5 Wonderful Perennial Climbers That Can Grow In Shadow

Among the numerous decorative species, green or flowering, which contribute decisively to the creation of highly suggestive natural landscapes, climbing plants have always been one of the most popular choices both for the decoration of large gardens and small lawns.

If on the one hand it is extremely important to choose the right plants in order to create an evocative garden, on the other hand we must be careful to select only those species that can best fit into the space we have available; this can mean having to give up the cultivation of a particular plant if our lawn does not have, for example, the right orientation for that specific variety.

If a species requires exposure in full sun, cultivating it in the shade would mean not succeeding in the task, rather than seeing the plant suffering and anything but luxuriant; luckily Mother Nature gives us an infinity of species to choose from and in this post we will know 5 beautiful perennial climbers with which it will be possible to make our garden wonderful, even if in the shade.

The perennial climbers we will talk about are not the only ones able to grow in the shady areas, but they are undoubtedly the most spectacular; it should be remembered that the plants adapted to grow in low light conditions are very resistant and usually tend, if not properly maintained, to become invasive: monitoring and pruning are two essential tasks to be carried out with care when you decide to cultivate this kind of creepers.

1. Parthenocissus tricuspidata, belonging to the Vitaceae family, is a climbing plant native to China. It is a vigorous and rustic plant, able to grow easily in any environment and to tolerate even very cold temperatures ( -15°C).

Its branches climb the walls without any support and the plant can reach a height of more than 10 meters; the deep purple red colour makes this climbing plant very decorative in autumn.

This plant only requires pruning to limit its excessive development, which must be done during the winter season.

2. The climbing hydrangea, Hydrangea petiolaris, is a large climbing shrub that can reach a really high height; always appreciated for the ornamental effect of the flowers, these plants are native to Japan and are deciduous species.

These splendid creepers allow to decorate all types of garden in a really suggestive way; they can be used to cover perimeter walls rather than gazebos, but also tree trunks, gates or entrance gates, with a highly decorative effect.

This species prefers partial shade and needs a soil rich of nutritive substances and not too floury; the climbing hydrangea is to be pruned at the end of winter and reproduced by cutting during summer.

3. The Arthenocissus quinquefolia, or American vine, is a climbing plant native to North America very similar to that we have seen at the beginning, as it belongs to the same genus.

Its leaves of an intense red colour render it very decorative in autumn; this species needs a soil always humid and formed at least partly by compost.

4. The Vinca, or periwinkle, is a perennial climber of European origin; it is a genus which includes 7 species, all small in size, of which the most common are the Vinca minor and the Vinca major, often used also in the decoration of rock gardens due to the creeping trend.

These species are perennially evergreen and very common in the undergrowth, and therefore in shady areas, where they are able to form large, highly suggestive flowering cushions; the Vinca minor and the Vinca major differ only in the size of the flowers and the flowers.

This plant tolerates drought well and is ideal for covering the ground in shade, for example under trees, but also for decorative growth on slopes or areas with high inclination, paths and flowerbeds.

5. The wisteria, Wisteria sinensis, is a climbing shrub that can reach heights of over 12 metres and has always been considered one of the best allies in lawn and garden decoration.

This wonderful and colorful plant can grow in partial shade but, unlike the other varieties seen before, it needs about 4 hours of sunshine a day to flower; the wisteria needs well drained and not very calcareous soils.