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Florida Gardening

Vine for semi-shady area

15 years ago

Hi All,

I am looking for a vine to crawl up my fence as a backdrop for my other plants. It gets about 2 hours direct late afternoon sun. I don't want it to eat the neighbor's trees and want it to hug the fence not grow out like a shrub and take up space and create more shade.

Any ideas of a vine that stays manageable that likes that light? Will Ivy work? Thanks.

Nancy

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Comments (12)

katieauthier
15 years ago
How about Ficus repens (creeping fig) if a stockade fence it will cling spread fast (ask Fawnridge) but is only inch or so dense.

Katie
patty1297
15 years ago
red honeysuckle prefers a shady place to grow
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Lots of Rhapis species would look great there and they can handle the shade very well. Rhapis multifida has finer leaves than the more common Rhapis palms used so that could be an interesting one to try, but you can't go wrong with Rhapis humilis. It's taller growing that Rhapis excelsa and will fill the space nicely. Rhapis excelsa would look great there too, but they grow very slowly. Chamaedoreas are a huge genus of palms and most would look great in that spot and do well in shade. C. seifrizii is often called the Bamboo palm for short because the trunks look so similar to bamboo. The palm itself is a little ratty looking at times, but can be absolutely beautiful also (and they are very easy to thin out because they pup so readily so you can easily get rid of trunks that are growing too tall). C. tepejilote is one of my favorite species in this genus because the fronds get really nice and big! It is not a pupper so you will have to plant a row of them to take up the space. Underplanting that palm with C. elegans which looks similar but grows much shorter would give a very full look. Some of the more cold tolerant licualas are also definitely something to consider and arenga engleri is a beauty also although it may get big for that space. Good luck! -Alex
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watermelon7
15 years ago
How about Virginia creeper? It is a fast spreader, and grows wild around here. Search it up online. Find out about it. I'm sure you will find some growing within a 5 mile radius from your house. If, not, buy some seedlings online.

Or, you can go with confederate jasmine, which has all-year leaves.

Both plants are perennials.
mizadventure
15 years ago
Warnings with the creeping fig! While it doesn't bush out at all it will definitely climb and spread! and climb, and spread anywhere you let it. Eventually the fence will have to be replaced and it's crazy to cut down. I just spent two weekends cutting and pulling it down from pillars and overhead beams covering part of my courtyard. And the beams are rotten now. Grrr.
teka2rjleffel
Original Author
15 years ago
Red honeysuckle sounds good. Does it grow in zone 10?
Nancy
ginibee
15 years ago
Nancy, one of my favorites is Solanum Seaforthianum - goes by several common names - I call it 'marriage vine'. The freeze here almost got it, but new growth is coming out now. It is not aggressive and blooms all year except for the coldest part. I have a small seedling if you are interested. Couldn't find my picture, but google.

Ginny (glad to be back on GW)
patty1297
15 years ago
I like to check plants out at Florida.com The red honeysuckle which is coral honeysuckle grows in zones 4 - 10. I have a little in zone 9 and like it on my wooden fence, it does not go crazy like white honeysuckle does.
teka2rjleffel
Original Author
15 years ago
Ginny, welcome back. I'll check to see if I can find it locally but I will keep your offer in mind. Thanks.
Patty, did you mean Floridata. I couldn't find it.
Thanks.
bigpaulie1972
15 years ago
you could also try Bleeding Heart Clerodendrum. I know it has naturalized and without any trimming can get a bit boisterous, but it grows at a reasonable rate and flowers practically all year long. I have some at my home and brought it with me from a rental I used to live at. It's incredibly tolerant of varying light conditions, from full sun to semi shade. The flowers are gorgeous.
teka2rjleffel
Original Author
15 years ago
I love bleeding heart. I wonder if it would make it on that little light.
Nancy
patty1297
15 years ago
Yes I meant Floridata.com They seem to have good info for our area. You can find different red honeysuckles on ebay
red19
15 years ago
I have Bleeding Heart in almost total shade and it does beautifully.

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