Picture this: it is a blazing hot summer afternoon, but you are perfectly content, relaxing in a cool, shady corner of your garden. You are surrounded by a cascade of gorgeous flowers blooming right at eye level. This dream can be your reality. All it takes are the right flowering vines, plants that do not just survive in the shade but absolutely flourish there.
Some vines are native to forest floors, where they climb up tree trunks to reach for the light. This means a fantastic selection of garden varieties is available to bring life and color to those less sunny spots. These plants are the perfect companions for escaping the summer heat.
If you have a gazebo, trellis, fence, or arbor in the shade that is begging for some vertical color, your search is over. You have a world of options when it comes to flowering climbers that will happily grow in low light conditions.
Get ready to explore 20 of the most stunning shade loving flowering vines. This guide covers when they bloom and offers ideas on how to plant these beauties to their best advantage. You might be surprised to see famous sun lovers like roses and wisteria on the list. First, let’s clarify what light and shade really mean in the garden, because it is not what most people think.
Vines, Sun and Shade
Vines are plants that are natural climbers, lacking the ability to support themselves. They get by through attaching to other plants or sturdy structures for support. Some do this with tendrils, which are like little twisting branchlets, while others wind their stems around a support. Wisteria is a classic example of a winding vine. Grapes, on the other hand, use tendrils to hold on.
Unfortunately, you cannot grow grapes in partial or full shade, as they are total sun worshippers. The good news is that many other vines, including the incredible Chinese wisteria, can thrive in shadier conditions. Even bleeding heart and sweet peas can handle fairly low light spots. Your shady corner is about to get a whole lot more exciting.
Is Your Garden in Full Shade or Partial Shade?
You are probably thinking of one specific spot in your garden, not the whole yard, when you consider sun and shade. But what exactly do full shade and partial shade mean? There is a good chance the area you have in mind is actually in partial shade, not full shade. Let’s break it down.
Full shade is not complete darkness. In gardening terms, it means an area receives fewer than three hours of bright light each day. This light can be indirect, not necessarily direct sunlight.
Similarly, partial shade means a spot gets between three and six hours of bright light on an average day. The majority of “shady spots” in gardens actually fall into this category. Even that cool corner of your yard likely gets enough indirect light to be classified as partial shade.
So, what about full sun? This refers to any area that receives more than six hours of bright light daily. Now that the terms are clear, things might seem more promising. With your specific spot in mind, let’s find the perfect flowering vine to make it bloom.
Top 20 Prettiest Flowering Vines for Shade
Often showcasing fragrant blossoms and always delivering vibrant color, these 20 vining plants will transform that gloomy, troublesome spot into a corner of paradise you will be proud of.
1. Chinese Wisteria (Wisteria sinensis)
Wisteria is the undisputed queen of flowering vines, and the Chinese variety is happy to grow in partial shade as well as full sun. Everyone knows the breathtaking beauty of its fragrant, cascading blooms. They are the stuff of legends and photographs. While it enjoys bright light, Chinese wisteria is naturally adapted to growing under the canopies of trees.
Here is a fun fact to keep in mind. Chinese wisteria always winds its way up in a clockwise direction, while Japanese wisteria climbs counter clockwise. This is important to know when setting up a support for your chosen variety.
Hardiness: USDA zones 5 to 9.
Sunlight requirements: partial shade or full Sun.
Blooming season: late spring to early summer; later smaller blooms are possible.
Size: 10 to 40 feet tall (3 to 12 meters) and 4 to 30 feet in spread (1.2 to 9 meters); yes, it’s a giant!
Soil requirements: it will adapt to any well drained type of soil, loam, clay, chalk or sand based, with pH from slightly acidic to slightly alkaline.
2. Chocolate Vine (Akebia quinata)
Chocolate vine is a true marvel of nature that you can grow even in full shade. If your spot is particularly dark, this semi evergreen climber is a perfect choice. It features light green, clover like leaves and stunning, dark purple hanging flowers, each with three delicate petals. The intensely fragrant flowers emerge in small clusters from pink buds. This makes the chocolate vine an elegant addition to traditional garden designs.
It is no surprise this beautiful plant has received the Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society.
Hardiness: USDA zones 5 to 9.
Sunlight requirements: full Sun, partial shade or full shade.
Blooming season: mid to late spring.
Size: 20 to 40 feet tall (6 to 12 meters) and 6 to 9 feet in spread (1.8 to 2.7 meters).
Soil requirements: it will adapt to any well drained loam,clay, chalk or sand based soil but you need to keep it moist. The pH can vary from slightly acidic to slightly alkaline.
3. Clematis (Clematis spp.)
Clematis is another classic perennial vine that prefers to grow in partial shade. It is famous for liking its “feet cold,” meaning the base of the plant and its roots should stay cool and out of direct sun. Once you provide this condition, you will be rewarded with its large, showy, and exotic looking flowers. The blooms come in a stunning palette ranging from white to violet, with shades of pink and magenta in between. Some varieties even produce flowers up to 8 inches across.
Clematis is an excellent choice for walls and fences. You can find both early and late blooming varieties, allowing you to time its spectacular floral display to best suit your garden’s schedule.
Hardiness: usually USDA zones 4 to 9 depending on the variety,
Sunlight requirements: partial shade or full Sun (but keep the roots fresh).
Blooming season: from spring to fall, with early and late varieties.
Size: up to 8 feet tall (2.4 meters) and 3 feet in spread (90 cm).
Soil requirements: it will adapt to humid but well drained loam, clay, chalk or sand based soil with pH from slightly alkaline to neutral.
4. Dipladenia (Madenvilla boliviensis)
Dipladenia is becoming a very popular choice, and this vine will also appreciate some shade. The funnel shaped flowers of this twining plant can reach 3 inches in diameter. They are typically bright red or a brilliant snow white with a yellow center. The five pointed petals create a look that is both elegant and showy. The glossy, tropical looking foliage is just as beautiful. This plant is another winner of the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit.
This evergreen tropical vine is versatile enough for most garden designs. It shines in traditional and informal gardens but also fits well in a formal setting. It is also an excellent shade vine for containers and even hanging baskets.
Hardiness: USDA zones 10 to 11.
Sunlight requirements: partial shade or full Sun.
Blooming season: late spring to late summer.
Size: 3 to 10 feet long (90 cm to 3 meters) and 3 to 6 feet in spread (90 to 180 cm).
Soil requirements: it likes well drained and humid loam based soil with pH from slightly acidic to slightly alkaline.
5. Trumpet Vine (Campsis radicans)
You can instantly brighten a shady garden corner with the vibrant orange, trumpet shaped flowers of this gorgeous, fast growing perennial vine. The flowers form large, lively clusters at the ends of thin stems. The dark green, pinnate foliage provides a beautiful contrast, making the orange pop. If you prefer, there are also yellow and red cultivars available.
Trumpet vine is a fantastic choice for fences and walls, and it also looks incredible on pergolas. While it is an elegant plant, it feels most at home in an informal setting. It can easily suit either a temperate or a tropical garden design.
Hardiness: USDA zones 5 to 9.
Sunlight requirements: partial shade or full Sun.
Blooming season: summer.
Size: 20 to 40 feet tall (6 to 12 meters) and maximum 10 feet in spread (3 meters).
Soil requirements: adaptable to well drained loam, clay, chalk or sand based soil with pH from slightly alkaline to slightly acidic.
6. Spurred Butterfly Pea (Centrosema virginianum)
The spurred butterfly pea is a vining plant with large, lavender flowers that hang upside down against a backdrop of rich, elliptical foliage. It happily grows in a bit of shade. As a member of the pea family, its flowers have a unique shape with keel and banner petals. The foliage, however, is darker and more established looking than a typical pea plant.
This is a lesser known climber that also works well as a ground cover. It grows quickly and requires very little maintenance. Give this lovely plant a try in an informal garden setting.
Hardiness: USDA zones 5 to 9.
Sunlight requirements: partials shade of full Sun.
Blooming season: summer.
Size: 6 feet tall (1.8 meters) and 5 feet in spread (1.5 meters).
Soil requirements: it wants well drained loam or sandy loam; the pH can be from slightly alkaline to slightly acidic. It is drought resistant.
7. Cross Vine (Bignonia capreolata)
Here is another less common climbing perennial with beautiful flowers that welcomes some shade. Cross vine is a woody vine that grows fast and naturally clings to supports. It produces lovely, dark green compound foliage. Come spring, it will be covered in fragrant and showy trumpet shaped flowers. They are impossible to miss, with their bright yellow, red, and orange hues.
Cross vine is an excellent choice for covering walls and other unsightly structures, thanks to its dense foliage and rapid growth. Those unattractive spots often happen to be in shady corners, making this vine a perfect solution.
Hardiness: USDA zones 6 to 9.
Sunlight requirements: partial shade or full Sun.
Blooming season: from mid spring to the end of summer.
Size: 30 to 50 feet tall (9 to 15 meters) and 9 feet in spread (2.7 meters).
Soil requirements: it adapts to well drained loam, clay, chalk or sand based soil with pH that can range from slightly acidic to slightly alkaline.
8. American Groundnut (Apios americana)
Let’s look at another unusual blooming climber that you can grow in partial shade, the American groundnut. This plant has pea like flowers that are also fleshy and fragrant. They appear in dense racemes, with a pale pink brown exterior and a dark reddish brown interior. In the fall, edible brown pods follow the flowers. The whole display is set against a finely textured foliage of pinnate leaves.
This is an excellent climber that serves a dual purpose. You can admire its unusual flowers and also eat both the pods and the tubers. It is a highly nutritious plant, packed with calcium and iron, and it contains three times the protein of potatoes.
Hardiness: USDA zones 4 to 9.
Sunlight requirements: partial shade to full Sun.
Blooming season: summer.
Size: up to 15 feet tall (4.5 meters) and 7 feet in spread (2.1 meters).
Soil requirements: it needs well drained but constantly humid loam, clay or sand based soil, while the pH can be neutral, slightly acidic or slightly alkaline.
9. Virgin’s Bower (Clematis virginiana)
Virgin’s bower is a cold hardy and shade loving climber that puts on a spectacular “nuptial” show, even in low light. It resembles a bride walking down the aisle, as it becomes covered in a sea of fragrant white flowers. These starlet or pearl like blossoms stand out against the light green foliage. Those are the male flowers. In the winter, the fluffy white female flowers appear, continuing the theme.
This romantic plant is perfect for creating a light, bright, and delicate look in your garden. It also keeps your outdoor space interesting throughout the year.
Hardiness: USDA zones 3 to 8.
Sunlight requirements: partial shade to full Sun.
Blooming season: summer and winter.
Size: 10 to 20 feet tall (3 to 6 meters) and up to 6 feet in spread (1.8 meters).
Soil requirements: any well drained and constantly humid soil, loam, clay, chalk or sand based and with pH from slightly acidic to slightly alkaline.
10. Dutchman’s Pipe (Aristolochia macrophylla)
Dutchman’s pipe is the ultimate climber for creating an original and exotic looking space in partial shade. The vigorous vine produces huge, heart shaped, green leaves that look tender and can grow up to a foot long. The flowers are truly unique. They look like strange, curved trumpets straight out of a Salvador Dalí painting. If you want a plant that seems to come from another world, this is it.
This vine is great on pergolas and trellises. Its large but sparse foliage will not completely cover a wall. Regardless, Dutchman’s pipe adds a great deal of structure and depth to a garden.
Hardiness: USDA zones 5 to 8.
Sunlight requirements: partial shade or full Sun, but not in very hot regions.
Blooming season: late spring to early summer.
Size: 15 to 30 feet tall (4.5 to 9 meters) and up to 20 feet in spread (6 meters).
Soil requirements: for an exotic looking plant, you are in luck! It adapts to any well drained type of soil: loam, clay, chalk or sand based with pH from slightly acidic to slightly alkaline.
11. Swamp Leatherflower (Clematis crispa)
Swamp leatherflower, also known as blue jasmine, is an unusual clematis from the “virona group.” It features nodding, bell shaped flowers and enjoys some shade. The flower heads are about two inches wide, which is small for a clematis, but this vine produces them in abundance. The violet blue flowers are also fragrant. After blooming, the seedheads look like fluffy brushes against the lush, showy foliage. Best of all, it blooms from spring until the first frost.
This is the plant you need to make your garden stand out, even without full sun. Pollinators absolutely love it.
Hardiness: USDA zones 6 to 9.
Sunlight requirements: partial shade or full Sun.
Blooming season: from early spring to fall!
Size: up to 10 feet tall (3 meters) and 6 feet in spread (1.8 meters).
Soil requirements: it needs well drained and humid loam, clay or sand based soil with pH from fairly acidic to neutral.
12. Common Hop (Humulus Lupulus)
Have you ever considered growing fragrant hop in your garden? It does not mind a bit of shade. This beautiful and useful climber grows quickly, covering fences and pergolas with its rich foliage within a year. The famous flowers are lime green and aromatic. They look like small, feathery cones that nod gently beneath the leaves.
Common hop might not be the best choice for a gazebo, but if you have a partially shaded area that you want to cover quickly, why not grow this well known aromatic plant?
Hardiness: USDA zones 4 to 8.
Sunlight requirements: partial shade or full Sun.
Blooming season: summer and fall.
Size: up to 20 feet tall (6 meters) and 6 feet in spread (1.8 meters).
Soil requirements: it needs well drained but constantly humid loam or sandy loam with pH from slightly acidic to slightly alkaline.
13. Prairie Rose (Rosa setigera)
Yes, you can even grow climbing roses in partial shade. Some roses, especially vining types, are perfectly happy with it. The prairie rose, with its beautiful, natural appearance, is a fantastic option. It is a single, flat flowered rose with visible gold pistils at the center, surrounded by petals ranging from magenta to a very pale lavender. The fragrant flowers are followed by red rose hips.
Prairie rose is excellent for any type of informal garden, but it truly shines in an English country garden or a cottage garden design.
Hardiness: USDA zones 5 to 8.
Sunlight requirements: partial shade or full Sun.
Blooming season: late spring to early summer.
Size: 6 to 12 feet tall (1.8 to 3.6 meters) and up to 4 feet in spread (1.2 meters).
Soil requirements: it needs constantly humid but well drained loam or sandy loam, though it tolerates rich and well drained clay. The pH should ideally be slightly acidic, but neutral or even slightly alkaline is fine.
14. Carolina Jasmine (Gelsemium sempervivirens)
Even in partial shade, Carolina jasmine is incredibly generous with its massive and fragrant blooms. This twining vine becomes a sea of butter yellow, trumpet shaped flowers starting in late winter and continuing through the end of spring. While not a true jasmine, its huge blossoms and wonderful scent have earned it the honorary name. It has also won the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit.
If you want to bring some light to a part of your garden that the sun often forgets, the bright yellow flowers of Carolina jasmine will do the trick.
Hardiness: USDA zones 7 to 10.
Sunlight requirements: partial shade or full Sun.
Blooming season: from winter to the end of spring.
Size: 10 to 20 feet tall (3 to 6 meters) and up to 6 feet in spread (1.8 meters).
Soil requirements: it is adaptable to most types of soil as long as well drained: loam, clay, chalk or sand based with pH from slightly acidic to slightly alkaline.
15. Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica)
Honeysuckle is the classic choice for a partial shade vine if you want a fine, elegant effect in a natural looking garden. It is a very vigorous twining climber with dense and flourishing foliage. The flowers are plentiful and scattered across the green backdrop. They are sweet scented and tubular, and they last for months. The color can range from pale yellow to orange red or purple, depending on the species.
Honeysuckle looks great on walls and also at the back of borders. If you have a wall behind a border that is not in full sun, honeysuckle is a wonderful choice to cover it.
Hardiness: USDA zones 4 to 9.
Sunlight requirements: partial shade or full Sun.
Blooming season: from spring to late summer.
Size: 15 to 30 feet tall (4.5 to 9 meters) and up to 6 feet in spread (1.8 meters).
Soil requirements: well drained loam, clay, chalk or sand based soil with pH from slightly acidic to slightly alkaline.
16. Atlantic Pigeon Wing (Clitoria mariana)
Atlantic pigeon wing is an ideal climber for a small, partially shaded space. Its original flowers appear in the summer. They are violet pink and feature a long, large, heart shaped petal that looks like a small tongue or shovel. These unique flowers grow on thin vines with beautiful, three pinnate leaves.
This plant will not grow too tall, which makes it perfect for a short trellis or a small wall.
Hardiness: USDA zones 5 to 9.
Sunlight requirements: partial shade or full Sun.
Blooming season: summer.
Size: 4 feet tall (120 cm) and 3 feet in spread (90 cm).
Soil requirements: it wants sand based soil with pH from slightly acidic to neutral.
17. Wild Potato Vine (Ipomoea pandurata)
A lack of full sun does not mean you have to miss out on showy flowers, and wild potato vine is proof. This close relative of the morning glory has large, funnel shaped blooms with a deep magenta center and white outer petals. The flowers open in the morning and close in the evening, leaving the heart shaped leaves with red petioles to continue the display.
This vine is perfect for covering unsightly spots like ugly fences. It gets its name because its tubers are edible, much like a potato.
Hardiness: USDA zones 3 to 8.
Sunlight requirements: partial shade or full Sun.
Blooming season: late spring to early summer.
Size: 15 to 30 feet tall (4.5 to 9 meters) and up to 6 feet in spread (1.8 meters).
Soil requirements: adaptable to well drained loam, clay, chalk or sand based soil with pH from slightly acidic to slightly alkaline. It tolerates dry soil as well.
18. Butterfly Vine (Mascagnia Macroptera)
Butterfly vine can transform any area in partial shade into a truly original spectacle. This climber has very unusual canary yellow flowers. The petals are thin at the base and then form round, spherical shapes. The plant gets its name from the seed pods that follow the flowers. They are copper red and look just like butterfly wings. The foliage also has a thick, smooth, tropical appearance.
If your partially shaded spot is in a prominent, visible location, this is the plant you want. It is an ideal choice for a front fence or gate.
Hardiness: USDA zones 8 to 10.
Sunlight requirements: partial shade.
Blooming season: spring.
Size: up to 20 feet tall (6 meters) and 7 feet in spread (2.1 meters).
Soil requirements: well drained loam, loamy sand and sand based soil with pH from mildly acidic to mildly alkaline.
19. Star Jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides)
You can brighten up partially shaded patios and gazebos with star jasmine, filling the space with its intoxicating fragrance. Although not technically a true jasmine, in many parts of the world, this is the plant people call “jasmine.” The Mediterranean is filled with these amazing evergreen climbers, which feature cream white, star or fan shaped flowers. They can cover entire walls and tall columns. Some have even been seen climbing to the top of apartment buildings.
This winner of the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit is a true star among vines. You can create a living wall that stays green all year and turns white once or twice a year with blooms. The scent is noticeable from far away.
Hardiness: USDA zones 7 to 11.
Sunlight requirements: partial shade or full Sun.
Blooming season: mainly in summer but smaller later blooms are possible.
Size: up to 30 feet tall (9 meters) and 15 feet in spread (4.5 meters).
Soil requirements: it will grow in well drained loam chalk or sand based soil with pH from slightly alkaline to slightly acidic.
20. Sweet Peas (Lathyrus spp.)
Sweet peas offer a whole world of climbing color and sweetness, and they do not mind partial shade. These easy to grow beauties are among the most fragrant and colorful flowers available, and they bloom for months on end. They grow quickly and are the only annual vines to make this list. They deserve their spot, as they can turn a sad wall or gate into a natural wonder in just a few weeks.
Once you start growing sweet peas, you might just become a fanatic. There are countless varieties available in literally every color imaginable. If you need to bring color and vitality to a shady spot quickly and on a budget, sweet peas are the perfect choice and they never disappoint.
Hardiness: USDA zones 2 to 11.
Sunlight requirements: partial shade or full Sun.
Blooming season: from spring to the first frost!
Size: up to 8 feet tall (2.4 meters) and 1 foot in spread (30 cm).
Soil requirements: it likes well drained loam or sandy loam with pH from slightly acidic to slightly alkaline.
Now Set that Shady Spot Alight with Amazing Flowering Climbers!
You probably never imagined an article about climbers for shade could be filled with so many vibrant colors and incredible flowers. While most are best for partial shade, as few plants truly bloom in full shade where ivy and similar creepers dominate, remember that most gardens do not have actual full shade conditions.
Hopefully, this journey has sparked some ideas for brightening up that forgotten corner of your garden.
