I am looking for a quick-growing vine that would give shade to the west side of our house. Dad says he wants to put up a trellis and get something growing this year, so... any ideas? I would prefer a perennial, something hardy to zone 4, but I'll settle for an annual. The soil over there is pretty decent, and well drained. It should need to be something that doesn't need too much watering, as I get really busy in the summer and don't have the time to take care of things the way I should.
Thank you,
Cedar
Vine to give shade...
Cedar, that's a tall order (no pun intended). We face west and have to rely on trees to shade our house, but then, we're in Atlanta.
Cedar - I believe you might have success with sweet autumn clematis or September clematis (clematis paniculata). I live in Zone 7a, but according to the plants database, this plant is hardy to zone 4a. I cut it to the ground every winter, and it completely covers my garden gazebo each summer. In my zone, it can be invasive, so I must keep cutting back new seedlings which sprout up everywhere. In the fall, it is covered in fragrant beautiful white flowers. You can order this from some seed catalogs-I have no seeds or I would send you some. Check the plants database for some great pictures of the way it will look. Good luck!
LGW, thank you! You know, we have a wild clematis here (virgin's bower) and I thought it was annual beacause it dies back to the ground. I never thought of that, and I should have.
We don't need the shade in the winter, hence the desire for vines, not trees. Trees we will be putting around the north side, for windbreak. The wind whipping off the pasture in a Nor'easter goes right through this old house.
I have friends who live in Craftsbury Common, VT-about 15 miles from the Canadian border so I've heard lots of descriptions about that wind and seen pictures of snow to the roof of their barn. That's hard to imagine - since we rarely have more than an 18 inch snow at the most extreme. I think the Virgin's Bower would work great for the summer also. I hope you post some pictures on DG if it turns out well. Today in TN, we are expecting light snow - a very rare event. I just got back from covering up lots of things in my garden that are already in full bloom, and don't need snow on their heads!! Thanks for your kind reply!!