This is a public-interest archive. Personal data is pseudonymized and retained under GDPR Article 89.

[SHADEGARDENS] Hello - I'm new too -Reply

In total shade on the north side of the house
there are actually many roses that do well.  You
didn't say if it was deep shade (as in under
trees) or just shade from the house.

I have successfully grown Darlow's Enigma
(10'), a shrub or climbing single white rose with
great fragrance.  It gets no direct light and
thrives.

Also reputed to grow on the north side of a
house (and which I planted myself just last
year) are Madame Gregoire Stachelin (18', pink
blend, sweet pea fragrance, one bloomer, great
hips after that) and Zephrine Droughan (deep
pink, very fragrant, blooms all summer).  If its
not too shady, you could try Souvenier du Dr.
Jamin, a gorgeous wine colored climber with
great fragrance, which actually requires some
shade to keep its color.  Great hips afterward
too.  I have also grown Golden Showers
(semi-double bright yellow, little fragrance) in
mostly shade.

One important factor is to plant the roses
outside the drip line of your eaves so they will
get as much natural water as possible.  Another
suggestion I have, after my son painted my
house two years ago, was the long strips of
stapled cedar lattice work great for growing
against your house.  We just hang them on two
big nails, and if you need to paint later, they
just flexibly bend backward.  It really worked
great.  Regular trellises are stronger, but won't
bend.  Because the lattice is against a wall, it
has all the support it needs and doesn't break
up in the wind, etc.  Here in Oregon it comes in
two widths, 2' and 4'.  I have some that is 7
years old and is like new, so it should last a
very long time, as well.  Plus it is pretty
inexpensive compared to other trellises.

Other vines that should grow in the north
shade are climatis alpina and macropetala
(come in what, pink, blue/purple).  They bloom
early and are not the huge flowered ones you
see usually, but very charming.  Some of the
large flowered ones should bloom there as well.
I have Hako Ookan (dark purple with yellow
stamens) in the shade and Bees Jubilee
(lavender with deep lavender stripe) and
Comtessa Bouchard (lavender, late bloomer)
and they all do very well.  I intend to try more!

You should also be able to grow jasmine
nudiflorum, or winter jasmine (yellow flowers,
bright green stems, blooms Dec., Jan, Feb. here
in Oregon, but no fragrance) and you could also
try espaliering a sasanqua camellia (white, pink
red for colors, great evergreen shiny foliage).
Mine do very well on the north side of my
house.  I also grow in mostly shade winter
honeysuckle (lonicera standishii).  None of
these are quite "viney," but really need some
support and can be trellised.

You didn't mention your zone, but if you live in
a warm one, I think there are other vine choices
that I'm not familiar with, but have drooled
over in catalogues.

Fasten your seatbelt.  This stuff is addictive!
Get some good shade books from the library for
inspiration.  And try things that are not
"accepted" as always growing in the shade.
Other Mailing lists | Author Index | Date Index | Subject Index | Thread Index