Advice please.

Our garden is 'terraced' over a total of 5 levels, the greenhouse it situated on level 4, where it is very much on view and open to the elements. My plan is to create a trellis 'barrier' around it, with trellis archway to gain access. It is hoped it will provide some protection from the wind, and extra shade - I would like a prolific climbing plant, preferably flowering, which will look 'amazing' yet be easy to care for and practical......

 

Personally, I'm done with trying to tame monsters. If you choose to grow something 'prolific', this will probably mean that unless you're prepared to keep it under very firm control you will end up with firewood rather than trellis work within a couple of years. The montana clematis, which is in flower now, will quickly cover your trellis and look stunning whilst in flower if a bit dire in the winter. However, it falls into the 'monster' category unless you're certain you're the kind of gardener who will always keep things within bounds. The same sort of thing applies to jasmine. On the other hand, neither plant needs to be cosseted - and it sounds like you're talking about quite an exposed position.

If you were dealing with a more sheltered spot down south, I might suggest Trachelospermum jasminoides, the star jasmine, which is evergreen, fast growing and has scented white flowers in the summer but is not reliably hardy.

I like the honeysuckle family - although in the winter most of them become nothing more than a tangle of tatty stems. Lonicera italica 'Harlequin' comes into this category, although it makes up for it in the growing season by having both attractive variegated leaves and, for a fairly short while, lovely scented flowers (mine is just coming into flower now). Most honeysuckles are plants from dappled woodland and are said to thrive best in such conditions, although I have some which seem perfectly happy in sunny, south facing positions. Lonicera japonica 'Halliana' is evergreen, beautifully scented and will adapt to a variety of conditions ... but it is another plant which can be a bit of a monster once it has got established. There is a variegated form called 'Mint Crisp' which has lovely leaves. I've never grown it, although I have grown another variety called 'Aureoreticulata'. The leaves have pretty yellow veins, but I found it to be stingy with its flowers.

Unfortunately there is usually a trade-off in gardening. If you want a nice strong plant which will grow quickly and cope with everything you chuck at it, this generally means being prepared to wield the pruners on a regular basis. If you're willing to do this, then I think Marley's suggestion, the jasmine, would be nice. Jasminium officinale'Clotted Cream' is particularly lovely.

 

Wow, thank you very much for the advice, much apreciated. I shall do some research on the suggestions

 

May I again point out, Jasmine IS NOT a climber. Thank you.:gnthb::gnthb:

 

According to the RHS website, Jasmine is a 'woody climber'

http://apps.rhs.org.uk/advicesearch/Profile.aspx?pid=291

 

lol

 

I would think that whatever you opt for it needs to be an evergreen or you'll end up with a tangle of bare, leafless stems for a decent chunk of the year that will look far from 'amazing'.

Trachelospermum are evergreen, pretty and fragrant, but unless you plan on planting en mass they will take a considerable time to clothe a trellis of greenhouse-hiding proportions.

I would go for Clematis armandii - vigorous, evergreen with dramatic, glossy, leathery foliage and magnificent in flower. Equally good options would be one of the climbing Hydrangeas - H. seemannii or H. integrifolia.