This article throws light upon the twenty-seven types of climbers. The types are: 1. Adenocalymma Alliaceum (Bignoniaceae) 2. Antigonon Leptopus (Polygonaceae) 3. Aristo-Lochia Grandiflora (Aristolochiaceae) 4. Bauhinia Vahlii (Leguminosae) 5. Beaumontia Grandiflora (Apocynaceae) 6. Benisteria Laevifolia (Malpighiaceae) 7. Bignonia Magnifica (Begnoniaceae) 8. Bignonia Gracilis (Bignoniaceae) and a few others too.
Type # 1. Adenocalymma Alliaceum (Bignoniaceae):
It is native of Brazil. It is an evergreen climber and makes profuse growth. Leaves are alternate and compound and smell like garlic. Leaflets are 2 or 3, ovate, shining green and leathery. Flowers are bell shaped and of lavender in colour which are produced profusely in November. Easily propagated by cuttings and layering. It is highly suitable for planting against wall, arches, pergola, etc. The pruning should be done in end of January to keep it in limits.
Type # 2. Antigonon Leptopus (Polygonaceae):
It is native of South America and commonly called as Coral vine or loves chain. It is an evergreen, tuberous rooted and quick growing climber. Leaves are cordate in shape, rough and dull green. Flowers are produced on a long receme in white, rosy-red and red colour in September to November. The climber is highly suitable for arches and pergola. It should be pruned in January. It can be easily propagated by seeds.
Type # 3. Aristo-Lochia Grandiflora (Aristolochiaceae):
It is native of South America and is commonly called as Duck flower. It is an evergreen climber. Leaves are simple, alternate and cordate in shape. Flowers are big sized, white in colour with purple blotches which appear in September. Flowers are liked for its peculiar shape but has offensive odour. It is easily propagated through seeds. It is ideally suited for trellis, screen, against walls, pergola, etc. It should be pruned in the end of January.
Type # 4. Bauhinia Vahlii (Leguminosae):
It is native of India and common in Western Ghats. It is a luxuriant grower and makes very fast growth. Leaves are big and are bilobed. Flowers are creamish white and appear in April-May. It is also easily propagated by seed. It is useful for bigger parks and can be trained on trees or large stumps.
Type # 5. Beaumontia Grandiflora (Apocynaceae):
It is native of Eastern India and is commonly called as Nepal Trumpet creeper. It grows luxuriantly and climbs up the support upto 15-20 m. Leaves are large, opposite and oblong ovate in shape. Flowers are big, bell shaped and white in colour which is produced in the month of March. Propagation is done by air layering. It is highly suitable for arches, pergola and to cover large area. It should be pruned in the end of June.
Type # 6. Benisteria Laevifolia (Malpighiaceae):
It is native of tropical America. It is an evergreen climber and makes luxuriant growth. Leaves are big opposite, elliptic and of dark green colour. Flowers are of showy yellow colour which is produced on trichotomous umbellate panicles during hot and rainy season. It is easily propagated by cutting.
Type # 7. Bignonia Magnifica (Begnoniaceae):
It is a native of Columbia and South America. It is an evergreen climber making profuse growth. Leaves are opposite, compound consisting of 2 leaflets. Flowers are large, funnel shaped, purplish violet in colour which appear in October-November. It is propagated through cuttings and layering. Suitable for planting against wall and arches.It should be pruned in January.
Type # 8. Bignonia Gracilis (Bignoniaceae):
It is a native of South America. It is an evergreen climber and makes impressive growth against high walls. It produces yellow coloured trumpet flowers of large size in March-April and in July-August. It is easily propagated by seeds and layering’s.
Type # 9. Bougainvillea Sp. (Nyctaginaceae):
Bougainvillea is a versatile plant and rich in its varietal wealth which can be used in different ways like bush, standard shrub, climbers, hedges, pot plant, bonsai, ground cover for sloppy lands and to make the garden colourful for most of the year.
The flowers are surrounded by colourful bracts which are single or multiple and have wide colour range that varies from white, mauve, purple, deep purple, orange, red, scarlet, yellow to crimson with various intermediate shades.
In many varieties like Thimma, Dr.. Rao, Vaisakha Archana, Surekha, Odissi, Jaya Lakshmi variegata, Arjuna, Lady Hudson of Ceylon variegata and Silver Top, have variegated leaves which also add to the beauty of the garden.
Bougainvillea is a native of Brazil introduced in India in early 20th century. It has been acclimatized in various agroclimatic zones of India in such a way as it is native of this country. It has dominated in Indian gardens from Northern hilly to Southern parts of the country and from East to West in short span of time due to its floriferous nature, recurrent blooming, easy propagation and free from insect pests and diseases.
There are four main species of Bougainvillea viz. B. peruviana, B. glabra, B. spectabilis, B. xbuttiana, which have played major role in evolving varieties. There are about 150 varieties of Bougainvillea, available in India and suitable varieties can be selected for planting in the garden for various situations.
These varieties can be planted in such a way that garden is colourful in most parts of the year. Now- a-days, few gardens have been planted exclusively with Bougainvillea and it has been used in all possible ways. In Northern India, two flushes of bloom appear in end of November to first week of December and during March-April. The varieties like Shubra, Partha, Glabra, bloom during summer also.
There is a vast choice of varieties for different purposes in the garden and suitable varieties should be selected for the desired effect. It has been observed that varieties like Partha, Formosa, Sanderiana are highly suitable for making good hedge whereas for dwarf shrub varieties like Cypheri, H.B. Singh, Formosa, Golden Glow, Sanderiana can be selected.
For training Bougainvillea as a tall shrub, there is a wide choice in different colours and varieties like Jayalakshmi, Meera, Scarlet Ohara, Tomato Red, Partha, Mary Palmer, Lady Mary Baring, Thimma, Shubra, Mrs. Manila and Louis Wathen are suitable whereas for climbing purposes varieties like Mary Palmer, Mrs. H.C. Buck, Mahara, Louis Wathen, Lady Mary Baring can be used.
For pot culture varieties like Shubra, Los-Banos Beauty, Begum Sikandar, Wajad Ali Shah, Thimma, Mary Palmer, Poultoni Special, H.B. Singh and Mrs. H.C. Buck are highly suitable. For planting on slopes varieties like Partha, Snow Queen, Thimma and Dr. R.R. Pal can be effectively planted whereas for arches and pergola or on trees varieties should be selected from Magnifica, Mrs. H.C. Buck, Mary Palmer and Lady Mary Baring.
For making good bonsai varieties like Meera, Ruarka, Jayalakshmi, Padmini, Elizabeth, Partha, Thimma, Mary Palmer, and Shubra are ideally suited. Flowers of varieties like Mahara, Mary Palmer, Shubra and Splendens can be used as cut flowers which have good keeping quality in air conditioned rooms. Torch Glow is of recent introduction in Indian gardens. It has dense foliage with showy reddish- pink bracts; flowers appear like a torch a top the branches.
Majority of the varieties are propagated through hardwood cuttings in July-August or in January-February and planted in polythene bags. Varieties which are difficult to root like Formosa, Latereitia, Speciosa, Thimma, Mary Palmer, Mahara are propagated through air layering which is done in August.
Type # 10. Campsis Grandiflora (Bignoniaceae):
It is commonly called as trumpet climber and is native of China and Japan. It is winter deciduous and new leaves start emerging from the end of March to first fortnight of April. Branches produce rootlets at nodes with which it climb up the support.
Leaves are compound and leaflets have serrated margins and are of ovate to obovate shape. This climber is laden with big sized trumpet shaped orange flowers from May and remains in continuous bloom upto October-November. It is highly suitable for training against wall arches and pergola etc. It is easily propagated through cuttings. It should be pruned in January.
Type # 11. Clematis Panniculata (Ranunculaceae):
It is native of Himalayan region and is commonly called as virgin bower. It is another good climber which blooms in July-August. Leaves are opposite, compound, leaflets are 3-5 and ovate-cordate in shape. It should be pruned in January. Flowers are white, fragrant and produced in panicles. Easily propagated through cuttings. It is ideally suitable for trellis.
Type # 12. Clerodendrun Splendens (Verbenaceae):
It is native of tropical Africa. It is an evergreen climber. Leaves are simple, opposite, big size having crinkled surface and wavy margin. Flowers of deep red colour are produced in clusters from December to March and make very attractive contrast with deep- green foliage.
It is highly suitable for semi-shady situations and may be planted in north side. It is easily propagated through root cuttings. Clerodendron inerme is another good climber highly suitable for making good hedge. It produces white fragrant flowers from July to September and can be multiplied through hardwood cuttings.
Type # 13. Clitoria Ternatea (Leguminosae):
It is commonly called as Butter fly pea creeper and is native of India. It is a light evergreen climber. Flowers are attractive in blue, white and purple colours which are produced in three months. It can be propagated through seeds.
Type # 14. Ficus Repens (Moraceae):
It is native of India and is commonly called Indian Ivy. It is an evergreen climber and is planted for its foliage. It climbs up the support with help of rootlets as well as by producing sticky substances. It should be planted against the wall. It prefers semi-shady situation. It can be trimmed into different shapes also.
Type # 15. Hiptage Benghalensis (Malpighiaceae):
It is native of India and is commonly called as Madhvilata. It is a heavy climber and produces scandent branches like rambler. Leaves are large, simple and dark green in colour. Flowers appear in February-March which are creamish white and scented. It is easily propagated through seeds or layering. The pruning should be done in the end of June to give proper shape.
Type # 16. Ipomea Cairica Syn Ipomea Palmata (Convolvulaceae):
It is commonly called as railway creeper and is native of tropics of both hemispheres. It is a quick growing climber and in a short span of time covers large area. Leaves are palmate and of light green colour. Flowers are large, round, have large corolla tube and purple in colour which is produced in abundance during rainy season and round the year. It is highly suitable for growing in garden on boundaries covering large areas as ground cover. There are many other beautiful species of this genus.
Type # 17. Lonicera Japonica (Caprifoliaceae):
It is native of Japan and China and is commonly called as Japanese honey suckles. It is an evergreen and quick growing climber. Leaves are opposite, ovate or oblong ovate. Flowers are white changing to yellow and highly fragrant and are produced in May-June. L. semperuirens is another good species which produces scarlet flowers which are not fragrant. Honey suckles are good for trellis. It is rapidly propagated through cuttings or layering.
Type # 18. Passiflora Laurifolia (Passifloraceae):
It is native of South America and has peculiar shape of flower which resembles wrist watch. It is commonly called as Phoolghari. It grows luxuriantly and is a heavy climber. Leaves are alternate and divided into 3 deeply cut lobes. Flowers are solitary terminal or axillary of purple colour. It is easily propagated through seeds or layers.
Type # 19. Petrea Volubilis (Verbenaceae):
It is native of tropical America and is commonly called as ‘Purple Wreath’. It is an evergreen climber with greyish bark. Leaves are opposite elliptic or ovate of light green colour but highly rough. Flowers appear in April-May on long spikes of star shaped blue colour. It is easily propagated through layering and suckers. Highly suitable for training against walls or to be planted in shrubbery.
Type # 20. Pyrostegia Venusta (Bignoniaceae):
It is native of Brazil and is commonly called as ‘golden shower’. It is an evergreen and woody climber. Leaves are compound of deep green colour. There are two leaflets and terminal leaflet oftenly converts into tendrils.
Rich orange coloured tubular flowers produced as drooping cymes which cover the foliage completely during February-March. It is most beautiful climber when in bloom adorns most buildings, houses, compounds, etc. It is propagated through ground layering. It is ideally suited for planting in south side against walls, pergola, trellis, boundary wall, and screening and to cover large area. The pruning should be done in the end of June.
Type # 21. Porana Panniculata (Convolvulaceae):
It is native of India and is commonly called as Bridal bouquet. It is an evergreen climber which puts a luxuriant growth. Leaves are alternate, cordate, and glabrous of light green colour. Flowers are small funnel shaped, scented and produced in sprays during months. Ideally suitable for training against walls, pergola and trellis. It is propagated through cuttings.
Type # 22. Solanum Seaforthianum (Solanaceae):
It is commonly called as ‘Blue potato creeper’ and is native of West Indies. It is a light, woody and evergreen climber. Leaves are alternate, compound with 3 leaflets. Purple blue flowers resembling potato and are produced in several flushes in a year on axillary dropping panicles. It is highly suitable for planting against wall.
Type # 23. Quisqualis Indica (Combretaceae):
It is native of Malaya and is commonly called as ‘Rangoon creeper’ or ‘Jhoomeka Bel’. It is very luxuriant grower, evergreen, hardy and very commonly used for planting. Leaves are opposite, oblong or elliptic. Flowers are produced terminally, axillary on pendulous recemes in three flushes which cover almost the year.
It is very floriferous and flowers are at first white, later on change to pink and red. It is easily propagated through cuttings and root suckers. It is highly suited against walls, on trellis, pergola, trees etc. It should be pruned in the end of January to keep it in limits.
Type # 24. Thunbergia Grandiflora (Acanthaceae):
It is native of Eastern India and is commonly called as ‘sky flower’. It is vigorous growing climber that can cover large area in short time. Leaves are opposite, ovate- cordate, toothed or lobed. Flowers are of blue colour which are produced solitary or in small recemes during February-March and July-September. It is easily propagated through seed, cuttings and layering. It is suitable for trellis, pergola, trees etc. T. gmdlflora Alba is another beautiful species producing white flowers.
Type # 25. Trachelospermum Jasminoides (Apocynaceae):
It is native of China and Japan and is commonly called as ‘star jasmine’. It is an evergreen climber. Leaves are opposite and elliptic or oblong in shape. Flowers are small, star shaped, white and fragrant which are produced in May-June. It can be easily propagated through semi hardwood cuttings. It prefers partial shade. It should be pruned in the end of January.
Type # 26. Vernonia Elaegnifolia (Compositae):
It is native of South America. It is evergreen climber which is highly prized for its elegant drooping branches and light green foliage. Leaves are simple, opposite and of light green colour. It is easily propagated through cuttings. It is most ideally suited for creating weeping effect on porch, balcony, and boundary wall, against pillars, walls and for screening purpose. It should be pruned according to need.
Type # 27. Wisteria Sinensis (Leguminoseae):
It is native of China and Japan and is commonly called as ‘grape flower vine’. It is a winter deciduous, woody climber which makes very fast growth in short time. Leaves are alternate and imperipinnate. Leaflets are 7-9 and ovate in shape. Flowers of purple colour are produced in March when plant is still in deciduous condition and covered with hanging flowers.
Wisteria Alba is another pretty climber with white flowers. It is easily propagated through cuttings. It is highly suitable for pergola, trellis or trees. It should be pruned in the end of January to give it proper shape and to keep it within limits.