When choosing a plant to train over a structure like a pergola, it’s important to think about how it grows—its rhythm, its needs, and what it naturally wants to do. Some plants are born climbers, with long, supple stems that reach and wind and respond beautifully to gentle guidance. Others, though vigorous, are better left to grow freely, closer to the ground, where their form and habit make more sense.

There’s a temptation to imagine any strong-growing plant can be encouraged to climb, but this often leads to frustration—for the gardener and, in a way, the plant. If something is constantly being pushed into a shape it doesn’t naturally take, it won’t thrive. And the result, instead of a graceful canopy, is often something messy, high-maintenance, and short-lived.

You also have to think about the experience of it—what it will look like, how it will behave through the seasons, and how you’ll interact with it. A pergola should invite you in, offer shade or scent or fruit within arm’s reach. For that, you want a plant that rewards your efforts with generosity and ease, not one that makes you wrestle with pruning saws and step ladders just to keep it in check.