In article ,
Keith \(Portland\) wrote:

Has anyone any ideas on planting up a north facing wall about 15ft by 15ft?
It is rendered stone, painted creamish colour and gets sun in the mornings
in the spring and summer, but has rather a draughty eastern aspect. We very
rarely get frost, ice or snow but the wind chill factor can be high on
occasions. The wall is clearly visible from the house and plants need to be
in containers because a concrete patio to the base of the wall. I imagine a
wooden trellis will be necessary.

We have tried honeysuckle clinging to netting, but it always gets totally
ruined by greenfly there, yet it grows extremely well everywhere else in the
garden (with its feet in the ground) - why? This is a different strain of
honeysuckle and should be a golden in colour. Is it likely to be OK when
transplanted elsewhere?

I have that problem. L. x tellmanniana flowers excellently most years
facing south-east, though I have to spray some years, but the greenfly
prevent its buds opening when it faces north-west. And I know that it
is the same clone, because I propagated one from the other!

Many thanks for any attractive ideas, particularly for those that might look
good all the year round.

I can't say what will survive in pots, but all of the following thrive
in such an aspect in my garden:

Wisteria sinensis (I think)
Akebia quinata
Clematis alpina and armandii
C. vitalba (yes, the native, though it hasn't flowered yet)
Lonicera periclymenum (ditto)
Holboellia latifolia (though it hasn't flowered yet)
Rubus phoeniculasus (edible fruit, too!)

In addition, I think that C. x jouiniana and orientalis would
be fine, as they didn't get that much more light. And many other
clematis, too, though not all.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren,
University of Cambridge Computing Service,
New Museums Site, Pembroke Street, Cambridge CB2 3QH, England.
Email:
Tel.: +44 1223 334761 Fax: +44 1223 334679