When temperatures climb, gardens can quickly lose their spark. Borders fade, lawns turn crisp and many flowering plants start to wilt.
Heat-tolerant climbers, though, can keep the show going, bringing colour, scent and leafy cover to walls and fences through the hottest weeks of summer. These summer climbers make the most of vertical space when borders begin to tire.
While many thrive in warm, sunny spots, they'll perform even better with a little extra care during prolonged dry weather. These are the heat-tolerant climbers worth planting, plus the RHS-backed tips to help them thrive.
Blue passion flower (Passiflora caerulea)
Blue passion flower is a resilient flowering climber for a warm, sheltered spot. It can reach around 10m, covering walls, fences and pergolas with glossy green foliage. Its white and pale lavender flowers have intricate blue, purple and white filaments from summer into autumn. Orange fruits often follow, though they’re usually grown more for ornament than flavour.
The RHS recommends planting blue passion flower in full sun or partial shade, in moist but well-drained soil and with shelter. Mature plants have some drought resistance. They can cope with short periods of hot, dry weather. In a long dry spell, though, a thorough watering will help keep growth and flowering in better condition.
Potato vine (Solanum jasminoides)
Fast-growing and semi-evergreen, potato vine thrives in a warm, sunny, sheltered spot with fertile, well-drained soil that doesn't dry out completely. Its twining stems need tying into wires or a trellis for support. Once established, it can cope with short dry spells, but regular watering during prolonged hot weather will keep it flowering well. Clusters of jasmine-like white flowers with yellow centres appear from summer into early autumn.
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Plant it slightly away from the base of a wall, where rain can reach the roots and the soil won't dry out as quickly.
Bougainvillea
Bougainvillaea gives the biggest burst of holiday colour here, with papery bracts in magenta, purple, pink, orange, red or white. These tropical climbers love warmth and bright light, which makes them tempting for a sunny patio or sheltered terrace.
In the UK, however, they're better treated as container climbers than permanent border plants. RHS guidance says containerised bougainvillaea can be placed outdoors in full sun in summer, but needs frost-free protection over winter. Grow it in loam-based, free-draining compost, water freely once it is growing strongly in spring and summer, then ease off in winter.
Trumpet vine (Campsis radicans)
For late-season colour, trumpet vine produces clusters of orange-red, trumpet-shaped flowers in late summer and early autumn. It is vigorous, self-clinging and deciduous, so it suits a generous space where you want strong colour towards the end of the season.
The RHS recommends growing trumpet vine against a warm, sunny, sheltered wall in moist but well-drained soil. Established plants have some drought resistance, but they flower best with good growing conditions and plenty of sun. Give it a large, sturdy support and prune it regularly, as it can swamp smaller climbers, weak fences or delicate structures.
Climbing rose
Established climbing roses can cope well with warm summers if they're planted in the right conditions. Choose a sunny spot with fertile, moisture-retentive soil, and plant them slightly away from the wall, where the ground dries out fastest. Mulch each spring to help retain moisture and water deeply during prolonged dry spells, especially while plants are becoming established.
Unlike twining or self-clinging climbers, climbing roses need their long stems tied into wires or a trellis for support. In return, repeat-flowering varieties can produce scented blooms in shades of pink, crimson, apricot, yellow and creamy white from early summer into autumn.
Italian clematis (Clematis viticella)
Italian clematis produces masses of purple, violet, wine-red, pink, blue or white flowers, depending on the variety. This summer-flowering climber works beautifully when woven through shrubs, roses, arches and obelisks.
According to the RHS, viticella clematis does well in sun or partial shade and moisture-retentive but well-drained soil. The main caveat for hot weather is the roots: clematis likes its head in the sun and its feet cool. Shade the base with low-growing plants, pebbles or mulch, and water deeply through extended dry weather, especially while it is establishing.
Star jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides)
For scent as well as summer colour, star jasmine is hard to beat. It has glossy, deep green evergreen leaves and richly scented white flowers in summer, standing out beautifully against brick, timber fencing or a dark-painted pergola.
The RHS recommends full sun or partial shade, fertile, free-draining soil and shelter from cold winds for star jasmine. It does best in mild, sheltered gardens and may need winter protection in colder or exposed areas. Once established, it can cope with warmth and short dry spells, though deep watering during sustained dry weather will help keep it flowering well.
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