CLIMBING PLANTS. 



371 



CLIMBING PLANTS. 



HARDY CLIMBERS AND CREEPERS. 



IN the majority of English, gardens not half 

 enough is made of hardy climbers. Objection- 

 able blank walls and old tree-trunks are, it is true, 

 clothed with a mantle of Ivy or Virginian Creeper, 

 but in how few establishments do we see anything 

 like a natural arrangement, and the beautiful effects 

 ;such as those produced by the Traveller's Joy 

 (Clematis V it alb a) wreathing tall hedgerows, and some- 

 times trees of considerable size, on many a southern 

 ►common ! 



Examples of what can be done by the judicious 

 use of climbers may be seen by any one who visits 

 the nurseries of Anthony Waterer and Son, at 

 Woking. Here Wistarias have grown up Conifers, 

 ■sixty feet or more in height, and the beautiful 

 racemes are produced in great profusion, and make a 

 picture that is not readily forgotten. Large-leaved 

 Vines, too, with flowers delicately scented, stretch 

 from tree to tree, and make festoons of surpassing 

 loveliness. 



To the Laburnum, again, a Wistaria gives an 

 additional element of beauty, as both flower at about 

 the same time. With old-established trees, which 

 it is desired to clothe with climbers, some diffi- 

 culty is often experienced in getting the latter to 

 grow — the roots of the tree have impoverished the 

 •soil, and its head prevents a due share of light and 

 moisture from reaching the thirsty climber at its 

 base. In such cases it is better to place a strong- 

 plant in fresh soil at some distance from the trunk, 

 and attach the shoots to it. As soon as the latter get 

 npwards to the light, growth is rapid enough. The 

 Virginian Creeper, treated in the manner just de- 

 scribed, assumes somewhat the appearance it exhibits 

 in its native woods, and the long pendulous shoots, in 

 autumn clothed with bright crimson foliage, lend an 

 indescribable charm, and somewhat of a tropical 

 luxuriance, to the rigid branches of Oak and other 

 trees. Many climbers are cultivated on walls, which 

 •would do equally well on trees if looked after for 

 a few years until their slender branches had se- 

 •cured a position where they could obtain the light 

 and air essential to their well-being. 



Ivy soon covers old pollards and tree-trunks, and 

 if the Chinese Jasminum nudiflorum be planted at the 

 same time, it thrives apace, and its naked flowering 

 shoots, laden with small Primrose-like yellow blos- 

 soms in winter or early spring, look infinitely more 

 attractive when set off with the background of dark 

 green afforded by either our wild Ivy or any of the 

 •stronger- growing larger-leaved cultivated varieties. 

 For positions under trees, where the shade is so 

 dense that few plants will grow, Ivy forms perhaps 



the best of all coverings ; and shade-loving Ferns, 

 deciduous or evergreen, are quite at home in its 

 company. 



In the following list no annuals or half-hardy 

 plants are included, but only such hardy plants as, 

 when established, are able to hold their own against 

 natives of the soil. They will also be found of gene- 

 ral use in most gardens for a variety of purposes. 



Apios tuberosa, the Ground Nut, or Wild Bean, 

 of the Northern United States, is a pretty climbing 

 perennial, with pinnate leaves and browm-purple or 

 chocolate, violet- scented flowers, borne in dense and 

 short, often branching, racemes. 



Aristolochia sipho, the Pipe Vine, or Dutch- 

 man's Pipe, of the Eastern United States, is, in its 

 native habitats, generally found climbing trees in rich 

 woods. As a rule, in this country it is restricted 

 to covering walls and arbours ; but it is equally 

 fitted for the woodland walk and wild garden, wheie 

 it should be attached to the trunks of trees, and 

 looked after until its long stems have reached as far 

 as the outer lower branches. After that no further 

 care will be necessary. The large, round kidney- 

 shaped, glabrous leaves are distinct in form from 

 those of any other hardy climber. 



A. tomentosa, also a native of the United States, 

 has downy or softly-hairy, round heart-shaped leaves, 

 and may be used under similar conditions to A. 

 sipho. The former has brown-purplish flowers, and 

 the latter dark purple ones ; both, as far as flowers 

 are concerned, being more curious than pretty. 



Bryonia.— The best-known member of this genus 

 is B. dioica, the Bryony of the British flora, an ele- 

 gant climbing perennial, with a root-stock of very 

 large, fleshy tubers. The graceful habit end pretty 

 leaves and tendrils are attractive enough by them- 

 selves ; but in autumn the plant is especially or- 

 namental, by reason of its wreaths of bright red 

 berries. In many parts of Britain this is somewhat 

 rare ; it is, however, easily procured, and if a good 

 tuber be planted in a thicket or hedgerow, it is 

 almost certain to grow freely. 



B. alba is a Central European species, of similar 

 habit. The so-called Black Bryony — Tanmts com- 

 munis — is also useful in similar places. 



Gelastrus. — In this genus are tw T o very desirable 

 species. The best-known is C. scandens, the Wax- 

 work, or Climbing Bitter-sweet, of the Eastern 

 United States. This grows along streams and in 

 thickets, but it sometimes climbs to a consider- 

 able height up trees. It has oval-oblong, serrated, 

 light green leaves, and raceme-like clusters of small 



