Tuesday 27 September 2016

Roaring Meg: A Native Climber

Roaring Meg is a beautiful native climber. It's planted at the base of the retaining wall that leads to our front steps and is wending and winding its way happily up and along its wire mesh trellis. In Spring, it greets everyone who visits our home with stunning clusters of tubular, magenta flowers. What a welcome!
 
 "Roaring Meg" in bloom this Spring.

Originally, non-natives like mandevilla and wisteria were planted where Roaring Meg is now. But they faltered in the hot, South-Westerly position where this native climber is thriving. (Yes, it's true, I even managed to kill off a wisteria vine!)

A cluster of spectacular magenta blooms.

There's so much to adore about this native climber. It's reasonably fast-growing without being too vigorous. It responds well to a light pruning once it has finished flowering. It grows well in full sun and isn't overly thirsty. It has lovely deep green leaves and, of course, there are these beautiful blooms. 

These blooms are an open invitation for little native bees.

Planted in a hedge, at the base of Roaring Meg's trellis, are fragrant Gardenias. These are all in bud and I can't wait to see the deep pink of these blooms offset by the pure white petals of the Gardenias when they open. (There's always something to look forward to in a garden, isn't there!)

With a name like Roaring Meg, I'm sure there's no way I could've gone wrong with this gorgeous native climber. Even if your name's not Meg, it could be a lovely choice for your garden too.

Meg 

 


 


 

 






13 comments:

  1. A new one for me, but oh so pretty. Thanks for sharing.

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    1. It is so pretty, Jan:) It is a type of Tecomanthe, a native vine. Tecomanthe Hillii is native to Fraser Island so it's sometimes known as Fraser Island Creeper.

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    1. It is indeed! So glad I came across it at the nursery.

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  3. that is a gorgeous climber!
    i don't have anywhere for climbers yet, so don't have any
    thanx for sharing

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    1. Perhaps you will have a place for a climber one day, Selina. This climber is a Tecomanthe vine, belonging to same family as the Fraser Island Creeper which actually winds itself up and around trees where it grows on the island. Perhaps this would grow well with a tall tree as a support. Meg

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  4. Wow it is really pretty I had not heard of it before.

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    1. I stumbled across it at a nursery, Fiona. A very lucky find as I'd not heard of it either before then. Meg:)

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  5. I laughed when I saw the title wondering what could have roused you to become a Roaring Meg!!! Such a beautiful plant and my how your photos are showing it off!

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    1. Ha! It takes some prodding but I can roar like a lion occasionally. Just mention particular government policies I disagree with and that should set me off! Mostly though, I prefer to look upon gorgeous plants and flowers and creatures as it's a lot less stressful and much more hopeful. Thanks for visiting, my lovely friend. Meg:)

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    1. It's glorious, isn't it! I smile whenever it's in view because it's just such a vibrant colour. Meg:)

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  7. Such stunning colours, wonder how it would grow in NZ.

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