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Flowering / colourful climber for full shade
polly.keane
Posts: 9
in Plants
hello I’m looking for a climber to grow in a pot at the corner of a pergola we have just had built. It would be in full shade until it climbs to the top (if that makes sense!) ideally would like something colourful. So a variegated leaf, colourful red leaf or flowers would be perfect. I’m considering Boston Ivy but also love honeysuckle. However all the honeysuckles I’ve looked up seem to need at least partial shade to grow - whereas this is in full shade. Thanks in advance!
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Posts
If you were planting into the ground that would open up more options, the one climber I love for shade is Parthenocissus henryana but like Boston Ivy needs to fix to a wall.
I don't know if there is a rose that will suit. Climbing Iceberg maybe.[would look good with a dark red leaf] Sadly not sure the Parthenoccissus will work.
You could try posting on the rose thread and ask the experts.
There are plenty of clematis which are perfectly happy in shade, but the container has to be decent, as @GardenerSuze says, and you need to give them the right care and growing medium etc. Take a look at Taylors, Thorncroft or Hawthornes for suitable ones.
Loads of Honeysuckles are fine in full shade, but not in pots.
If you build a proper raised bed by the pergola, that would be different.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Is there a reason why you may not be able to plant something in the ground?
If you can only plant in a pot it may well need to be a large pot to keep anything big enough to grow over your pergola happy.
Just a few questions to help get some answers.
I have a nice Parthenocissus henryana in shade. The leaves are prettier than some . Though I may be out of date with cultivars, there may be some better ones by now.
It is easy , under conifers so dry poor soil. and slightly up a knackered cherry tree. Goes a nice colour in the autumn too before leaf fall.
Also - what are the dimensions of the pot. Many people say a big pot, and then it turns out to be about a foot wide and high.
The refreshing of soil will depend on the plant. Large flowered clematis are fine with soil or compost added that covers them, as they prefer to be deeper anyway [they produce new stems from below ground level] but most plants don't like that, so you'd have to make sure it was planted at a good height in the pot to start with, and then remove the top layer of material and replace that, along with slow release food or similar, again depending on what the plant is.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...