We tend to think of native plants as trees, shrubs and ground covers, but there are some species that develop into climbers and provide different landscaping opportunities for gardeners.
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As with most native plants, climbers appreciate pruning.
All the climbers to be described have wide distributions and all occur naturally on the Northern Tablelands.
Hardenbergia violacea, the false sarsaparilla or purple coral pea, is a vigorous climber. In spring, plants produce sprays of purple pea flowers that are both copious and conspicuous. Flowers are followed by pea-like pods that hold a number of black seeds.
The coral pea has a number of cultivars. The most vigorous and free flowering cultivar is “happy wanderer” that will cover fences and other structures with a wall of dense foliage punctuated, in spring, by masses of purple flowers.
Hardenbergia violacea will grow into a ground cover when there is nothing to climb onto. This form is often seen along roadsides.
There are forms with pink and white flowers but these are less vigorous than “happy wanderer”.
Pandorea pandorana is known as the wonga vine. This is another energetic climber with twining stems, glossy oval leaves and tresses of spectacular cream to pinkish mauve bells in spring. The wonga vine will cover large areas with dense foliage.
Pandorea pandorana is common in the Yarrowyck Nature Reserve, west of Armidale. In the reserve vines will often cover large granite boulders.
This fast-growing vine is an excellent cover for fences and other structures. The flowers will light up the garden.
Billardiera scandens, the apple berry, is a twining climber not well known in cultivation but is common in local bushland. One of the strongholds of the apple berry is along the Waterfall Way, east of Armidale.
Bell-shaped greenish yellow bell flowers appear throughout the year. Blooms are followed by yellowish green oblong berries. The berries have a stewed apple taste. This climber may have potential as bush tucker.
The apple berry would be an interesting addition to a native garden.
Many varieties of exotic clematis are in cultivation. There are two local clematis also worthy of cultivation. Clematis aristata and Clematis glycinoides are vigorous climbers that will use other plants for support. Both have creamy white star flowers that cover plants in spring.
Flowers are followed by white, feathery seed heads. This gives the plant its common name: old man’s beard. Both these clematis could be grown on fences or left to scramble among other plants.
Try a few native climbers to add another dimension to your garden.
