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Tiny vine, ivy or creeper plant

dallaskeowndallaskeown Posts: 7
in Plants

Hello everyone,

I'm new here.  I'm not a gardener; my knowledge of gardening is very limited if not negligible.  I'm looking for a tiny vine, ivy or creeper plant which grows well outdoors in as many varying climates as possible.  I want to have it grow on a very small vertical mesh (kind of like a trellis but tiny), probably made out of metal or plastic.  If possible the plant should grow to cover the mesh but not further, or at least not rapidly, as I can't imagine any vine, ivy or creeper plant will stop growing completely if there is no nearby support for it. The leaves should be small or very small and the stems as thin as possible.  The plant should require as little manual watering and maintenance as possible but not suffer if there is a lot of natural rain.  It should be suitable for a combination of sun and shade, sometime switching between the two several times a day.  Can anyone make any suggestions?

Best regards,

Dallas Keown

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Posts

  • LoxleyLoxley Posts: 5,414

    How tall and wide are the meshes you want to cover? (When you say 'very small' I presume you are talking about the mesh size). What do you mean by 'varying climates'?

  • treehugger80treehugger80 Posts: 1,923

    where are you in the UK? as plants for Scotland and plants for central London will be very different.

  • dallaskeowndallaskeown Posts: 7

    Hi WillDB,

    Thanks for your interest and question.  Yes, the mesh will be very small somewhere in the range of just a few mm up to perhaps max 5 - 10cm, depending on the requirements of the suitable plant.  I'm looking at being able to apply it in as many different countries and regions as possible, that’s what I mean by varying climates.

  • dallaskeowndallaskeown Posts: 7

    Hi treehugger80,

    I'm looking at being able to apply it in as many different countries and regions as possible, that’s what I mean by varying climates. So if there is a plant which is suitable for Scotland and south England, as wel as many other different countries and regions as possible, that would be great.

  • Kitty 2Kitty 2 Posts: 5,150

    I'm intrigued by this query.  Can you tell us more about what you need the plant for?

    I too am a little confused by the "varying climates",  are you planning on moving it around a lot?  

    How small is small?  Tiny plants could be measured in centimeters. To me a 'small' trellis would be 2/3ft high. 

    Edit: oops, you snuck in there while I was typing.

    If you're working in millimeters that is tiny.

    Last edited: 30 June 2017 14:22:12

  • dallaskeowndallaskeown Posts: 7

    Hi Kitty 2,

    I'm guessing you read my answer(s) to WillDB and/or treehugger80, hence your edit.

    I presume then that my answers to them answered your questions too?

    The mesh doesn’t necessarily need to be mm small, just smaller than a traditional trellis, as I want the plant to have small leaves and I'm assuming that traditional trellises will be too big.

    Last edited: 30 June 2017 14:35:30

  • Kitty 2Kitty 2 Posts: 5,150

    Yes dallas, got it with the mesh size and varying climates now. 

    Still don't know what purpose the plant will serve?  Edible?  Ornamental?

    Is it to provide complete coverage of a sculptured mesh? Horizontally or vertically?

    What kind of container and growing medium will be used?

  • BobFlannigonBobFlannigon Posts: 619

    Sorry, I'm still a little slow.  It sounds like you're describing the holes within the mesh as being several mm or a few cms, is that correct?  I'm picturing a normal wooden trellis (for example) that has inside its holes a wire mesh with smaller spacing allowing a smaller plant to grow along it.  I'm concerned a tiny plant may creep either not enough or too much.

    Miniature Ivy? https://garden.org/plants/view/127025/English-Ivy-Hedera-helix-Itsy-Bitsy/

  • B3B3 Posts: 26,541

    Sounds like he wants to make some small topiary to sell.

    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • dallaskeowndallaskeown Posts: 7

    Hi BobFlannigon,

    Thanks for your answer.  Yes, your picture is correct.  Why are you concerned a tiny plant may creep either not enough or too much, do you have something in mind?  It would be good if it would creep well or fast as long as it has the mesh to grow on and then more or less stim once the mesch is covered (if there is such a thing).  Is you link suggesting that English Ivy could be an option?  If you have any suggestions for an even smaller plant, that'd be great too.

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