In article ,
says...

In article ,
"Clive in Kent" writes:
|
| Down here in deepest Kent I'm looking to cover an ugly north facing concrete
| garage wall. It does get some sun late afternoon / early evening but is in
| shade most of the day. Ideally I'm looking for something that is fairly
| drought tolerant, self-clinging with some spring and / or summer flowering
| and a fairly vigourous climber. Am I asking the impossible or do I have to
| compromise? Any suggestions will be gratefully received & acknowledged.

You are asking the impossible, unless someone can think of something
I can't.

Can you drill small holes, insert some wall eyes and connect them by
wire? If so, you can drop the self-clinging, and the impossible
becomes possible, with quite a lot of options. There aren't many
self-clinging climbers - the most common have negligible flowers,
Campsis isn't suitable for that, and I don't think that Hydrangea
petiolaris and allies are drought tolerant.

Alternatively, drop the flowering and grow an ivy or "Virginia
creeper". No problem there, except hacking them back at the top!


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

More or less agree with with Nick, I would go for wire on the wall,
Parthenocissus henryana which is colourfull all season with an autumn
climax and a good rose, something along the lines of Alberic Barbier or
Madam Alfred Carrier for the summer flowers.
You will need to water the first summer but both plants will cope with
dry once their roots get going.
--
Charlie Pridham, Gardening in Cornwall
www.roselandhouse.co.uk
Holders of national collections of Clematis viticella cultivars and
Lapageria rosea