Top Climbers for Softening Structures and Creating Lush Understory Effects

Plants that climb; whether up structures, over fences or into tree understories—significantly enhance landscape depth and biodiversity. Ideal climbers should establish quickly, tolerate varied light and soil conditions, and require minimal upkeep.

They must balance structural presence with ornamental value—through foliage, flowers or both—and offer ecological benefits such as providing habitat and screening in public or naturalistic settings. Here are four of the best climbers that meet these criteria, selected for structure, resilience and aesthetic utility:

Meema™

Hardenbergia violacea ‘HB1’ PBR Trade Name Meema™

Creates a dense, shrubby rambler that gracefully scrambles when given vertical support; perfect for adding woodland understory density or climbing mid-trunk of trees to produce a scrubby, natural feel.

It retains crisp foliage through cold winters and dry, hot northerly winds, and produces vibrant purple pea-flowers in mid-winter to early spring. With only annual pruning after flowering (or more if used as a formal hedge), it performs reliably in both sun-exposed and semi-shaded sites, across a range of soil types from sandy to heavy clay.

Groundswell™

Hibbertia scandens ‘HBS01’ PBR Trade Name Groundswell™

Exhibits dense, low-rambling stems that can be directed upward to softly cloak vertical structures or allowed to carpet the ground beneath. Its tidy growth habit features deep green foliage and recurring golden flowers that shine across seasons, offering both form and vibrant, low-maintenance visual interest.

This plant thrives in full sun to partial shade, is drought-tolerant, frost-resilient, and adapts well to sandy or coastal soils.

Ozbreed Flat White®

Pandorea jasminoides ‘PJ01’ PBR Trade Name Ozbreed Flat White®

Becomes a compact, yet elegant climber when trained, with a dense foliar habit that fills narrow vertical elements like screens or tight fences. Its profusion of pure white trumpet blooms in late spring to summer gives strong seasonal impact without overpowering form.

The cultivar responds well to light shaping—pruning twice yearly suffices—and accommodates full sun to part shade across a wide soil range with good drought and moderate frost tolerance.

Flat Mat™

Trachelospermum asiaticum ‘FT01’ PBR Trade Name Flat Mat™

Spreads quickly along the ground before softly climbing—forming a groundcover that can be gently encouraged upward along supports. Its glossy evergreen foliage and fragrant, star-shaped white flowers in summer make it both functional and sensory.

Exceptionally versatile, it requires less pruning than traditional star jasmines, tolerates full sun to partial shade, and will cover fence lines, pergolas or arches with minimal maintenance.

Why These Climbers Work for Specifiers

• Versatility of Form: Each cultivar can be used as both groundcover and climber, offering flexibility in mixed-use design, while retaining tidy, integrated structure.
• Resilient Habits: Drought tolerance, frost resilience, and adaptability to varied light and soil conditions make these climbers robust options in public or low-maintenance contexts.
• Visual Harmony: Controlled growth habits ensure softening of hardscapes without overpowering, while blooms provide seasonal highlights without constant upkeep.
• Ecological Value: Flowering periods support pollinators and small fauna, while dense foliage can create habitat or screening layers in understory or structural settings.

Daniel’s Wrap

Ramblers and climbers help you make use of spaces that are hard to fill with plants that have other growth habits. They can connect vertical layers of an ecosystem for beneficial insects, birds, and much more while capturing carbon and looking beautiful. I hope that this selection is useful for you.