12 underused Australian native vines and climbing plants

Climbing plants punch well above their weight in the garden. They soften hard structures, create privacy and attract local wildlife. Yet native climbers are often overshadowed by exotic alternatives that offer little ecological benefit.

Here are 12 options native to Australia covering varied climate zones, including some lesser-known ones to consider in your garden.

Choosing the right supportLightweight twiners like native jasmine and native wisteria suit timber trellises and wire fences. Vigorous species such as wonga vine, Australian clematis and black coral pea need robust steel or hardwood supports. Always set supports in place before planting, because retrofitting around an established climber is frustrating work.

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Plant 01Wonga vine (Pandorea pandorana)

Subtropical to warm temperate · Eastern and northern Australia, widespread

The wonga vine is one of Australia's most reliable and rewarding native climbers. Found naturally in rainforest margins and sheltered gullies across much of eastern Australia, it produces masses of small cream-to-pink tubular flowers. The foliage is glossy, dense and attractive year-round, making it one of the best native options for a permanent, leafy screen.

It is vigorous enough to cover a structure within a few seasons and robust enough to handle the tough conditions of a coastal or suburban garden. The flowers are highly attractive to honeyeaters and large butterflies. Prune hard by up to one-third with quality bypass secateurs immediately after flowering in spring to maintain size and keep the plant productive.

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Plant 02Stiff jasmine (Jasminum simplicifolium subsp. australiense)

Warm temperate to subtropical · NSW, Queensland

Stiff jasmine (also known as wax jasmine or native jasmine) produces clusters of star-shaped white flowers with a strong sweet fragrance from spring through summer. It often grows as a scrambling shrub and is a more restrained climber than many natives, making it suitable for lighter structures. It will reach three to five metres given good conditions but is easily kept smaller with an annual trim using hedging shears.

Mark Marathon, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Stiff jasmine grows naturally in rainforest margins and dry vine scrubs from central NSW to Cape York. It handles drought, humidity, sandy soils and coastal conditions provided drainage is good and performs well as a container plant. The flowers attract native bees and small butterflies throughout the warmer months.

Feeding climbing plantsNative climbers generally require little fertiliser, but a single application of low-phosphorus slow-release native fertiliser in early spring will support healthy growth and flowering. Avoid high-nitrogen formulas which push lush leafy growth at the expense of flowers. The most important nutrition strategy for any climber is maintaining a generous mulch layer of wood chip or leaf litter at the base.

Plant 03Native wisteria (Hardenbergia violacea)

Cool temperate to subtropical · Widespread eastern Australia

One of the most widely grown and loved of all Australian native climbers, the native wisteria or purple coral pea is justifiably popular. In late winter and spring it produces deep purple (or occasionally pink or white) pea flowers that transform a fence or trellis. It is a twiner that will cover a fence quickly but responds well to pruning after flowering to maintain a tidy form. Compact cultivars such as 'Lilac Lace' suit smaller spaces.

It is one of the most climate-adaptable options, tolerating drought, moderate frost and coastal conditions and growing in quite poor soils. This makes it ideal for the challenging spots along boundary fences where little else thrives. It is also a good native answer to true wisteria in subtropical gardens, where the exotic vine grows vigorously but flowers poorly. Feed lightly in spring with native plant fertiliser and water regularly during the first two summers to establish a deep root system.

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Plant 04Guinea flower (Hibbertia scandens)

Warm temperate to subtropical · Coastal eastern Australia

Hibbertia scandens produces large, bright yellow flowers mainly through spring and summer, with some flowers in most months, against dark green, glossy foliage. It is not a true twiner but a vigorous scrambler that will weave through wire fences and over low walls. It can also be used as a ground cover on slopes.

This species grows naturally on coastal sand dunes, in open forest and at rainforest margins from Proserpine in north Queensland to the far south coast of NSW. It tolerates sandy soils and salt-laden coastal winds and grows in semi-shade, although it flowers best in full sun. Beetles are its main pollinators, with native bees and flies also visiting. The flowers have a reputation for an unpleasant smell, so avoid planting it right beside a seat or window. Tie in new growth regularly with soft plant ties and trim lightly with pruners after flowering to keep it tidy. It tolerates light frost once established, but protect young plants in colder climates.

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Plant 05Queensland lawyer cane (Calamus australis)

Tropical to subtropical · Tropical Queensland

The Queensland lawyer cane is an ecologically significant native climber that deserves much wider use in larger tropical gardens. It is a slender climbing palm, related to the rattans, that scrambles through the canopy using recurved hooks on its fronds and whip-like tendrils. It will make easy work of covering a large pergola or privacy screen. It is also known as wait-a-while or hairy Mary, a nod to the tenacity of its hooks. Once it grabs hold, it does not let go easily.

Steve Fitzgerald, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

In the wild, lawyer cane grows in the rainforests of tropical Queensland from Cape York to near Rockhampton, where its fruit is eaten by cassowaries and fruit doves. It is not a plant for small gardens or lightweight structures, but for larger tropical properties where a bold, structural climber is needed, it is a good option. Always handle with thick leather gardening gloves when planting and pruning.

Watering new climbersAll climbing plants need consistent watering during their first two summers to establish a deep, drought-resilient root system. Once established, most native climbers in this list need only supplemental watering during extended dry spells. A 7–10cm layer of mulch will reduce evaporation from the soil surface.

Plant 06Sweet apple berry (Billardiera cymosa)

Cool temperate to warm temperate · SA, VIC, NSW

Sweet apple berry is one of the best native climbers for cooler climates where options are more limited. In spring and early summer it produces clusters of tubular flowers in pale blue to purplish tones (sometimes cream), which attract native birds and pollinators. They are followed by dark purple berries that are edible when ripe and have a mild, sweet flavour.

Murray Fagg, CC BY 3.0 AU, via Wikimedia Commons

In the garden, it suits light wire or timber fences and low trellises, growing to around one to three metres. It grows in full sun to part shade, flowers most freely in sunnier spots and is drought tolerant once established. It tolerates a range of soils. A light mulch around the base will help retain moisture and keep roots cool through summer.

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Plant 07Black coral pea (Kennedia nigricans)

Cool temperate to warm temperate · South-west WA, naturalised in SA and TAS

Black coral pea is one of the boldest native climbers and one of the least grown. Its clusters of pea flowers combine violet to almost black petals with yellow-orange markings, and they appear from July to November. It is a vigorous woody climber that reaches about 4m high and spreads up to 6m, so it needs a strong support and room to run.

Raffi Kojian, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

It is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia, where it grows on coastal dunes, creek margins and flats. It adapts to a range of soils, prefers a sunny position, resists drought and has some frost tolerance, which makes it more widely useful than its origin suggests. It suits embankments, sturdy fences and unsightly structures that need covering. A pale cultivar called 'Minstrel' has near-white flowers in place of yellow and must be grown from cuttings to stay true. Black coral pea has naturalised in other parts of Western Australia and in South Australia and Tasmania, so avoid planting it near bushland in those areas. Prune with quality bypass secateurs after flowering to keep it in bounds.

Plant 08Kangaroo vine (Cissus antarctica, now Apocissus antarctica)

Warm temperate to subtropical · Eastern Australia, NSW, QLD

The kangaroo vine or water vine is one of the most versatile and easy-care native climbers available to warm temperate and subtropical gardeners. A vigorous tendril climber with large, glossy, toothed leaves, it will cover a fence, pergola or shaded wall rapidly and produces small flowers followed by dark berries that attract birds. It is particularly well suited to shaded positions where other climbers struggle. Botanists recently moved it to the genus Apocissus, but nurseries still sell it as Cissus antarctica.

Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

It is widely used as an indoor plant as it is one of the toughest and most reliable options available. In an outdoor setting it needs little care once established, requiring only an occasional hard prune with loppers to prevent it from engulfing neighbouring plants. It prefers a moist, protected position. For more on designing shade garden schemes, see our guide on plants for deep shade in Australian gardens.

Plant 09Dusky coral pea (Kennedia rubicunda)

Cool temperate to warm temperate · Eastern Australia, QLD to VIC

The dusky coral pea is a vigorous, twining climber that produces a beautiful display of dark coral-red pea flowers from late winter through spring. It is one of the best native climbers for the cool to warm temperate garden, handling coastal exposure and some frost. The flowers are rich in nectar and are a food source for honeyeaters, including the eastern spinebill.

In the garden, dusky coral pea suits wire fences, timber trellises and pergola posts. It benefits from an annual prune with secateurs after flowering to keep it tidy and encourage dense re-flowering the following season. It will also scramble effectively as a ground cover on embankments. It is native to Queensland, NSW and Victoria and has been introduced elsewhere, so avoid planting it near bushland outside that range. Combine it with hardenbergia for a spectacular winter-into-spring flowering display on the same fence.

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Pruning climbing plantsThe timing and method of pruning varies by species, but a general rule for flowering climbers is to prune immediately after the main flowering period ends. Use sharp, clean bypass secateurs for stems up to 1.5 cm diameter and loppers for thicker woody stems. Always make cuts just above a leaf node or outward-facing bud. Visit our native plant pruning guide for more detail.

Plant 10Native passionfruit (Passiflora aurantia)

Subtropical to tropical · Queensland, NSW Northern Rivers

Australia has its own native passionfruit and it is a plant of real ecological value. It produces showy flowers that open white and age to orange or red, mainly in winter and spring, followed by oval green fruit. It is a vigorous tendril climber suited to wire fences and pergolas in subtropical and tropical gardens, where it provides excellent coverage and year-round interest.

Tony van Kampen, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The nectar-rich flowers attract honeyeaters and other nectar feeders, and the leaves are a food plant for the caterpillars of the glasswing butterfly. The fruit is edible but not particularly palatable. Plant in a sheltered position in full sun to part shade, water consistently with a hose during the first season and provide trellis support from the outset.

Plant 11Australian clematis (Clematis aristata)

Cool temperate to warm temperate · Queensland, NSW, Victoria, Tasmania

Australian clematis, also known as old man's beard or goat's beard, is one of around ten Clematis species native to Australia and one of the most widely grown. In spring it produces masses of star-shaped creamy white flowers that can completely smother the foliage. On female plants, the flowers are followed by fluffy, silver seed heads that are highly ornamental in their own right.

In the garden, it suits pergolas, fences and trellises in cool to warm temperate gardens. It prefers a semi-shaded or shaded position with cool, deep, moist soil. It responds well to hard pruning with quality bypass secateurs or loppers after flowering to prevent it from smothering neighbouring plants.

Plant 12Running postman (Kennedia prostrata)

Cool temperate to warm temperate · Southern Australia: SA, VIC, NSW, WA, TAS

The running postman is technically more of a scrambler and ground cover than a true climber, but given a low wire fence or timber rail it will scramble over it willingly, producing vivid scarlet pea flowers from late winter through spring that are among the brightest of any native plant in the southern Australian flora. It is one of the most drought-hardy and frost-tolerant plants in this list, thriving in the tough conditions of mallee, heath and degraded dry sclerophyll woodland across a wide band of southern Australia.

In the garden, running postman is outstanding on low boundary fences, retaining walls and embankments in dry and challenging sites where more demanding climbers would fail. It spreads by runners and can cover a significant area, so give it space or trim the edges seasonally with hedging shears. The flowers are attractive to honeyeaters and provide an early nectar source in the season, an important consideration when designing a wildlife garden with Australian natives.

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Dealing with an overgrown climberAn overgrown or neglected native climber can often be rescued with a staged renovation. In the first year, remove all dead and crossing stems and cut the plant back by one-third using loppers. Feed with native fertiliser and mulch generously. In the second year, if the plant has responded with healthy new growth, cut back more firmly.

At a glance

• 01Wonga vine (Pandorea pandorana)
  Subtropical to warm temperate, widespread
• 02Stiff jasmine (Jasminum simplicifolium subsp. australiense)
  Warm temperate to subtropical, NSW to Queensland
• 03Native wisteria (Hardenbergia violacea)
  Cool temperate to subtropical, widespread
• 04Guinea flower (Hibbertia scandens)
  Warm temperate to subtropical, coastal
• 05Queensland lawyer cane (Calamus australis)
  Tropical to subtropical
• 06Sweet apple berry (Billardiera cymosa)
  Cool temperate to warm temperate, south-eastern Australia
• 07Black coral pea (Kennedia nigricans)
  Cool temperate to warm temperate, south-west WA
• 08Kangaroo vine (Cissus antarctica)
  Warm temperate to subtropical
• 09Dusky coral pea (Kennedia rubicunda)
  Cool temperate to warm temperate, eastern Australia
• 10Native passionfruit (Passiflora aurantia)
  Subtropical to tropical
• 11Australian clematis (Clematis aristata)
  Cool temperate to warm temperate, eastern Australia
• 12Running postman (Kennedia prostrata)
  Cool temperate to warm temperate, southern Australia

Australia's native climbers represent one of the most underused groups in horticulture. Whether you are covering a boundary fence in a Melbourne suburb, creating a shaded pergola in subtropical Brisbane or screening an outbuilding on a rural property in inland South Australia, there is a native climber suited to your conditions, one that will support local wildlife, reduce maintenance over time and bring genuine character to your garden.

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