herbaceous perennial has a distinctive feature: its branches die off on their own in the fall, but in the spring, the roots reactivate and form new young shoots above ground. A mature plant reaches 6-7 meters in length. Evergreen hops produce light green cones in summer. Hop cones are used in folk medicine to treat gynecological conditions and normalize blood pressure.

Hops are easy to grow. Hops quickly expand into new areas, and if left unpruned, they can grow even in undesirable places. When pruning, remember that the sap inside the hops is toxic. Therefore, wear gloves when pruning. Hops require high humidity and warm temperatures, so southern regions are considered optimal for growing.

All of the vines described above are suitable for decorating gazebos, chain-link fencing, and fences. Adding greenery to familiar objects not only serves a decorative function but also provides protection from wind and slanting rain. Perennials will add a cozy atmosphere and a pleasant summer scent to the area.