Trachelospermum jasminoides with foliage plants in my garden

November sees the blooming of several climbing plants, which add interest to our gardens and are useful for clothing some of the vertical structures in the garden, such as walls, fences, pergolas, pillars and arches. The air at the moment everywhere seems full of the scent of star jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides, ht 6 m), which has become very popular in recent years. The white, star-shaped flowers are produced in profusion amidst shiny, green foliage. It will grow in sun or shade, and it can be quite slow to establish. Once it takes hold though, you do need to prune it back annually after flowering, as it gets a little bold and sends its tendrils beyond its appointed boundaries. It can be trained on wires in patterns, used as a groundcover or as a clipped edge for garden borders. I have it growing on a lattice a shady wall with silvery and dark purple foliage plant below it. There is a lovely variegated-leaf version, with pink and white-marked foliage, but it rarely blooms

Trachelospermum asiaticum

Trachelospermum asiaticum

Trachelospermum asiaticum, known as Asiatic jasmine (ht to 6 m), is a lesser-known species, which has fragrant, yellow-centred, white flowers that age to yellow, also appearing in late spring, amidst dark green, glossy leaves. It not quite as vigorous as the star jasmine, nor as free flowering. Like the star jasmine, it can grow in sun or part to full shade, and it can also be grown as a groundcover if pegged to the ground.

Jasminum laurifolium var. laurifolium, often called J. nitidum

Jasminum laurifolium var. laurifolium, often called J. nitidum

A climber that actually is a true jasmine and which does well in Sydney without becoming rampageous is Jasminum laurifolium var. laurifolium (ht to 3 m) - more usually known by its synonym Jasminum nitidum. Its common name is angel-wing jasmine. It has fragrant, clear-white blooms that open from purplish buds and have many finely cut petals that are often tinted red-purple on the outside: the overall effect is like a little pinwheel. The blooms appear over a long period from winter to summer, with a significant flush at the moment. The glossy leaves are also very attractive. It grows best in a sunny, well-drained position. It can be grown as a climber or a shrub - to encourage it to climb, tie it to its support at first, then its twining shoots will take over.

Petrea volubilis

Petrea volubilis

Petrea volubilis, sometimes called purple wreath, is a delightful woody-stemmed evergreen creeper. It has its most spectacular display in early spring, but reblooms now with another significant flush if it trimmed back after the initial flowering. It has trusses of simple violet flowers held within cross-shaped lilac calyces, which persist long after the flowers have fallen, prolonging the show. It has curious sandpapery evergreen foliage and grows well against a pillar or across the edge of a verandah roof. It needs sun and good soil to be seen at its best, but it seems to cope quite well with dry times. It can grow to 6 m or more, but it can be controlled by cutting it back after flowering has finished.

Bauhinia corymbosa in the garden of Anne Prescott, Sydney

Bauhinia corymbosa in the garden of Anne Prescott, Sydney

Another unusual vine coming into flower just now is a climbing form of Bauhinia, called Bauhinia corymbosa (syn. scandens, ht 4 m). It has a profusion of clusters of exquisite pink flowers with prominent pinkish-red stamens emerging from buds of the same colour as the stamens. It has the typical Bauhinia foliage, with evergreen folded 'twin' leaves like little butterflies. It can grow along a fence or up a pillar. It seems to thrive in quite a hard, sunny, dry position.

Clematis Venosa Violacea, a viticella hybrid

Clematis Venosa Violacea, a viticella hybrid

I have no success with the large-flowered types of Clematis (though I know some wonderful gardeners who grow them very well indeed in Sydney). I have had a bit of luck, however, with the Clematis viticella hybrids. The flowers of these are smaller than some other types of clematis but they make up for this by their sheer profusion over a long period from late spring into early summer in warm temperate climates; they may even rebloom in early autumn. They are robust, long-lived plants; are not subject to clematis wilt; and are easy to prune: simply hack back all the slender twining stems to about 30 cm above ground level in autumn or late winter. The flower shapes vary from cultivar to cultivar: there are nodding bells, open flat blooms, and even fully double forms. The stamens are often coloured in striking contrast to the sepals that make up the inflorescence. The original species Clematis viticella has nodding, bell-shaped mauve flowers, and it gave rise to a range of hybrids, many of them raised a century ago by French nurserymen. Favourites include 'Venosa Violacea' (single; white, veined and edged in rich purple); 'Alba Luxurians' (single; white with green tips); 'Etoile Violette' (single; deep purple-violet); 'Betty Corning' (single; bell shaped; pinkish-blue); 'Kermesina' (single; deep red) and 'Purpurea Plena Elegans' (double; dusky reddish-purple). Like all Clematis, the viticella hybrids prefer a well-drained position where their roots are in cool shade but where the stems can grow into sunshine. Flat stones placed around the root area can provide shade, as could a low-growing shrub planted nearby.

Sigmoidotropis speciosa

Sigmoidotropis speciosa

A most interesting climber in bloom now is one that I recently saw on a walk and was completely mystified by. From the distance, the flowers looked like small Wisteria blossoms, but it was the wrong time of year for them. On closer inspection, it looked like the snail vine, with its distinctive pea-like, corkscrew-shaped flowers. However, the colour of the blooms was a delicious lavender-purple, whereas those of the snail vine are cream, purple and pink. The blooms also lacked the scent of the usual snail vine. It was growing rather robustly along a fence and provided a spectacular sight. A bit of sleuthing has identified it (I think) as Sigmoidotropis speciosa, sometimes called, unsurprisingly, the purple snail vine. I suspect it might be one of those vines that can take over, but knowing me, I may still try it one day!