Passion flowers are vigorous evergreen climbers that hold on to their support via winding tendrils. They bear intricate, tropical-looking flowers with a central ring of colourful filaments called a corona. Most species are too tender to grow in Britain, but Passiflora caerulea is frost hardy to around -5°C and can be grown outdoors in mild coastal areas and urban areas, by a warm, south-facing wall. BUY NOW Also known by the much less glamorous name of potato vine, Solanum laxum'Album' has slightly fragrant white flowers with a yellow center that blooms from mid to late summer. If you live in a mild climate you will likely get flowers all year round. A native of South America, it's an exotic-looking plant that's loved by hummingbirds. A well-placed arch can also divide a garden into separate areas or, in conjunction with hedges or fencing, screen off utility areas such as washing lines or bins.

Passiflora caerulea AGM – the blue passion flower has incredible exotic flowers with purple filaments over white petals, from July to September. It also produces orange egg-shaped fruit and has dark-green leaves that are deciduous or evergreen, depending on the climate.For us, this can be classed amongst the best evergreen climbers you can grow. The first climbing plant that immediately comes to mind is the clematis. Clematis can be found in many colours and are easy to grow. You will discover that varieties of clematis grow mostly between early to late summer, and how much sunlight they prefer depends on the variant. The clematis stems sit comfortably around garden archways and will not easily detach themselves from it.Try the morning glory (ipomoea), which is very vibrant and thrives in warm temperatures, so you are best off planting this in the summer. The clear standout with the morning glory is its pink or blue petals which stand out like tiny satellites amongst the rest of your garden flowers. It will become a radar for bees and other flying insects to visit your garden and bring the exotic, tropical nature to it, too. 7 Passionflower Nasturtiums also thrive when trailing up supports, providing edible leaves, seeds and flowers throughout the summer. Cotoneaster horizontalis provides autumn and winter interest with sprays of vivid berries that attract birds like fieldfare and waxwing into the garden. Read our recommendations for the best climbing roses for arches and pergolas The best fragrant climbers for sunny spots West walls generally avoid spring frosts and severe summer heat, now more prevalent than ever due to climate change, so they can be very kind. They also tend to benefit from prevailing rainfall in most areas of the country. Passiflora caerulea - blue passion flower

The clue is in the name: climbing hydrangea. Although they prefer the shade and more barren areas of a garden, climbing hydrangea is a great plant to feature on your garden arch. The typical colour of hydrangeas is white, which will allow your garden arch to spring to life in the summer when the sunlight touches on the white petals.

These wide garden arches can easily span that gap

Another woody climber that needs a lot of space and should be grown in the ground is Hydrangea anomala subsp. petiolaris, which features white lace-cap flowers in summer. This climbing hydrangea is self-clinging, meaning it will attach to a wall or fence with aerial roots, and has been known to grow to 15m high. It can tolerate some shade, so is a good choice for a north-facing wall. BUY NOW Garden Benches. (11/02/22). Garden Decorations All Year. [Accessed 05/02/23] Retrieved from: https://www.gardenbenches.com/blog/garden-decorations-all-year/ Annual climbers, which typically last just one growing season in the British climate, are usually grown from seed and are great for a short but dazzling show over the summer.

Abutilon megapotamicum is a deciduous to semi-evergreen shrub that prefers a warm, sunny, south facing wall, or to be grown in a container that can be taken inside over winter to protect it from frost. It’s worth the trouble for its beautiful hanging lantern-like flowers of red outer calyx with yellow inner petals, which draw the eye throughout summer and autumn. BUY NOW This is ideally suited for sheltered positions and grows very well when planted south facing or west facing in such a position that it receives full sun or partial shade. It is one of the more active types of climbers out there with a rather oddly shaped yellow leaves coming out with more of the small yellow flowers. Most of the time the Common Hop prefers moist and well-drained soil which will allow it to grow up to 8m or more. Plants on pergolas need to have pliable stems and some of the best, for example wisteria, have pendent flowers that cascade downwards creating a waterfall effect. It’s important to choose the right plant, one that will thrive in the conditions whether it be bright sunshine or dappled shade. Height and vigour also play their part. We recommend the Zepherine Drouhin variant since it is thornless and easier for you to handle when attaching it to your garden arch.This couldn't be a better time to buy a garden arch! Some of the UK's most popular brands have updated their ranges with a host of new products this spring. It’s vital to support the plant with the right structure and ramblers and scramblers need to be pruned, otherwise most will overwhelm a pergola, arch or trellis. Pruning in the correct way will also increase flower power. Made right here in the UK from solid steel, the Monet arch is a generous 5ft wide. The minimal styling can be enhanced with optional lattice infill panels. Maintenance tip: lightly tidy after flowering - but only if needed. Cytisus battandieri - pineapple broom (recently renamed Argyrocytisus battandieri) Actinidia kolomikta, the variegated-leaf hardy kiwi, is a deciduous climber grown mainly for its unusual, striking foliage - large heart-shaped green leaves tipped with bright flashes of white and pink. It needs to be planted in a sheltered spot in full sun, such as against a south-facing wall, for best results, and can grow to around 4m in height and spread. BUY NOW

What could be more romantic than a garden arch covered with the gracefully cascading blooms of wisteria? Find out how to grow wisteria and this gorgeous climbing plant will create a dramatic display from late spring to mid-summer. Try Japanese wisteria such as Yae-kokuryu, a real show-stopper that thrives in both full sun and partial shade.

Maintenance tip: this is worth fleecing in winter. Any pruning should be minimal. Akebia quinata - chocolate vine