Best evergreen climbers – 10 options to add greenery to garden walls, fences and pergolas

Whether you are redesigning your backyard from scratch or simply want to introduce some screening for privacy or shade, it's vital to include some of the best evergreen climbers.

Perfect for covering walls, fences and trellises, and visually extending your garden's boundaries, evergreen climbers can add much-needed color and texture to any space.

So, if you are looking to grow some of the best climbing plants this year, we have put together an expert-approved guide for the greenest options with year-round interest.

Best evergreen climbers

Climbing plants are essential in any space. Whether you have a small balcony or a large plot, maximizing growing space by thinking vertically is a good idea. Here, we share 10 of the best evergreen climbers, ideal for those seeking vertical garden ideas.

1. Best evergreen climbers for shade

Often thought of as one of the best climbing plants for shade, ivy is the ultimate plant for providing evergreen cover. This vigorous plant will grow almost anywhere from US hardiness zone 4 plus, although be warned, it can be a vigorous grower with invasive tendencies, so regular pruning is necessary.

'Give evergreen ivy a hard prune once a year during late winter or early spring before the nesting season begins,' says Jen McDonald, garden expert and a co-founder of Garden Girls. 'Many wildlife species including birds and bees depend on ivy as a source of shelter, so wait until this time to trim.'

One species to consider is Hedera colchica ‘Sulphur Heart’, which can be used either to clad walls or as ground cover. This variegated variety gives a bit of light reflection in the shade and is effective when growing against walls or trees.

Most species of ivy will grow quickly, so buying something small and cost-effective like this starter ivy plant, available from Amazon, is a good option.

Jen McDonald

Jen McDonald is a garden expert and co-founder of Garden Girls, LLC, based in Houston, TX. With 14 raised garden beds and 400 square feet of garden space, Jen grows cut flowers to peanuts, amaranth to okra, and everything in between.

2. Best evergreen climber for pots

If you have a small space, why not learn how to grow jasmine in pots? This fragrant climber can easily be grown in containers from US hardiness zone 7 to US hardiness zone 10, thriving in a sunny spot. This is only evergreen in warm, equatorial regions, but can be grown indoors too for year-round greenery.

Position your jasmine in a sheltered spot, ideally atop a sunny garden wall or fence. If you are looking for greenhouse container gardening ideas, try placing your jasmine pot in a conservatory or greenhouse for a scented haven.

Jasmine plants are available from Amazon.

3. Best evergreen climber for scent

One of the best flowering climbers has to be star jasmine, Trachelospermum jasminoides. Star jasmine is 'known for its fast growth rate, averaging about 12 to 24 inches per year,' says Mike Murphy, plant expert and owner of You Had Me At Gardening. 'Regular trimming helps to keep this vigorous evergreen climber in check,' Mike says.

The neat, dark-green foliage can be trained in any manner of shapes: for example, on pergolas or hazel domes. When in flower during the summer months, the heady fragrance is also unbeatable. Grow star jasmine somewhere sheltered from US hardiness zone 8 plus.

Mike Murphey

Mike is the owner of You Had Me At Gardening. He grew up gardening with his parents and grandparents. He enjoys his backyard orchard of dwarf fruit trees, raspberry and blackberry patches, and raised garden boxes. In addition to his perennials, Mike enjoys sprouting new fruit and vegetable seeds every spring.

4. Best evergreen climber for trellis

For an evergreen clematis, it is hard to beat Clematis armandii. This species has marzipan-scented blooms and white starry flowers that open in winter and spring above long, dark-green leaves.

When you grow clematis, give this species something to cling to, such as a trellis or archway. This variety is among the best clematis to grow but does best in US hardiness zone 6 to zone 9, ideally in a sunny corner. Prune clematis twice a year to keep it in shape.

Clematis plants are available from Walmart.

5. Best evergreen climber for flowers and fruit

If you are looking for one of the best evergreen climbers, Lonicera implexa, otherwise known as the evergreen honeysuckle, is a good option.

One of the best honeysuckles, this species has large, dense, glossy leaves and produces spring flowers that smell of melon and jasmine, ideal if you want to make a sensory garden.

Plant this climber in part-shade or sheltered sun, growing best from US hardiness zone 8 plus.

6. Best evergreen climber for summer and fall color

The Chilean bellflower, or Lapageria rosea, is hung with enchanting, big, waxy pink-red blooms during late summer and fall. It grows best in equatorial regions like US hardiness zones 9 and 10, so in cold regions, this tender plant should be grown in a conservatory.

Provide it with something to twine around, such as an obelisk, available from Walmart, growing in moist, well-drained acid-to-neutral soil, in a sheltered semi-shade or shaded spot.

7. Best evergreen climber for filling walls

Try growing an English ivy variety like Hedera helix ‘Buttercup’, which will inject the garden with greenery, even in the depths of winter. This species has lemon-lime coloring, which is unique for an evergreen.

What's more, this species is slow-growing and far less vigorous than other forms of H. helix which ought to be avoided in the midwest states, where they are considered invasive.

Growing best in US zones 4 to 9, this ivy thrives in well-drained neutral to alkaline soil.

8. Best evergreen climber for pollinators

Pileostegia viburnoides is a leafy self-clinging climbing hydrangea for shade. The tiny ivory flowers open in clouds from August above long, glossy green leaves.

It can take a few years to bloom, but it’s worth the wait. Growing well in US hardiness zone 8 plus, the nectar-rich blooms will soon attract every insect in the area, which is great for your wildlife garden ideas. However, this is probably one plant to keep a good distance away from your seating areas, unless you enjoy buzzing company when you are dining.

9. Best evergreen climber for winter color

Clematis cirrhosa var. purpurascens ‘Freckles’ is one of the best clematis varieties. This evergreen flowers from November to February, with heavily speckled maroon blooms and provide food for bees.

You can pretty much grow them anywhere in the garden, including fences and free-standing trellis. Being more tender than most other clematis, ‘Freckles’ requires a sheltered south or west-facing wall, in moist, well-drained neutral to alkaline soil, growing best from US hardiness zone 7 plus.

10. Best evergreen climber for privacy

Solanum crispum ‘Glasnevin’, or the Chilean potato tree, is a climbing shrub that produces fragrant blue-purple flowers in summer and early fall, followed by inedible yellow fruit.

Although it is in the potato family, it's one of the prettiest evergreen plants, but be warned that all parts of it are poisonous. Grow in moist, well-drained neutral to alkaline soil in the sun and tie in to a wire framework or trellis. It is evergreen in warm regions, but only hardy down to US zone 9.

FAQs

What is a fast-growing evergreen climber you recommend?

Star jasmine is a fast-growing evergreen climber that will happily scramble over trellis, pergolas and arches. It does need to be tied in and pruned to keep it shapely, but it retains its glossy green leaves throughout the year and rewards you with star-shaped, scented flowers in spring.

All evergreen climbers provide year-round interest which is particularly good if you are looking to maintain interest in your yard during fall and winter when the weather is cold and dark. There are so many winter climber ideas to choose from, but picking a species with berries will certainly prove popular with songbirds seeking food.