Kudzu??? No, wait not that one---how about Virginia Creeper? It does fantastic for me, no flowers
but the birds love the berries and the foliage is outstanding in reds and organges in the Fall!

How about a 'clematis' if you want flowers?

I also have good luck with porcelain vine in a shady spot. It get very cool marbled leaves. I know in warmer climates it can really spread, but I have had mine for 4 years here in Wisconsin and it's stayed pretty much the same size.

Virginia Creeper??? You must have a different kind than we have in Wisconsin. It's an invasive weed here that gets trunks as big as my thigh (and thats BIG!), encircles trees with their roots all the way up and chokes the life out of them. It has killed at least 7 trees now in the woods behind me.

I have some clematis on my arbor but only 1 out of four bloomed this year (leaves are good). I think it is because its not getting enough sun. We need to trim back the apple tree and an oak this fall. Clematis like their "feet" in the shade and their "head" in the sun but I've got the whole body in the sun (except for 3 hours in the morning at most).

Sorry, I haven't given you any suggestions, but I couldn't sleep tonight if I didn't warn you about the creeper. I've been fighting it ever since I moved here; the runners are EVERYWHERE a few inches down and are thick as the vines Tarzan swings on!

Char

Virginia Creeper grows wild in my yard and climbs up all of my pine trees, the telephone pole, and pops up on my flower beds. Although a little round-up seems to control it (at least when it's young).

I too have been fighting Creeper for years....Isprayed it with double strength Round Up and it didn't even brown the leaf edges.
Linda C

Holy Cow!! VC in your areas does sound like a cousin to Kudzu in the more southernly states!! Gasp!
In my yard, it has really been nice to have as it climbs the lattice privacy fencing and really adds to the wood-sy feel I love.
So far, it hasn't gotten *out of hand* although it's only been really established in my yard for about 15 years.

I even let it climb about 10 ft. up our trees, but in the Fall, I pull it back off so that it doesn't get too great a foothold.

They even sell it in pots at our local nurseries!! Gasp!!

S0, maybe not 'Virginia Creeper', since it sounds like it's more of a 'Virginia Leaper' for most folks!!! :o)

Nevermind! :o)

PS--I vote for the 'Porcelain Vine', too--love it!!

Oops! Up above where I am talking about my clematis, I meant to say I have the whole "body" of the plant in the shade! That's why they aren't blooming...I think...or maybe it is too early for the varieties I have? The one I planted this year bloomed like gangbusters early this summer.

Char

Clematis ternifolia - Sweet Autumn clematis

Char, you cracked me up with the thigh comment! Thanks for giving me a laugh today!

ademink: regarding Clematis ternifolia - Sweet Autumn clematis

I though clematis required full sun?.... Or perhaps that's just for flowering? I don't really care about flowering...that'd just be a bonus. But if the vine itself would cover my fence pretty quickly, that'd be great!!!

I 2nd the sweet autumn clematis. I grow it in the shade; grows fast yet isn't invasive-- a good vine for shade. M-A

It is a late-blooming, tough as nails clematis. You can't beat it, especially for shady areas! I have a mature vine that I cut to the ground in Spring. By early summer, it is over my privacy fence and right now it is HUUUUUUUGE and in full shade! It blooms too! :)