Wildlife gardening, UK guide
Climbing plants for wildlife.
A bare wall or fence can become one of the busiest parts of the garden. The right climbers give bees, moths, butterflies and birds food through the year and somewhere safe to shelter and nest, while taking up almost no ground space.
- Best all-rounderIvy, left to flower
- Plant30 to 45 cm out from the wall
- PruneOutside the nesting season
Eight climbers and what they give wildlife
General UK horticultural guidance. The plant label has the detail for the variety you buy.
| What is being compared | Flowers | What wildlife gets | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ivy | September to November, on mature growth. | Late nectar and pollen for bees, hoverflies and butterflies. Berries for birds in winter. Year-round cover for roosting and nesting. | Self-clinging. On sound brickwork it rarely causes damage, but keep it out of gutters and off weak mortar or render. It only flowers once it is mature and left unclipped at the top. |
| Honeysuckle (Lonicera periclymenum) | Summer, most scented in the evening. | Nectar for night-flying moths, which in turn feed bats. Berries for birds. Tangled growth can give nesting cover. | Twining, so it needs wires or trellis. Likes its roots in shade and its head in the sun. |
| Climbing and rambling roses | Early summer, some repeat. | Pollen for bees from single and semi-double flowers. Hips for birds in autumn and winter. Thorny stems for safe nesting. | Choose open, single or semi-double flowers; very double blooms offer insects little. Leave the last flush unpruned so it forms hips. |
| Clematis | Depends on the type, from winter to late summer. | Nectar and pollen from open-flowered types. Winter-flowering kinds help early bees. Woody stems give cover. | Native traveller's-joy is very vigorous and suits big boundaries. Smaller garden types are easier on a house wall. |
| Hop (Humulus lupulus) | Late summer. | Leaves are a caterpillar food plant for the comma butterfly. Dense summer growth gives insects and birds shelter. | Dies back to the ground each winter and regrows fast in spring. Needs strong support; good over a pergola or fence. |
| Passion flower (Passiflora caerulea) | Summer into autumn. | Large open flowers visited by bees. | Best on a warm, sheltered sunny wall. Can be cut back by hard frost in colder areas. |
| Pyracantha (a wall shrub) | Late spring to early summer. | Flowers for bees, then berries for birds through autumn and winter. Thorny branches make secure nesting spots. | Not a true climber: tie it to wires and train it flat against the wall. |
| Climbing hydrangea | Summer. | Lacecap flowers visited by insects. Cover on walls where little else grows. | One of the few flowering climbers for a shady, north-facing wall. Slow to start, then self-clinging. |
Mixing climbers that flower at different times gives wildlife food for more of the year than one plant on its own.
Match the climber to the wall
Aspect matters more than anything else. Start with which way your wall faces.
A sunny wall (south or west facing)
Warm walls suit the climbers that flower hardest: climbing and rambling roses, passion flower and most clematis. Honeysuckle will grow here too, as long as its roots are shaded by other planting or a few stones.
Sunny walls are also the driest. Water new plants through their first summer, and see the planting steps below.
- Good choicesRoses, passion flower, clematis
- Watch forDry soil at the base
- Wildlife bonusSummer flowers, then hips
A shady wall (north or east facing)
Ivy and climbing hydrangea are both happy in shade and both self-clinging, so they need no wires once established. Pyracantha and many honeysuckles also cope with some shade, although they flower and fruit more with a little sun.
- Good choicesIvy, climbing hydrangea, pyracantha
- Watch forSlow first year
- Wildlife bonusYear-round cover
A fence, trellis or pergola
Twining climbers such as honeysuckle, hop and clematis need something to wrap around, so a fence with wires, a trellis panel or a pergola suits them well. In a small garden, choose a less vigorous clematis or honeysuckle rather than traveller's-joy or a large rambler, which can quickly outgrow the space.
- Good choicesHoneysuckle, hop, clematis
- Watch forVigour in small spaces
- Wildlife bonusScent for moths at dusk
Planting at the foot of a wall
The soil right against a wall is usually drier and poorer than the rest of the garden, because the wall shelters it from rain and the ground is often full of old rubble. So plant about 30 to 45 cm out from the wall, and lean the climber back towards it along a cane.
Dig a generous hole, take out any rubble and work organic matter into the soil you put back. Our guide to improving garden soil covers how. Water well after planting, keep watering through dry spells in the first year, and spread a mulch over moist soil to help hold the water in.
Put the supports up first
Fix wires or trellis before you plant, with a small gap behind them so air can move and stems can twine. It is much harder to do once the climber is growing.
Four mistakes that cost wildlife
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Mistake 1
Pruning in the nesting season
Climbers are favourite nest sites, and it is an offence to damage or destroy an active nest.
InsteadLeave heavy cutting until nesting has finished. If a climber that flowers in spring or early summer needs pruning straight after flowering, check carefully for nests first.
-
Mistake 2
Clipping ivy so it never flowers
Ivy only flowers and fruits on mature growth, so regular trimming removes the late nectar and winter berries.
InsteadKeep it tidy around windows and gutters, but let some reach the top of its support and mature.
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Mistake 3
Deadheading every rose
Removing every faded flower means no hips for birds in winter.
InsteadDeadhead through early summer, then leave the last flush to set hips.
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Mistake 4
Letting growth into gutters and roofs
Stems can block gutters and lift slates and copings.
InsteadTrim back from the roofline once a year, outside the nesting season.
Questions people ask
What are the best climbing plants for wildlife in the UK?
Ivy is the stand-out, because it gives late nectar, winter berries and year-round shelter. Honeysuckle, single-flowered climbing roses, clematis and hop add flowers and food at other times of year, so a mix gives wildlife something for most of the year.
Does ivy damage walls?
On sound brickwork it rarely causes structural damage, and the RHS notes it can even shelter a wall from weather. It can make existing problems worse, though: it widens cracks in weak mortar, can hold damp against a wall and grows into gutters. Avoid it on render, old soft mortar or walls that already have faults.
When should I plant climbing plants?
Autumn and spring are best, when the soil is moist and not frozen. Climbers bought in pots can go in at other times, but they will need regular watering through dry spells in their first year.
When can I prune climbers without disturbing nesting birds?
The main bird nesting season runs from about March to August, and it is an offence to damage an active nest. Leave heavy pruning until nesting has finished where you can. Some spring and early-summer flowering climbers are pruned just after flowering, so check carefully for nests before you cut.
Which climbers grow on a north-facing wall?
Ivy and climbing hydrangea are the most reliable for full shade. Pyracantha and some honeysuckles also cope, though they flower and fruit less than on a sunnier wall.
Do climbers need feeding?
Established climbers in the ground usually need little feeding; most of the work is in preparing the soil well at planting time. Climbers in large pots rely on you for nutrients, and flowering climbers in containers benefit from a feed through the growing season. Follow the label of whichever feed you use.
Are ivy and honeysuckle berries safe to eat?
No. They are food for birds, not people. Grow them out of reach if small children play nearby.
