If you’re thinking of adding some climbing plants to your garden, why not add some that will burst into bloom in the colder months? There are several flowering climbers that will bring heavenly scents and vivid colour to your winter garden.
Which vines bloom in winter?
Here’s our pick of 7 glorious winter flowering climbing plants to get you started:
1. Snapdragon vine – Asarina Scandens
The snapdragon vine, also called Asarina Scandens, is an easy to care for climbing plant that will brighten up any area with waterfalls of violet flowers. This plant is best grown from seed and can be used as a climber or a cascading plant in a hanging basket.
This vine is perfect for smaller gardens since it doesn’t take over.
By C T Johansson – Own work, Wikicommons, CC BY 3.0.
2. Spanish traveller’s joy – Clematis cirrhosa
Spanish traveller’s joy, also known as Clematis cirrhosa, is an evergreen climber that will add some colour to your garden even in the dullest of months. You can expect this plant to produce cream coloured flowers with red spots on the inside from late winter into early spring.
This plant isn’t the best for small gardens. It can grow to about 4 metres high and dominate other plants. Make sure it has something to climb on like a trellis to avoid damage to other plants.
By sunoochi – Clematis cirrhosa L., Sp. Pl. 1: 544 (1753)., Wikicommons, CC BY 2.0.
3. Clematis napaulensis
Clematis napaulensis is a climbing vine that will bring interest into your garden during the dull winter months. This plant flowers from around mid-winter and has a dense cover of leaves. It does, however, lose all its leaves in summer. Don’t panic! The foliage will return in late autumn.
This vine is not meant for small gardens. It can grow up to 10 metres high and quickly take over. Make sure to provide a trellis for it to climb up. You can also train this plant along a fence.
By Nadiatalent – Own work, Wikicommons, CC BY-SA 3.0.
4. Clematis urophylla ‘Winter Beauty’
Clematis ‘Winter Beauty’ is an evergreen climber that will bring some colour to an otherwise dull winter garden. You can expect this plant to produce waxy white flowers from early to late winter.
This climber might work in small gardens. It grows to about 3 metres high and will climb on anything provided. You might initially have to train your plant to climb.
By peganum from Henfield, England – Clematis urophylla. Uploaded by uleli, Wikicommons, CC BY-SA 2.0.
5. Honeysuckle – Lonicera Purpusii
Winter flowering honeysuckle is a star plant for a winter garden. This plant doesn’t only look great but smells divine. You can grow it on a trellis near a seating area or patio, or create a heavily scented arch over a walkway. Whatever you decide, this plant won’t disappoint.
Make sure to plant this honeysuckle in an area with full sun. If you have a small garden, you should still be able to enjoy this plant. It grows to about 3 metres high if trained properly.
By Megan Hansen from Portland, OR, US – Lonicera × purpusii (winter beauty honeysuckle) Uploaded by uleli, Wikicommons, CC BY-SA 2.0.
6. Winter jasmine – Jasminum Nudiflorum
Winter jasmine will liven up your dull winter garden with its stunning yellow flowers that slowly give way to shiny green leaves.
You’ll need to spend some time teaching this plant how to climb. Winter jasmine is easy to control and will climb to a height of about 3 metres so is ideal for smaller gardens. You can also leave it to roam freely as a scrub where it will simply form a mound of foliage on the ground.
Credit: Pixabay
7. Tropaeolum Tricolorum
Tropaeolum tricolorum, also known as the Bolivian nasturtium, is a striking climber that reaches a height of around 1.5 metres. This makes it perfect for small gardens. You can expect to see unusual long red, black and yellow flowers growing on this vine.
The roots of this climber are edible (not that you’d dig it up!). The flowers are also edible and can be used in salads, as food decorations or in cocktails. It’s a fast grower and will cover a small trellis quite quickly which makes it perfect for decorating your garden. The plant will go dormant in summer but don’t fret, it will return in full force.
By peganum from Small Dole, England – Tropaeolum tricolor, Wikicommons, CC BY-SA 2.0,
What climbing plants look good In winter?
As well as the above-mentioned climbers, there are a few others that look good in winter, even if they aren’t actively growing. Here’s a list of evergreen climbers that develop stunning colours in autumn and winter.
- Boston ivy, also known as Virginia creeper (pictured below)
- Hardy kiwi vine
- Chinese wisteria
- Chocolate vine
- Climbing hydrangea
- Blue crown passion flower
- Tangerine beauty crossvine
By Rowan Adams – Own work, Wikicommons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
FAQs
Can you plant climbers in winter?
Planting in winter is not advised. The soil is usually very hard which makes it difficult to work with. It’s also too cold for newly transplanted plants and seeds to survive. Plant in autumn, spring or summer. This will give the plants enough time to become established before winter.
What vines keep their leaves in winter?
All the vines mentioned in our numbered list keep their leaves in winter. They will also flower in winter which can be quite a spectacular display. Here is a quick recap:
- Snapdragon Vine – Asarina Scandens
- Spanish Traveller’s Joy – Clematis cirrhosa
- Clematis napaulensis
- Clematis urophylla ‘Winter Beauty’
- Honeysuckle – Lonicera Purpusii
- Winter Jasmine – Jasminum Nudiflorum
- Tropaeolum Tricolorum – Bolivian nasturtium
You might also like: 10 plants that bloom in January
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