garage wall covering

[BJS]

we have a north facing (heighbours) and a south facing garage walls. can anyone suggest any attractive, quick growing flowering cover that would suit the walls. we did have a virginia creeper on 1 wall but it was very hard to contain.

[gessoo]

Pyracantha (fire thorn) is great on North facing walls. Evergreen with hawthorn like white flowers in May and beautiful berries in the autumn, (which birds love) It grows reasonably quickly and needs some support to train it against the wall. But is does not get out of control. Also you can grow other climbers through it (e.g. clematis) which will give you a burst of summer colour.

http://www.thegardener.btinternet.co.uk/images/pyracantha1.jpg

[rosyrussell]

There is a climbing hydrangea (hydrangea petiolaris) that is quite attractive and is suitable for both shady and sunny sites, or then again there are some pretty ivies which have green and gold leaves which are great. The problem is that if you want something fast growing, bear in mind that it won't conveniently stop growing once it reaches the height you want it!