Climber for balcony

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Lodewijkp Zwolle, Netherlands(Zone 7a) Aug 12, 2014

greetings

i got a small balcony with that is suitable for climbing plants ( enough support) , the railing is in total around 2 meters in length ( railing around 7 foot wide , balcony is 8 or 10 foot in depth). the balcony is on the west , receives alot of sun and is sheltered from wind ( wind comes from east or north during most season ) so it is a bit of a microclimate. climbers will be planted in pot ( 3.9 gallon or 15 litre )

balcony is on the second floor and pruning is a pain in the ass. what im looking for is a evergreen with glossy leaves, light green foliage if preferred.

jasminum nudiflorum, doesn't seem compact but i like the winter interest and leaf colour
passiflora caerulea, could be too large, i like the glossy leaves
clematis armandi, does not have dense foliage which i like but could be too large.
Clematis ''pixie'', could be too small - i don't like the foliage colour it is too dark.

i got rectangle containers mounted on top of the railing and im going to plant stipa tenuissima and/or carex buchananii in them.

my top choice in jasminum nudiflorum because of best colours but im afraid it isn't compact enough ( too much spread )

Do you think it will work out, or should i pick another climber?

thanks !

This message was edited Aug 12, 2014 10:19 PM

This message was edited Aug 12, 2014 10:20 PM

This message was edited Aug 12, 2014 10:22 PM

This message was edited Aug 12, 2014 10:23 PM

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Diana_K Contra Costa County, CA(Zone 9b) Aug 13, 2014

Most vines grow pretty rampantly for a reason: They are native to woodlands, and there is more sun higher up in the trees. A plant that races right up the tree will get the benefit of the light sooner than one that wastes energy producing leaves lower down.

This is not to say that a vine won't work, just explaining that no matter what choice you make you will have to do some pruning to keep it where you want it.

How about these? You will have to assess how well they are likely to do in your microclimate:

Tracaelospermum jasminoides (minimal twining, you will tie it where you want it, prune as needed.)
Hardenbergia violacea, look into the variety 'Meema', and the others. The species is not as rampant as some vines, but is not very dense. Most of the varieties tend to be somewhat denser. Some are a bit shrubbier, less vining.
Grow annuals each year:
Sweet Peas (Lathyrus, MANY varieties), Scarlet Runner Beans (Phaseolus coccineus), Black Eyed Susan Vine (Thunbergia alata)

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