Climbers are an essential plant type for New Zealand gardens, bringing vertical interest, screening abilities, and lush growth. Whether you're after vibrant blooms, dense greenery, or edible delights, there's a climber to suit every space. Discover the best climbers and how to use them to transform your garden into a living tapestry of colour, texture, and form.
Bougainvillea ‘Hawaiian Gold’ is a striking and hardy climber that bursts into brilliant golden-yellow bracts throughout the warmer months. This...
Bougainvillea ‘Hawaiian Orange’ is a stunning and vigorous climber that produces a brilliant display of fiery orange bracts throughout the warmer...
Bougainvillea 'Krishna' is a dwarf variety that grows compactly with few thorns, yet produces impressive flowers. Throughout the summer, it bears...
Bougainvillea 'Magnifica Traillii', commonly known as Paper Flower, is a deciduous climber that produces masses of showy, deep purple flowers. In...
Bougainvillea 'Ningili' is a dwarf variety of Bougainvillea that grows compactly with few thorns, yet produces impressive flowers. Through summer it...
Bougainvillea ‘Purple Patch’ is a dazzling climbing plant that delivers an abundance of rich purple bracts through the warmer months. Perfect for...
Bougainvillea 'Scarlet O'Hara' is a vigorous climber that produces magnificent, rich red flowers. In cool climates it flowers during summer only, but...
Clematis montana ‘Rubens’ is a vigorous and stunning deciduous climber known for its profusion of soft pink, vanilla-scented flowers in spring. The...
Clematis paniculata, known as Puawhananga, is a stunning native New Zealand climber celebrated for its masses of fragrant white flowers in spring and...
Dolichandra unguis-cati is a vigorous evergreen climber known for its bright yellow trumpet flowers and fast growing nature. It creates a bold...
Gelsemium sempervirens (Yellow Jessamine) is a graceful evergreen climber admired for its fragrant trumpet shaped yellow flowers that appear from...
Hedera canariensis, commonly known as Canary Island Ivy, is a vigorous evergreen climber valued for its large, glossy green leaves and rapid growth...
Hedera canariensis ‘Variegata’ is a striking evergreen climber known for its large, glossy green leaves edged with creamy-white variegation. This...
Hedera helix ‘Golden Ingot’ is a striking evergreen ivy admired for its bright golden-yellow foliage edged with soft green tones. This compact and...
Hedera helix ‘Needlepoint’ is a refined evergreen ivy featuring small, deeply lobed leaves with a delicate, pointed shape. This compact and elegant...
Hedera ‘Silver Variegated’ is a striking evergreen ivy with silvery-green leaves edged in creamy white. Its elegant variegation brightens shaded...
Pandorea ‘Charisma’ is a striking evergreen climber known for its profuse clusters of creamy white trumpet-shaped flowers, each accented with a vivid...
Pandorea jasminoides 'Variegata' is a climber that features light pink, trumpet-shaped flowers with a dark pink throat from spring through autumn...
Pandorea pandorana, known as the Wonga Wonga Vine, is a climber that carries lush and glossy, dark green leaves which become adorned with masses of...
Pandorea rosea superba is a climber that produces bright pink, trumpet-shaped flowers with a dark pink throat, which are produced from spring through...
Pandorea 'Ruby Heart' carries glossy, dark green foliage, which is aesthetic in its own right. The foliage is adorned with showy clusters of...
Pandorea 'Snowbells' carries lush and glossy, dark green leaves which serve as a lovely backdrop to the masses of showy, white flowers. The flowers...
Phaseolus caracalla (Snail Vine) is a remarkable evergreen climber admired for its fragrant spiral shaped flowers that resemble colourful snail...
Pyrostegia venusta (Flame Vine) is a spectacular evergreen climber celebrated for its masses of brilliant orange flowers that cover the plant during...
Climbers are valued in New Zealand gardens for their adaptability and stunning visual effects. These vigorous plants scale fences, trellises, arches, and walls with ease, adding instant height and drama. Gardeners favour climbers to create privacy screens, soften hard landscaping, or cover unsightly structures. Some, like evergreen varieties, offer year-round coverage, while others provide seasonal splendour with spectacular flowers and foliage changes.
When choosing climbers, consider your garden’s conditions and support structures. Many climbers thrive in full sun, though there are options for shaded spots too. Fast-growing types can cover a bare wall in just a couple of seasons, making them perfect for quick transformations.
Popular climbers include classics such as Clematis, Wisteria, Jasmine, and Passionfruit, each offering different ornamental or edible features. Vigorous species like the Grape 'Amurensis' not only add beauty but can supply you with delicious fruit when grown in the right conditions. Native options, such as the stunning Clematis paniculata, attract native pollinators and bring a uniquely Kiwi flair.
Not sure which climbers will best suit your microclimate or landscaping goals? Our plant finder tool can help you narrow down the possibilities and pick the ideal plants for your space.
Climbers are indispensable for bringing height and intrigue to gardens of all sizes. Use them to frame entryways, drape over pergolas, or create green tunnels with archways. Many gardeners use climbers in formal garden settings as well as relaxed cottage gardens.
Experimenting with combinations is a fun way to boost seasonal impact, such as pairing spring-flowering climbers with evergreen foliage types. Whatever your landscape style, there is a climber to enhance your design, increase biodiversity, and add privacy or shade.
Whether you need assistance finding the plant you’re looking for or you simply want to know more about who we are and what we do, we invite you to get in touch with us today. A member of The Plant Company team will get back in touch as soon as possible.
