Hello All,
I am looking for advice on a flowering vine for shade. 100% shade. To grow on a chain link fence. I'm in Zone 5. What would you plant?
Thanks!
Jennifer
Vine for shade?
I would really check on invasiveness of shade vines as many are very invasive.
Climbing Hydrangea 4-7
Virginia Creeper 3-9
Boston Ivy 4-8
Chinese Wisteria 5-8
Vinca Minor 4-8
Sweet Autumn Clematis 4-9
Emerald Gaiety Euonymus 5-8
English Ivy 4-9
Trumpet Vine 4-9
Honeysuckle 4-9
Nice list Weeding!
I would echo the precaution about invasiveness as I spend much of my time pulling euonymus, japanese honeysuckle, vinca, English ivy, trumpet vine, virginia creeper, sweet autumn clematis, wild grape among a whole host of other aggressive woodland vines. Early in my gardening career, I regretfully planted a japanese honeysuckle vine w/ a beautiful golden variegation. I'm still pulling it by the handsful 15 years later... I use it as a cautionary tale.
I would heartily second the recommendation of climbing hydrangea. There are several varieties including daintier small leaf ('Brookside Littleleaf') and gold-variegated foliage ('Miranda') as well as the related schizophragma vine which is also beautiful.I have a bright gold-leafed climbing hydrangea which really brightens up a shady area, but I can't recall it's name. Another non-invasive option is hardy kiwi vine (arctinidia kolomikta) with showy leaf variegation. It's doing well for me in a hidden corner of my woods with virtually no care. Akebia can also be a pretty choice but I know it can be invasive in some areas...
Weerobin, does your hardy kiwi set fruit? I purchased one this year and have not found a place to plant it. I never considered shade. I do want fruit as I was told the fruit is very tasty.
I am constantly fighting the invasive honeysuckle, vinca, sweet autumn clematis, virginia creeper, trumpet vine and wild muscadine.
I think mine is a male, though I'm not really sure. I say so because mine has nice leaf variegation, which I think is more characteristic of male than female plants. I've never noticed any fruit anyway. But it's in a pretty out of the way place, so I may have overlooked it.
Thanks for the ideas. I've been leaning towards the climbing hydrangia. I'll have to look at that one some more.
Jennifer
I have a client who has had a climbing hydrangea for many years. I help in tending it, and it really is quite easy, merely needing some cutting back every few years - and lovely!
Whereas their wisteria, which I do love, has to be cut back several times a season. It grows from the ground up to their second floor level patio and winds itself around things and gets in peoples' faces (mind you, I love that too!) It tires to grow up things that are not there.
I currently have some trumpet honeysuckle blooming like crazy in deep shade under some oak trees. It did take a few years to get established but it is now over the top of a 7-foot trellis. (Don't use the common Japanese honeysuckle--it is highly invasive.)
I've had good luck with climbing hydrangea also. Plant files says it does grow in full shade but I've only tried it in light shade.
I have some Hybrid Clematis that do OK on a fence in full shade. Few blooms, but nothing is going to bloom much there anyway. Never a hint of invasiveness.
I know this thread is old...but for those searching the archive. I have an akebia vine (chocolate vine) that does great in fairly heavy shade and even blooms. Semi-evergreen in my zone and the shade keeps it from needing too much pruning to be well behaved.
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