Shade Vines - Need Advice, Please

Hi folks - I'm having trouble finding a vine that will cover two lattice walls that I have up between our property and the next door house. I thought I had searched well, and tried to grow English Ivy on them since I had read that the vines grew in the shade. Well - as you can see, it didn't work. It's two years later, and almost no vine at all. I had imagined beautiful greenery over these lattice frameworks by now, and I still have alot of wood. The area is shaded 100% of the time, but it is a high shade and dappled. Any suggestions of vines that would work here? The soil is evenly moist and well composted. I don't care if there are blossoms, just want some pretty greenery. - HELP, please - Dax080

I'm a little zone handicapped here, but Clematis viticella "Polish Spirit" is an easy to grow clematis that will thrive in part shade. I grow a different viticella in full shade here, but that might be different because of zone. It might not bloom as much as if it's in the sun but I'll bet that it will cover your lattice without any problem. It will take several years though.

Big Dipper Farm has a search by Vine that is helpful. Email them if you want to get a suggestion.

Have you thought of growing something espalliered there? Here I would do it with a camellia but I just don't know what you might use there in the shade.

I suggest that you try air potato vines. They don't bloom but the leaves are as large as a salad plate and are perfectly heart shaped. They are bright, glossy green and cover a large space the year they are planted. For next year, just collect the potatoes that grow on some of the leaf nodes and start them in the house in pots for outside planting after frost.

I'll bet you would like them!!!!1
I could send you a vine - started already if you like.
LMK,
Louise

Thanks for the advice! Since I don't even know what espalliered (?) is, HELP! The potato vine sounds great - and it grows in shade that fast? Hallelujia! I'd sure appreciate a starter, for sure - I'll D-mail you, Louise - and thanks again for the help - Dax

Sounds like the potato vine will be a hit. But here are a few other thoughts.

Espalliered refers to the practice of shaping a shrub into a sort of 2-dimentional shape, by pruning, and by tying branches to a support. From your picture, the shade is not that deep, and I think a couple of camellias would work.

I planted English Ivy on a fence in lower light than yours at my place (warmer zone). The first 2 years were slow, but in the third year, there is some lush growth, and some of it is 18" up the fence. So it was slow, but perhaps faster than yours. Puzzling why yours did not do better, with he good conditions you describe. What about plain old fertilizer?

Doss' suggestion of the clamatis viticella makes sense. I looked it up and see that it is recommended for any light conditions. I am going to try growing one up a red bud tree in part shade. Thanks, Doss! There are also evergreen clematis, which would probably not bloom much in that exposure, but the foliage is a nice, strong green. Dutchman's Pipe could work, and supports the Pinevine Swallowtail butterfly.

Peter

I also have a Clematis that was recommended for shade,,,Came back fine this year. We'll see how it does though. Sorry but right now, I can't even remember the name,,,I'll have to try and do some detective work.

dax,
Just did my detective work. I do believe this is the Clematis I have and the seller I got it from http://cgi.ebay.com/CLEMATIS-for-SHADE-vine-vines-6-99-perennial_W0QQitemZ7762930631QQcategoryZ43548QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Kelly

This message was edited May 5, 2006 2:26 PM

Hey everyone, - great advice - and it so happens that I've got another place, behind the falls, that I'm also looking for a shade vine - so I'm going to try the clematis also - it looks absolutely lovely and so can't resist. As far as the fertilizer, you know, that's something I haven't tried - DUH - I'll try that too. Louise and I are working out a trade for the potato vine, so it sounds like I've got mucho options! Thanks again - Dax (Becki)

Dax,

I just checked and that definitely Is the Clematis I have. It's about a foot tall. Int he pic I have it planted behind the planter between the Arbor and the rocks for the raised bed. There's about 1 foot of space between the 2 and I thought it would go nicely there cause of all the shade. On the other side of the Arbor I have a Wisteria that prolly won't bloom until I'm long gone,,,LOL

This message was edited May 5, 2006 7:47 PM

Hops.

Beer,,,,oh, we're not playing that game that you say the first thing that comes to mind?? LOL

Of course, fancy means plant something that jumps about, catching the light . . .

LOL,,,there's another thought

This post is for those who've never seen an air potato vine.
You can tell the size of the leaves by comparison with the lattice work. The leaves get even larger as the season moves on and more roots develop. The golf ball sized potatoes grow
at the leaf joints and are harvested for next year's vines.

Louise

Wow,,,,nice,,,they look great.

GardenGeek_WI,
Thanks, I love to see the multitude of heart shaped leaves
grow up and along and over the stairway and rail of the deck.

Louise

Here is a picture of oxalis triangularii burgundy that I am sending to a couple of DGers today. I think the color, which
stays a vivid dark wine with lavender blooms almost all year and is hardy, really adds to my garden. In this picture, it is a border but it makes a beautiful hanging basket also.

ooo, that's pretty too.

GardenGeek, LOL on the game.
I looked at your link and sent an order for ''Claire de Lune'' clematis. I too was looking for a shady vine. Thanks!

Louise -

I am wondering if that is the same oxalis that grows in my yard, by way of either a grocery store or garden center as a 'purple shamrock'.

In our zone it goes dormant in the winter. I would describe the blooms as pink, but maybe lavendar. They don't trail here, but maybe it is the short season?

billy,

It just popped into my mind,,,that game,,,,LOL

Mine is doing really well so dfar this year. I'm surprised actually because I planted it in the ground and not in a raised bed. I plant 99% of my stuff in raised beds. That poor Clematis is planted in clay and it's doing great,,,I think I even stepped on it a couple of times before I remembered I had planted it there,,,LOL Poor plant

Am I insane to think of honeysuckle? It's growing like mad in two half-shade spots in my garden - I cut one to the ground last year because I'd trained it badly and it grew back past five feet in less than a year.

But I don't know if it gives up and dies in more shade.

Burnet

I'm just waiting to see what verybody says about that questin! I know what the stuff has done to me in the sun!

Peter

I just planted Honeysuckle ''Blanche Sandman'' on my trellis that gets afternooon shade. It's supposed to tolerate shade, so we'll see.

Yes, I'll wait till I hear too - I love honeysuckle, but my area is almost all shade. TexasLou gave me some great advice with the potato vine, but since the ivy seems to be doing better this year, I'm going to give it a chance for one more year. We'll see - looks like honeysuckle may be a part shade and sun, which won't make it in the area I'm looking for. Thanks again, TexaxLou - Dax