I need a climber to grow in the shade....

[RatherBeParcelPiste]

This would be to cover a fence at the bottom of my garden, but it is under a sycamore tree. The tree is pruned regularly so isn't mahossive, but no direct sunlight would get to the fence, although it is quite bright iyswim...

The other thing is, it may well have to grow out of a very large pot. When I was thinking about this yesterday, and I had a look, I'm not sure I'd ever be able to dig into the ground there because of all the tree roots.

I just fancy a bit of greenery rather than looking at the fence, but don't know if there is anything that could survive!

Climbing hydrangea does well on a north facing wall. it's self-clinging, so I am not sure how would cope on a fence.

Hello Pretty!

What does self clinging mean?!
I have some success with hydrangeas, and that would be good because then it would be green and colour. Would it survive a pot?

I have an extremely vigorous climbing/rambling rose growing on a north-facing fence, shaded by a shed & in a patch of earth the size of and as nutritious as a litter tray.. :) No idea what the name of the rose is as it is a cutting I stole acquired once from a neighbour.

Cogito - thank you - maybe could you steal acquire me a bit too??!!

A rambling sturdy rose would be good too - I'm liking the idea of some colour, I had though all I'd manage was some ivy. I might be able to dig out a small amount to plant something. But that is very encouraging!

I wish I could send you a piece or tell you the name of the thing.... It's a lovely cream-coloured rose that seems to flower profusely and for a long time. I give it a seriously brave haircut every year and it comes back every time. As long as it gets some kind of light at some part of the day I'd give it a go.

Hi Piste :) Self-clinging means it hangs on with little suckers (I think) like ivy. I think it would do OK in a pot - lots of people grow hydrangeas in a pt. Mum and Dad have a lovely one with cream coloured, mop head still flowers (it flattish flowers on which the outside flowerlets open, not the big ball flowers of normal hydrangeas) on a north facing wall.

Thank you! It is good to know that there are some options. I'm going to have a mooch in the local nursery and see. And hopefully all the rain we are having will make the ground softer under the tree. Then I can see if I can get into it or whether a tub will be the only option.

Honeysuckle is fine in the shade

Thank you too Pointydog... I'm glad to have options. I have a honeysuckle that is quite enthusiastic. I'm quite an impatient gardener so I'm keen for a quick grower!

I don't think the hydrangea would be a goer. They are quite expensive and take a good while to build up steam. Also, they would need a very sturdy fence and their stems are quite brittle so you'd lose them when you came to replace the fence. In deep shade, they are not exactly covered in bloom either.

I'd go for a variegeted ivy with silvery rather than yellow colouring. You'd get quicker cover, especially if you put it in reasonably large pots (lined with old compost bags if they are porous) and include water retaining crystals. Putting a stone mulch over the surface of the pot would also cut down on the watering.

Cognito your rose sounds amazing and I would be really interested in getting one. Could it be Rosa New Dawn?

I have a clematis vitecella in deep shade - it is currently covered in purple blooms. Maybe something else to consider, maybe in conjunction with something that blooms earlier in the season?

You'd need to remember to prune it back in early spring - but it's an easy prune as it is back (just about) to the base.

Two things Pretty! How Pretty!

I'll take a photo of it for you just to prove it works!

If an ivy is self clinging, then it copes with a fence so the other thing should?No?! I'd love a pic though, thanks x

Dontaskmesums is probably right - the hydrangea is probably a bit too slow a grower: the one I'm think if has had years to grow on my parents' north facing wall - and doesn't ever need to be disturbed. An ivy is a bit more robust.

I'll wait until it's a bit sunnier so might be waiting a long time before taking the photo.

Ivy will regrow quickly if you need to cut it back to see to the fence. Also, the individual stems of the climbing hydrangea are thicker and heavier. I have both in my garden but the hydrangea is on a brick wall :)

i have a chinese virginia creeper growing on my shady garden fence. It was reccomended on gardeners world for growing in shade, i bought mine on ebay. It doesnt flower, but has lovely green shiny leaves from spring to autumn.

Dontaskmesums I've Googled Rosa New Dawn but that's a pale pink, by the look of it, and this is definitely creamy white. I've actually just e-mailed my old neighbours because it was their original I stole took the cutting from & I think they know what it's called. Will let you know!!!

Lots of different clematis viticella here IIRC, mine is "etoile violette"

Bump to cogito to remember to update us with the name of the rose

I've covered my shady fences with bamboo roller blinds (the mechanism and strings removed) as I find them sturdier and easier to handle than screening. Then climbers are easily trained by tying them to the bamboo slats.

Judging by the glorious jumble of passion flower and grapevine that bursts over the fence from the house behind us, I'd say passion flower and grapevine...

I love passion flower, if it is what I think it is! Am going to check!

If you do plant any ivy, be diligent in keeping it in check! We got seriously overrun by our neighbours ivy on the shared fence.

Good point Grimma - our neighbours have an ivy that I'd like to take out!