Climbers and creepers
Botanically,
plants, which have special structure to climb on supports, are defined as climber.
Climbers are very important ornamental plants and the beauty of any garden can be greatly
increased by carefully selecting and planting them in a suitable place. The growth habit
and mass of colour give charming appearance. Climbers are very commonly used on arches and
pergolas but in cities their utility enhanced for the purpose of screening the premises
from adjacent houses and maintaining privacy. Bare walls can be most effectively decorated
by growing colourful climbers on it. Fences and trellis also provide scope for the
beautiful climbers to grow and display. It is often felt that among the various types of
ornamental plants least interest is taken on climbers and only few species or varieties
are found growing in a locality. Even a good amateur gardener seldom knows more than a
dozen climbers do and practical information regarding a large number of these plants are
not readily available. Attempts have been made to include description of plants of
horticultural interest and their utility and practical hits on cultivation of a large
number of climbers suitable for tropical gardens. Another type of climbing plants grow
spirally around another plant or support and do not possess tendrils, rootlets, shoots or
thorn. These are known as twiners e.g., Echites, Chonemorpha, Clerodendron. Creepers
cannot grow vertically on their own e.g., Morning Glory. All these types of plants are
commonly known as climbers. Most of the flowering climbers require full sun for growth and
flowering; few climbers, however, grow well in shade and flower e.g., Thunbergia
grandiflora, Clerodendron splendens, Jacquemontia violacea, Asparagus racemosus,
Scindapsus, Philodendrons, Monstera deliciosa, Syngonium, Cissus discolor are grown for
beautiful foliage in shade or partial shade.
Scindapsus (Pothos)
are the most popular climber in shade and when grown on tree trunk, the leaves grow large
with very attractive shades of green and yellow. Philodendrons are also grown on tree
trunks in shady places. Ficus repens (Indian ivy) is the most popular and widely grown
plant for covering bare walls or pedestrals. No support is needed as the roots from the
node grip the walls.
Climbers which grow
quickly and cover the space thickly are mostly used for this purpose. Railway creeper
(Ipomoea palmata), Antigonon and Vernonia are commonly selected. Vermonia has neat growth
but the flowers are not showy. Some heavy climbers with colourful bloom can be
recommended. These are Clerodendron splendens, Derris scandens, Thumbergia, Adenocalymna
calycina, Passiflora, Bignonia gracilis, Rhyncospermum, Bougainvillea, Ficus stipulata is
also an ideal climber for screening shady place. Jacquemontia is a light flowering climber
used for this purpose.
Ideal climbers for pergola
Quisqualis, Poiveria
densiflorum, Banisteria laurifolia, Derris scandens, Clerodendron splendens, Petrea
volubilis, Pyrostegia venusta, P. purpurea, Adenocalymna calycina, Bougainvillea.
Annual climber
Important annual
climbers are sweet pea and heavenly blue morning glory (Ipomea coerulea), Mina lobata with
yellow and orange red spikes and Quamoclit vulgaris with white, pink and red flowers are
also popular annual climbers. Thunbergia alata, (Black Eyed Susan) in white, pale and deep
yellow with and without the dark eye are perennial but often grown as annual. Blue flowers
are very common but white and mauve colours are also seen; the double blue flowering
variety is the best.
Climbers for pot culture
For growing climbers
in pots, light climbers or those with bushy growth should be selected. Climbers should be
planted in large pots (20-30cm) and given suitable support to allow the plant to grow.
Among the perennial climbers Clematis flammula, Bignonia purpurea, should be selected for
pot cultivation. Bougainvilleas in pots are usually treated as shrubs.
Soil
Loamy soil with good
drainage suits well to most of the climbers. Decayed cow or stable manure or leaf mould
should be incorporated in the soil of the pit about 50cm in depth and diameter in case of
large and heavy climbers. For light climber, the pit may be 30cm deep and 25 cm in
diameter. Bone meal and leafmould show very good result if cow-manure is not available.
Distance of planting depends on the species or variety and the purpose for which the
climbers are used. Quick growing heavy climbers are planted at a distance of 3m for
screening, while light climbers for the same purpose may be grown at 1m. To cover fences
or walls closer planting is recommended. Vernonia and ficus repens are planted at a
distance of 15-30cm.
As the climbers do not
grow erect without support, main stem and the branches should be tied up with the support.
This helps to grow and cover the space quickly. Like other perennial plants planting of
climbers can be done any time of the year early monsoon is the best. Manuring encourages
growth and flowering of climbers. Bone meal or hoof and horn once or twice in the monsoon
will be beneficial to the plants.
Selection of Climbers
There are different
situations in the garden like sunny, partial shade and different structures according to
which suitable type can be selected from an available wide choice. The climbers for
different situation are as follows:
Phyrostegia venusta,
Quisqualis indica, Antigonon leptopus, Adenocalymma alliaceum, Bougainvillea sp., Campsis
grandiflora etc.
Clerodendron
splendens, Petrea volubilis, Lonicera japonica, Trachalospermum jasminoides.
These climbers produce
luxuriant vegetative growth and grow very vigorously. They cover large area and are
suitable for covering bigger area e.g. Antigonon leptopus, Bignonia magnifica, Beaumontia
grandiflora, Bougainvillea sp., Hiptage benghalensis, Quisqualis indica, Wisteria sinensis
Pyrostegia venusta, Clerodendron splendens.
These climbers make
sparse vegetative growth and remain light in spread. These climbers are suitable for
limited spaces e.g. Lonicera japonica, Trachelospermum jasmenoides, Clitoria ternatea.
- Climbers for fragrant flowers
Jasminum grandiflorum,
L. officinale, Trachelospermum jasminoides, hiptage benghalensis, Clematic penniculata.
Bougainvillea,
Clitoria ternatea.
Clerodendron inerme
and Bougaivillea.
Shade loving climbers
like Pothos, Monstera deliciosa, Philodendron sp., Asparagus sp., etc can be grown in pots
and can be kept indoor also.
Vernonia elegnaefolia,
Pyrostegia venusta.
There are climbers,
which are seasonal in nature and can be grown temporarily. E.g. sweet pea, trailing
nasturtium. There are woody climbers, which can also be grown as annual like Ipomea
lobata, Clitoria ternatea.
Clematis flammula (Ranunculaceae)
A slender low-growing
climber. Leaves usually bipinnate dark green, often trifoliate; leaflets narrowly
lanceolate entire, glabrous 1.3 to 3.2 cm long. Flowers very fragrant, small 1.9 to 2.5 cm
across pure white in loose panicle upto 20-30cm long, Sepals 4-linear oblong.
Clematis flammula has
less growth but flowers heavily on large panicles in the early rains. It is ideal for
small gardens on low walls or wire nettings. It likes porous soil and partial shade.
Propagation by layering.
Ipomoea palmata, Railway creeper
A perennial vigorous
climber. Leaves 5.0 to 7.6cm in diameter, cut nearly to the base 5 to 7 lobes, entire,
elliptic or lanceolate. Flowers purple, 5.0 to 6.3cm across often 3 flowered cyme. Corolla
campanulate, colour deeper in the throat.
Ipomoea purpurea, Common morning glory
It is also a
quick-growing climber. Leaves entire, ovatecordate, 7.6 to 12.7cm long pubsecent on both
surfaces. Flowers large funnel shaped, few on axillary peduncles, about 6.3 to 7.6cm
across, white, pale blue or purple.
Passiflora coerulea (Passifloraceae)
A vigorous climber.
Stipule leafy, cordate, toothed. Leaves divided nearly to the petiole into 5 lanceolate or
lance-elliptic segments 10.2 to 16.2cm across. Flowers solitary, large 7.6cm across,
axillary. Bracts large ovate-cordate about 2.5cm in length. Petals 5 oblong-obtuse, pale
pink in colour. Corona 5.0cm across, otuer filaments blue at top, white in the middle and
purple at base.
Passiflora deulis
Woody, strong and
spreading climber. Stem angular slightly downy or glabrous. Tendrils axillary, long
simple. Leaves alternate large. 10.2 to 12.7cm long and wide deeply 3 lobed. Lobes ovate,
glandular, toothed. Flowers solitary terminal or axillary, 3 leafy bracts, 5 lobed
greenish with short crown. Petals 5 about 2cm long, oblong white often tinted with purple.
Corona in several rows white in the upper half violet or purple below. Fruit globular,
oblong, thickly pruple dotted.
Pyrostegia purpurea
An evergreen climber.
Leaves compound, leaflets 3 ovate to ovate-oblong about 5.0 to 7.6cm long mostly toothed
bright green above paler beneath. Flowers 4 to 10 rosy purple in axillary cyme. Corolla
funnel shaped about 5.0cm long, lobes 5 spreading about 6cm across.
This ideal climber
produces flowers in large bunches 6 to 8 times a year in the summer and rains and rains
and should be grown on trellis or low walls. Propagated from layers.
Thunbergia laurifolia
A shrubby climber.
Stem terets, smooth except when young. Leaves opposite, ovate, oblong lanceolate
rounded at the base, entire or slightly toothed, 15cm long about 6.3cm wide. Flowers borne
in axillary or terminal raceme. Corolla tube cylindrical, swelling above, cunnel-shaped
with spreading large 5 lobed limb about 6.3cm across pale blue, white or yellow in the
throat. |
Ag.
Technologies
(Horticulture)
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