[John Mole]

In a field belonging to us in front of our house on Evia, Greece,  the electricity company and the telephone company have each planted a pole a metre apart. They spoil the view and doubly annoying because we use neither. What can we plant that will climb up the poles to take the edge off their rectilinearity? It's exposed to sun and wind but we can water in the summer if necessary. I've read that R. Banksiae Lutea will climb 12 metres. But up a creosoted pole?

[David Dickinson]

Some kind of Ipomea might be worth considering. The telegraph poles around Naples are smothered in Ipomea indica with its beautiful blue flowers. The word smothered should also bring a word of warning though. It really is rampant. Roots wherever it touches ground and grows at an alarmingly fast rate. If it is not already found in your area I would say better not to introduce it. It is a common weed around Naples.

[Alisdair]

There is a banksian rose that climbs up a telegraph pole in the village below us (I think the lady who owns it must give the rose a helping hand with bits of string), but from memory I'd say it's got up to only about 3 metres. (It flowers really well there.)