Climbing Hydrangeas?

Anybody have luck with climbing hydrangeas in a garden that gets a lot of shade, and some sun? Any advice as to which climbing hydrangeas are the best, prettiest, hardiest . . . ?

pgt, most Climbing Hydrangeas prefer at least partial shade - how much sun would one get where you want to plant it? FYI, morning sun is preferred. Hydrangea anomala subsp. petiolaris http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/147/ is the most common Climbing Hydrangea you'll find in garden centers. It is a beauty, but it takes awhile before you'd actually have flowers. There are also two variegated cultivars of this plant: 'Mirranda' http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/79957/ and a newer one: 'Firefly' http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/79957/ which might also work in your situation.

There are also a couple of others - Japanese Climbing Hydrangeas:
Schizophragma hydrangeoides 'Moonlight' http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/76830/ which has very attractive silver green foliage, a bonus when it's not flowering. Also, Schizophragma hydrangeoides 'Roseum' http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/63682/ with rosy pink flowers versus white.

Any of these would work for you as they are all hardy to Zone 4a.

Hope this helps :)
Debbie

pgt - My climbing hydrangea is in shade most of the morning and gets the late afternoon sun. It took awhile for it to bloom, but once it did, it has been a prolific bloomer ever since. Here is a picture of it at the end of its bloom cycle. Good luck....they are lovely climbers. Oh, and make sure you have a sturdy support for it.

Beautiful, and healthy!! Curious, how old is your plant? I remember about 10 years ago seeing Climbing Hydrangea in full bloom growing along a stone wall in someone's garden along the coast in Maine, it was incredible!