Climibers for shade

JoeyEmma

I have a small north facing backyard (I live in a Victorian terrace) and want to grow some climbers up the walls. The yard is concrete, so I need to grow them in containers and tie them to a trellis.

I've had a look at the BBC website searching for climbers in full shade. It gives me three options

1. Clematis Nobie- available from Thompson and Morgan but they say it needs full sun, not full shade!
2. Virginia creeper- needs a big garden, so a no no for me
3. Rosa Souvenir du Docteur Jamain- which I can't find for sale anywhere!

So does anybody have any ideas of what to grow!

TIA

wurzelsar

I bought a yellow climbing rose last year. I think it was called "Golden showers" and the label said it's suitable for North facing walls.

Instead of a Virginia creeper, why don't you try Parthenocissus Tricuspidata, the Boston Ivy. The Lowii and veitchii varieties are supposed to be particularly colourful. It's a smaller leaved variety related to the virginia creeper and has beautiful orange and red colours in the autumn. If it gets out of hand, we just trim it back. Always works with us.

JoeyEmma

wurzelsar wrote: »

I bought a yellow climbing rose last year. I think it was called "Golden showers" and the label said it's suitable for North facing walls.

Unfortunate name!

paddy's_mum

Almost any of the small leaved ivies (hedera species) will do well in the situation you describe. They are available with lots of variety in their leaf shape and colouration, and all are evergreen so that you get colour all year.

Another very pretty evergreen is Berberidopsis corallina (aka coral plant) but you would probably need to order this from a more specialist nursery. Similarly some of the hardy, semi-evergreen honeysuckles.

Your local library may very well have the book Plantfinder and you should have no difficulty sourcing your chosen plants from its pages. Hope that helps.

irnbru_2

JoeyEmma wrote:

3. Rosa Souvenir du Docteur Jamain- which I can't find for sale anywhere!

You don't state your location.

Rosa Souvenir du Docteur Jamain:

• perryhillnurseries
• styleroses

JoeyEmma

I'm in Manchester!

RacyRed

I had a stubborn north facing wall for years.

As long as your spot has a bit of shelter from cold winds Chilean Bell Flower (Lapageria rosea)is a lovely evergreen for the spot. It has loads of lovely little pinky red flowers, which are, guess what, bell shaped.

I did find that mine didn't tolerate cold winds very well at all though . It did nicely until one particularly bad year for cold east winds. It likes it's bed to be a bit on the acidic side.

The bell flower grew partnered with a white flowered camelia (put that where it will get whatever light there is going) which liked the same soil conditions. Can't think which one it was now but if you are interested I can check back in my diary. Sadly the winds got that plant too.

BTW, I've always been a container gardener and both of the above were in pots, they were great till the winds got them.

JoeyEmma

That Chilean Bellflower looks gorgeous! Luckily as its in a yard (ie with walls all around) it should be sheltered from most harsh winds!

RacyRed

JoeyEmma wrote: »

That Chilean Bellflower looks gorgeous! Luckily as its in a yard (ie with walls all around) it should be sheltered from most harsh winds!

Sounds perfect! There are loads of suppliers listed in the RHS plant guide so you should have no problem finding one.

Being so unusual they make a fantastic talking points when they are in flower

RacyRed

Just thought of another that might be worth checking out, a fragrant one, chocolate vine, (akebia), and it's in the sale at crocus at the moment. I've not grown it personally but know people who have.

It has a spicy sent which isn't to everyone's taste (or do I mean olfacory glands)