Climbing Plants for Shade

Looking for a climbing plant to brighten a shady spot in the garden? Whether you grow them on a wall, fence or pergola - or even in containers - these shade-loving climbers are guaranteed to revitalise your outdoor space. 

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  • Star Jasmine | Trachelospermum jasminoides Climbing Plants
    From £30
    From £30

    Evergreen Star Jasmine | Trachelospermum jasminoides

    The OG for summer scent

    • Starry white blooms with notes of vanilla
    • Evergreen for year-round interest
    • Happy in full sun to partial shade
    • Flowers from June to September

    3 options available

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  • Honeysuckle 'Halliana' | Lonicera Japonica | On a 90cm Cane in a 3L Pot Climbing Plants
    From £25
    £30 From £25

    Hall's Japanese Honeysuckle | Lonicera japonica 'Halliana'

    Fragrant evergreen diva

    • Butter yellow and white, horn-shaped blooms
    • Ideal for training up a pergola or fence
    • A woodland plant that likes part shade
    • Prolific flowers from July to September

    2 options available

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  • Virginia Creeper | Parthenocissus quinquefolia Climbing Plants
    From £30
    From £30

    Virginia Creeper | Parthenocissus quinquefolia

    A blazing canvas of autumn fire

    • Five-lobed leaves turn fiery shades in autumn
    • Incredibly fast-growing
    • Grows well in all light conditions
    • Inconspicuous green flowers in summer

    2 options available

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  • Honeysuckle 'Belgica' | Lonicera Periclymenum | On a 90cm Cane in a 3L Pot Climbing Plants
    From £30
    From £30

    Early Dutch Honeysuckle | Lonicera periclymenum 'Belgica'

    Myriad fragrant flowers

    • Showy red, white and yellow blooms
    • Attractive red autumn berries
    • Like most honeysuckles, prefers part shade
    • Flowers from May to June

    2 options available

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  • Chinese Virginia Creeper | Parthenocissus henryana Climbing Plants
    From £30
    From £30

    Chinese Virginia Creeper | Parthenocissus henryana

    Vigorous autumn climber

    • Silvery green and burgundy foliage
    • RHS Award of Garden Merit winner
    • Can cope in full sun or shade
    • Fab fruit-foliage colour contrast in autumn

    2 options available

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  • Yellow Star Jasmine | Trachelospermum jasminoides 'Star of Tuscany' Climbing Plants
    From £30
    From £30

    Yellow Star Jasmine | Trachelospermum jasminoides 'Star of Tuscany'

    A sky of yellow stars

    • Butter-yellow blooms and dark green foliage
    • Evergreen with bronze tints in autumn
    • Prefers full sun (withstands partial shade)
    • Blooms from June to September

    2 options available

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  • 'Red World' Japanese Honeysuckle | Lonicera japonica Climbing Plants
    From £30
    From £30

    'Red World' Japanese Honeysuckle | Lonicera japonica

    Powerful pockets of red and pink

    • Tubular pink blooms with a creamy interior
    • Unbeatable levels of fragrance
    • Plant in part (or dappled) shade
    • Perfumed flowers from May to August

    2 options available

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  • 'Starry Starry Summer Scent' Jasmine | Jasminum x stephanense Climbing Plants
    From £30
    From £30

    'Starry Starry Summer Scent' Jasmine | Jasminum x stephanense

    Brilliant bicolour blooms

    • Pink and white flowers, mid-green leaves
    • Easily covers a tired fence or wall
    • Happy in both full sun and partial shade
    • Flowers from June to August

    2 options available

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  • 90cm Honeysuckle 'Dropmore Scarlet' | Lonicera x Brownii | 3L Pot Climbing Plants
    From £30
    From £30

    Scarlet Trumpet Honeysuckle | Lonicera x brownii 'Dropmore Scarlet'

    Instant cottage garden charm

    • Scarlet-orange, funnel-like flowers
    • Dramatic blue-green foliage
    • Grows in full sun but prefers a bit of shade
    • Yields blooms from July to September

    2 options available

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  • Clematis triternata 'Rubromarginata' Climbing Plants
    £30
    £30

    Clematis triternata 'Rubromarginata'

    An explosion of fragrant flowers

    • Cruciform, white and purple-edged blooms
    • Pruning group 3 - loves a prune
    • Full sun to partial shade, hardy (H4)
    • Flowers June to August

    1 option available

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  • Patio Climbers Collection | Best Climbing Plants for Pots Climbing Plants
    From £55
    £60 From £55

    Patio Climbers Collection | Best Climbing Plants for Pots

    Perfect for terrace growing

    • Elevate your paved outdoor space
    • Train up a wall, pergola or grow in a pot
    • Beautiful blooms and alluring foliage
    • Attract plenty of pollinators

    3 options available

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  • Shade-Loving Climbers Collection | Best Climbing Plants for Shade Climbing Plants
    From £85
    £90 From £85

    Shade-Loving Climbers Collection | Best Climbing Plants for Shade

    The very best climbers for shade

    • Varieties suited to both part and full shade
    • Fantastic foliage and brilliant blooms
    • Train up an unsightly wall or fence
    • Hardy, tough and tolerant of UK conditions

    2 options available

    Trustpilot
  • Virginia Creeper | Parthenocissus quinquefolia 'Red Wall' Climbing Plants
    From £30
    From £30

    Virginia Creeper | Parthenocissus quinquefolia 'Red Wall'

    A wall of autumn flame

    • Green foliage turns vibrant red in autumn
    • Can withstand the harshest UK winters
    • Grows in sun, partial shade or full shade
    • Attractive blue-black berries in autumn

    2 options available

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  • Evergreen Clematis | Clematis armandii 'Snowdrift' Climbing Plants
    From £35
    From £35

    Evergreen Clematis | Clematis armandii 'Snowdrift'

    Cascades of starry flowers

    • Fabulous, scented blooms with airfoil petals
    • Pruning group 1 - no pruning
    • Full sun to partial shade, half hardy (H3)
    • Flowers March to April

    2 options available

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  • White Garden Climbing Plants Collection Climbing Plants
    From £85
    £90 From £85

    White Garden Climbing Plants Collection

    Snowy blooms from a height

    • A variety of linen-white, showy flowers
    • Train your climbers up a wall or obelisk
    • Full sun to partial shade (variety dependent)
    • Selected for colour, strength and performance

    1 option available

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  • 'Glacier' Ivy | Hedera helix Climbing Plants
    From £30
    From £30

    'Glacier' Ivy | Hedera helix

    Grows anything but glacially

    • Mottled, lightly-lobed, silver-green foliage
    • RHS Award of Garden Merit winner
    • Grows in all light conditions (sun to shade)
    • Perfect for covering a drab fence

    2 options available

    Trustpilot
  • Clematis 'Pink Fantasy' Climbing Plants
    £30
    £30

    Clematis 'Pink Fantasy'

    Clouds of blush-pink prettiness

    • Starry pink flowers with deeper-hued stripes
    • Pruning group 3 - loves a prune
    • Full sun to partial shade, fully hardy (H6)
    • Flowers July to September

    1 option available

    Trustpilot
  • Pink & Purple Climbing Plants Collection Climbing Plants
    From £90
    £98 From £90

    Pink & Purple Climbing Plants Collection

    A warm and nostalgic collection

    • Create a beautifully co-ordinated display
    • Flowers from May right through to October
    • The best colour, strength and performance
    • Easy to grow on a trellis, wall or pergola

    3 options available

    Trustpilot
  • Honeysuckle 'Henryi' | Lonicera Japonica | On a 90cm Cane in a 3L Pot Climbing Plants
    From £30
    From £30

    Henry's Honeysuckle | Lonicera henryi

    Vigorous and utterly beautiful

    • Red and yellow, horn-shaped flowers
    • Heavenly scent grows stronger in full sun
    • Part shade preferred (full sun tolerable)
    • Flowers in July and August

    Currently out of stock

  • White Passion Flower | Passiflora 'White Lighting' Climbing Plants
    From £25
    £30 From £25

    White Passion Flower | Passiflora 'White Lighting'

    Brilliant blooming bolts

    • Creamy white, purple and lavender blooms
    • Semi-evergreen and a vigorous grower
    • Grow in full sun to partial shade
    • Flowers from June to October

    Currently out of stock

  • 'Dart's World' Japanese Honeysuckle | Lonicera japonica Climbing Plants
    From £30
    From £30

    'Dart's World' Japanese Honeysuckle | Lonicera japonica

    This climber hits the bullseye

    • Rhubarb and custard-coloured tubular blooms
    • Heavily scented blooms
    • Dappled or partial shade is ideal
    • Free-flowering from April to August

    Currently out of stock

  • Boston Ivy | Parthenocissus tricuspidata 'Veitchi' Climbing Plants
    From £30
    From £30

    Boston Ivy | Parthenocissus tricuspidata 'Veitchi'

    A climber for all seasons

    • Foliage changes from purple to green to red!
    • RHS Award of Garden Merit winner
    • Grows best in full sun to partial shade
    • Can easily climb and cover a two-story wall

    Currently out of stock

  • Pink Star Jasmine | Trachelospermum jasminoides 'Star of Milano' Climbing Plants
    From £30
    From £30

    Pink Star Jasmine | Trachelospermum jasminoides 'Star of Milano'

    An explosion of pink stars

    • Pastel pink, starry flowers and glossy leaves
    • Blooms radiate a heady, tropical aroma
    • Prefers sun (tolerates partial shade)
    • Abundant pink flowers from June to August

    Currently out of stock

  • Ornamental Kiwi | Actinidia Kolomikta Climbing Plants
    From £30
    From £30

    Ornamental Kiwi | Actinidia kolomikta

    Masses of flamboyant foliage

    • A magical mix of greens, whites and pinks
    • RHS Award of Garden Merit winner
    • Appreciates a position in the sunshine
    • Flowers in early spring

    Currently out of stock

  • 'Gold Flame' Honeysuckle | Lonicera heckrottii
    From £30
    From £30

    'Gold Flame' Honeysuckle | Lonicera heckrottii

    Showy, scented trumpet flowers

    • Carmine-pink and orange, horn-like blooms
    • RHS Award of Garden Merit winner
    • Partial or dappled shade is perfect
    • Blooms from June to September

    Currently out of stock

  • Passiflora Amethyst Lavender Lady 3L Climbing Plants
    From £25
    £34 From £25

    Purple Passion Flower | Passiflora 'Lavender Lady'

    Attention-grabbing violet blooms

    • Voluminous, flamboyant purple-blue flowers
    • RHS Award of Garden Merit winner
    • Loves a sunny spot (tolerates part shade)
    • Blooms from July to September

    Currently out of stock

  • Red Passion Flower | Passiflora Caerulea 'Rubra' Climbing Plants
    From £25
    £30 From £25

    Red Passion Flower | Passiflora caerulea 'Rubra'

    Elevates any garden

    • Large, showy magenta, white and purple blooms
    • A vigorous, fast-growing climber
    • Best growth occurs in full sun to part shade
    • Blooms from July to September

    Currently out of stock

Cheltenham

Meet Mollie

Climbers grown by specialists at the height of their game

What does it take to grow the strongest and best climbing plants in the show tent? Organic fertilisers, natural pest control and years of dedication from Mollie, our expert grower in Worcestershire. Professionally pruned and checked by hand, they’re guaranteed to put on a gold standard display in your garden, too.

Need help picking?

Why choose shade-tolerant climbing plants?

Why choose shade-tolerant climbing plants?

While many of us would like a sunny, south-facing garden, they’re not always forthcoming. Instead, many of us have outdoor spaces that find themselves part-shaded, receiving some sun, but not enough for certain sun-loving plants to thrive. If you have a pergola, wall or arbour you want covering, but find your garden’s more cloud-kissed than sun-touched, then climbers tolerant of shade are your best friend. Certain climbers are naturally well-suited to dappled shade; honeysuckles, for instance, are woodland plants and therefore accustomed to patchier light.

What are our favourite climbing plants for shade?

What are our favourite climbing plants for shade?

There are so many great shade-tolerant climbers out there that it’s hard to whittle down the options. However, we’ve tried! With its RHS Award of Garden Merit and fabulous flaxen flowers, Lonicera japonica ‘Halliana’ (Hall’s Japanese honeysuckle) is undoubtedly among, not only the best shade-tolerant climbers, but among the best climbers full stop. Star jasmine is another, well, star performer. Boasting fragrant pinwheel flowers and lush evergreen foliage, this plant is perfect for adding a touch of the Mediterranean to your outdoor space. Finally, we’re going to go for a foliage plant in the form of Parthenocissus quinquefolia (Virginia creeper). Easily clothing a bare wall, this vigorous plant provides an absolute riot of autumn colour.

Caring for shady climbers

Caring for shady climbers

Most shade-tolerant climbers like to be planted in moist but well-drained soil. An application of fertiliser at the start of spring can help encourage better blooms. A layer of mulch can also be helpful with weed suppression and moisture retention. Watering should be routine when your plants are establishing, particularly during hot, dry spells. If you’re growing your climber(s) in a pot, then more regular watering will be required. Hardy clematis species such as Clematis alpina and Clematis viticella that don’t mind a bit of sun benefit from having their roots kept shaded using other plants or some gravel.

Happy plants make happy customers

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Ornamental Colour Collection Pond Plants
five star rating on Trustpilot

Plants arrived in great condition and very promptly. Well established - much better than the ones I got at my local garden centre.

Monica Spence

| 24 May
Star Jasmine | Trachelospermum jasminoides Climbing Plants
five star rating on Trustpilot

Yet again this company delivered good healthy plants, exactly as shown in photos, well packaged and within delivery time quoted. Recommend!

Jacqueline Burgess

| 2 Jun
five star rating on Trustpilot

I continue to be so impressed with Roots. Their customer care, knowledge of their subject: from planting hedges to pruning roses and more, has been a great support.

Judy Lane

| 23 Oct
E 'Black Hamburgh' Indoor Grape Vine Soft Fruit
five star rating on Trustpilot

The plant arrived looking vigorously healthy, which brings a smile to your face, extremely well protected in its packaging.

Martyn Hill

| 5 Jul
E 'Braeburn Hillwell' Apple Tree Fruit Trees
five star rating on Trustpilot

As a non-gardener, I found my whole experience brilliant. Great information & advice available on the website, great range of products & prices are brilliant.

John-Paul

| 22 May
five star rating on Trustpilot

Wonderful plants and great customer service... really surprised to find that the plants are better than those you would get at your local garden centre.

Gavin Wilcock

| 8 Nov

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