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California Gardening

Not-too-aggressive vine for shade

10 years ago

Anyone have a suggestion for a vine that likes the shade, flowers loved but not a requirement? I bought a trellis to camouflage an ugly downspout and am looking for a vine for it. I had planned on clematis, but there is more shade than I realized. I live in Contra Costa County, where it is hot and dry in the summer and cold (some frost) in the winter. I might just get a smallish clematis and hope for the best--I asked this question on the Vines forum but I thought I'd try here as well. I have heucheras and juncus nearby, which are doing well.

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Comments (6)

devolet
10 years ago
Chilean jasmine is nice and not too crazy. Maybe an asarina if you want something other than a white flower, those come in white, pink, and purple / blue. Maybe one of the milder less crazy passion flower vines. Annie's Annuals has a good choice of vines for our climate. I'm in Wildcat Canyon in Contra Costa County and the air gets a chill at night so I need hardier stuff for when it freezes. I'd love to have a solandra. I tried two but they tanked when it got cold and they disappeared.
iris_gal
10 years ago
Love vines! Clematis is the only one I would consider non-aggressive. I imagine in deep shade the result would be spindly growth. If the huecheras do well maybe it's not as dark as I imagine.

Vinca minor is an aggressor here and will grow up a support. Do you have room for a pot at the base of the trellis?

Maybe a narrow screen could be used.
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I'd suggest a slower growing evergreen foliaged vine such as Star Jasmine/Trachelospermum jasminoides as a good substitute for the grape, but it will still need pruning to keep it under control, just not as much as the Grape. You can also buy these already trained as an espalier, which saves time if you want the fence completely covered. Most Clematis are going to need more training if you don't want them everywhere, and most aren't evergreen. Another fairly easy to control evergreen vine for California conditions would be Bgnonia capreolata 'Tangerine Beauty'. Both of these vines can be kept under control with just occasional pruning, have colorful flowers and/or scented flowers, and are not as aggressively growing as the Vitis you already have. Both would also do well with the dappled sun/shade this area seems to get. You might also consider that the shrubs/phormiums you have planted in the raised box are still quite young, and given time, will effectively screen the fence without any additional vines. Both of these shrubs will easily grow as tall as the top of the fence if given regular irrigation and fertilizer. If you still want to plant a vine at this area, I'd suggest using cut sections of remesh(the 4 inch gridded wire used as concrete flatwork reinforcing) for the vines to attach to, it gives more area for the vines to attach/twine to, and is easier to install. Using a fast growing, yet annual vine such as Thunbergeria alata/gregorii or Mina lobata might also work well for you. If I were to add vines in your situation, I would be more inclined to plant them at the outside of the raised planters, against the fence sections with the Berberis shrubs, and leave the area behind the planter to be covered by the screening of the plants in the raised planter.
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tvrolyk, it is a common MG, and although it seeds itself like mad, It can easily be pulled out. Try to get all the little starts,if you don't want it choking out your clematis. :) Arum
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devolet
10 years ago
This is a clematis I photographed yesterday in Mill Valley that was on an iron fence adjacent to a white flowering variety. It was fairly compact but I cannot grow them. Too chilly, I have a perennial one on the fence that I cannot get rid of that does not do much. Cobaea vines are gorgeous but a little on the nuts side if happy. Easy to keep in the form you desire though.
emmarene9
10 years ago
pandorea jasminoides
I think it might bloom better with sun but there is one growing on the north side of an eight foot tall fence at my parents house. It needs tied to the trellis at first. It blooms enough to enjoy.
Fred51
10 years ago
Try a Trachelospermum jasminoides Chinese star-jasmine Evergreen dark green glossy leaves, fragrant white star flowers in summer. Can be cut back slow growing.
Debbie
Original Author
10 years ago
Thanks, everyone, for your suggestions. I have decided to take a chance with clematis after all. I found one called Lemon Bells at Digging Dog Nursery and decided to take a chance on it. I have trachelospermum growing elsewhere in my yard and love the way it smells when it's in bloom. I had a couple of the pink-throated pandorea vines that I gave away because I couldn't find a place for them, long before I thought of putting a vine by the downspout. I think the clematis, if it is happy in this spot, will look beautiful with the heuchera.

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