Ask Tom: Which evergreen climbers can I add to my garden to brighten it up?

Dear Tom,

My garden looks particularly bare at this time of year; are there any evergreen climbers that I can plant to add a bit of interest all year round?

- Eve

Dear Eve

I don’t think it’s too much of a stretch to describe our gardens as having been well and truly battered over the past few weeks. Cold snaps followed by Storm Bert have not only left our garden spaces looking a bit drab, but any of those stalwart leaves that were holding on to the trees are long gone. People talk about winter being a great time to see the bones of your garden, where the structures really come into their own. It’s all very well and good if you have a large garden with established, evergreen topiary that takes centre stage at this time of year, but for many of us the more turbulent weather can make an interesting garden look denuded and a bit sorry for itself. If you do not have the space for large, evergreen shrubs then there are a variety of evergreen climbers that can cover walls, sheds and archways to give you that structure and interest all year round. There is one out there for you and every aspect of your plot. I’ve put together five reliable, evergreen climbers that I’d recommend you look at, all of which are widely available and can be planted at this time of year. If your garden is particularly exposed or in a frost pocket, then store them in a cool, bright place and plant next spring.

Clematis armandi

Described as winter flowering, but tends to bloom in the early spring. Profuse clusters of creamy white flowers which are scented appear alongside glossy, dark foliage, persisting all year round. Although it’s tolerant of partial shade, more intense sunlight will give a much stronger flowering performance.

Hydrangea seemannii

A lesser-known climbing hydrangea. Many of us are familiar with shrubby types and even the deciduous climber Hydrangea petiolaris, but although they are great garden plants, all lose their leaves in winter. This evergreen climbing member of the family will tolerate most places in your garden but will flower more reliably in sun. White flowers are produced during the summer amid dark, glossy foliage.

Trachelospermum jasminoides

A perfect climber for a sheltered garden and incredibly effective in urban gardens too. Few climbers can rival the intense scent of a star jasmine in full flower during the summer. White, star-like flowers appear and then turn cream with age, alongside glossy, oval-shaped foliage. With a twining habit, a few wires or support is needed, but once established it simply needs a light prune in spring.

Pileostegia viburnoides

Also known as Hydrangea viburnoides, and will be available as either, but the important takeaway message is that it’s the same plant. An evergreen, climbing member of the hydrangea family, producing a firework-like display of white flowers during the summer amid dark green, elliptical foliage. The flowers are more pincushion-like compared with other climbing hydrangeas and will happily grow in most places, with self-clinging roots. As with many of these evergreens, more sun will produce more flowers.

Hedera helix ‘Glacier’

Before you throw your hands up in horror at the thought of planting an ivy in your garden, hear me out. Ivies are versatile and easy to grow, tolerating most conditions, including deep shade. Hedera helix is a small-leaved ivy with a soft, creamy white edge to the leaf which gives a luminous quality in those dark spaces. I am hard to win over with ivies, but this one is lovely without that brash, bright variegation that puts me off a little. Trim into shape in the spring to avoid an unwieldy shape.