Top 10 Best Australian Native Climbing Plants for Queensland
I had the most amazing Australian native climbing plant at our previous property – a gloriously huge Fraser Island Creeper. Unfortunately, I didn't take a cutting when we moved up north, but this article reminds me of what I'm missing out on! Definitely sourcing a Fraser Island Creeper today to add to my collection, and some of these other wonderful Australian native vines, too.
I hope you enjoy my top 10 best Australian native climbing plants for Queensland. Don't forget to let me know your favourites in the comments!
1. Bower Vine (Pandorea jasminoides)
The bower vine is a fast growing, woody climber which is native to eastern Queensland and New South Wales. It can grow as large as 8m and is evergreen in warm climates. The gorgeous pink trumpet-shaped flowers attract bees and insects, and it has a long flowering season. It's incredibly adaptable in almost all soils, and fairly drought tolerant once established.
Pandorea is sometimes mistaken for an exotic because of its looks and widespread landscaping use, but we're just lucky this is one of our very own! Note that Pandorea can self-seed (#ad) lightly in ideal conditions.
2. Fraser Island Creeper (Tecomanthe hillii)
Just look at those stunning flowers! The Fraser Island Creeper is suitable to subtropical and tropical climates only. It has a very limited natural growing range (SE Queensland) but it does well in our Queensland climate. It loves rich, well-draining soil and regular watering once it establishes itself. Birds and insects love this plant, which grows 6-10m tall/wide.
3. Native Hoya (Hoya australis)
Hoya is often considered an indoor plant, but we can grow it outdoors in Quensland. It loves humidity, warmth, and a shady position in free-draining soil. It happily grows in tree forks – it grows on trees and rocks in the wild! Hoya australis is native to eastern and northern Australia and produces beautifully scented, waxy white star flowers. Grows up to 6m tall.
4. Snake Vine (Stephania japonica)
The snake vine is native to northern Australia, so it prefers a warm, humid climate. In fact, it can be semi-deciduous in dry or cold periods. It doesn't mind a shady position, which makes it a great climbing plant for places where other sun-loving plants won't grow. A great plant for wildlife as understory cover. Grows up to 6m tall.
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5. Supplejack/Whip Vine (Flagellaria indica)
This is a tough Australian native climbing plant! The supplejack (aka whip vine) is native to northern Australia and it handles just about everything. Heat, humidity, salt, wind, as well as poor and sandy soils. It doesn't need a lot of water once it's established. Interestingly, it's actually closer to grasses than typical woody climbers, and you can use the stems for weaving and tying.
6. Wombat Berry (Eustrephus latifolius)
The wombat berry is a twining vine with small, edible berries, as well as edible tubers. It's native to eastern Australia and grows 3-6m tall. You can grow it as a vine or let is trail over the ground. It prefers subtropical to temperate climates, so it's not ideal in the humid far north. Tim Low, in his book ‘Wild Food Plants of Australia' mentions:
The berries of wombat berry contain a tiny amount of crisp white pulp, which was eaten by Aborigines. The roots swell into small earthen-coloured tubers, 1-3cm long, which taste sweet and juicy, unless dry weather has shrivelled them and made them bitter.
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7. Dusky Coral Pea (Kennedia rubicunda)
This is one of my favourites in this list. Unfortunately, I don't think it would love our super humid conditions in the far north. But, if you're in SE Queensland, inland a bit, or in a drier subtropical climate, this vine is a must-have. It's a 3-5m tall scrambling climbing plant, which can also be used as ground cover. It doesn't mind poor soils, heat, or drought, so it's quite low-maintenance once it's established.
Besides looking fabulous, it is also a nitrogen-fixing legume so it improves the soil fertility wherever you grow it.
8. Guinea Flower (Hibbertia scandens)
The guinea flower is native to eastern Australia (QLD and NSW). It's generally evergreen but may be semi-deciduous in cooler or drier periods. It has gorgeous yellow flowers in spring and summer and loves our subtropical climate. It's best in full sun to part shade, in well-draining soil. It's a fast growing and can be a little rambly, so make sure it has good support, or let it scramble through other shrubs.
9. Australian Clematis (Clematis aristata)
The Australian clematis is native to eastern Australia, but prefers the cooler subtropics. It struggles in extreme heat and humidity, so it's best suited to cooler parts of Queensland, elevated areas, or shaded gullies, rather than hot, exposed tropical gardens. It's absolutely stunning with its feathery seed (#ad) heads, which appear in spring to early summer.
Clematis aristata grows 6-10m and will need a suitable support structure, or it will scramble through the rest of the garden. That's certainly an option, but if you prefer is a little more tidy, it will need some guidance.
10. Kangaroo Vine (Cissus antarctica)
The kangaroo vine is a vigorous Australian native climbing plant, which grows 6-10 m tall. It loves subtropical and tropical climates, which is why it's perfect for Queensland. Although it is sometimes called ‘native grape’ because it belongs to the grape family, the kangaroo vine is not considered an edible plant. Birds quite enjoy the berries, though!
Like many rainforest climbers, this vine can grow quickly in warm, wet conditions, so it's best to prune (#ad) it regularly so it doesn't get too crazy. A quote from ‘Wild Food Plants of Australia':
Native grapes were widely eaten by Aborigines and colonists. They have a distinctive grape-like taste, but usually irritate the throat if eaten in any number. Colonists sometimes made them into jam, and drained drinking water from the cut stems. Not all species are edible.
