Is there such thing as a shady climber which can tolerate poor soil and a small planting area?

[SinkSwim]

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Following (North facing garden here!) Ivy? 🤔

Ivy, there are some prettier ones.

Yes starting to think that’s it. Got an area that is pretty much full shade. Unless I planted something further up with better soil and space that would reach it. It’s quite a focus point and behind a pond and 2 trees with an ugly fence behind.

Its driving me nuts trying to sort it.

I agree, I've got a beautiful self-seeded ivy on a north facing wall against a concrete staircase. It's in almost total darkness and it seems to grow out of the concrete, it's not even in soil. The only thing it needs is regular watering if it's in a dry spot.

Hydrangea petiolaris likes sun or shade it's not fussy, and it looks lovely with clusters of white flowers. It's liable to grow large though and Tbh not sure about soil quality needed but you could dig in some soil improver first.

My jasmine does ok in the shade.

Honeysuckle maybe.

my honeysuckle seems to go regardless

Yes, is that a climbing hydrangea? We’ve got one in a shady spot and it’s thriving. It’s much prettier than ivy and perhaps not as invasive, though ivy is also a good bet if you find a nice one and keep on top of it.

We put ours in a large tub, we have to water it occasionally in the summer but it does v well. (One of those wide rectangular planters)

I planted this about six weeks ago against a north facing wall in dreadful soil, and it’s grow8ng well.

I agree have a jasmine in full shade & it's thriving.

Yes it's a climbing hydrangea, mine is small at the moment but thriving in the shade. The only drawback is it's not evergreen although I don't think you need to cut it back in the winter so you still have the branches covering your wall, fence etc. Correct me if I'm wrong though and youre supposed to cut it down each year!

Yes it's a climbing hydrangea, mine is small at the moment but thriving in the shade. The only drawback is it's not evergreen although I don't think you need to cut it back in the winter so you still have the branches covering your wall, fence etc. Correct me if I'm wrong though and youre supposed to cut it down each year!

Mine was small for years, I didn't cut it at all. It just quietly grew on the neighbours garage wall.
Then suddenly whoomph, it was up in the eaves and onto the roof...we've had to hack it down at the worm time of year. I need to cut it right back after (what remains from recent untimely pruning) flowering I think.