RISE to the CHALLENGE
It’s tricky finding climbers that can thrive in shade but these robust beauties will flourish even in the dreariest corner
THERE’S no shortage of climbers and wall shrubs suitable for sunny spots, but it’s much harder to find ones that will grip, twine or clamber up structures in shadier places. Out of frustration at this seemingly limited choice, many people resort to pedestrian varieties of ivy or the ubiquitous, self-clinging climbing hydrangea.
But contrary to what some might think, there are actually plenty of upwardly mobile plants that will thrive in shade – from those grown mainly for their foliage to others that have attractive flowers and berries.
There are even roses, clematis and honeysuckles that will do well in dimly lit sites.
It’s worth pointing out the difference between climbers and wall shrubs. Climbers naturally want to grow upwards, and possess different mechanisms to cling on to surfaces while wall shrubs don’t have tendrils,
One top choice is a chocolate vine and its distinct cocoa scent
aerial roots or twining stems, but pruning and training allows them to be grown vertically.
Among the best climbers for shade are schizophragma hydrangeoides, decumaria sinensis and chocolate vine (akebia quinata), whose maroon flowers possess a distinct cocoa scent.
Coral plant (berberidopsis corallina) is a choice evergreen from Chile that boasts pendant clusters of red flowers in summer, and I can also heartily recommend pileostegia viburnoides, a self-clinging evergreen that’s native to India. Its dense tapestry of long, shiny leaves makes the perfect foil for clusters of creamy flowers that attract bees in late summer and early autumn. Mine was slow to get going but grows vigorously now that it’s established.
Roses, clematis and honeysuckles are usually considered sun-lovers, but there are some that will cope even with a north-facing wall. These include rose ‘Shropshire Lass’ and clematis ‘Rouge Cardinal’ with its red blooms. For dappled shade, ‘Graham Thomas’ – discovered in a hedgerow 60 years ago – is the perfect honeysuckle.
Over in the wall shrubs camp, winter jasmine produces yellow flowers on bare stems in late winter, while x fatshedera lizei is grown for its hand-shaped, glossy green leaves. Pyracantha rogersiana ‘flava’ has long, thorny branches that bear white flowers in spring, followed by small yellow berries.
Autumn is the perfect time to get these vertical beauties into the ground. Some climbers are self-clinging but the majority, along with wall shrubs, will need their shoots tying to supports. Trellis panels are good for compact types, while taller plants are best trained on horizontal wires, spaced 12in to 45in apart.
The soil next to walls and fences is generally on the dry side, so set plants about 12in away from struc- tures. Dig a hole that’s the he same depth as the rootball all and twice as wide, and then prick the sides and base with a fork. Place the plant in the e centre, making sure the top of the he rootball is level with the surface.
Mix the excavated soil with garden compost, leafmould or composted bark to help it retain moisture. Slowly backfill the hole with the improved soil, firming as you go to eliminate air pockets. Arrange three canes in a fan shape, angled at 45 degrees towards the vertical surface, and secure individual stems stem with soft twine.
Plant clematis cle in holes 2in deeper than the rootball, ro ensuring the crown of the plant p is below the surface. This acts a as an insurance against clematis clem wilt, a disease that results re in stems dying back. If shoots succumb, they can be cut to the ground, allowing healthy shoots to appear from below the soil.
Water thoroughly so that the rootball and surrounding soil are moist, before spreading a 2in-deep ring of o mulch around plants to keep k roots cool, lock in moisture tur and stop weeds from geminating. gem Leave a 4in gap around aroun stems as the material can soften so bark, making plants vulnerable vulnerabl to diseases and rotting. Looking ahead, get climbers and wall ll shrubs h b off to a flying start in spring by scattering all-purpose fertiliser granules over the soil, and water regularly for the first couple of seasons, especially during hot, dry spells.