What is this climbing plant?

[climbingplant]

Hi,

Does anyone know what this plant is please? Is it a type of honeysuckle? I have tried to have a look but I’m not a gardener and many plants look the same to my eye.

And does anyone know if it will cover fences completely for privacy or should I go for a different type of plant? Clematis Montana and clematis armandii seem to be recommended.

The one in the picture has started to grow on the fence (it must have been in the border for years without us noticing) and is spreading but with gaps so I’m not sure if it will give decent coverage. There’s a long length of fence to cover so I’m not sure whether to get the same thing to start at the other end or whether to try something different.

Ideally we’d just have a normal fence but it’s the neighbours’ and they are fed up of maintaining their fence so have put this up. They won’t care what is on it - they don’t care about their garden at all.

Any advice appreciated - thanks

Yes it is a honeysuckle. They do tend to climb quite well, but can be patchy in places. I prefer the evergreen varieties of clematis.

It is fab for bees though

Wow that was quick - thank you!

It is indeed a honeysuckle.

Mine is a bit straggly, Clematis Montana is a much better grower, but that might be just my location.

Jasmine is good for covering gaps in fencing. Maybe a rose?

Common honeysuckle, as in native species. Used to see it a lot in hedgerows growing wild. Prone to mildew but smells gorgeous.

Agree, honeysuckle. Depending on variety it will smell amazing.

Thank you for the suggestions, I’m not sure what to choose! The garden has very little privacy along that side at the moment and there are a number of fence panels to cover so it would be good to have something that spreads well.

Clematis montana is not evergreen and so in winter you just get a brown twiggy nest effect.

Thank you - I would prefer evergreen so I’ll cross that off my list.

I have spent a fair amount of time researching this morning and I’m still confused.

I was ready to buy clematis armandii which is evergreen, then read that it is toxic to children and animals if they touch the leaves. I have younger children who are likely to touch it accidentally. Also I’ve read that it’s a ‘thug’ and can take over quickly so I’m worried about it overwhelming a chain link fence.

I don’t want something too bushy as our garden isn’t very wide.

I was considering star jasmine but then read about people having problems with it because it only flourishes in certain conditions and you have to remember to water it when dry etc.

Have also considered buying honeysuckle and having it the whole way along but then people are saying that can look messy and stick out everywhere when it gets bigger.

So I’m stuck on which is the best.
I need something that spreads fairly quickly across a fence but doesn’t become too bushy. But is dense enough to give privacy. I’m wondering if a couple of varieties of evergreen honeysuckle together would work.

Amandii does love a bit of shelter too so might not be that happy if the fence is windy. Honeysuckle is too patchy, it’s a scrambler. Could you plant an evergreen shrub in front of the fence and train the shrub to the fence? Lots more options then - euonymous, Berberis (spikey though) off the top of my head.

Thanks. It’s not windy but gets a lot of sun.

I can’t plant anything that will be too bushy because the garden isn’t very wide and I need to keep as much space as possible for the children to play in. We have borders near the house but for most of the length of the fence the lawn goes right up to it with no border.

I have an evergreen one called Clematis Cirrhosa Freckles, it has such pretty flowers in autumn/winter and then very attractive fluffy seed heads after. It has a tenancy to shoot up as fast as it can, so it needs training and pruning to fill in. I've not come across anything to say it is toxic. They need a sheltered sunny spot and like cool roots - so grow some short shrub or perennial under.
Have a look here www.taylorsclematis.co.uk/clematis-evergreen-clematis/

Clematis montana is too vigorous for a fence, you’d have trouble keeping it in check after the first few years.

Lonicera henryii is a bit of a thug too, but would cover the fence and is evergreen. It’s a honeysuckle but not scented. Most honeysuckle berries are poisonous, but that applies to a lot in the garden, including daffodils

Thank you both - I was just changing my mind and thinking about clematis Montana after all because I mainly want privacy in spring and summer when we’re out more. But I would prefer low maintenance so I’ll cross it off the list again!

We have a lovely plant with purple flowers that provides ground cover during summer; I wish there was similar that spread on fences. As thin as Ivy in profile.

I think the children would be fine with not picking berries but apparently just touching the leaves can cause irritation, and they’re likely to brush past and then rub faces etc.

I will have a look at both of those recommendations - thanks.

Would a couple of different varieties of evergreen honeysuckle work together so that gaps are more likely to be filled?

No, one of them will win, probably the larger leaved L henryii

I’d try trachelospermum (star jasmine). It’s evergreen, smells lovely, is pretty tough and if you remember to weave the new shoots into the fence, it won’t grow too bushy unlike many climbers.

Another option is Virginia creeper - it will cover the fence very quickly and densely (so more privacy than other options), self clings so you don’t need to do anything to wind it into the fence, and will look spectacular in autumn. But not evergreen so could look a bit bare in winter.

Or finally, you could consider Holboellia Latifolia (sausage vine). It’s evergreen, likes sun, isn’t particularly spectacular to look at (though perfectly nice) but the flowers in spring smell absolutely wonderful.

Thank you both, I appreciate your help.

I think I’ll go for Star Jasmine after all. Great tip about weaving new shoots into the fence - thanks.