WITH the warmer weather upon us, there are several climbing plants that will be thriving in the heat.
Bougainvilleas are a group of subtropical climbers that love the heat and flourish in a hot, sunny location in a well-drained soil.
There are also smaller-growing bushy forms in the bambino series that make great specimens in large pots.
Remember that most of the bougainvilleas carry thorns to some degree, so careful placement is needed in the garden to insure you are not continually brushing past them.
Prepare the soil well by adding plenty of organic material, such as well-rotted compost or animal manure.
Put up some lattice or wires to support your climber.
You may even like to make a feature of the area, or make a screen, by painting sheets of lattice in a colour that complements the flower colour of your bougainvilleas.
Planted this way they are great for screening off utility areas in the garden - where you might have a gas or water meter or electrical boxes, store the garbage and recycle bins and hang hoses or keep a compost or worm farm.
The colourful "flowers" that we see on a bougainvillea are actually bracts, or modified leaves, and the most commonly recognised variety is the brilliant magenta of magnifica.
Mrs Butt is another traditional variety with purple-red bracts and Scarlet O'Hara is a lighter crimson. There are also white and golden-orange forms. Don't fertilise too heavily or you will get a lot of foliage at the expense of flowers.
Ivy geraniums are another hardy climber for the long hot days of summer and they really thrive in those sunny, well-drained locations.
The flower colours vary from white, soft to bright pink, salmon, red and burgundy.
The flowers make a lovely addition to a mixed posy of cut flowers.
Ivy geraniums are great for covering tank stands and hiding water tanks, for growing along embankments and along great expanses of perimeter fencing.
They do need some sort of trellis for support, but otherwise require little attention other than a light feed in spring, watering to get them established and minimal ongoing maintenance, and deadheading as the flowers finish.
Another climber that thrives in the heat is the Australian native snake vine (hibbertia scandens).
Its large yellow flowers are produced on a vigorous, hardy vine that is quick growing.
It can be used as a ground cover or to trail down sloping areas and is great for coastal gardens because of its tolerance of salt spray.
