Plants on the pergola not only provide shade, they are also a real eye-catcher. Whether flowering or just lush green, a planted pergola visually enhances the terrace or garden. Find out which climbing plants quickly climb up the pergola.
What plants can you plant on a pergola?
The fast-growing classics for pergola plants include Virginia creeper and ivy. Blooming and attractive alternatives include wisteria, clematis, climbing roses and garden honeysuckle. Suitable edible fruits include raspberries, blackberries, grapes, kiwi, beans or pumpkins.
How can pergolas be planted?
You can place the plants on the four pillars, e.g. two per post and let them climb up until they reach the roof and branch out there. Or, you can create one or more green walls by attaching several ropes horizontally and vertically between the pillars and planting several plants that climb up them and thus provide a natural privacy screen.
Planting pergola: The classics
Among the climbing plants, two particularly easy-care, fast-growing specimens have emerged. The wild wine and the ivy. Both are very robust and hardy and can be cultivated for several years. They also grow quickly and densely, providing perfect privacy and shade. Wild wine also impresses with its intense red leaf color in autumn. Both ivy and wild vine are self-climbing and therefore do not need any trellis support. The disadvantage of ivy: Unfortunately, it is poisonous and is not suitable for a garden in which experimental children get up to mischief. It also grows heavily and should definitely be provided with a root barrier.
Flowering plants for the pergola
| Name | Flower color | Flowering time | Location | Trail support | Poisonous | hardy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wisteria | Bluish, white or pink | April to June | Partly shaded to sunny | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Bougainvillea (triplet flower) | Pink, yellow, orange, red, white | March to October | Full sunny | Yes | No | Up to -5°C |
| Clematis (Clematis) | Blueish | April to October | Shade, partial shade or sun | Yes | Highly toxic | variety dependent |
| Dipladenia (Mandevilla) | Yellow, red, pink, white | May to October | Partial shade to sunny | Yes | Poisonous | No |
| Garden Honeysuckle | Yellow, orange, red, white | May to September | Partial shade to sunny | Yes | Poisonous | Yes |
| Bell Vine | Violet | July to October | Sunny | No trellis needed | No | No |
| Climbing hydrangea | White | May to June | Partly shaded to sunny | No trellis needed | Yes | Yes |
| Climbing roses | Various colors | June to September | Sunny to partially shaded | Yes | No | Yes |
| Climbing Spindle | Various colors | May to June | Penumbra | No trellis needed | Slightly poisonous fruits | Yes |
| climbing trumpet | Reddish to orange | July to September | Sunny | No trellis needed | Highly toxic | variety dependent |
| Morning glory | Various colors | June to November | Part shade to full sun | Yes | Highly toxic | Up to -10°C |
| Black-Eyed Susan | Orange, white, red | May to October | Sunny | Yes | No | No |
Edibles from the pergola
How about fruit straight from the pergola? Plant raspberries, blackberries or even kiwi or grapes and snack directly from the pergola. Unfortunately, kiwis are not hardy. You have even more choice when it comes to vegetables: cucumbers, beans or pumpkin not only grow purposefully, they also bear beautiful flowers and delicious fruits. The flowers of pumpkin and cucumber are also edible and are ideal for attractive summer salads.