I don't know if you meant that "tongue in cheek", but strangely, that did
cross my mind. I had one at a previous house and have planted one here in
France too. It very much depends on the circumstances as to how appropriate
such a fast growing, large, climber is. Here we have a huge, 100 feet long,
two storey, derelict stone barn and this year I planted several vigorous
climbers with the intention of converting it into a "romantic ruin"
completely covered with climbers, including a Russian vine, clematis Montana
(both the white and pink), an Alba plus several other large varieties who's
names escape me at the moment. Also planted honeysuckle, wisteria, virgina
creepers and a passion flower. Hopefully, between them, they will encase the
entire barn after a few years and smother it in foliage and flowers. It
should be quite spectacular.

David.


If the Russian vine let's everything else thrive. It really is a
monster! I would never use it myself but in the OP's case, given that
she's looking into someone else's garden from her own, I think using
one of those would give nothing but trouble to both parties. He won't
be too happy when his new sapling hedging is eaten by the Russian
vine......

--
Sacha

Well, Russian vine was my first thought, speedily rejected ... but
while contemplating it, I came across Fallopia baldschuanica "Pink
Flamingo", billed as being only half as vigorous as the ordinary one,
and listed he

http://www.prideofplaceplants.com/vi..._flamingo.html

Doesn't seem to be available anywhere but this one nursery, though, as
far as I can make out....

Would you and Ray know anything about them?

--
Klara, Gatwick basin