Best Climbing Plants For Shade

Best Climbing Plants for Shade — Which Climber for a North-Facing Wall, a Shady Fence, or Under Trees?

Most climbing plants will grow on a north-facing wall or a shady fence, provided you pick the right one and get it established in the first year or two. The best shade-tolerant climbers for UK gardens are climbing hydrangea (Hydrangea petiolaris), ivy, honeysuckle, and the alpina and montana groups of clematis; all of which will flower on a wall that gets less than four hours of direct sun.

What follows is a practical guide to which climbers work in which shade conditions, with clear notes about what to expect from each one and where to go for specific varieties.

Related articles

• Which Clematis Should I Grow?
• Do Climbing Plants Damage Walls and Fences?
• Evergreen Clematis — Year-Round Cover
• Best Rose Varieties for Shady Gardens

What's the Difference Between Shade, Part Shade, and North-Facing?

Before choosing a climber, it helps to know exactly what kind of shade you're dealing with. A north-facing wall isn't the same as deep shade under a tree canopy, and the plants that thrive in one may sulk in the other.

• North-facing wall: Gets no direct sun in winter, but receives indirect light and sometimes a couple of hours of angled sun in midsummer. The wall stays cool and the soil at its base is often dry because prevailing rain comes from the south-west. Most climbers on this page will manage here.
• East-facing wall: Gets morning sun and afternoon shade. This is easier than north-facing — if a climber will grow on an east wall, it'll almost certainly manage on a north one, though it may flower less freely.
• Dappled shade (under trees): The light shifts through the day as the canopy moves. Most climbers handle this well, but the competition for water and nutrients from tree roots is the real challenge. Prepare the soil generously.
• Deep shade (dense canopy, narrow alley, basement well): Less than two hours of any direct or indirect sun. Ivy and climbing hydrangea are the reliable choices here. Most flowering climbers will survive but won't flower much.

Here's a tip we've found to be true in most cases: if a climber will grow on an east-facing wall, it will almost certainly manage on a north-facing one — although it may not flower quite as well.

Which Climbing Plants Grow in Full Shade?

Only two true climbers thrive in deep, full shade where the sun barely reaches: ivy (Hedera) and climbing hydrangea (Hydrangea petiolaris). Both are self-clinging, both are tough as old boots, and between them they offer year-round cover — ivy for evergreen foliage, climbing hydrangea for lace-cap flowers in June and July followed by cinnamon-peeling bark in winter.

Everything else on this page will grow in partial shade (a north wall, an east wall, the shady side of a fence) but wants at least a few hours of indirect light. For truly dark spots — a narrow passage between buildings, a deep basement well, a wall overhung by dense evergreens — stick with ivy or climbing hydrangea and don't fight it.

What Is the Best Evergreen Climber for Shade?

Ivy wins. Nothing else comes close in deep shade. In partial shade (a north-facing wall with some reflected light), you have two other good options: Clematis armandii, which is evergreen and scented with glossy, pointed leaves, and Pileostegia viburnoides, a self-clinging evergreen hydrangea relative that flowers in late summer. Armandii needs a sheltered wall — it dislikes cold wind — but on a protected north wall in the south of England it does beautifully.

Evergreen climber	Shade tolerance	Self-clinging?	Flowers	Height	Notes
Common ivy	Full shade	Yes	Autumn (insignificant)	15m+	The toughest. Will grow anywhere. Good for wildlife.
Ivy 'Sulphur Heart'	Full shade	Yes	Autumn (insignificant)	8m	Bold gold-splashed leaves. Brighter in some light.
Clematis armandii	Partial shade	No (needs support)	March — scented white	5–6m	Sheltered wall essential. Spectacular scent.
Pileostegia viburnoides	Partial shade	Yes	Aug–Sep — creamy white	6m	Slow to establish, then low-maintenance.

What Is the Fastest-Growing Climber for a Shady Wall?

Clematis montana. Given something to twine around, a healthy montana will put on 2–3 metres in a year and cover a large wall or fence within three seasons. They flower in May and June, smothering themselves in small white or pink blooms — the effect is like a waterfall of blossom. Montana varieties are pruning group 1 (prune after flowering if you must, but most people leave them alone) and they're tough on north walls.

If you want something self-clinging that doesn't need wires, Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) is almost as fast and will cover a house end in three or four years. It isn't evergreen and doesn't flower, but the autumn colour is spectacular — sheets of crimson and scarlet. The Chinese Virginia creeper (P. henryana) is slightly more refined, with silvery-veined leaves that colour well in shade.

Fast climber	Growth rate	Self-clinging?	Evergreen?	Flowers	Best for
C. montana 'Elizabeth'	2–3m/year	No	No	May–Jun, pink, scented	Large walls and fences
C. montana 'Grandiflora'	2–3m/year	No	No	May–Jun, white	Covering sheds, garages
C. montana 'Rubens'	2–3m/year	No	No	May, soft pink	Bronze young foliage
Virginia creeper	2m+/year	Yes	No	None	Autumn colour on large walls
Chinese Virginia creeper	1.5m/year	Yes	No	None	Smaller walls, silvery leaves

Can I Grow Clematis on a North-Facing Wall?

Yes — and many clematis actually prefer it. The alpinas, macropetalas, and montanas are all completely happy on a north wall. Large-flowered hybrids like Nelly Moser positively benefit from shade: their famous pink-and-carmine striped flowers bleach badly in full sun, but hold their colour in the cooler light of a north-facing position. The same is true of other striped and pale-coloured cultivars.

The one group we'd steer away from is the texensis types (tulip-shaped flowers), which really do want sun to perform. Everything else will manage on a north wall, though deep reds like Niobe are best where they catch at least some direct light to show the depth of colour.

Clematis for north walls	Type	Colour	Flowers	Height	Why on a north wall
Nelly Moser	Large-flowered	Pale pink, carmine bar	May–Jun, Sep	3m	Bar holds colour in shade; bleaches in sun
Markham's Pink	Macropetala	Sugar pink, double	Apr–May	2.5m	Fully shade tolerant. Dainty bell flowers.
Montana 'Elizabeth'	Montana	Soft pink	May–Jun	8m	Vigorous, scented, trouble-free
C. armandii	Evergreen	White, scented	Mar	5m	Evergreen. Needs shelter from cold wind.
Étoile Violette	Viticella	Deep purple	Jul–Sep	4m	Wilt-proof. Dark colours show well in shade.

For the full variety guide, see Which Clematis Should I Grow?

Which Honeysuckle Is Best for Shade?

Honeysuckle is a natural woodland scrambler — in the wild it grows up through trees and hedgerows, so partial shade suits it perfectly. The thing to know about honeysuckle in shade is that the lower stems will almost certainly get powdery mildew. This isn't a disease problem; it's just what happens when the base is in still, shady air. The flowers and upper growth, once they reach the light, will be fine.

The best varieties for a shady wall or fence:

Honeysuckle	Evergreen?	Scent	Colour	Flowers	Notes
L. japonica 'Halliana'	Semi-evergreen	Strong	Creamy white	Jun–Oct	The classic. Vigorous, scented, easy.
'Graham Thomas'	Semi-evergreen	Good	Cream to yellow	Jul–Sep	Named after the great plantsman.
'Serotina'	No	Strong	Dark red outside, cream inside	Jul–Oct	Late flowering. Stunning colour.
L. × tellmanniana	No	None	Golden-orange	Jun–Jul	No scent but the colour is extraordinary.
'Copper Beauty'	Semi-evergreen	Good	Copper buds, cream flowers	Jun–Sep	Compact. Good for a fence panel.

Will Climbing Roses Grow in Shade?

Some will. Most climbing roses want at least five hours of sun, and in deep shade they'll produce leaves and thorns but not much else. On a north-facing wall that gets some reflected light, a handful of varieties will flower respectably — but don't expect the extravagance they'd give you in full sun.

The most shade-tolerant climbing roses we've found are 'Madame Alfred Carrière' (blush-white, repeat-flowering, nearly thornless — the classic north-wall rose), 'New Dawn' (silvery pink, tough as they come), and 'Zéphirine Drouhin' (cerise pink, thornless, bourbon — prone to mildew but scented magnificently). All of these perform respectably on a wall that gets three to four hours of indirect light.

For a full guide, see Best Rose Varieties for Shady Gardens.

What Should I Grow on a Shady Fence?

A shady fence is usually easier than a shady wall. The soil isn't as dry (no rain shadow), the air moves more freely (less mildew on honeysuckle), and you've typically got at least some indirect light from above. The main constraint is the fence itself — most panel fences aren't strong enough for heavy climbers like wisteria or montana clematis.

For a standard 1.8m fence panel in shade, the best options are:

• Honeysuckle — 'Halliana' or 'Copper Beauty' for scent and semi-evergreen cover
• Clematis — a compact variety like 'Piilu' (1.5m, pink-striped, shade tolerant) or one of the viticellas (3–4m, wilt-proof, prune hard in February)
• Climbing hydrangea — H. petiolaris if you want self-clinging cover that needs no wires. Slow for the first couple of years, then unstoppable.
• Ivy — if you want year-round green and no maintenance. 'Sulphur Heart' adds a splash of gold.

Avoid anything that gets too heavy for the fence panels. Wisteria will rip a fence apart within a few years. Montana clematis is borderline — fine on a robust post-and-rail fence, too heavy for a lapped panel.

What About Self-Clinging Climbers for Shade?

Self-clinging climbers don't need wires, trellises, or other support — they attach themselves to the wall or fence surface using aerial roots or adhesive pads. If you don't want to drill holes or put up wires, these are the ones to plant.

Self-clinging climber	Method	Evergreen?	Shade tolerance	Height	Notes
Common ivy	Aerial roots	Yes	Full shade	15m+	Will not damage sound modern brickwork
Climbing hydrangea	Aerial roots	No	Full shade	12m	Slow start, then magnificent. Flowers in shade.
Virginia creeper	Adhesive pads	No	Partial shade	15m	Spectacular autumn colour
Pileostegia viburnoides	Aerial roots	Yes	Partial shade	6m	Evergreen, cream flowers Aug–Sep
Evergreen climbing hydrangea	Aerial roots	Yes	Partial shade	8m	Slower than petiolaris. Glossy leaves.

A note on wall damage: self-clinging climbers will not damage sound modern brickwork, rendered walls, or concrete. They can cause problems on old, crumbling masonry where there are already cracks for roots to exploit, and they will pull off paint when removed. For more detail, see Do Climbing Plants Damage Walls?

What About Jasmine in Shade?

It depends which jasmine. Winter jasmine (Jasminum nudiflorum) — the one with acid-yellow flowers on bare green stems from December to March — is genuinely shade tolerant and does well on a north wall. It isn't really a climber; it's more of a trailer that flops forward from whatever supports it. Tie the stems to wires and it will cover a wall beautifully.

Summer jasmine (Jasminum officinale) wants more sun. It will grow on an east-facing wall but on a full north wall the flowering drops off noticeably. The scent is glorious — one of the finest of all climbing plants — so if your wall gets some afternoon light, it's worth a try. But don't plant it on a wall that never sees the sun and expect the clouds of white blossom you see on south-facing walls.

Star jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides) is not a true jasmine but is often sold alongside them. It wants a warm, sheltered wall — south or west facing. Don't waste it on a north wall.

How Do I Help a Climber Establish on a Shady Wall?

The first year or two is where shade-wall planting succeeds or fails. The soil at the base of a wall — especially a north-facing wall — is almost always dry. Rain blows in from the south-west, so the north side of any building sits in a rain shadow. Here's what to do:

• Plant at least 30cm out from the wall base, not right against it. Lean the plant back toward the wall at a 45-degree angle.
• Dig a hole twice the width of the pot. Add generous handfuls of garden compost or well-rotted manure.
• Water regularly through the first summer — at least once a week, more in hot spells. The rain shadow means the plant gets far less water than you think.
• Mulch thickly around the base to retain moisture and suppress weeds. Bark chips, garden compost, or leaf mould all work.
• For clematis: plant deep — bury the crown 10–15cm below the soil surface. This protects against clematis wilt by ensuring dormant buds survive below ground even if the top growth is killed. See How Deep Do I Plant a Clematis?

The Quick Comparison — Every Shade Climber at a Glance

Climber	Full shade?	Evergreen?	Self-clinging?	Scented?	Height	Flowers
Ivy	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	15m+	Autumn (insignificant)
Climbing hydrangea	Yes	No	Yes	Mild	12m	Jun–Jul (white lace-cap)
Honeysuckle	Partial	Semi	No	Yes (most)	4–6m	Jun–Oct
Clematis (alpina/macropetala)	Partial	No	No	No	2–3m	Apr–May
Clematis (montana)	Partial	No	No	Some	5–12m	May–Jun
Clematis (large-flowered)	Partial	No	No	No	2–4m	May–Sep
Clematis armandii	Partial	Yes	No	Yes	5m	Mar
Virginia creeper	Partial	No	Yes	No	15m	None (autumn colour)
Winter jasmine	Partial	Semi	No (trailer)	No	3m	Dec–Mar (yellow)
Climbing roses	Partial	No	No	Some	3–5m	Jun–Sep
Pileostegia	Partial	Yes	Yes	No	6m	Aug–Sep

Frequently Asked Questions

Which climbing plants grow in full shade?

Ivy and climbing hydrangea (Hydrangea petiolaris) both thrive in full shade. Everything else on this page needs at least partial shade with some indirect light. Read the full shade section above.

Can I grow clematis on a north-facing wall?

Yes — alpinas, macropetalas, montanas, and many large-flowered hybrids are happy on a north wall. Pale and striped varieties like Nelly Moser actually hold their colour better out of direct sun. See our full clematis guide.

What is the best evergreen climber for shade?

For deep shade, ivy is the only reliable evergreen. In partial shade, Clematis armandii (scented, glossy leaves) and Pileostegia viburnoides (self-clinging, late-summer flowers) are both excellent choices.

What is the fastest-growing climber for a north-facing wall?

Clematis montana — it puts on 2–3 metres a year and will cover a large wall in three seasons. Montana 'Elizabeth' is the pick for scent and reliability.

Will honeysuckle grow in full shade?

It will survive but won't flower well. Honeysuckle is a woodland plant that flowers best where its upper growth reaches the light. On a north wall with some reflected light it performs well; in dense shade under trees, expect foliage but few flowers.

Do self-clinging climbers damage walls?

Not on sound modern brickwork. Ivy and climbing hydrangea can exploit existing cracks in old, crumbling masonry, and both will pull off paint when removed. On a new-build house they're safe. Read our wall damage guide.

What climbing plant can I grow on a shady fence?

Honeysuckle or a compact clematis like 'Piilu' for a standard 1.8m fence panel. Climbing hydrangea for a self-clinging option. Avoid heavy climbers like wisteria or clematis montana on lightweight panel fencing.

What should I plant on a north-facing trellis?

Honeysuckle, clematis, or winter jasmine — any twining or tendril climber that can grip the trellis without additional tying. Lonicera 'Halliana' is scented and semi-evergreen; winter jasmine gives colour from December to March when everything else is dormant.

Is star jasmine shade tolerant?

No. Star jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides) wants a warm, sheltered wall — south or west facing. On a north wall it may survive but won't flower well. For shade, choose winter jasmine instead.

What is the best scented climber for shade?

Honeysuckle. Lonicera japonica 'Halliana' is the classic — intensely fragrant, semi-evergreen, and perfectly happy on a shady wall. For spring scent, Clematis armandii is outstanding.

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