Porch plants
Spruce up a bland pergola or porch with these eye-catching plants, which are made to hang.
Wisteria
Wisteria will add enchantment to your outdoor space. Choose a position in full sun and protected from strong winds. They are vigorous climbers, and the added support of the pergola to twist around is vital.
UPKEEP: Pruning is a must to keep your plant performing as desired. Some plants need specific styles and techniques of pruning, not wisteria. Pruning will train it and keep it in check.
Clematis
Pronounced “klem-a-tis” (from Klema, the Greek word for vine), clematis are members of the buttercup family. An easy-to-grow versatile climber, plant with roots but in a sunny spot. It will reward you with standout flowers in a range of colours and sizes.
UPKEEP: If you have an early spring flowering variety, prune it back after flowering. Autumn blooming varieties need to be pruned back in late winter by simply cutting off all top growth. Prune large flowered varieties to 20cm above the ground in late winter.
Banksia
The Banksia Rose is a climbing rose that is part of the Rosaceae family. It is also known as the Lady Banks Rose or Banks’ Rose. The Banksia Rose originated in China and was named after the wife of a famous botanist. Its versatility and minimal maintenance make it a perfect fit for various garden styles, from romantic to rustic.
UPKEEP: Maintenance pruning can just consist of snapping off the spent flowers, pruning back any dead or dying wood or any unsightly leggy growth, to preserve the shape of the plant. You can sacrifice a little bit of older wood but keep as much as you can because that will give you a lot more blooms for next year, and help the plant keep a compact shape.
Star jasmine
The star jasmine, named after the shape of its small white flowers, grows moderately fast. If you train the leafy jasmine to climb around a suburban backyard pergola, you will not only enjoy welcome relief from the summer sun in the middle of the city but also enjoy the waft of jasmine’s delicious perfume from the small flowers that bloom from spring through summer.
UPKEEP: Star jasmine is easy to maintain. It has glossy dark green leaves and thin tendrils, which can be kept under control with regularly trimming.
Pandorea jasminoides
An evergreen climber, pandorea grows fast and will quickly cover a large area, climbing up to five metres. Its trumpet-shaped flowers vary from
pale pink to white, with a dark pink throat, during summer flowering. Plant in well-drained soil, in sunny spots.
UPKEEP: Apply mulch annually to help suppress weeds, and fertiliser annually in spring before new growth starts. Prune in autumn to keep tidy and in shape. Pandorea is easily propagated, from spring through to summer, using nodal or internodal cuttings.
Did you know?
In the Victorian era, when flowers were assigned different meanings, the wisteria symbolised ‘over-passionate love or obsession’. This referred to the choking nature of the vines.
