Advice for patio plant please

I have a telegraph pole in my garden and the support cable goes to the patio. I want to plant something that will grow up the cable and hide it a little, ideally something flowering. The patio gets a lot of sun. What would be the best plant to grow please? It needs to be salt and wind tolerant. Thnx in advance.

Also, I have a large raised container in one corner of patio ( it used to be a pond ) and am considering whether to plant a small tree in it and things under the tree. The container holds around 90 gallons and is approx. 3ft - 3 1/2ft square. Would it be feasible to do this or will tree roots grow too large?

 

What about Clematis for the pole and an Olive tree for the container? You could underplant the Olive with herbs.

 

I think an Olive tree would be ideal for the container . is the patio exposed too much wind ?
Now not sure how salt and wind tolerant clematis are , hopefully someone can advise.

 

I thought Clematis liked its roots in shade? I do have one already on the patio, which is surrounded by other pots to do just that , and it appears to be doing quite well. The patio gets full sun for most of the day, just a little shade first thing in morning and early evening. We are 2 minute walk to beach, lots of salty air and strong sea breezes. The cable goes to the middle of the patio, so anything planted in a pot is going to be exposed.

Olive trees The ones I remember from our Greek holidays were rather large. Or is there a dwarf variety for containers?

 

How about Humulus Lupulus 'Aureus' Golden Hop

 

Silver Lace is a vine that produces nice white flowers. It grows very fast, perfect for hiding the cable. You'll have to take measures to keep it under control, or it will try to grow over the whole telegraph pole.

 

It is possible to shelter the roots and I see lots of Clematis close to the sea here but may well depend on variety. Regarding an Olive tree. They will grow to a size which fits the space available to the roots so you should be OK. I have one which is about 5 years old now growing in a pot about 2ft diameter and 2ft deep so smaller than the space you have and it's doing very well. Currently about 5.5ft high including the pot.

 

type 'thunbergia' into google

 

Thunbergia black eyed susan would only grow to 6 feet max in the UK . Its one off my favourite flowers I have grown for years . I presume there are many other types of Thunbergia though ?

 

Visited a local garden centre today - prices are a bit eye watering - but lots of stuff to look at. I'm wondering now whether Honeysuckle might work or climbing Hydrangea. I saw something described as Russian Vine, which from the picture on the label and the description looks and sounds like Silver Lace Vine. What size pot would I need for that? There is limited space on the patio for adding more huge pots.

Also considering putting 3 different coloured Buddleia in my raised former pond. Will it grow in compost or will I need to buy about a ton of soil to fill it?

 

Beware of Russian Vine, it can spread while you watch it grow! My friend has Honeysuckle growing on a telegraph pole and the cable. It looks very good.

When you mentioned the pot were you referring to the Olive? I thought you were going to put that in the old pond.

 

I meant the size of pot needed for whatever I plant to disguise the telegraph cable. Also, if I choose Buddleia for the old pond will it grow in compost? I've got another one but that's in soil. I'm just thinking about filling this old pond now and how much it will cost to do that. Thanks

 

Buddleia isn't at all fussy, it will grow in a wall, a chimney, on the side of roads and railways. If you are getting one, I'd suggest a newer variety. I'd go for a soil based compost, something like a John Innis No 3, no more expensive than any other compost but it's better for shrubs and you could mix it with ordinary garden soil if you have any.

 

I bought a Russian Vine today. Its almost 3ft in height. What size pot should I plant it in please? I'm planning on it staying in that pot but I've no idea how large its root system will grow.

 

Keep it fairly small - a Russian Vine won't need much encouragement! Seriously, you probably do need a fairly large pot as it will want regular watering and feeding through the summer because it grows so quickly.