There is no such thing as a non-invasive species of Hedera helix in OR!! Even variegated or fancy leaf forms revert easily back to the species. AFAIK, ALL forms of English ivy are banned from sales in OR.

If you want a vine to attach and grow on a cedar fence, I'd suggest you look at Parthenocissus (Virginia creeper/Boston ivy) or climbing hydrangea, Hydrangea anomala petiolaris. If you want evergreen, look for Hydrangea integrifolia or seemanii. All of these will attach by adventitious rootlets or hold-fasts and none are considered invasive in this area.

[This was the latest post in the thread. Why would the software move it up to post #2? It references posts below as well!]

gardengal, you're great! I'm wondering if the climbing hydrangea will do okay in full sun (from about 11am to dusk). Otherwise, the Parthenocissus is a good choice; one site even said clay soil is okay, although evergreen would be nice.

Most kinds of Parthenocissus on the general market are very vigorous and not, of course evergreen. Climbing hydrangea is slow at first but eventually becomes big and thick, looking like roots coming off of the surface when not in leaf - similar in aspect to when the locally prevalent, large weedy ivy (Hedera hibernica) has grown up a tree and then been cut through near the ground, by somebody trying to control it - and its leaves drop off, to leave behind the bare branches.

The evergreen climbing hydrangeas are interesting but prone to frost injury during sharper winters in this region. And like the foregoing do not produce a close, fine-textured furnishing in the manner of a small-leaved ivy cultivar.

If there are no overhanging evergreen trees to encourage weevils you might be able to get what you are visualizing from Euonymus fortunei cultivars. Although often planted as mounding shrubs they do tend to grow up like ivy when presented with tree trunks or built surfaces to cling to.

Locally generated list of recommended climbing plants (click on names for pictures and descriptions):

http://www.greatplantpicks.org/plantlists/by_plant_type/vine

It appears that Euonymus fortunei is listed as invasive by the National Park Service. I'm dropping the evergreen requirement and am tending towards the Parthenocissus. Embothrium, the neighbor's Douglass Firs start just a couple of feet from the fence.

Boston Ivy is nice because of the brilliant red fall color. I pull it completely off the wall down to about 6" about every three years and it all grows back. This keeps it contained and restrained and keeps the stems thin. However it does produce berries that birds love, so it may reseed. Here mockingbirds hang off the stems after the leaves fall and eat the berries one by one.

Euonymus fortunei doesn't go wild in this region* - you are doubtless looking at a listing based on behavior in other parts of the country. There are multiple other garden shrubs of East Asian origin that have become nuisances in the similarly hot and wet eastern States, that like this one apparently don't usually survive our dry summer climate as wild plants.

However weevils can turn winter-creeper to confetti when evergreen trees or building overhangs are near.

*It isn't even mentioned by the very thorough Arthur Lee Jacobson in his 2008 book Wild Plants of Greater Seattle - Second Edition - which means that despite the many thousands of them that have been planted here he had never seen even a single instance of one growing wild

Since you have 60 feet of South facing 7ft tall fence have you considered putting up hoizontal strained wires so you aren't limited to self clingers (which can damage a wooden fence in the longer term)? You call it a 'treatment area' which makes it sound like a bad thing that needs a cure. To me it sounds like a fantastic gardening gift. Given that sized growing area and warm aspect you could have something a lot more interesting than Ivy or Euonymous. Maybe you could approach it as an opportunity to grow a range of beautiful plants rather than a dull uniform coverall?

There is a climbing hydrangea next door growing on a chain link fence in full sun. It gets absolutely no attention and no watering other than from Ma Nature! Because of our dry summers, it looks a bit rough right now but is apparently able to tolerate the full sun position quite well. It would look much better if it had been provided with regular deep irrigation through the summer.

IME, the parthenocissus species are very tolerant of either sun or shade so could work nicely for you. More sun exposure generally results in better fall color as well. I especially like Parthenocissus henryana or sliver vein creeper, which has a interesting patterning on the foliage and colors up beautifully. It is a Great Plant Picks selection, so highly recommended for PNW gardens.

gardengal, thanks. I'm going to choose between the henryana and virginia creeper. I read the henryana does not branch well, but I could not find how easily the creeper branches. Can you say?

Foral, what I did not say is, I have a series of Akebia and Honeysuckle plants on stakes next to the fence now. After one year, the Akebia in the sun and poor soil is not doing well, and I really would prefer no supports. I figure the fence will last longer than I will, so I don't care about fence damage. Also, way too much work for this lazy gardener :( .

I've let my landscaper know my first preference is the Virginia creeper, second choice the henryana. Thank you all for your help! I'll also move the best 5 or so honeysuckle to around my well's pump house.

Compact! I don't think so ;-) Parthenocissus henryana is the species which grows to the top of my 4 storey house and requires 5 or 6 prunings a season to keep it off the roof and prevent it from blocking the windows. In the summer when the windows are open it will come in and start climbing the curtains if you don't watch it. Easily a foot a week in late summer. I cannot get my 2 hands around the trunk. The white veins are variable and on our house look best in the shade. On the open walls it is hard to tell from normal VC. Here's the foliage in shade (right) and a few of the stems.

Great, that helps me estimate how many to order. I like the look of the trunks too.

Yes, the silver veining of P. henryana fades in sunny positions, so that the main particular feature of this species is lost.

It's only more "compact" with respect to the growth of Virginia creeper, which, if left to its own devices, can get massive (a height of 98' has been recorded!). Perhaps that's the result of P. quinquefolia being a native species, while P. henryana is not.