Climbing plants in pots are a natural choice for patios, balconies and smaller gardens, but not all climbers are suitable for growing in containers. What you need is a compact, colourful plant which will thrive in a small space like a patio or seating area, cover an obelisk in a border or brighten up the space by your front door. We've chosen the brightest, best performing and most fragrant clematis, jasmine, honeysuckle and more for this collection, to make it easy for you to choose.
Climbers grown by specialists at the height of their game
What does it take to grow the strongest and best climbing plants in the show tent? Organic fertilisers, natural pest control and years of dedication from Mollie, our expert grower in Worcestershire. Professionally pruned and checked by hand, they’re guaranteed to put on a gold standard display in your garden, too.
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The benefits of climbing plants for pots
If you don’t have access to a big garden, then you might have thought that growing a climbing plant wasn’t viable for you. Think again. You can grow a climber on a patio – or even a balcony in some cases! Growing a climber in a pot has the obvious benefit of opening up options for more space-limited gardeners, but also has an added benefit in that it allows you to grow more tender plants that need to be brought inside over the colder winter months. They also enable you to grow a climbing plant away from a wall or fence, in a more open position, by using something like an obelisk.
Which climbing plants are suitable for container growing?
The climbers that are suitable for container growing are those that are naturally a bit more compact and tame in comparison to some of the more vigorous climbers out there. Clematises are known for growing well in containers, with varieties such as ‘Carnaby’, ‘Bees' Jubilee’ and ‘Niobe’ all proving particularly strong choices. Less vigorous jasmine (and star jasmine) plants also grow well in containers, while bluebell creeper (Sollya heterophylla) and trailing abutilon (Abutilon megapotamicum) offer something a little different.
Caring for container-grown climbers
If possible, grow your climbers in terracotta pots; keeping your plants nice and cool is preferable, but make sure you get a pot that’s resistant to cracking from frost. Generally speaking, the deeper the pot the better. Water your plant regularly, particularly throughout the growing season and during hot, dry spells, and finally, give your climber a feed every spring with some general-purpose fertiliser. Alternatively, apply a liquid feed throughout the growing season according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
