What are the Best Plants for my Trellis?

9 September 2022

What plants to use on my trellis?

So, you’ve built your trellis, it may be a lattice form, it may be wire, or it may be bamboo stakes. Either way, selecting the correct plants will decide whether your trellis thrive or fail. Here at Able Nursery, we have a selection of climbing plants that have proved their durability and ability to thrive over many years.

When planting a climber, we would recommend starting off with no less than a 90mm or 140mm pot, as the root establishment in these pots will give your plants the best start in life.

  1. Cissus: We grow 2 types of Cissus, the Antarctica and Ellen Danica. Native to Australia, these guys are perfectly suited to the climate of the east coast, preferring lightly shaded areas. It’s natural growth habit makes it suited to a more informal trellis, and works well in native settings.
  2. Hibbertia scandens: With a bold yellow flower, this plant not only looks great, its hardy and adaptable, growing well in partial shade or full sun. Hibbertia also has a high salt tolerance, meaning it grows well in coastal settings, should you be near a beach.
  3. Trachelospermum jasminoides: Perhaps one of the more common house plants, the star jasmine is naturally found in Southern Asia, but has adapted well to the warm climates of Australia. Reaching a length of five metres on a trellis, this plant is well suited to a high trellis, and helps you achieve the full, compact look in your garden.

It is important to gently tie the leading tendril to the trellis, which can be done with twine or rubber ties. These will need to be adjusted and moved further up the trellis as the plant continues to grow.

Finally, remember to use patience. The plants will need a few months of root establishment, or longer in the colder months. It may take 6-12 months before you really start to notice the plants moving up the trellis of their own accord. Once this process starts, the plants will require trimming and tipping to ensure they don’t grow into unwanted areas, and they maintain their required shape.