Climber plants have weak stem so in order to reach Sun light
they climb up to support special organ. Climbing plants have many
different uses in the garden. They are great for hiding fences and sheds, they
can be used to add color to a fence line or smaller climbers can be used in the
garden or containers with a simple frame to climb. Climbers are a great way to
add a lot of color without using a lot of space.
The evolution of a climbing habit has been implicated as a
key innovation associated with the evolutionary success and diversification of
a number of taxonomic groups of plants.
Types of Climbing Plants
Root Climbers
• Root Climbers have roots developing
from their long stems to support them. These roots find their way into small
cracks and joints of masonry and rough timber or into the bark of a host tree.
You should not grow this type of climber on to healthy trees as it will damage
the tree and provide suitable conditions for pests and diseases. Ivy and
climbing fig are examples of this type of climber.
Twiners
• These climbers support themselves
by the stem which coils itself around the support. These twiners can cause
considerable damage if left growing around a tree. The tree will eventually be
strangled by the twining stem. Wisteria and Honeysuckle are the most commonly
used twiners.
Scramblers
• The climbing rose and
bougainvilleas are perhaps the most common examples of this type of climber.
Scramblers bear hooks or prickles which curve downwards enabling the plant to
attach to another plant or object. They scramble over them to reach the
sunlight.
Tendril Climbers
• Tendrils are usually modified stems, leaves or leaflets, the entire tendril usually coils itself around the support by developing a spring like coil. Tendril climbers spreads by means of thread-like tendrils. The Virginia creeper and the Japanese Ivy and various other climbers support themselves on flat masonry surfaces such as brick -work.