By Xyz
United Kingdom 
I am looking for a fast-growing, attractive climber to cover a gap in a fence to give me some privacy in a small town garden which I am just starting this year. The total height to cover is about seven foot and there is a long gap in the top couple of feet which I plan to fill with trellis.
It is small sunken courtyard and I have created a two-foot wide raised bed by removing a row of flagstones next to that wall.
It's the width of the border that worries me. How much space will the roots of the climber need? I originally planned to have a lovely border with flowers and some vegetables . I don't have much space to waste and I do want a garden again now that I have moved to a town.
This garden is too small for much plain dark green foliage. If it was bigger, then ivy might be the answer, I suppose, but even variegated seems a bit uninteresting. I wondered about Virginia Creeper? I know it's not evergreen but it's reputed to grow fast. I like Rosa Rugosa which I had in my last garden, but is it too vigorous?
I would be grateful for some ideas. I live in North Devon at sea level. It's usually mild and muggy here but not this year!
17 Feb, 2010
Answers
chinese or dwarf virginia is nice .
17 Feb, 2010
You don't say whether this area gets sun or not - assuming it isn't in total shade, I'd recommend Trachleospermum jasminoides (there's a variegated leaf version, if you can find it, I can't) which is evergreen and has highly fragrant flowers in summer and won't get too out of hand. I certainly wouldn't recommend virginia creeper, unless you really fancy buying a machete and getting plenty of heavy duty exercise...
17 Feb, 2010
not a normal virginia creeper bammboo its a smaller much more red plant though i dont have much trouble with my normal vrirginia creeper and find it easy to keep on top of to be quit honest.you make it sound like a strangler fig lol .
17 Feb, 2010
Oh sorry, Nosey, didn't read your earlier response - nor did I know there was a dwarf virginia creeper available! I was just responding to Xyz's own suggestion of virginia creeper. I'd still prefer the Trachleospermum - its evergreen and smells lovely in flower.
17 Feb, 2010
no worries bamboo everyone to there own i guess lol .
17 Feb, 2010
Previous question
Climbing rose, clematis, honeysuckle - I always think they look lovely, give some privacy and smell nice on the whole.
17 Feb, 2010