Creepers

Tendrils

Creepers produce searching tendrils which wrap and anchor themselves around a suitable support – such as the stems and branches of other plants.

Bittersweet (Celastrus) and Wisteria

Species which are particularly woody such as bittersweet (Celastrus) and Wisteria can sometimes choke off the flow of sap in the branch or stem of their host as they age. Wisteria has been known to crush drainpipes if it is wrapped around them.

Other well-known creepers are:

• Various species of climbing honeysuckle (Lonicera)
• Hop (Humulus)
• Dutchman’s pipe (Aristolochia) with its heart-shaped leaves
• Silver lace vine (Fallopia aubertii) which grows extremely vigorously. The searching tendrils grow into everything and can cause substantial damage to structures over time.  It is essential to keep a close eye on the plant and prune, train and tie it in good time.