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

Searching for the best climbing plants for pergola to transform your outdoor space? Whether you dream of a lush canopy of blooms or want to create a sheltered retreat from the New Zealand sun, choosing the right climbers brings both beauty and function to your pergola. The right plants can enhance shade, add privacy, or simply wow with seasonal colour. Let’s explore some outstanding choices that thrive in Kiwi gardens and discover expert tips for selecting and growing climbing plants for pergolas.

Bougainvillea 'Purple Patch'

Bougainvillea ‘Purple Patch’ is a dazzling climbing plant that delivers an abundance of rich purple bracts through the warmer months. Perfect for brightening fences, pergolas, and garden walls, it brings tropical vibrancy and structure to New Zealand gardens. This hardy and low-maintenance variety thrives in full sun and provides months of eye-catching colour, making it a standout choice for sunny outdoor spaces.

Buy Bougainvillea 'Purple Patch'

From $30.29

Suited to regions: Subtropical, Temperate

Plant type: Climbers

Height: 2.00 m

Spread: 2.00 m

Flowering time: Spring, Summer

Tolerances: Coastal, Hardy

Garden uses: Arches, Containers, Living areas, Pool areas

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

Dolichandra unguis cati climbing vine with green foliage and yellow flowers.

Dolichandra unguis-cati (Cat's Claw Creeper)

Dolichandra unguis-cati is a vigorous evergreen climber known for its bright yellow trumpet flowers and fast growing nature. It creates a bold display in New Zealand gardens and quickly covers structures. This hardy plant is ideal for fences, walls, and pergolas. Its rapid growth and dense foliage make it a popular choice for screening and adding vertical interest.

Buy Dolichandra unguis-cati (Cat's Claw Creeper)

From $60.65

Suited to regions: Subtropical, Temperate

Plant type: Climbers

Height: 5.00 m

Spread: 5.00 m

Flowering time: Spring, Summer

Garden uses: Arches, Living areas, Pool areas, Screening

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

Why Choose Climbing Plants for Your Pergola

Pergolas are the perfect structure to support vigorous, flowering climbers that quickly create a tranquil, garden oasis. Climbing plants for pergola provide natural shade, attract pollinators, and soften the look of timber or metal frameworks. They’re an ideal solution if you want to add vertical greenery to urban courtyards or rural retreats. With so many varieties available, it's easy to find a climber that suits your site’s sun, shade, and soil conditions.

Top Climbing Plants for Pergola

Bougainvillea

Bougainvilleas are vibrant, low-maintenance favourites for New Zealand pergolas. These sun-loving climbers deliver show-stopping displays of colour all through summer and autumn. Consider these popular selections:

Bougainvillea 'Purple Patch' offers intense purple bracts, lush leaves, and a tough, drought-tolerant nature. It's perfect for sunny pergolas where you want a dramatic splash of colour.
Bougainvillea 'Bridal Bouquet' is known for its elegant white flowers that appear in abundance, making it a lovely choice for a clean, classic look.
Bougainvillea 'Pedro' brings bright pink bracts to your framework, combining bold aesthetics with reliable growth.

Bougainvilleas thrive in free-draining soil and love the heat reflected off north-facing pergolas.

Tecomanthe speciosa

For gardeners seeking a native treasure, Tecomanthe speciosa is an outstanding evergreen climber. It boasts large, lush foliage and showy, tubular pink flowers that attract nectar-loving birds. This Northland endemic is ideal for adding subtropical flair to your garden, and its vigorous growth habit makes it a standout choice for covering pergolas quickly.

Hydrangea petiolaris

If your pergola is partly shaded, Hydrangea petiolaris (the climbing hydrangea) might be your perfect match. Its delicate, lacy white flowers and rich green foliage create a cool, classic look, thriving in the filtered light where many other climbers struggle.

Tips for Growing Climbing Plants on Pergolas

Choose plants suited to your microclimate: sun-loving bougainvilleas for hot, exposed pergolas or shade-tolerant hydrangeas for cooler sites.
Provide sturdy support and train new shoots gently up the pergola posts and beams.
Prune annually to keep growth in check and maintain airflow.
Mulch well and water during dry periods, especially while young climbers establish.

Create a Garden Retreat

With the right climbing plants for pergola, you’ll create a vibrant, living feature that transforms your outdoor lifestyle. Browse our range of climbers, including Bougainvillea 'Purple Patch', Bougainvillea 'Bridal Bouquet', Bougainvillea 'Pedro', Tecomanthe speciosa, and Hydrangea petiolaris, and transform your pergola into a flourishing green escape.

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.

climbing plants for pergola

Bougainvillea 'Purple Patch'

Dolichandra unguis-cati (Cat's Claw Creeper)

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Why Choose Climbing Plants for Your Pergola