Please could you help me find a climber to plant by my front door? North facing, clay...

[Mugsandpens]

I'm struggling to find a climber that will be happy in this clay soil by a north-facing front door. We do get sun from around 3pm in the summer (currently the sun moves to the front around 4pm).
Would that count as full sun? I've just learned full sun means the number of hours in sun and it would be 6, but again more in the summer than spring.

I would have liked to plant wisteria but doing some research I see it can cause damage to foundations so have decided not to do that.

I would also prefer to plant it into the ground rather than in a pot as I find that easier to look after long term.

Ideally, it would be evergreen with flowers in the summer but really I would be happy with anything that will grow well there.

Thanks in advance!

You could try honeysuckle, my mum has one outside her north facing back door

Sorry I can’t help but following as I have the same front door! I was looking into evergreen clematis but am yet to find one that would suit north facing.

Clematis montana is very happy in shady conditions and won't upset your foundations.

Rosa Banksaei Lutea. It is an anazing plant. It grows really quickly, is thornless and is sweet scented and really easy to train.. It flowers in April through to Late May, It is also evergreen. I got mine from David Austin. I would plant it bare routed in Autumn.
You will get few flowers in the first spring, as it uses its energy to establish roots.

Bare rooted

Have a look at Hydrangea petiolaris. They don't mind shade (apparently poisonous to dogs though).

Climbing rose's Albert one or New Dawn. New Dawn might be better for size. Quite a few clematis, including viticella Etoile in August and September.

They are lovely but very slow to get going.

You could consider planting a climber in a pot then you won't be limited by soil type as you can fill the pot with a soil of your choice.

We have previously had a passion flower climber very happily in a pot, although this won't meet your requirement for an evergreen.

I've got a Hydrangea petiolaris on my north facing wall. I brought it with me from my previous house where it wasn't doing well. Its really taken off now and is covered in creamy white flowers for months. We also have clay soil here.

Unusually my old house had mock orange climbing everywhere. Smelt incredible, I’m unsure how it got established, it was in and on the trees and was basically a hedgerow of it.

I was also going to suggest the hydrangea as well. It’s always recommended on gardeners question time although I’m still waiting for mine to do something

What about a solanum? You have enough sun for that, even though the more sun they get the better. You can get them in white or purple and they’re easy to train. I had one in an arch around my porch and it did brilliantly for years and then (back when I knew even less than the little I know now) I heavily pruned it at the wrong time of year.

Rosa Madame Alfred Carrierre does well on north facing walls. It is fast growing too. I remember Monty had one on a brick wall and it did amazingly.

I have very heavy clay soil and on an East facing wall that is overshadowed by trees I have Akebia quinata. Its flowers are maroon coloured and scented.

Crocus

I have one and it's doing really well. Also in clay soil. You will need to train it well though.

I could almost watch mine growing earlier in the year!

These recommendations for roses are really useful. Our garden is clay and mostly shady so I will definitely be trying these out. I have planted about 4 climbing hydrangeas but like other have said they are very slow. Still only about 60cm high and they have been in a couple of years.

Our old climbing hydrangea was an absolute thug one it got going - it took a while, then once in it's stride had to be hacked back as it was getting way too big. I wouldn't plant one against a house now.

I've got a pair of climbing hydrangeas in similar positions to your door op. I put them in last May. They did nothing much at all all of of last year. Since mid March this year however they are going bananas and have added a third on to their growth in that time. So I'm hoping they will carry on and look fabulous this year!

I had to take my climbing hydrangea down too; it was in clay soil on a north facing wall and turned into an absolute thug.

Chaenomeles japonica (flowering quince)? Fine on north facing walls, soil tolerant.

I really would not put a thorny rose, or any thorny plant near a front door.

I planted a Virginia creeper. North facing and clay. One of my old houses already had ivy established when we moved in but was mature and started to form a hedge at the bottom. I'm in a terraced house that sits slightly further forward than those each side, so I'm going to keep the creeper in check and only let it grow up the front wall, and not get higher than 8ft or so. We go out deadheading or tidying up the garden a bit most evenings but if I didn't have the time I wouldn't have planted it, as I've heard they can be invasive. Not planted for flowers but the red leaves have interest. It won't damage the brick or foundations (apparently).

Do you happen to know the name?

I had one in my previous garden (sandy soil) but I haven't managed to get one to thrive in the clay I have now.

So many brilliant suggestions, thank you so much! Rushing to pick up kids but I'm really looking forward to googling all these plants later.

I've just remembered I used to have a flowering quince in my old place. Although not evergreen those early spring flowers on twigs were so beautiful!