If you’ve got an empty outside wall or the post of a pergola that looks a bit bare, then an Australian native vine might be the next plant to purchase.
Watch: Charlie Makes A Garden Trellis For Climbing Plants
Australian natives are known for beautiful blooming flowers, interesting foliage and, of course, bringing amazing biodiversity to backyards. But many Aussies tend to forget the native vines and climbers that are indigenous to our land.
With so many homes choosing climbing jasmine, bougainvillaea or species of ivy, Aussie native climbers often get left out of the mix.
There are a huge variety of Australian native vines and climbers out there, including:
- Wonga wonga vine (Pandorea pandorana)
- Bower of beauty or bower vine (Pandorea jasminoides)
- Sturt’s desert pea (Swainsona Formosa)
- Fraser island creeper (Tecomanthe hillii)
- Native grape or treebine (Cissus)
- False sarsaparilla or purple coral pea (Hardenbergia violacea)
- Cape Arid kennedia (Kennedia beckxiana)
- Stiff jasmine (Jasminum volubile)
- Snake Vine or climbing guinea flower (Hibbertia scandens)
- Apple Berry (Billardiera scandens)
- Australian clematis or old man’s beard (Clematis aristata)
Let’s take a look at a couple of Australian native vines, and see which ones would work best for you and your garden. We’ve enlisted the help of Narelle Happ, a horticulturalist from Sydney Wildflower Nursery, so you can find the best option.
Our favourite Australian native vines:
Wonga wonga vine
The wonga wonga vine flowers from winter to summer with beautiful pink-tinged bell flowers. Suitable for tropical and temperate climates, this vine is known for its wild, unruly climbing abilities. If you would like a vine that covers your trees, trellis’ and garden structures, then this vine is for you!
It’s best grown in full sun to part shade, and will do well in most soil conditions. Narelle explains that the Pandorea species is one of Australia’s fastest growing vines, and will benefit from a prune in early autumn to maintain its growth.
Sturt’s desert pea
One of Australia’s most iconic plants, Sturt’s desert pea is actually a native vine. This creeper requires a bit more attention when planting and maintaining because of its arid origins. With its vibrant red-leafed flower and black centre, this vine is best grown in sandy soil or loam. Rather than growing up and out, it tends to spread lengthways, more like a groundcover, and can reach up to 2m in width.
Growing these plants in hanging baskets or tall pots would work best for their creeping vines to flourish.
Snake vine
Snake vine is quite common among Australian suburbia, with many households showcasing these beautiful yellow flowers across outside walls and structures. Snake vine is perfect for wall-hanging with a trellis or open-wire structure and requires little maintenance after installing.
The best flowering position for this vine is full sun, although it will grow perfectly fine in partly shady conditions as well. Once established, there is no need to continuously water, but you will need to cut back any vines that grow in unwanted places.
Bower of beauty
An evergreen climber, the bower plant or bower of beauty certainly is beautiful! This vine is best grown in moist soils and full sun conditions.
Because it’s typically found in Queensland and Northern NSW, it thrives in tropical and temperate conditions, and will produce clusters of pretty pink flowers from late spring to summer.
This plant is great for screening along fences or climbing on pergolas and trellises.
Old man’s beard
Found on the edges of Australia’s eastern rainforests, old man’s beard goes by many names; Traveller’s Joy, Goatsbeard or Australian clematis. With pretty cream flowers blooming in spring, this vine will show up every other plant in your garden!
This vine actually enjoys some overhead shade, and loves deep, cool soil to grow its roots in. Narelle recommends this climber for shady parts of the garden!
This plant uses trees and other plants as support when growing, but would thrive with a trellis or artificial structure in your garden. Without support, it can grow nicely as a groundcover.
Australian native vine care
Of course, the most obvious question when growing vines and creepers is ‘will it take over my whole garden?’. And the best answer we’ve got is; it depends on the plant, and whether you need to prune it.
For all of the options above, hard pruning can be done at any time of the year (although at the end of flowering season is ideal). This will help your native vines stay within the boundaries you desire them to, and create stronger, healthier plants as well.
It is always best to research the specifics of your chosen creeper or climber before planting, just so you know what you’re getting into! If it’s known for unruly chaos, then you may have to be more attentive than usual when caring for your vines.
Which native vines will not take over the garden?
Narelle from Sydney Wildflower Nursery gave us four great options for climbers that are easily maintained and will not extend their boundaries too far:
- Hibbertia scandens – Guinea flower/ Snake vine
- Hardenbergia violacea – False sarsaparilla
- Billardiera scndens – Sweet apple berry
- Clematis aristata – Old man’s beard
Are there any native vines that do not require a trellis or structure?
Narelle explains that most native climbers that do not have any support will work best as groundcovers. This is because they scramble across the ground and grow out rather than up with their vines.
For a more natural support, you can plant your creepers near sturdy trees or other plants. Narelle highlights that most Australian native vines will need something to climb on.
She suggests “using eye hooks and tensioned wires, or a trellis with tensioned wires in front of the wall to give the climbers something to climb on.
Most climbers will want to climb to the top for the light so train your climber by twining the vine onto horizontal wires or structures as they grow.”
You may also like:
The essential guide to Australian native trees
The ultimate guide to Australian native flowers
The essential guide to Australian native plants
The complete guide to edible Australian native plants
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