Name: The Plant Company
Address: 284 Meeanee Road, Meeanee, Napier, 4112, New Zealand
Telephone: 0800 843 752
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climbing plants for arches

Transform your garden into an enchanting sanctuary with climbing plants for arches. Whether you’re looking to create a lush entranceway, a vibrant focal point, or a private retreat beneath a canopy of blooms and foliage, choosing the right climbing plants for arches is key. With their ability to add vertical beauty, soften hard structures, and offer scent or seasonal interest, climbing plants can make any archway a showstopper. In New Zealand, there are a wide variety of climbers to suit every garden style, from sun-loving tropicals to elegant shade-tolerant varieties.

Rhaphidophora decursiva

Rhaphidophora decursiva, commonly known as the Dragon Tail Plant or Philodendron Dragon, is a climber that features lush foliage and often grown as an indoor plant. The leaves are large and dark green, and very aesthetic. It will slowly climb a pole or the like or grow as a spreading ground cover if it has nothing to climb. Rhaphidophora decursiva is commonly grown as a potted plant with a pole to climb, planted outdoors in frost free areas around outdoor living areas, or used in offices and foyers.

Buy Rhaphidophora decursiva

From $52.58

Suited to regions: Subtropical

Plant type: Indoor Plants

Height: 40 cm

Spread: 70 cm

Tolerances: Shade

Garden uses: Arches, Borders, Containers, Living areas, Paths & Steps

Garden styles: Architectural, Backyard, City & Courtyard, Frontyard, Modern, Tropical, White

Masses of Bougainvillea bambino 'Pedro' red flowers.

Bougainvillea 'Pedro'

Bougainvillea ‘Pedro’ is a vibrant and hardy climbing plant that produces masses of deep magenta-red bracts through the warmer months. Its bold colouring and tropical appeal make it a favourite for New Zealand gardens. Perfect for fences, pergolas, and trellises, Bougainvillea ‘Pedro’ thrives in full sun and provides a long-lasting, low-maintenance display of dazzling colour all season long.

Buy Bougainvillea 'Pedro'

From $29.63

Suited to regions: Subtropical, Temperate

Plant type: Climbers

Height: 1.50 m

Spread: 1.50 m

Flowering time: Summer

Garden uses: Arches, Living areas

Garden styles: Backyard, City & Courtyard, Frontyard, Japanese, Modern, Tropical

Best Climbing Plants for Arches in New Zealand

Selecting climbing plants for arches depends on your style, sunlight, and how much maintenance you prefer. Here are a few exceptional choices:

Vibrant and Tropical Arch Climbers

For a splash of colour and a touch of the tropics, Bougainvillea 'Pedro' is hard to beat. This hardy, drought-tolerant beauty flourishes in full sun, covering arches quickly with dazzling magenta bracts that bloom for months.

Another showstopper, Mandevilla 'Red Riding Hood', delivers striking red trumpet flowers and glossy foliage. It loves warm, sheltered spots and can flower from spring well into autumn, making it perfect for a standout display on garden arches.

Unique New Zealand Natives

If you’re after something distinctly Kiwi, Tecomanthe speciosa is a rare native climber featuring lush leaves and dramatic, bell-shaped pale blooms. It thrives in semi-shade and is perfect for covering arches in sheltered courtyards or subtropical plantings.

Elegant Shade-Loving Climbers

For archways in part or full shade, Hydrangea petiolaris is an excellent choice. This self-clinging hydrangea produces masses of snow-white lacecap flowers in early summer and develops bronze autumn foliage, creating multi-season interest without demanding much attention.

Exotic Indoor Options

Fancy bringing your arches indoors or to a conservatory? Rhaphidophora decursiva is an architectural beauty with dramatic, deeply-lobed leaves. When given a sturdy frame, this climber can add a lush, tropical ambiance to interior archways or garden rooms.

How to Train Climbing Plants for Arches

Plant your climbers at the base of your arch, giving them plenty of room to grow. Gently tie new shoots to the arch structure as they appear, spreading stems evenly to encourage good coverage. Most climbing plants for arches thrive when their roots are kept cool and moist, so consider mulching and watering regularly during dry spells.

Why Choose Climbing Plants for Arches

Climbing plants not only bring vertical interest and beauty to outdoor spaces but also attract pollinators, create privacy, and help break up strong winds. By choosing the right climbing plants for arches—whether tropical, native, evergreen, or floriferous—you can create a living framework that matures beautifully for years to come.

Explore our full range of Rhaphidophora decursiva, Bougainvillea 'Pedro', Mandevilla 'Red Riding Hood', Hydrangea petiolaris, and Tecomanthe speciosa to find the perfect climber for your garden arch. Dive into a world of colour, foliage, and form with the best climbing plants for arches in New Zealand.

Contact us

Whether you need assistance finding the plant you’re looking for or you simply want to know more about who we are and what we do, we invite you to get in touch with us today. A member of The Plant Company team will get back in touch as soon as possible.