shade vines

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Permalink Reply by chris w on April 30, 2009 at 8:17pm

I have both growing in my yard. I have really grown to appreciate virginia creeper, it comes plain and in variegated, and it makes really beautiful fall color where I live. The leaves fall off and it is very bare in the winter. The english ivy stays on its vines but offers no fall color. For me, Virginia creeper is easier to grow (once it is established - turning into almost a weed) but it tends to prefer at least some direct sun (in my yard). The ivy isn't picky but does grow slower for me.

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Permalink Reply by sonia on May 1, 2009 at 12:35pm

The red of Virginia creeper appeals to me, may try both and see what happens, thanks!

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Permalink Reply by TAR HEEL on May 1, 2009 at 9:30am

Sonia, how large is this ''ugly shady wall''?

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Permalink Reply by sonia on May 1, 2009 at 12:30pm

It is about 12' high by 30', complete shade. Will grow ? vines on trellis, 18 in off wall (of house).

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Permalink Reply by Glenn Fletcher on May 1, 2009 at 11:03am

Both of these are quite rampant. It will need to be a large wall. I know the ivy clings on and may damage the mortar so beware. We had an extension put on the back of the house some years ago. This had a north wall, so i grew an espalier pear on it. I fixed wires to the wall at about 15" vertical centres and planted the pear central. The pear was a conference which is self fertile. As the pear grew i tied the branches to the wires. In the autumn my son used to pick a pear on his way to school, now he picks one on his way to work.
You have to be patient, but the benefits are much longer lasting.

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Permalink Reply by sonia on May 1, 2009 at 12:32pm

Sounds wonderful, may try on sunnier wall. Thanks!

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Permalink Reply by Martha Hill on May 1, 2009 at 8:34pm

I hope the wall is not attached to your house !! Both of those can do serious damage !! I would try something like passion flower or cypress vine !! These two can at least be controlled a bit and are not difficult to take down if you don`t like them !! Passion flower spreads from the roots but are so small in the spring that it can be mowed, cypress vine spreads from seed and again is very fine bodied !! A rather lacy looking vine that can cover a wall in a season !! Its commonly called " mile a minute vine " !!

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Permalink Reply by JC on May 3, 2009 at 7:54am

Hydrangea anomala subspecies petiolaris is beautiful in shade.
Partial shade.... maybe Sweet autumn clematis or Dutchman's pipe vine.

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Permalink Reply by Claude Parisi on May 8, 2009 at 8:25pm

Martha-Here in ct, the mile a minute vine is considered an invasive threat. The conservation society even sends volenteers to pull it out and destroy the vegitation. It has done lots of damage to meadow
heirloom plants.
The hydrangea idea is nice! I saw one growing over an arbor gate and it is spectatular.
Personally, I would think more about a vining tree type like a trumpet vine which is glorious in bloom
and available with orange or yellow blooms. You must aggressively prune it back but it won't continue growing into your lawn or pull out the mortar.
The Chocolate vine is beautiful. I have heard that it does indeed smell like chocolate.
Mmmm..that one sounds like a winner. What have you heard about it's growth habit?

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Permalink Reply by Connie Jo Gandy on May 13, 2009 at 10:54pm

I find that the Red Passion flower is not invasive like the purple, and it is gorgeous! Also jasmine is very nice.

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Permalink Reply by TAR HEEL on May 3, 2009 at 11:34am

grapevines would be better I think.

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Permalink Reply by sonia on May 3, 2009 at 1:03pm

Thanks, I actually have one wild grape vine growing , I guess I am just in a rush for privacy!

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