Climbers

In making up a landscape picture proper, climbers are of minor importance. Their chief use, in purely naturalistic compositions, is not for climbing, but for trailing over rocks, or down sloping banks, or for clambering over low bushes. In such situations as these they are very effective.

But when buildings are introduced, and fences have to be dealt with, and other more unsightly objects need amelioration or concealment, the climbers are indispensable. In the shading and adornment of porches they play no insignificant part in the list of the gardener's materials.

I wish to emphasize the fact that no climber ought to be planted on level ground unless there be first some suitable support on which it is to climb. It is not uncommon to find cases in which the climber was first planted, and afterward some crazy and impertinent structure was arranged to meet its demands. This is one of the ways of losing naturalness, along with all other kinds of beauty.

Wherever a permanent planting can be made, perennial climbing plants will usually be the more desirable. But for temporary and immediate effects, or to reinforce perennial climbers where they are too thin, or for window boxes, and similar purposes, the annual climbing plants are of great value. Some species of the latter may be started early in the house, and transplanted out of doors as soon as frost is past, so as to gain an earlier effect. The following brief list includes the most useful sorts.

HARDY PERENNIAL CLIMBERS

ACTINIDIA.—White flowers with purple centers. Still rare in this country, but destined to be popular.

AKEBIA QUINATA.—A dainty little climber from Japan, with small, five-parted leaves. Desirable where a large quantity of foliage is not required.

AMPELOPSIS.—The American ivy, Virginia Creeper, or Woodbine, A. quinquefolia, is one of the commonest, best and most widely useful of all climbers. The Japanese, or Boston ivy, A. Veitchii, is excellent for covering stone or brick walls, particularly the latter.

ARISTOLOCHIA SIPHO, Dutchman's Pipe Vine.—A very hardy, vigorous climber, with large leaves. One of the best, especially in the northern states.

CELASTRUS SCANDENS, Bittersweet.—One of the very best and hardiest climbers. To be recommended everywhere.

CLEMATIS, Virgin's Bower.—Several species and horticultural varieties of this group come up for consideration wherever climbers are wanted. The thrifty species with garlands of white flowers,—C. paniculata, C. flammula, C. Virginiana, C. montana,—are the most useful. C. Jackmanii is always a favorite, for its large blue flowers, though it has nothing else to recommend it. Many other varieties bearing beautiful, showy flowers are to be had of the dealers.

LONICERA, Honeysuckle.—Hall's honeysuckle, with its white or yellowish, very fragrant flowers is a favorite plant, especially southward. The old-fashioned climbing Trumpet honeysuckle, L. sempervirens, is very useful for neglected situations.

MENISPERMUM CANADENSE, Moon Seed.—A slender, twining plant which makes a nice addition to a collection.

TECOMA, Trumpet Flower, or Trumpet Creeper.— This is a most excellent plant where a somewhat wayward informality of habit is agreeable to the surroundings. Deserves more general use.

WISTARIA.—An old-time favorite. Useful in many situations, but not sufficiently fresh and tidy in foliage to come under constant close observation.

ANNUAL CLIMBERS

BALLOON VINE.—An old-time favorite, to be found in all the old-fashioned gardens. The puffy, inflated seed vessels which appear throughout the summer are the most striking feature.

ECHINOCYSTIS LOBATA, Climbing Cucumber.—A rapid-growing, luxuriant climber from the American woods, covered with garlands of white flowers throughout the season. One of the best for common planting.

HOP VINE.—One of the most rapid growing and useful climbers. It is one of the best annual plants for covering verandas or other large areas. The "Variegated-leaved Japan hop" is preferred by some, though the effect is not always good.

MAURANDYA.—Rather short climbers with abundant white, pink or violet-purple blossoms. Suited to more general use.

MINA.—A pretty and useful plant of the morning glory family, but with small flowers and lobed leaves.

MOMORDICA, Balsam Apple.—A favorite in old-fashioned gardens, and always good.

MORNING GLORY, Ipomća.—This glorious and old-fashioned climber has been too much neglected by modern amateur and professional gardeners. There are many magnificent new varieties now on the market, and they are so useful for many purposes that they ought to enjoy a new lease of public favor.

SWEET PEA.—The sweet pea needs no introduction or praise. In climbing over fences and low trellises it is thoroughly at home, while no known plant gives a finer harvest of flowers suitable for cutting.

TROPĆOLUM, Nasturtium.—The climbing nasturtiums are extra fine for window boxes, lawn vases, and many other places. It is worth while, in planting nasturtiums, to choose the best-bred named varieties. The varieties known as "Lobb's nasturtiums" and the "Madame Gunter hybrids" are especially thrifty in growth and rich in gorgeous colors.

Contents

• A Select List of Trees - In all large plantings there should be included a number of specimen trees, so placed as to show their individual good qualities, and so grown as to possess those good qualities in the greatest measure. For all these reasons the selection of suitable trees becomes one of the landscape gardener's first and most important duties.
• The Best Shrubs - Shrubs are indispensable in all systems of gardening, and a study of the species and varieties at command must be the first business of the gardener. The following list is not at all complete, but is meant to include the hardier and more useful kinds.
• Hardy Perennials - Hardy perennials may be used in almost any situation where plants are wanted at all. They may grow under the trees, among the shrubs, in rockeries, along the borders of ponds and rivulets, on sloping banks, in borders by themselves, in shade or sun; in fact, it is very hard to go amiss with them unless, indeed, they are put into flower beds.
• The Indispensable Annuals - While it is possible to find many pleasant gardens without trees and shrubs and perennials, the annuals are omnipresent. Their great variety, their adaptability to all needs and circumstances, the innumerable, characteristically beautiful ways they have of expressing themselves, make them always indispensable.
• A Few Bulbous Plants - Bulbous plants have in general the same requirements and the same capabilities as the herbaceous perennials. Many of them will live untended in the open border quite without protection, and thrive and blossom year after year. Some require winter protection, but all of those named here will last without replanting for several or many years.
• Climbers - When buildings are introduced, and fences have to be dealt with, and other more unsightly objects need amelioration or concealment, the climbers are indispensable. In the shading and adornment of porches they play no insignificant part in the list of the gardener's materials.
• The Gardener's Materials - The landscape gardener has a rich palatte for his composition. From trees, to shrubs, climbers and perennials, here we endeavour to review some of the possibilities. Here are the raw materials and a few cautions and comments.

See Also

• Next Page: The Gardener's Materials
• Return from Climbers to: Landscape-Guide Home

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