As some of the most versatile plants for adding texture to a home garden, flowering vines which thrive in shade often prove to be low-maintenance, visually impactful, and even fast-growing in the right conditions. Once they are fully grown, they can transform a fence, wall, trellis, veranda, and more. Their leafy stems can be used to create privacy, add multi-dimensional complexity, naturalize artificial materials, or hide certain elements.
During the peak flowering period of annual and perennial vines, blooms may generously add contrast, soft texture, and eye-catching color to their trailing stems. They can bring life to shady areas, such as those found beneath the canopy of a tree or below a north-facing eave. To the delight of other flowering plants, a vine’s blooms should dutifully draw butterflies, bees, and birds to the garden.
The flowers of trailing plants may take on the form of gracefully cascading inflorescences, solitary bursts of color, trumpets that seem to herald the sun, and more! Their arrangement and density may influence where you situate their stems and how you train them. To make the most out of a vine’s blooms in the shade, it may be necessary to eliminate competing plants and provide the stems with more support. Low-growing native plants may be fine companions and should help hide any bare lower stems.
1) Woodvamp (Hydrangea barbara)
A type of climbing hydrangea, woodvamp is naturally found in a wide range of habitats – including those receiving minimal sun exposure. Its wild colonies are most dense in bottomland forests, where they cling to the trunks of trees and the stems of lower-growing shrubs. As a flowering liana, this vine reaches heights of up to 30 – 40 feet (9 – 12 meters). Given its slow growth rate, it is unlikely to displace other delicate plants in a shade garden.
Woodvamp is characterized by glossy, deep-green leaves found along the length of self-clinging stems. Depending on ambient conditions, these may be deciduous or semi-evergreen. As the stems send out aerial rootlets, they are able to grow over vertical structures without much support. Thus, this species is ideal for covering walls and fences.
This climbing hydrangea is hardy to USDA zones 6 – 8. It favors partial shade conditions, though it may also tolerate full shade. As its inflorescences are developed only on relatively young stems that have just become woody, it must be grown vertically for it to produce flowers. If it is cultivated as ground cover, it may fail to produce its annual throes of fragrant, creamy-white floral clusters in spring.
2) Groundnut (Apios americana)
Many gardeners may shy away from growing the groundnut vine because of its reputation for spreading at an unmanageable pace. Also known as the potato bean, cinnamon vine, Indian potato, and hopniss, this species can indeed become weedy in optimal conditions. However, it can prove to be a fantastic vine for shady locations in urban centers and cottage gardens. Restricting its root system to containers is one great way to minimize its spread.
The groundnut is often grown as an ornamental plant due to its eye-catching racemes of pale brown blooms. Appearing through summer and fall, these are compact and fragrant. Pea-like, each flower opens to reveal darker hues. Once they are pollinated, they develop into edible legumes. As suggested by this vine’s common name, it also produces edible, potato-like tubers. These were once extensively harvested by Native Americans.
Though the potato vine tends to be more productive under full sun, it can grow splendidly with as few as 2 – 6 hours of sunlight per day. It is deciduous in USDA hardiness zones 4 – 9. Its root system thrives best in moist, well-draining substrates in lightly shaded locations. After just a single year of growth, it may begin to produce small tubers.
3) Chocolate vine (Akebia quinata)
Popular among horticulturists because of its impressive tolerance for shade, the chocolate vine is a fantastic addition to woodland gardens. It can be cultivated as a groundcover plant to stifle the growth of weeds or it may be trained to cover vertical structures. Semi-evergreen, it can provide year-round texture and color to fences, walls, and trellises receiving dappled to deep shade.
In the wild, the chocolate vine climbs over shrubs, trails toward the canopies of low-growing trees, and sprawls throughout the edges of riparian forests. As new roots can emerge wherever the shoot’s nodes come into contact with appropriate substrates, its presence as a rapid grower may aid in minimizing erosion. Its leaves, which are formed by elliptical leaflets arranged in a palmate orientation, give it a delicate yet productive appearance even outside of the bloom period.
The chocolate vine is named for both the scent of its unique blooms and their brownish hues. These are borne in clusters each spring. They only arise from older, woody stems, so it would be prudent to cut back overgrown stems each year. As this species can spread vigorously in optimal habitats, regular pruning should help maintain a neat appearance.
4) Mountain clematis (Clematis montana)
A flowering vine for gardens in temperate regions, the mountain clematis is a notable member of the Ranunculaceae or buttercup family. Though its ridged, pubescent stems tend to thrive under full sun, which is why they may naturally scramble over shrubs and small trees, they can also survive in partial shade. Among clematis vines, this particular one is more likely to bloom over sheltered or north-facing fences and walls.
When provided with sturdy vertical support, mountain clematis can slowly trail towards heights of 16 – 40 feet (5 – 12 meters). A single, well-established plant may eventually have a spread of 15 feet (4.6 meters) wide. Of course, enriched substrates and regular pruning are necessary to maximize its growth rate. As it does have a reputation for being a heavy feeder, its roots and stems should benefit from regular fertilization.
In USDA hardiness zones 6 – 9, this deciduous vine blooms most profusely in spring to summer. Its single, star-shaped floral heads are showy and may emit a vanilla-like scent. These use their pink, red, or white petals – numbering 4 – 8 on each flower – to attract butterflies, hummingbirds, and bees. Situate this vine along high-traffic zones where its stunning blooms can be appreciated.
5) Carolina jasmine (Gelsemium sempervirens)
If your shade garden could use an evergreen component, this flowering vine would be the perfect choice. Low-maintenance, naturally bushy, and fast-growing, it should effortlessly twine over vertical structures and over lower-growing shrubs. Its flowering rates are usually highest under full sun, of course, but it should continue to thrive and produce its glabrous, light-green leaves in light shade.
In late winter, spring, and possibly in fall, well-established stands of Carolina jasmine become aflush with bright yellow blooms. These may be abundant enough to transform entire clumps of stems, making them look as though they have more blooms than leaves. In shady zones, the blooms are likely to be more sparse and may appear star-like amidst a carpet of leaves.
The state flower of South Carolina, G. sempervirens is incredibly versatile due to its tolerance for brief droughts, excessively wet substrates, and unusually high salt concentrations. Its stems can quickly grow to a height of about 20 feet (6 meters). They tend to spread more vigorously in disturbed areas, where many native shrubs may struggle to form extensive colonies.
6) Star jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides)
A flowering vine for shade that readily tolerates even deep shade, star jasmine can be grown as a container plant, sprawling shrub, or free-spreading vine. This woody perennial is an exceptional ornamental vine for USDA hardiness zones 8 – 10. It remains evergreen in regions with warm winters, providing protection from winds. Its reliable carpet of intertwining stems and leaves, which can be used as a privacy screen, provides color and texture through cool months.
A recipient of the RHS Award of Garden Merit, star jasmine spreads via twining stems that become increasingly woody over time. When these come into contact with a wet surface, they tend to send out aerial roots. Pairs of glossy, oval-shaped, deep-green leaves adorn the tough twigs. The leaves may develop a bronze or reddish tinge upon exposure to cool temperatures.
Star jasmine is most valued for its fragrant blooms. Emerging in late spring, these are cream-white and are clustered in cymes. The alkaloid-rich essential oil of the blooms, often used as a high-end ingredient in perfumes, gives off a distinctly sweet aroma. Sure to take your senses on a trip, this vine will have your shade garden smelling like an oriental paradise!
7) Late Dutch honeysuckle (Lonicera periclymenum ‘Serotina’)
Among the cultivars of the common honeysuckle, ‘Serotina’ is an especially fantastic one for partly-shaded areas. This deciduous vine maintains a compact shape and is unlikely to compete with slow-growing shrubs and herbs in informal gardens. It can be trained to grow vertically along walls or over fences. In due time, a well-established specimen should spread to create a natural screen.
The late Dutch honeysuckle can grow to a full height of about 20 feet (6 meters). A recipient of the RHS Award of Garden Merit, it is presumed to have been in cultivation since the 1700s. It is a great alternative to the more popular Japanese honeysuckle (L. japonica), which tends to exhibit weed-like growth and may be difficult to manage in warm regions.
This honeysuckle’s blooms have an alluring quality to them because of their structure and color. With various shades of pink, crimson, and white, they can either be dramatically deep-colored or be extra light-toned and easy on the eyes. Tube-shaped, these open to reveal spritely yellow stamens. Pollinators should eagerly visit them all through summer.
8) Bleeding heart vine (Clerodendrum thomsoniae)
This tropical vine is often grown as an ornamental plant in warm gardens. In USDA hardiness zones 10 – 11, it may persist as an evergreen liana. In cooler regions, its leaves are likely to fall as soon as temperatures dip to around 45˚F (7˚C). The stems and roots may unfortunately grow dormant, but you can expect them to bounce back with new growth as soon as temperatures begin to rise.
Though the bleeding heart vine can tolerate full sun exposure, it grows best in areas with warm shade. Dappled shade would be beneficial as this should provide the leaves with enough light to thrive and photosynthesize. This should also help keep the soil moist for longer periods of time. Through its season of active growth, this vine may require supplementary moisture and nutrients.
As suggested by its common name, each of this vine’s delicate flowers may look as though it is “bleeding”. Its emerging, red corollas are attached to an inflated, white-to-purple calyx. This pendant arrangement is found in clusters of 8 – 20 blooms. The darker leaves starkly contrast the blooms, making them appear to glow in shaded areas. Do note that, while inadequate light exposure won’t necessarily harm the plant, it may drastically reduce its bloom rate.
Does anyone have any additional recommendations for vines that do well in shade? We’d love to hear your experiences!