Jade McgeeSouth African gardens are known for their drama, and few plants add impact quite like a well-trained climbing vine. Whether it’s the tropical blush of a Port St Johns creeper tumbling over a pergola or the dizzying perfume of star jasmine threading through a trellis, vining plants reward effort and patience. The trick is learning how to guide them with confidence from the beginning.
Why training matters from the start
Vining plants grow with purpose. Without proper direction, they become tangled masses that can overwhelm structures, smother neighbouring plants and become increasingly difficult to manage with age. A vine that’s trained correctly from a young age is easier to prune, produces more blooms and sits well within the overall shape of the garden.
The same principle applies whether you’re working with a newly planted bougainvillea or an established granadilla that’s outgrown its original support. Getting ahead of the growth is always easier than managing the aftermath.
Give your plants something worthy to climb
The first step is providing the right support. Vining plants can become heavy, especially varieties like Port St Johns creeper (Podranea ricasoliana) and wisteria, which develop thick, woody stems over time. Lightweight structures simply won’t hold up. Solid timber posts sunk into concrete, galvanised steel frames and brick or masonry walls all provide the kind of permanence that climbing plants need for a lifetime of growth.
For lighter, twining plants such as star jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides) or sweet peas, a well-tensioned wire system or timber lattice is sufficient. Granadilla (Passiflora edulis) grows vigorously and benefits from a sturdy trellis or strong wire framework, particularly when laden with fruit.
Establish a leading stem
Once your support is in place, identify the healthiest, most upright shoot at the base of the plant. This becomes your central leader, the stem that will form the main framework of the vine. Remove any competing stems at the base so that all the plant’s energy is directed into developing this one strong trunk-like structure.
Tie the leader loosely to the support using soft garden twine or horticultural tape. The ties should hold the stem in place without constricting its growth. As the leader grows upward, continue tying it in at regular intervals.
Train the side branches horizontally
Once the leader has reached a good height on the support, encourage the side branches to spread horizontally. This serves a dual purpose: it slows the plant’s tendency to bolt vertically, and it promotes the development of spurs, which are the short, stubby shoots from which flowers and fruit emerge. A vine that grows horizontally blooms more generously than one encouraged only to grow tall.
As you train side branches outward along wires or over the arms of a pergola, tie them loosely into position and remove any that are crossing or growing in the wrong direction.
Prune twice a year
For most vining plants in a South African garden, pruning twice a year will keep growth controlled and encourage flowering. A summer prune during December and January removes the long, whip-like shoots that drain energy from the plant and diverts that resource toward flower bud formation. A lighter winter prune during June and July shapes the plant and removes any dead or damaged wood.
Bougainvillea, one of the most popular climbers, thrives with hard pruning after the main flush of flowering, promoting the next season’s colour. Star jasmine benefits from a trim after its spring display to keep it contained. Clematis varieties should be pruned according to which flowering group they belong to.
Know your plants
Each vining plant has its own personality. Granadilla grows fast and needs consistent management to prevent it from overtaking its support. Star jasmine is a more obliging grower that simply needs guiding along its path. The flame creeper (Combretum microphyllum) is spectacular in full flower but will benefit from firm annual pruning to keep it contained. The bower vine (Pandorea jasminoides) and the Port St Johns creeper are both vigorous growers suited to strong pergolas or large walls rather than delicate trellises.
Getting to know the particular requirements of each variety you grow will make training intuitive rather than reactive.
A vine trained well is a garden asset for decades
Some of South Africa’s most beloved garden climbers, from Port St Johns creeper to climbing roses, only improve with age when they’ve been managed well from the start. The time invested in training, tying and pruning during the early years pays dividends in form, flower and longevity.
Patience and structure are the twin pillars of vine training. Apply both consistently, and what starts as a single stem will become one of the most beautiful features in the garden.
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