FLOWERING CLIMBERS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 November 1939, Page 2

FLOWERING CLIMBERS

SOME USEFUL HINTS. It has been said that a plain house can be made attractive by simply covering it with suitable climbing plants, and a pretty house can be improved by growing a number of the more choice climbers on it. Fences and outhouses which would be called ugly can be made a thing of beauty by covering them with climbing plants. Special ornamental features can be created by erecting arches and pergolas and growing climbers of various kinds over them, and scraggy trees can be used as a support for many of the strongergrowing clematis and vines. Climbers are invariably quick growers, at least in their early stages, and it is necessary to prepare the hole or border in which they are to be planted thoroughly by deep trenching and enriching with farmyard manure, or, failing that, bonedust, and if the soil is unsatisfactory either through being a heavy retentive clay, or a light sand, it is better to remove it altogether, and replace it with good turfy loam to which some farmyard manure or leafmould and lime rubble has been added. Drainage is necessary, but so also is watering, should the roots be under the overhanging eaves of the house. Climbers are grown in pots by nurserymen, and consequently it is possible to plant out at almost any. season, but undoubtedly the best time for planting in the open is in early autumn or late spring, when there is some movement in the sap and when the soil is reasonably warm. Clematis. —the clematis family are one of the most valuable of the climbing plants. They are very hardy, and can be trained on a wall or allowed to climb up and over trees, fences, or outhouses. The native white-flowered

Clematis indivisa) is one of the most iesjrable of the family for growing up

' and through trees or over fences or arches. It does not form dense foliage and consequently allows its supporting plant to thrive. Other native clematis worth growing are C hexasepala with brighter green foliage and smaller flowers, and C foetida, which has yellowish coloured and sweetly scented .flowers. Another clematis of exceptional vigour and beauty is Clematis montana and its reddish flowered variety (rubens). It was discovered by Wilson in China and is said to be the most beautiful and useful climber distributed in the twentieth century. Another beautiful clematis from China is C Armandi. It has evergreen foliage and creamywhite flowers.

The wistaria is a well-known and beautiful climber, useful for growing over arches, pergolas or verandas, and for training on the walls of wooden houses. W. chinensis with its bunches of mauve or lilac coloured flowers, is also popular, and W. multijuga has racemes from one to three feet and ahalf long. Being deciduous, the Wistaria allows the sun to get into the walls of the house during the winter, and provides shade during the summer. Clianthus puniceus is sometimes grown as a climber, but is more effective when treated as a sprawling bush and planted on a bank, or behind a wall, where its flowers can be seen to advantage.

Solanum crispum, a native of Chili, and a member of the potato family, is an ornamental climber when trained' on a fence or wall or when allowed to grow up through trees. In the latter position it is most effective and as it does not smother its support in any way one need not hesitate to plant it at the bottom of any branching tree. ■ Its flowers are a bluish purple with distinct yellow anthers. It is easily grown from cuttings and is perfectly (hardy in this district.