Best Climbers For Shade | Growers' Choice
Climbing plants for shady places
Best Overall: Star Jasmine
For Shade: Climbing Hydrangea
Best Spring Flowers: Armand's Evergreen Clematis
For Variegated Flowers: Clematis 'Nelly Moser'
For Multi-Season Interest: Chocolate Vine
Best Foliage: Crimson Glory Vine
Best Autumn Colour: Virginia Creeper
Best For Wildlife: Variegated Ivy
Best For Fragrance: Halls Japanese Honeysuckle
Best Overall: Star Jasmine
A fantastic all rounder with evergreen foliage and fragrant summer flowers that will do well in any position, including on a North facing wall.
- Starry white blooms with notes of vanilla
- Evergreen for year-round interest
- Happy in full sun to partial shade
- Flowers from June to September
Best Overall: Star Jasmine
A fantastic all rounder with evergreen foliage and fragrant summer flowers that will do well in any position, including on a North facing wall.
- Starry white blooms with notes of vanilla
- Evergreen for year-round interest
- Happy in full sun to partial shade
- Flowers from June to September
For Shade: Climbing Hydrangea
The perfect plant for inhospitable, north facing walls, the climbing hydrangea is famed for its lacy white blooms, but also produces a stunning autumnal display when the leaves turn yellow.
- Prefers a spot in partial shade
- Ideal for training up a fence or wall
- Flowers from May to July
- Golden yellow leaves give autumn interest
For Shade: Climbing Hydrangea
The perfect plant for inhospitable, north facing walls, the climbing hydrangea is famed for its lacy white blooms, but also produces a stunning autumnal display when the leaves turn yellow.
- Prefers a spot in partial shade
- Ideal for training up a fence or wall
- Flowers from May to July
- Golden yellow leaves give autumn interest
Best Spring Flowers: Armand's Evergreen Clematis
A strong grower in any position, armandii is one of the few evergreen clematis, but also one of the earliest flowering producing masses of fragrant white flowers.
- Endearing, single, fragrant white blooms
- Pruning group 1 - no pruning
- Full sun, hardy (H4)
- Flowers March to April
Best Spring Flowers: Armand's Evergreen Clematis
A strong grower in any position, armandii is one of the few evergreen clematis, but also one of the earliest flowering producing masses of fragrant white flowers.
- Endearing, single, fragrant white blooms
- Pruning group 1 - no pruning
- Full sun, hardy (H4)
- Flowers March to April
For Variegated Flowers: Clematis 'Nelly Moser'
One of best recognised clematis, 'Nelly Moser' has stood the test of time thanks to its reliable nature and incredible two tone flowers. A classic indeed.
- Pink, candy-striped single blooms
- Pruning group 2 - light pruning
- Full sun to partial shade, fully hardy (H6)
- Flowers May to June, September
For Variegated Flowers: Clematis 'Nelly Moser'
One of best recognised clematis, 'Nelly Moser' has stood the test of time thanks to its reliable nature and incredible two tone flowers. A classic indeed.
- Pink, candy-striped single blooms
- Pruning group 2 - light pruning
- Full sun to partial shade, fully hardy (H6)
- Flowers May to June, September
For Multi-Season Interest: Chocolate Vine
Despite looking like something from a H.G. Wells novel, the Chocolate Vine is very much real and provides unmatched exoticism with its fragrant purple brown flowers and large pink oval fruits.
- Happy in full sun to partial shade
- Train to cover walls, fences and trellis
- Flowers from March to May
- Purple-brown flowers with a warm spicy scent
For Multi-Season Interest: Chocolate Vine
Despite looking like something from a H.G. Wells novel, the Chocolate Vine is very much real and provides unmatched exoticism with its fragrant purple brown flowers and large pink oval fruits.
- Happy in full sun to partial shade
- Train to cover walls, fences and trellis
- Flowers from March to May
- Purple-brown flowers with a warm spicy scent
Best Foliage: Crimson Glory Vine
Probably the best ornamental grape available, the Crimson Glory Vine's attractive leaves colour up magically come autumn.
- Fresh green foliage turns to stunning shades of crimson in autumn
- Ideal for covering a wall, pergola or shed
- Low maintenance and easy to grow - fits any garden
- RHS Award of Garden Merit
Best Foliage: Crimson Glory Vine
Probably the best ornamental grape available, the Crimson Glory Vine's attractive leaves colour up magically come autumn.
- Fresh green foliage turns to stunning shades of crimson in autumn
- Ideal for covering a wall, pergola or shed
- Low maintenance and easy to grow - fits any garden
- RHS Award of Garden Merit
Best Autumn Colour: Virginia Creeper
The wall climber of choice that will light up your abode come autumn. Fast growing, self clinging and leaves no mark on walls.
- Deciduous leaves turn ruby red in autumn
- Incredibly fast-growing
- Grows well in all light conditions
- Inconspicuous green flowers in summer
Best Autumn Colour: Virginia Creeper
The wall climber of choice that will light up your abode come autumn. Fast growing, self clinging and leaves no mark on walls.
- Deciduous leaves turn ruby red in autumn
- Incredibly fast-growing
- Grows well in all light conditions
- Inconspicuous green flowers in summer
Best For Wildlife: Variegated Ivy
Our humble ivy provides both year round shelter for and flowers and fruits in the off season, doing more than any other climber to sustain both birds and insects. This gorgeous variant exhibits both stunning leaf shape and variegation for year round colour in your garden, no matter the location.
- Incredible green foliage flecked with cream
- RHS Award of Garden Merit winner
- Grows in full sun to full shade
- Ornamental berries in winter
Best For Wildlife: Variegated Ivy
Our humble ivy provides both year round shelter for and flowers and fruits in the off season, doing more than any other climber to sustain both birds and insects. This gorgeous variant exhibits both stunning leaf shape and variegation for year round colour in your garden, no matter the location.
- Incredible green foliage flecked with cream
- RHS Award of Garden Merit winner
- Grows in full sun to full shade
- Ornamental berries in winter
Best For Fragrance: Halls Japanese Honeysuckle
Used to deep forest shade, honeysuckles grow well in any position and are famed for their large sweet smelling flowers. 'Halliana' is a handsome variety with glossy evergreen leaves and long lasting two tone flowers.
- Butter yellow and white, horn-shaped blooms
- Ideal for training up a pergola or fence
- A woodland plant that likes part shade
- Flowers from July to September
Best For Fragrance: Halls Japanese Honeysuckle
Used to deep forest shade, honeysuckles grow well in any position and are famed for their large sweet smelling flowers. 'Halliana' is a handsome variety with glossy evergreen leaves and long lasting two tone flowers.
- Butter yellow and white, horn-shaped blooms
- Ideal for training up a pergola or fence
- A woodland plant that likes part shade
- Flowers from July to September
