Hello everyone! What are some fast growing leafy plants that could extend from wooden supports every 4 Meters or so? I’m looking to make a pretty long natural walkway with some sort of shade overhead. I think fast growing plants are the best option. Is there something leafy enough to cross 4 meters?
I’m in a wet temperate climate.
Beans, climbing beans or peas, grapes, sweet potatoes… those if you want something that produces nice flowers and fruits. Otherwise you could always just use an ivy
Sweet potatoes climb? TIL, that’s neat.
Yeah you can trellis them, a lot of times they won’t make the tuber and will just be a leafy cover with pretty flowers. Bonus, the leaves are delicious!
This is potentially even better. I’m used to potatos being treated as minorly invasive. Is this not the case for sweet potatoes? Pretty flowers and edible leaves are neat.
I’m in the PNW, US, they aren’t considered invasive, they grow easily, but won’t outcompete other stuff. Mind, we are talking about Sweet Potatoes (Ipomoea batatas) not nightshade potatoes (Solanum tuberosum), which are an entire different group of plants, and those don’t climb
Depending on exactly where you live, you could do jasmine or a native honeysuckle for flowers. Grape vines are traditional for a reason, as well. Trumpet flowers and wisteria are invasive in my area, and I would avoid them, but you could check whether either is a good option for your area.
Passiflora Incarnata, “Maypop”, aka North American cold hardy Passionfruit! Grows like mad in cultivated conditions. Leaves make tea & the fruit is delicious.
There are good answers on here already, but I’ll add any gourds. Consider if you want annual or perennial, evergreen or deciduous, edible or ornamental.
4 meters is a long way to go with no supports. If you had netting or wire or something, it would be a lot easier.
Thanks everyone for your input. I think I’ll go with ivy, black eyed Sally and clematis for the walkway. Its going to be constantly maintaned so no worries about ivy getting everywhere else. Thanks again!