We have a trellis in the middle of our yard which I assume the previous owner erected to divide the yard for the upper and lower tenants. There is no longer a need to divide the yard, but this trellis adds a splendid amount of privacy from nosy neighbours across the lane - uncommon in such an urban environment. So we're keeping the trellis... but the active climber entangled in it had to go.
The Silver Lace Vine is absolutely gorgeous. It has these beautiful plumes of tiny white flowers, which remind one of a delicate sleeve of lace. Its spear-shaped leaves are a brilliant green that perfectly cover and weave throughout anything you want it to cover. Despite these good traits, in September of last year I hacked the vine at its root without remorse, and dug for hours to unearth and remove its pervasive root system. My only regret is that I didn't think to take a photograph of it in full bloom.
The Silver Lace Vine ate our clothesline - twice. It made our laurel hedge a second home, climbed all the way to the highest branch of our 40 foot tree, and was making a B-line for the electrical and telephone wires coming into our home.
After removing the root in September I left the rest of the plant stay in place to die over the winter. I've been working away at it here and there when I'm out in the yard. I have filled two 'yard scraps' bins with the deceased vine's brittle tendrils, and there is at least one more to come. And that doesn't include the extensions that I'll never get down from the dark recesses of the laurel, or the highest branch of our tall tree. Perhaps one day they'll be of some use in a bird's nest.
In its place I have planted a beautiful white clematis. The clematis is a robust vine, but doesn't grow like it is on steroids. Now that we are well into spring, it has spread upwards and outwards to cover the lower portion of our trellis. When I saw its beautiful white flowers for the first time I knew it was a keeper!
Moral of the story... if you want to plant a climber, do your research, and don't choose one that is hungry enough to eat a clothes line!
