How to Grow Vines in the Shade

Nothing decorates an empty garden corner like a climbing vine, filling empty trellises and bare walls with living texture and color. Shady corners need more visual "waking-up" than those warmed by sunlight, yet fewer vines step up to apply. The plants willing to give shade a try are the tough cookies, the tenacious perennials adapted to challenging growing conditions. So it's no surprise that many of them prove invasive.

The first and most important step for growing vines in the shade is to locate likely candidates. After you've made your choice, adjust your care according to the requirements of the specific plants. Any of three vines might fit the bill, depending on your region's climate and your preferences.

Think Harvard, think Yale, think old stone buildings covered with Boston ivy (Parthenocissus tricuspidata). Ivy League schools have known for years that Boston ivy thrives in full shade as well as sunlight. This vine is a true tendril climber, pulling its way up walls and trellises where it grows as a perennial, in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 8. Its green foliage blushes a deep red in fall. Most of the steps for growing Boston ivy also apply to other shade-loving vines, although their fertilizer requirements differ.

Tape measure

Watering device

Pruners

Rubbing alcohol

Garden gloves

Grow Boston ivy in any type of soil. The vine tolerates most soils and growing conditions. Grow multiple plants at least 6 feet apart to accommodate their mature spread.

Water Boston ivy regularly when you first plant it, giving its soil a deep, generous soaking each time in order to encourage deep roots. Once the roots are established, regular irrigation is no longer necessary, except for an occasional watering during summer dry periods. Fertilizer is not required for Boston ivy.

Prune the vine to keep it from spreading from its area. Before you prune, however, sterilize the pruners by soaking the tool for five minutes or longer in a solution that is 1 part rubbing alcohol and 1 part water, and then rinse the pruners with clean water. Wear garden gloves to tackle pruning. Trim each vine back to a lateral bud , which is a bump in the angle between a leaf stalk and stem.

Ivy is as pushy a plant. So don't plant it against shingled or wooden walls because the vine can wedge its way beneath the wood or shingles and cause problems. It also can rip off gutters and wiring. Plant it where it has plenty of room to roam because otherwise you'll have to prune it back often.

Climbing hydrangea (Hydrangea anomala subspecies petiolaris) is not just a vigorous, woody vine that pulls itself up some 30 to 50 feet with aerial tendrils. It also has fragrant clusters of flat-topped, white flowers that appear from May to July. This versatile vine is hardy in USDA zones 4 through 8 and thrives in sun-dappled shade to full shade. Grow climbing hydrangea in well-drained soil, preferably rich in organic content, and allow at least 6 feet between specimens to accommodate mature growth.

Hydrangea needs more water than ivy. Provide sufficient supplemental irrigation during the growing season to keep the soil moist but not wet. Apply granular, 10-10-10 fertilizer around the plant in spring or early summer and again in midsummer. The amount of fertilizer to use depends on the plant's size and varies from about 1/8 cup for a very small plant to 3 cups for a very large one. Check your fertilizer's label for the specific amount to use for your hydrangea. Work the product well into the top 3 inches of soil, and then water the soil well. The same pruning instructions that apply to ivy apply to climbing hydrangea.

Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) is a tough native vine that needs little help to scale 30 to 50 feet up walls, trees and trellises. You may know this plant as woodbine. Recognize it by its dark-blue berries and by its bright-green foliage that is organized in five-leaflet groups and turns red or orange in fall. Virginia creeper tolerates full shade, but it has better autumn color in a partially shady spot. It is perennial in USDA zones 3 through 9.

Virginia creeper grows in almost any soil type as long as it is well-drained. The vine also tolerates drought once it is established, but it grows better with occasional irrigation during dry spells in summer. Fertilize the plant by spreading a thin layer of organic compost on its soil in springtime before the plant's new growth begins. Plant multiple vines 5 to 10 feet apart; 5 to 10 feet is a mature Virginia creeper's spread.

Virginia creeper attaches itself firmly to structures. It can be difficult to remove without damaging the structures' paint. You may do better to prevent the vine from attaching to a painted structure in the first place. The pruning instructions for Virginia creeper are the same as for ivy. Virginia creeper has invasive tendencies in some locations.