This unusual, and most attractive British native has an unusual growth habit in that it climbs through the hedgerow like a vine, vigorously weaving its beady tendrils clad in heart-shaped leaves indiscriminately. Uncommon in the North of England and very rare in Scotland, it belongs to the mainly tropical yam family, Dioscoreaceae. It is dioecious, with separate male and female plants, the flowers clusters being greenish-yellow, 3-6 mm diameter, with six petals, with the male flowers produced in slender 5-10 cm racemes, the fruit being a large juicy bright red berry. Its fairly large tuber, like the rest of the plant, is poisonous, so do not consume any part of this plant! ... Learn More

The rare and fabulous blue climbing nasturtium has thin twining stems which produce many dazzling cobalt blue flowers from the leaf axils of delicate, attractively-lobed leaves. One of the fabulous perennial plants of dry places in Chile, it dies down to deep resting tubers in winter when it must be kept as dry and protected as possible. It is one of the absolutely ultimate alpine house plants. ... Learn More

Bright yellow, green-spurred, chubby flared flowers delicately pencilled crimson inside, and set off with a dark calyx, grow in dense swarms on thin twining stems clad in tiny delicate leaves. Will improve yearly in a well-drained situation. Choice and valuable. ... Learn More

From the leaf axils of the thin branching stems spring countless blood red-veined yellow flowers amidst attractively lobed delicate leaves. This rare hardy perennial climber is perfect climbing through a dwarf conifer or on a climbing frame and is much easier to please than the similar but red Tropaeolum speciosum. ... Learn More

This extremely rare plant is possibly not in cultivation and exists in profusion in just a few secret places in the southern Chilean Andes where these very few seeds have also been grown in cultivation. Very perennial and hardy down to at least USA zone 8, it makes a steadily-increasing tuber which yearly produces scrambling stems bearing finely divided blue-green foliage beneath masses of five-petalled yellow flowers. In 1833 William Hooker and George Arnott described Tropaeolum polyphyllum subsp. gracile. This scarce plant, which resembles a dwarf T. polyphyllum both in growth and also smaller seed size, needs very well-drained soil or a large pot to perform at its best. ... Learn More

Billowing trails of blue-grey leaves cascade along the ground or scramble through undergrowth, followed by an overwhelming display of golden yellow ochre flowers opening in June. This gorgeous plant is astonishing when its deeply tunneling hardy roots are established on a hot well-drained bank and although it improves quite slowly over the years it is well worth the wait. Few good seeds available. ... Learn More

Sheets of dazzling scarlet flowers cascading amidst pretty, delicate, divided leaves adorn this gorgeous plant throughout midsummer. This fabulous Chilean native prefers peat to be incorporated into the soil, when it will make countless, long-lived hardy tubers. It is happiest when planted under dark shrubs, when it will soon establish and scramble over them, especially boring evergreen ones that have either finished, or are yet to flower. Finally, in late summer and autumn, attractive bunches of bright blue shiny berries are formed. ... Learn More

Terminal trusses of star-shaped flowers range from dark purple to black on this vigorous climber. The fruits are slender, tapered pods that range from green to light brown and are tightly packed with seeds attached to puffy white fluffy fibres that carry them away on the wind. Native to south-western Europe, it flowers from May-mid-June. ... Learn More

One of the most dramatic and popular climbers, the Japanese wisteria is a vigorous grower and is awash with heavy, sumptuous racemes of delicate lilac to mauve pea shaped, deeply scented flowers in early spring. A spectacular decoration for a pergola or wall, it can also be trained and grown as a standard to quite stunning effect. This spectacular climber lends an air of romance to any garden, witness the thick-trunked ancient specimens on many historic buildings...... ... Learn More