Have you just bought a new pergola and want to embellish it with pretty climbing plants? A large pergola can become the centrepiece of your garden and the roof of a real living space in your home. By planting it with vegetation, it will provide shade and coolness thanks to its foliage. There’s nothing better for enjoying your garden in hot weather while protecting yourself from the sun! From the sweet scent of honeysuckle to the impressive foliage of ivy, there is a wide range of plants to choose from. Discover all our tips for choosing the right plants and installing your climbing plants on your pergola.
What criteria should be considered when choosing the right plants?
To choose the right climbing plants and flowers to decorate your pergola or gazebo, start by considering the type of pergola you have.
Depending on the type of pergola
First, consider the material of the pergola. A wooden pergola is very sturdy, so you can choose climbing plants such as wisteria, which is a very vigorous plant. Metal arbours made of steel, aluminium or wrought iron are better suited to lighter plants such as honeysuckle or morning glory.
Depending on the location of your pergola
The location of your pergola obviously determines the type of plants you should choose. If the pergola is located in the southern part of your garden, then the plants will benefit from a lot of sunlight, so you will need to choose plants or flowers that like heat and sun. On the other hand, if the pergola is in a shaded area, the type of plant will not be the same. Similarly, plants and flowers should be chosen according to the location of your garden. Whether you live in a place where it freezes a lot or, on the contrary, is often exposed to severe heat waves, be sure to choose plants that can thrive in these types of climatic conditions.
Which climbing plant should you choose to cover your pergola?
Depending on the exposure and climate
Your choice should be based on the exposure and climate of your terrace.
For a south-facing terrace, choose climbing plants that can tolerate full sun exposure.
Some examples of plants that tolerate high temperatures include trumpet vine, wisteria, star jasmine, passionflower, and certain climbing roses.
If your pergola is in a shaded area of your garden, opt for perennial climbing plants such as nasturtium, honeysuckle, ivy or Virginia creeper, which prefer shade.
If you live in an area with regular periods of frost in winter, we recommend planting your plants in pots or containers with separate stakes so that you can move them to shelter in a greenhouse.
Depending on their ornamental qualities
When choosing which climbing plant to use, consider their ornamental qualities. Plants may have more or fewer leaves and a stronger or weaker fragrance.
– Evergreen plants such as ivy. Ivy is an evergreen plant. It is very decorative because it combines shades of cream, green and yellow. It can become invasive, so remember to prune it throughout the year.
– Plants with decorative foliage such as Virginia creeper. Grapevines are not recommended as they attract wasps and hornets. They also require regular treatment. Hops produce generous foliage and grow quickly, so this plant will soon cover your pergola. Golden hop leaves are green and yellow, turning golden in spring.
– If you like flowers, opt for flowering plants such as passionflower or nasturtium, which has pretty orange flowers. Clematis should be mixed with another climbing plant as it twines around roses or vines and flowers throughout spring and summer. Wisteria grows quickly and produces large clusters of flowers that will fall onto the roof. However, it requires a lot of maintenance as it is very invasive.
– For fragrant decoration, choose sweet peas. Winter jasmine has the advantage of being evergreen and very fragrant. Be careful not to plant too much in your garden, as jasmine can have a very strong scent. Climbing roses should be planted at the back of the pergola to avoid getting caught on its thorns. Some roses keep their leaves all year round, while others lose some in winter. Repeat-flowering varieties bloom in spring and then again in autumn. Honeysuckle provides good coverage and is resistant to low winter temperatures. While its leaves love the sun, its base prefers shade. You can therefore shelter it with another plant or a slate.
To hide the legs of your pergola, plant evergreen shrubs or subshrubs. Under the pergola, you can choose plants that thrive in shade, such as hostas or certain camellias.
How to plant your climbing plants?
If you bought your plant at a garden centre, you can plant it at any time of year except when there is frost. Spring and autumn remain the best times for planting climbing plants.
Here are the different steps for planting your climbing plant on your pergola:
– Start by digging a hole 20–30 cm from one of the pergola posts.
– At the bottom of the hole, apply a drainage layer using gravel, for example.
– Add a mixture of soil and compost
– Add the plant with a wooden stake to guide the stem towards the pergola. Some plants will not need this, such as ivy and Virginia creeper.
– Water moderately (climbing plants do not like excessive water).
Depending on the climbing plants, different methods will be used to climb: twining, claws, tendrils, suction cups, etc. For some flowers, the structure of the pergola alone will suffice, while for others, wire mesh, trellises, cables, stakes or fastening systems will need to be added.
- Climbing flowers: With their light stems, they twine around their support and generally do not need ties. Examples include akebia and Aubert’s knotweed.
- Climbing plants or plants with suckers: These plants are perfect for pergolas because their tendrils twine around without causing damage. Examples of climbing plants or plants with suckers include Virginia creeper and passionflower.
- Climbing plants: Their aerial roots are vigorous and enable them to attach themselves firmly to their support.
- Spiny plants: They use their spines to attach themselves to their support. These plants can have heavy stems, so they will need to be tied to the pergola with strong ties.
Once the season is over, remove any unnecessary side shoots to tidy up the plant a little. Plants that flower in spring should be pruned after flowering. Those that grow in summer should be pruned in winter. Check regularly that some shoots are not damaging the pergola posts and remember to encourage the growth of the main shoots.
Now that you have all the details you need to decorate your pergolas from the ground up to the roof, be bold with your choice of colours and plants. Why not grow fruit or plant a rose bush in a pot to decorate the whole thing? The key to well-decorated pergolas is maintenance, whether they are climbing plants or not!
