Quickest flowers

What kind of climbers are really fast to flower?

 

I'm always wary of answering this type of enquiry. Mainly because, those fastest to flower are an indication (predominantly) of rapid growth = careful maintenance!

I bought a few clematis from Morrisons last Spring - all flowered beautifully! I am delighted to report that they are thriving this year too (two are already in flower) but, I forget the name of them: I'll come back with that

 

Clematis would be good I already have a Russian vine on another side of the garden but it's not out of control yet lol. Wanted a fence covered asap

 

Russian vine is like an atom bomb on a timer. For the first couple of years or so, not a great deal happens visibly, but all the while, under the ground, tick... tock... tick... tock.... the roots are establishing themselves. Then, one day, probably the day you go away on that well deserved summer holiday, boom! Its away, and you've missed your chance of keeping it under control, because from that moment on, it will well and truly live up to its other name, "the mile a minute vine".

Anyway, as for fast climbers, do they have to be evergreen and perennial? Would sweet peas be an option?

 

That's the question. The fastest will almost certainly be annuals (Ipomea, Aserina etc). Perennial wise, Passiflora, Lonicera and some Clematis. The perennial with the longest flowering period will almost certainly be Eccromocarpus scaber (mine started a month or so ago and will carry on until the winter frosts arrive.
Another question - why are you asking? Are you trying to create a screen to hide something, or maybe you have a space owing to winter losses?
Also, what conditions will it have to live in (amount of sun, winds etc)?

 

I'm at 1000ft so cold and windy - frost-free date 1st June.
Sweet peas I have inside on the windowsills but scared to put them out yet.
The Russian Vine's in a neglected corner beside a shed, growing up a fence. It was to hide my neighbour's compost/rubbish heap. But it wasn't a total success because the bottom two feet of it is bare, I need to put something in there.
Reason I wanted fast climbers now is that I've taken back the grass and made a border 2ft wide up the side of the garden. Old rickety fence half collapsed but would look nice with climbers growing up it. On a slope facing south west but open to wind.
I love how much I learn in this forum, you come up with things I never heard of and you know so much. I have transformed my garden in the last 2/3 years mainly by listening to you lot

Oh and we're mid to late 60s, so don't give me stuff that take 20 years please LOL

 

Not ideal then!

Bearded Iris? Totally hardy, evergreen attractive fans when not in bloom and about the right height. Or if you feel brave, Acanthus mollis - will get big but should be evergreen and is as hardy as hell.

If the fence is a bit iffy then I would say Morning Glory (Ipomea), an annual. Now's the time to start them off from seed on a w/sill. Not the variety "Heavenly Blue" though as they take ages to get going.
Aserina scandens is another option, but maybe a little late to start them from seed now.

 

Ok thanks for that - I might go for the Iris, I used to have that and it was fine here. Will go and google the climbers now.