<p>Climbing plants, by employing specialized vertical growth mechanisms, have great potential for urban vertical greening. Ecological requirements are the primary criterion in strategically selecting suitable species. This review evaluates the diversity of native climbing plant species in the Iberian Peninsula and identifies the most suitable ones for urban environments, namely green facades. It summarizes climbing strategies, biological life forms, flower colour diversity and distribution, and ecological traits relevant to urban suitability. The methodology incorporates a qualitative review of online databases and published literature. In total, 209 native climbing taxa were identified; dominant families were Fabaceae, Rosaceae and Convolvulaceae, and tendril-bearing was the most common climbing strategy. Almost half of the taxa were perennial and the others annual, exhibiting a broad range of flower colours distributed across the Iberian Peninsula. All in all, 28 suitable taxa were identified for planting in Iberian urban areas with high drought and temperature tolerance, low to moderate water and nutrient requirements, and adaptability to various light and shade conditions. These findings support the strategic selection of native climbing plants to enhance urban green infrastructure in Iberian cities, highlighting that plantings are not limited to a narrow set of taxa but can draw from a broader ecologically suitable species pool.</p>