A flowering climber with loads of nectar...

[polygro]

I have a space on the south-facing wall of my bungalow that is crying out for a climber. It can only grow 6-8 feet high (and about 4 feet across) but the flowers must be attractive to insects, especially butterflies.

I wondered about Morning Glory (Ipomoea) but do not know how attractive it is to insects. Any ideas please?

Thanks

Polly

[Kayleigh]

I love the passion flower some bees like it too..
Passiflora Passion Flowers

[polygro]

I wonder if a passion flower might be too vigorous for the small space? They can be quite rampant can't they? Do you know??

[Kayleigh]

Originally Posted by polygro

I wonder if a passion flower might be too vigorous for the small space? They can be quite rampant can't they? Do you know??

Mine is in a half barrel against a wall. I don't think they are that rampant not like Russian vine. My mum had one in the ground and that was ok..

[Geoff F]

Being south facing you are spoilt for choice. Besides what has already been mentioned the deciduous White Jasmine (Jasminum officinale) will produce scented flowers over a long period.

Alternatively, what about a grape vine. I grow sweet peas in amongst mine to provide colour and scent. There are plenty of other nectar rich annuals which would do just as well. While the grape vine doesn't do much for insects the blackbirds get 90% of my grapes.

If you have sufficient time and patience I see that Plant World, Torquay, S. Devon are listing a good selection of unusual climber seeds in their current catalogue. But you will have to wait a couple of years for them to grow to a decent size; although once again, some annuals will fill the gap.

[Susie]

As far as I am aware (I am quite likely to be wrong!) the only two climbers with flowers that are any good for butterflies are honeysuckle and ivy. Alternatively you could plant a grape vine or a quince and let the butterflies feed off the over ripe fruit in the autumn.

I think quince is quite a good choice because it has very pretty flowers early in the year (most have been flowering for quite a while already) and then bright yellow fruit which you can leave on the bush over the winter, it doesn't grow quite as vigorously as the other climbers either.

Passion flowers are good for other insects but I have never seen a butterfly on one, likewise the jasmine.

[monkey]

Its not really a climber but is great against a wall as it spreads against it and thats a Fremontodendron, it has an abundance of wonderful large yellow flowers for months and if you grow a purple clematis through it its very effective and easily pruned although you must wear gloves etc as the Fremontodendron is irritant to skin if touch stems. wildlife love flowers and really good show of colour everyone admires mine

linda

[aeshna5]

I've got a very large Frementodendron in my garden with various climbers through it. It's a stunning plant in flower, but it has never attracted a butterfly + I get c 15 species visit my garden.

Honeysuckle would possibly the best for attracting insects + particularly moths at night. Ivy in early autumn is a magnet for insects, the flowers attracting bees, wasps, hoverflies (+other flies), moths + Red Admirals are very partial as are Commas.

[mrs fish]

Roses and honeysuckle would attract the birds and insects

[Cotham Marble]

Originally Posted by polygro

I have a space on the south-facing wall of my bungalow that is crying out for a climber. It can only grow 6-8 feet high (and about 4 feet across) but the flowers must be attractive to insects, especially butterflies. I wondered about Morning Glory (Ipomoea) but do not know how attractive it is to insects. Any ideas please? Thanks Polly

The range of what is possible rather depends upon the planting arrangement - is it to be in a bed adjacent to the wall or into a pot/tub/trough.

South facing, unshaded and bed planted against a wall can be very challenging and there are few native plants that would cope well, and neither would a moisture demanding tropical plant like Ipomoea.

Planting into a good sized tub with moisture retaining compost widens the choice but as the location is a relatively small area I would go for something shrubby guaranteed to cope with a hot and dry location. Others have reported here it does get insect visitors so my suggestion would be one of the Callistemons which could be trained againt the wall. Although Australian natives they appear hardy at least in southern UK.

CM