Climbing Plant Care Guide

Blue Passionflower

Passiflora caerulea · Climbers

A vigorous, fast-growing climber grown for its exotic-looking, intricately structured blue-white flowers. It loves full sun, a sheltered spot and well-drained, fertile soil. Ideal for covering fences, pergolas and walls; in temperate climates it is semi-evergreen.

Boston Ivy

Parthenocissus tricuspidata · Climbers

A very vigorous, fast-growing climber with three-lobed leaves, used to cover large walls and buildings. Its leaves take on striking colors in autumn, turning from red to purple. It adapts to all conditions from full sun to shade, but shows its best color in the sun.

Bougainvillea

Bougainvillea glabra · Climbers

A climber that wants full sun and a warm environment for abundant flowering and has adapted perfectly to the Aegean and Mediterranean climate. It is drought tolerant, and the soil should be allowed to dry out between waterings to encourage flowering.

Canary Island Ivy

Hedera canariensis · Climbers

A fast-growing evergreen climber with large, glossy leaves. It grows in a wide range of conditions from shade to sun but can become invasive if not kept under control; it can damage walls and other plants.

Chinese Wisteria

Wisteria sinensis · Climbers

A very vigorous and long-lived vine grown for its fragrant, showy flower clusters that open in spring. It grows strong enough to break weak support structures (fences, pergolas, roofs, etc.). For abundant flowering, full sun and regular pruning twice a year are essential.

Clematis orientalis

Clematis orientalis · Climbers

A vigorous clematis that is also native to Turkey and is extremely tolerant of drought and chalky soils. It is grown for its yellow, bell-shaped flowers that open in late summer/autumn and its silky seed heads that remain in winter; because it flowers on new growth, it should be pruned hard at the end of every winter.

Climbing Hydrangea

Hydrangea anomala · Climbers

A woody, deciduous climber that produces large, white, lacecap-type flowers. In Izmir it must be planted on a north- or east-facing side, in a cool, moist spot protected from afternoon sun; it is sensitive to drought and heat.

Common Hop

Humulus lupulus · Climbers

A very fast-growing herbaceous climber that regrows every year, grown for its cones (female flowers) used in brewing beer. It needs plenty of sun, rich soil, plenty of water and a very sturdy support structure to climb.

Common Smilax

Smilax aspera · Climbers

A thorny, evergreen native climber extremely tolerant of all conditions from sun to full shade and of drought. It is ideal for forming an impenetrable barrier, but it spreads very aggressively with its roots and branches and must be kept under control with regular, hard pruning.

Cynanchum acutum

Cynanchum acutum · Climbers

A native vine that, as its name (Bostanbozan) suggests, spreads quickly in agricultural and garden areas and can be invasive. It is very drought tolerant; it is generally not grown intentionally, and its control and management are important.

Cyprina insularis

Cyprina insularis · Climbers

A rare climber endemic to the Aegean islands and southwestern Anatolia. It loves full sun and well-drained, calcareous (alkaline) soils, is very tolerant of drought and is suitable for rock gardens.

English Ivy

Hedera helix · Climbers

An extremely hardy, adaptable and fast-growing evergreen vine. It is considered an invasive species in many regions; because it can damage buildings, trees and native ecosystems, planting it should be considered carefully and it must be kept under control with constant pruning.

Etruscan Honeysuckle

Lonicera implexa · Climbers

An evergreen climber of Mediterranean origin. It likes full sun or partial shade and well-drained soil. Used to cover walls and hedges or as a ground cover.

Fragrant Virgin's Bower

Clematis flammula · Climbers

A vigorous broom native to the Mediterranean that forms clouds of small, white, very fragrant (almond/vanilla) flowers in late summer and autumn. It loves full sun and well-drained soils; because it flowers on new shoots, it needs to be pruned hard at the end of every winter.

Grapevine

Vitis vinifera · Climbers

A deciduous vine grown for its fruit (grapes). It likes plenty of sun and deep, well-drained soil. Annual pruning, spraying and care are critical for good, abundant yields. Izmir is an ideal region for growing grapevines.

Greek Silk Vine

Periploca graeca · Climbers

A very fast-growing, woody, deciduous vine that is also native to Turkey. It is used to quickly cover large areas, hedges and pergolas; it has interesting purplish-brown flowers that open in summer. All parts of the plant are poisonous.

Japanese Honeysuckle

Lonicera japonica · Climbers

A fast-growing, hardy and fragrant climber; it can be aggressive if not kept under control. It tolerates conditions from full sun to partial shade and performs best in well-drained soils.

Kiwi

Actinidia deliciosa · Climbers

A vigorous, deciduous fruiting climber that needs a pergola or wire system. For fruit, female and male plants must be planted together; it needs plenty of water.

Mandevilla

Mandevilla sanderi · Climbers

A tropical vine that produces tubular pink-red flowers all summer. It does not tolerate frost; in cold regions it is grown in a pot and brought indoors in winter.

Moth Plant

Araujia sericifera · Climbers

It likes full-sun areas and well-drained soil. It is an invasive species that spreads easily by seed and can smother other plants if not kept under control, so care should be taken. Its milky sap can cause skin irritation.

Old Man's Beard

Clematis vitalba · Climbers

An extremely vigorous, fast-growing and aggressive vine native to Turkey. Because it has a very high potential to get out of control, smother other plants and become invasive, its use in gardens is strongly discouraged.

Persian Ivy

Hedera colchica · Climbers

One of the largest-leaved ivy species and native to the Black Sea region. It likes moist environments between partial shade and shade and must be protected from Izmir's hot sun; like all ivies, it needs regular pruning because of its invasive potential.

Philodendron

Philodendron · Climbers

A very popular and varied genus of houseplants with showy leaves, which may be climbing or upright. It likes spots with bright but indirect light and an airy, well-drained potting soil. It is sensitive to overwatering and prone to root rot.

Porcelain Berry

Ampelopsis glandulosa var. brevipedunculata · Climbers

WARNING: This plant can become invasive by growing very fast and spreading by seed, and it can smother native plants. It is grown for its decorative, multicolored fruit, but it must be kept under control with constant, hard pruning.

Russian Vine

Fallopia baldschuanica (syn. Polygonum baldschuanicum) · Climbers

A deciduous climber formerly known as Polygonum, incredibly fast-growing and able to cover large areas in a single season. It is known for its clouds of foamy white flowers that open in late summer and autumn. It is hardy, but because it can be aggressive, it needs hard pruning to keep it under control.

Smilax excelsa

Smilax excelsa · Climbers

A very vigorous, large, thorny native climber adapted to sunny or shaded areas and all soil types. It is used to cover large areas or big trees; because it grows very aggressively, it must be kept under control with regular, hard pruning.

Star Jasmine

Trachelospermum jasminoides · Climbers

A woody, evergreen climber that likes plenty of sun or partial shade and well-drained soil. It is grown for its intensely fragrant, white, star-shaped flowers that open in late spring and early summer. Ideal for covering walls, fences and pergolas.

Swiss Cheese Plant

Monstera deliciosa · Climbers

An iconic climbing houseplant with perforated and split leaves. It likes bright but indirect (no direct sun) spots, well-drained, airy potting soil and a support such as a moss pole to climb. It is sensitive to root rot.

Trumpet Vine

Campsis radicans · Climbers

A very vigorous, fast-growing vine that loves hot summers and full sun and produces showy trumpet-shaped flowers. It is drought tolerant but can spread aggressively through suckers from its roots, so the planting site should be chosen carefully.

Virginia Creeper

Parthenocissus quinquefolia · Climbers

A deciduous climber that quickly covers walls and fences, very vigorous and fast-growing. Its main decorative feature is the bright red and burgundy colors its leaves take on in autumn. It grows anywhere from full sun to full shade, but shows its best autumn color in the sun.

Winter Clematis

Clematis cirrhosa · Climbers

An evergreen broom native to the Mediterranean that flowers in winter. It goes dormant in summer and wakes with the autumn rains; it likes a sunny spot with shaded base to keep its roots cool, and well-drained soil.

Woodbine Honeysuckle

Lonicera periclymenum · Climbers

A deciduous, climbing species with very pleasantly scented flowers that intensify in the evenings. It likes to have its roots cool and shaded and its upper parts in the sun. It is ideal for arbors and fences.