Whatever you choose* untie its branches and fan them out on the fence from top to bottom at planting time. Instead of letting the plants race to the top of the fence and then bunch up there, as has been allowed to happen over and over on thousands of other planting sites. And you really should go with something that does not want to grow hugely larger than the fence is. Because even if you don't mind pruning and training multiple times per year because of having a large growing kind there associated issues that can occur are new shoots being so long from so quickly after emergence that it is hard to manage them in an attractive way. And frequent pruning to control size interfering with the flowering of some kinds, unless you are already well versed in how to manage the way these grow.

The rose will want the sunniest spot available there and is genetically programmed to grow at least 20 ft.

If you go instead with free standing shrubs you won't of course have to deal with all the additional work associated with trying to direct and restrain climbers growing on an architectural feature with clearly defined parameters (as opposed to letting them grow on trees of adequate size).

*If you will be buying the plants locally I recommend seeing what is available there first and then asking here about kinds that catch your interest instead of trying to hunt down suggestions made before you go shopping. In fact if you are using a phone to access this site or are able to you can even ask here while at garden centers

Morning Glorys are beautiful and will flower all season

Clean up is a pain though.

Embothrium I read that advice you gave on another thread. You’re right- i don’t mind regular pruning but if it interferes with what the vine needs to look it’s best, that defeats the purpose.

I already have lots of boxwood and holly hedges so I was trying to do something a little different.

I wonder if a hedge of azaleas would be best.

Kristine would MGs grow in only a little sun?

what kind of clean up do they require?

Mine seem to grow without regard to light.

Some of the varieties reseed, and not neccesarily where you want them

In the wintet when they die off you will need to u tsngle their dear dry canes out of the fence.

They are an annual but maybe while you are deciding on something more permanent.

i don’t mind untangling them from the fence, but reseeding is a concern.

ill look into them, thanks!

My vote is climbing hydrangea, American wisteria (Blue Moon blooms three times a season) if you can stay on top of its maintenance, or some form of clematis (I like how sweet autumn mounds, but there are other choices, too). If you go the clematis route, be sure you don't invest in heartache by going for the large-flowered varieties; I'd buy ones that are wilt-proof (Viticella, Montana, Alpina, and Macropetala). I'd google Clematis Viticella/Montana/Alpina/Macropetala varieties to find one that works for you. My personal favorites are Emilia Plater, Justa, Blue Angel, Prince Charles, and Pink Perfection. You could also break up the long lines of black fence with something soft and more vertical? Bakery Betty on Etsy is (usually) inexpensive and has fantastic options.

Bignonia? Tangerine Beauty would add color and charm.

@Kristine LeGault 8a pnw is that "Flying Saucer" morning glory?

Yes, I believe that it is.

JC, the unique and more rare morninglories dont seem to reseed

The beautiful Grandpa Ott doed.

Clematis sounds like a beautiful option.

I’ve never grown morning glories but don’t they do best in full sun?

I'd go with something woody and evergreen so there is a complete furnishing throughout the year. And I would avoid adhesive climbers like the hydrangea because any time any of their stems are to be removed during pruning and training for instance these have to be peeled off the support.

IME climbing hydrangea does not adhere to metal. It would have to be tied.

"And I would avoid adhesive climbers like the hydrangea because any time any of their stems are to be removed during pruning and training for instance these have to be peeled off the support."

Not on a metal or wire fence they don't!! Not enough surface area for them to adhere to. And too smooth a surface as well. They will just drape along the top.

It doesn't adhere readily to anything at first, can sometimes take years to get a good grip after first being planted. And when not on a large tall support like a tree of some size is liable to produce a shrubby habit, looks like a root system during winter under all circumstances - I can't see it being an optimal choice for the situation being asked about here at all.

In addition its floral bracts do not remain in color nearly as long as those of Schizophragma hydrangeoides - if I was going to plant one of these types I would choose the latter just for that reason.

They will just drape along the top

A top gotten to by twining. So that the essential nature of the involved maintenance situation is not changed - any time any of the stiff, brittle and eventually quite thick stems of this particular climber where to be removed it would involve having to wrestle them free of the support.

Inch by inch.

Whether holdfasts were ever present also or not.

Sorry but that is not the case! First, climbing hydrangeas do not "twine"! They will only attach by aerial rootlets and those rootlets need something meaty and rough to attach to. Lacking that, it is entirely possible to encourage the climber to extend to the top of a wire or metal fence of reasonable height before spreading out at all. There is a 20+ y.o. one in my inherited garden that is doing just that on a 4' chain link fence. No twining, no need to weave in or out and no wrestling required. The entire plant could be lifted off the top of the fence if necessary.

And since the fence in question is comprised of straight but skinny metal uprights, even less chance of any wrestling required!

climbing hydrangea stems - Bing images

Plant Inventory at 20 Timothy : Hydrangea anomala subsp. petiolaris / Climbing Hydrangea (laurrie-s.blogspot.com)

*chews popcorn*

Oh, @Aaron Rosarian Zone 5b. I like you.

I have that same thought while making this face 👀 a lot on here but I never say anything because I'm not sure it would be appreciated haha 😅