As the temperatures rise, climbing plants become an excellent choice to keep your garden fresh, lush, and full of life. Draped over walls, lattices, or pergolas, they can create enchanting corners adorned with blossoms and fragrance.
Not all climbing plants thrive in intense heat, so it’s important to know which varieties will flourish in your garden and how to care for them.
© Philippe S. GiraudAll-Terrain Species for Summer Gardens
If you live in an area with high summer temperatures, you’ll want plants that can handle the intense sun with minimal care, without sacrificing beauty. The right selection of climbers can keep your outdoor space vibrant from spring through fall.
© Kathrin ZieglerEvergreen Climbers
Climbing plants can be annuals, which live only one season, or perennials, which return year after year. For long-lasting beauty, choose evergreen climbing plants, these keep their foliage even in fall, ensuring your garden looks appealing for most of the year.
1/8
© AngelPietroIvy: The Evergreen Classic You Can Always Count On
If you’re looking for a strong, resilient climber that needs minimal maintenance, ivy (Hedera helix) is a perfect choice.
While it doesn’t produce showy flowers, its many shades of green create a stunning natural backdrop. Ivy thrives year-round, tolerating both heat and extreme cold, and requires very little water or care to look its best.
2/8
© dtimiraosJasmine: Aromatic, Decorative, and Hardy
With its intoxicating fragrance and delicate white blooms, jasmine (Jasminum officinale) is a summer favorite.
It withstands high temperatures and flowers abundantly from spring through summer, keeping its green foliage the rest of the year. To thrive, jasmine needs sunlight or bright natural light, regular watering, and shelter from strong winds.
3/8
© REDABougainvillea: A Burst of Color
We’re in love with bougainvillea (Bougainvillea spp.)!
Native to the Mediterranean, it’s perfectly adapted to hot climates and actually thrives in full sun with minimal watering. Its vibrant bracts, often pink, but also found in purple, orange, or white, bring unmatched color to any space. Prune it occasionally to encourage even more blooms.
4/8
© Katrin Ray ShumakovThe Delicate Cascades of Wisteria Blooms
Few sights rival the beauty of wisteria (Wisteria sinensis) in full bloom.
This strong and heat-resistant plant produces long, pendulous clusters of flowers in soft mauve-blue, as well as pink and white varieties. It needs well-drained, deep soil and consistent watering, but never waterlogged roots. Feed it once a year with organic matter before blooming season for the best display.
5/8
© Darrell GulinThe Vibrant Burst of Clematis Blooms
Clematis (Clematis spp.) offers both beauty and fragrance, with blooms in an array of colors. It’s easy to care for: plant it in nutrient-rich, well-drained soil, water regularly, and prune to maintain its shape while removing dried foliage.
6/8
© Veena NairLady of the Night: Beauty and Scent as Night Falls
Cestrum nocturnum, better known as Lady of the Night, is ideal for pergolas and trellises. With proper pruning, it can reach up to 16 feet. Its large green leaves and delicate white flowers open at sunset, releasing a captivating fragrance that lasts into the night.
Blooming from late spring through summer, it thrives in high temperatures but must be protected from winter cold. Water regularly, about every other day, and prune after flowering.
7/8
© Ed LalloPink Bignonia: Lush Foliage and Beautiful Blooms
For a fast-growing climber that loves summer warmth, pink bignonia (Podranea ricasoliana) is a spectacular option. Given the right support, it can reach up to 32 feet high.
Its trumpet-shaped pink blooms appear from summer until late fall, adding long-lasting color to your garden. Plant it in full sun, water regularly, and feed with liquid fertilizer diluted in the irrigation water.
8/8
© Jeff GreenbergDipladenia (Mandevilla): Tropical Elegance
Also known as Mandevilla, this tropical beauty offers glossy foliage and vibrant flowers in shades of white, pink, red, or yellow. It thrives in full sun and high temperatures, blooming from spring until nearly the end of fall.
Water regularly, protect from frost in winter, and plant in well-drained soil. Feed every 15 days during blooming season. Prune in early spring and, if transplanting, do so in fall. Keep an eye out for pests such as red spider mites and aphids, and ensure good air circulation to prevent fungal issues.
With the right choice of climbing plants, your garden can become a fragrant, colorful sanctuary that thrives even in the height of summer heat.
