Climbers for above fence screening

[Pinkfizzed]

I have posted on this topic before- looking for above fence screening options for an east facing fence and another south facing fence in my small garden (10x11m incl. patio in London).

The fence about 2m high and I need something that will screen till about 50cm on top of the fence ie at a height of 250cm above ground. I have now narrowed options for screening climbers to star jasmine and an evergreen honeysuckle for both the fences (right angles to each other). Pleached laurels and magnolia were considered and discarded, since would take up more ground space and potentially need more maintenance.

I would need something well established ie already about 2m or more high on wide screens to be planted into the ground. while I see some options for star jasmine screens, I haven't found any well established ready to screen honeysuckle online so far.

What would you recommend both in terms of hardiness, considerations, positioning and where to source these from. Also- are the so called evergreen honeysuckle truly evergreen or "semi deciduous" - whatever that means. I will need multiple plants/ screens to cover the length and I know this will be expensive, but I don't want to have to wait years to train and grow the plants.

The screening will primarily benefit the first floor rooms whose windows are quite exposed to the street behind the fence which is at a higher level than the ground floor of the house.

Thanks so much!

We have some rambling roses to do that and they are stunning, took 2-3 summers to get to the size you need https://www.davidaustinroses.co.uk/collections/climbing-and-rambling-roses

Thank you. I thought most rambling roses were not evergreen. I definitely need something evergreen and well established ie already trained on screens.

BankasaiLLutea is an evergreen rumbling rose. This is mine. Thornless so easy to shape the way you want.

My evergreen honeysuckle is completely evergreen. It grows like a weed too. Some are only semi evergreen so just make sure you get a full evergreen one

@MelainesLaugh did you train it from scratch / small plant or did you buy screens with taller plants. Please let me know where from if the latter. Thanks.

Why not also buy some annual climbers to screen this summer (and maybe next) whilst the evergreens are establishing? Cobea and runner beans grow quickly and to a substantial height.

Star of jasmine isn't evergreen it'll lose its leaves in winter but will provide some light screening from the branches and stems.

Honeysuckle gets very woody over time. We have Solanum Jasmin and it is evergreen and gives good cover without getting too woody.

Akebia Quintata would be my choice - fast growing, pretty leaves, scented flowers (which aren't that colourful but do smell great). You get a sort of burgundy coloured flowering one, or a less common white flowered one. It's sometimes listed as "semi evergreen" as it looses some leaves in a very cold winter, but mine has stayed evergreen to -10C. It's not blowsy showy flowers.

You could look at evergreen wall shrubs, but they woukd be much slower growing.

@Rictasmorticia I considered rambling rose but this may take a long time to give the coverage I need. Have decided to train one on a different fence.

@Spectre8 I thought Star Jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides) was evergreen? I have one elsewhere and that has retained its leaves over winter. Although that particular one hasn't grown much as people say it typically does.

I'm going to look into honeysuckle and see if i can find large plants on a screen. I suppose it will need a good trim often once established. The other option suggested was magnolia but this will likely be very expensive (i see 2m tall trees at £600 per) and take up much more ground space than honeysuckle, and I do like honeysuckle's flowers.

@Pinkfizzed - I have a star jasmine and it stays evergreen all year in my London garden. Its a lovely plant but not the fastest growing. I also have a honeysuckle that does well in quite a shady spot. As I said above you could always use some annual climbers like cobea to provide screening for the first couple of years whilst the long term plants establish. Star jasmine also co exists well with clematis and potato vine so you could plant a spring clematis and a potato vine with it to have flowers for more of the year.