We all know, and we’re told often enough, that climbing plants are brilliant for adding height, structure, and movement to a garden. But let’s be honest, it’s the flowers most of us fall in love with first. Whether they’re dripping from a pergola, scrambling over a fence, or framing a doorway, flowering climbers have that wonderful way of transforming even the most ordinary space or humdrum garden into something special.

The best part? With a bit of planning, you can have flowering climbers blooming in every season throughout the year. From the first flush of spring to the final bursts of late autumn, there is a flowering climbing plant that will be blooming no matter the time of year.

Which all sounds great but let’s look at the practicalities. In other words we’ll look at the very best flowering climbing plants for each time of year and how you can group those plants together to create a garden that never has a dull (or colourless) moment.

Why Choose Flowering Climbers?

There are more than a few reasons. But here’s why they deserve a place in your garden:

• Vertical colour: Not a surprise obviously but climbing plants use height to create impact, providing colour at eye-level and above.
• Softening structures: Fences, walls, sheds, arches, and pergolas all look a thousand times better draped in foliage and flowers.
• Wildlife appeal: Many flowering climbers produce nectar-rich blooms that are irresistible to bees, butterflies, and moths.
• Space-saving: They spread upwards instead of outwards, making them ideal for small gardens or narrow beds so they are great for gardens of any size.
• Seasonal variety: Different climbers take turns to shine, providing interest through the whole gardening year.

Whether you want scent, drama, romantic cascades of petals, or elegant architectural shapes, there’s a flowering climber that fits the job perfectly.

Spring Flowering Climbers

Of course spring is when the garden begins to wake up after its winter slumber. And there are some wonderful flowering climbers that will bring an explosion of colour to walls and fences. Just when you need it most.

1. Clematis montana

Often called “mile-a-minute”, Clematis montana is vigorous, reliable, and absolutely covered in flowers in late spring. The flowers are small but they bloom in huge numbers, forming a cloud of pink or white.

Why it’s brilliant:

• Masses of blossoms that cover fences and sheds
• Fast-growing and low maintenance
• Great for screening or adding drama in big spaces

Best for: Large fences, garages, pergolas, or anywhere you want quick coverage.

2. Wisteria

We all adore Wisteria and it’s a plant that will stop people in their tracks. Lilac, purple, pink, or white flowers create a stunning display in April and May.

Why it’s brilliant:

• Show-stopping blooms
• Lovely fragrance
• Perfect for training along walls or across a sturdy pergola or arbour

Best for: South or west-facing walls with strong support.

Note: It needs a little pruning but rewards you with one of the best flowering shows in gardening.

3. Climbing Hydrangea (Hydrangea anomala subsp. petiolaris)

If you’ve got a shady spot you need add colour too, this is your hero. Climbing Hydrangea thrives in areas where other flowering climbers struggle, producing large white lacecap flowers in early summer.

Why it’s brilliant:

• Fantastic for north-facing walls
• Self-clinging
• Beautiful summer flowers and great structure

Best for: Shady walls, courtyards, and cool corners.

Summer Flowering Climbers

Summer belongs to some of the most popular climbers of all; the sweet-smelling, romantic, cottage-garden favourites.

1. Honeysuckle (Lonicera)

Honeysuckle is a classic and an all-time favourite with many gardeners. Its tubular flowers are fragrant at dusk, attracting bees by day and moths by night. Colours of the flowers range from deep reds and oranges to soft creams and yellows.

Why it’s brilliant:

• Incredible scent (especially in the evening)
• Attracts wildlife
• Long flowering season

Best for: Arches, fences, and informal cottage-style gardens.

2. Jasmine (Jasminum officinale)

Common Jasmine is an essential plant for any garden, and summer is when it is at its best. Its delicate white flowers produce a strong, sweet fragrance that will drift across the garden on a gentle summer breeze. Which all sounds a bit romantic and over the top but I’m allowed to be poetical not and again.

Why it’s brilliant:

• One of the best scented climbers
• Perfect for seating areas and doorways
• Flowers for weeks in summer

Best for: Sunny patios with seating areas where the fragrance can be appreciated.

3. Passionflower (Passiflora caerulea)

One of the most unusual and exotic-looking climbers you can grow. Passionflower produces intricate star-shaped blooms from midsummer into autumn.

Why it’s brilliant:

• Striking, tropical-style flowers
• Fast-growing
• Hardy enough for to flourish in the British climate

Best for: Adding drama and colour to fences or walls.

4. Climbing Roses

From soft pastels to vibrant reds, climbing roses give summer gardens a classic romantic feel.

Why they’re brilliant:

• Huge range of colours and fragrances
• Repeat-flowering varieties give colour for months
• Perfect for arches, trellises, and sunny walls

Best for: Adding vertical colour to all parts of the garden.

Late-Summer and Autumn Flowering Climbers

As the flowering season winds down, a few climbers will keep the show going.

1. Clematis viticella

My all-time favourite plant – of any type or variety. Clematis viticella is a super-reliable late-season bloomer. Flowering from midsummer to early autumn, they come in purples, blues, reds, and pinks.

Why they’re brilliant:

• Excellent for long-season colour
• Resistant to clematis wilt
• Low maintenance

Best for: Combining with spring Clematis varieties to extend the flowering season.

2. Potato Vine (Solanum jasminoides)

Don’t let the name fool you. This is a beautiful and graceful climber which produces clusters of white or pale blue star-shaped flowers.

Why it’s brilliant:

• Flowers for months
• Semi-evergreen in mild areas
• Easy to grow and train

Best for: Fences, trellis, and sheltered walls.

3. Nasturtiums (Tropaeolum majus)

Climbing nasturtiums can scramble up supports and provide lovely colour right into autumn.

Why they’re brilliant:

• Quick to grow
• Loved by pollinators
• Great for filling gaps or brightening dull spots

Best for: Informal planting in a garden that you like to let evolve on its own.

Winter Flowering Climbers

As the weather closes in and winter arrives it doesn’t mean that all climbing plants give up the ghost. A few special species deliver colour and flowers at a time when almost nothing else is blooming.

1. Winter Jasmine (Jasminum nudiflorum)

Bright yellow flowers appear on bare stems from December through February, bringing cheer on the darkest days.

Why it’s brilliant:

• Flowers in the middle of winter
• Hardy and easy to grow
• Perfect for training along low walls

Best for: Adding winter brightness.

2. Clematis cirrhosa

A surprisingly tough clematis that produces creamy, bell-shaped flowers in midwinter.

Why it’s brilliant:

• Flowers when the garden needs it most
• Evergreen foliage
• Ideal for sheltered spots

Best for: Against a house wall or fence out of cold winds.

How to Combine Climbers for Year-Round Colour

The secret to a garden that never stops flowering is clever pairing. Here are a few effective combinations:

Spring + Summer Combo

Clematis montana + Honeysuckle
Creates a wall of spring cloud-like blossom followed by scented summer displays.

Summer + Winter Combo

Jasmine + Winter Jasmine
Enjoy months of fragrance, followed by winter bursts of yellow.

Spring + Autumn Combo

Wisteria + Clematis viticella
Grand spring display, late-season colour — no gaps.

Evergreen + Seasonal Combo

Star Jasmine + Climbing Rose
Year-round foliage with romantic summer flowers.

Where to Plant Flowering Climbers

A few rules of thumb will help you get the best results:

• Sun lovers: Jasmine, Climbing Roses, Wisteria, Passionflower
• Partial shade: Honeysuckle, Clematis varieties
• Shady spots: Climbing Hydrangea, some Clematis armandii types

And, as always, good soil preparation and regular watering in the first year make all the difference.

Tips for Growing Flowering Climbers Successfully

• Plant 30–45cm from a wall to allow rainwater to reach roots.
• Add supports before planting so stems have something to cling to.
• Train young stems horizontally as well as vertically for more flowering shoots.
• Mulch annually to keep roots cool and moist.
• Prune according to type (especially Clematis – getting the pruning group right is essential).

If in doubt, most climbers are more forgiving than people expect. They bounce back quickly with a little care.

Final Thoughts

Flowering climbing plants are one of the easiest ways to bring instant charm, colour, and character to your garden. Whether you prefer the fragrance of honeysuckle, the drama of passionflowers, or the romance of climbing roses, there’s a climber for every season and every style.

Plan well, mix varieties thoughtfully, and your garden can have climbing plants in bloom and will look fantastic for 12 months of the year.

Explore the full range of climbing plants at Direct Plants and find the perfect flowering climber for your space.