Finding the perfect flowering vine for a shaded area in your garden can transform that dark corner into a vibrant, eye-catching part of your landscape. I’ve seen firsthand how these climbers can make bold statements using minimal ground space. The trick is to select the right vine that suits the specific conditions of your space.
Whether your garden is shaded for just a part of the day or receives dappled sunlight, some vines can thrive in both situations. If your area has full shade, don’t worry— some flowering vines flourish in Shade.
Over the years, I’ve found that flowering vines are versatile additions to any garden. They bring colour, texture, and interest to shaded areas that might otherwise feel lacklustre.
One of the things I love about them is how they add a pop of colour. Especially when they create a beautiful contrast against the green foliage of other shade-loving plants. Plus, with so many species and varieties, you’re bound to find one that fits your style, whether you prefer delicate, lacy flowers or bold, showy blooms.
Another great thing about flowering vines is how easily they can be trained to grow up walls, fences, arbours, or trellises. This adds stunning vertical interest to your garden. Creates a sense of depth and dimension—something especially useful for small spaces or even an east-facing garden. They can also help fill those bare spaces or be used to create a lush, green privacy screen.
Many shade-loving flowering vines attract hummingbirds, butterflies, and other pollinators, which only adds to their appeal, especially for those of us looking to create a more wildlife-friendly garden.
Many of these vines are also hardy and low-maintenance, which is perfect for busy gardeners or those with limited time. Once established, they can grow and bloom in full or partial shade with minimal attention.
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16 Best Flowering Vines for Shade
Chocolate Vine (Akebia quinata)
The Chocolate Vine is a vigorous twining vine that brings a unique beauty to your garden with its attractive compound leaves made up of five rounded leaflets. In early spring, this vine delights with its fragrant red-purple flowers and sausage-shaped fruit.
Although edible, the fruit has a sweet white pulp around each seed, while the rind tends to have a bitter taste. The vine is deciduous in colder regions, but in warmer climates, it remains semi-evergreen, maintaining its lush appearance throughout the year.
For those living in areas with plenty of space, the Chocolate Vine can quickly fill gaps with its lush growth. However, be mindful—it may need heavy pruning to keep it within bounds. In some regions, this vine is even considered invasive due to its rapid spread.
However, for chocolate lovers, its chocolate-scented flowers, which are deep reddish-pink, are a beautiful addition to shaded gardens.
Growing Conditions: It grows best on mountain slopes, hedges, and trees, thriving in sandy soil with good drainage. With adequate water and care, it can even be used to weave baskets due to its vigorous vines.
Plant type: Woody perennial plant
Plant Size: Climbs to 40 feet
Plant Zones: 4-9
Wisteria (Wisteria frutescens)
The American Wisteria is a stunning vine that produces grapelike clusters of purple or white flowers. These beautiful flowers hang from their woody stems, adding a classic charm to any garden. Unlike the more aggressive Asian species, Wisteria frutescens grows less vigorously but still offers a striking display. Its bright green compound leaves start to unfold about a month later than other varieties, allowing the vine to bloom sporadically throughout summer.
One of the benefits of American wisteria is that, while it’s still vigorous, it doesn’t grow as aggressively as the non-native wisterias. The twining stems are perfect for climbing a support, such as a fence or trellis, and they do so quite easily.
Growing Conditions: With the right growing conditions, including well-drained soil, adequate water, and attention to pruning, this vine will thrive in shaded areas. Proper humidity levels and occasional fertilizer will keep your wisteria healthy, ensuring a beautiful addition to your garden year after year.
Plant type: Perennial
Plant Size: Climbs 25-30 feet
Plant Zones: 5-9
Canary Creeper (Tropaeolum peregrinum)
The Canary Creeper is a delightful vine that’s usually grown annually and is closely related to nasturtium. Thanks to its slender stems and attractive blue-green, deeply lobed leaves, it’s a good choice for a planter or hanging basket. In early summer, this vine starts producing an endless stream of delicately fringed, bright yellow flowers, continuing all the way into fall.
What makes Tropaeolum peregrinum stand out is its ability to thrive with minimal effort. This vine is perfect for adding a pop of colour to shaded areas, mainly when grown in small spaces like pots or baskets.
Growing Conditions: It loves well-drained soil and regular water, and monitoring humidity ensures the best growth. Occasional pruning will help shape it, while a little fertilizer can boost its flowering performance.
Plant type: Annual
Plant Size: Climbs 8-12 feet
Plant Zones: 9-10
Star Jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides)
The Star Jasmine is a stunning evergreen vine that produces star-shaped white flowers with an absolutely intoxicating fragrance. These blooms appear in late spring and continue into summer, with each flower about an inch-and-a-half across. Planted near a patio or porch, its sweet fragrance can be enjoyed throughout the season. The dark green leaves turn a lovely bronze-red in fall, making it a year-round favourite for its beauty and versatility.
This vine is ideal for growing on trellises, walls, or fences. Where it can rapidly cover large areas in partially shaded spots. It is a low-maintenance plant that tolerates pruning well, making it perfect for creating a natural screen in your shady garden or east-facing spaces. Its versatile nature makes it an excellent choice for adding fragrance, luminous beauty, and a delightful sensory experience to any outdoor space.
Growing Conditions: Star Jasmine thrives in well-draining soil and is resistant to disease, deer, and even periods of drought.
Plant type: Evergreen
Plant Size: Climbs 10-20 feet
Plant Zones: 8-11
Honeysuckle (Lonicera spp.)
Honeysuckle is a beautiful, sweet-scented vine that grows in clusters of tubular-shaped flowers in different shades of red, orange, yellow, and white. These flowers bloom in spring and summer, making them highly attractive to hummingbirds and other pollinators. Belonging to the Caprifoliaceae family, which includes plants like the butterfly bush and elderberry, honeysuckle is a top choice for adding fragrance and colour to any garden.
Many species of honeysuckle also produce edible berries, which can be used to make preserves, jellies, or other treats. In some cultures, honeysuckle is even valued for its medicinal properties, which are believed to help with various ailments.
Growing Conditions: With the right growing conditions, including well-drained soil, regular water, and occasional pruning, honeysuckle will thrive and bring beauty to your garden. Proper humidity and a touch of fertilizer will ensure healthy growth and vibrant blooms.
Plant type: Perennial
Plant Size: Climbs to 12 feet
Plant Zones: 4-9
Yellow Butterfly Vine (Mascagnia macroptera)
The Yellow Butterfly Vine is an attractive evergreen vine that thrives in warm regions. It can also be grown annually in cooler climes or even in containers. Known for its ability to grow fast and is easy to train, this vine is perfect for covering a fence or trellis. In late spring and mid-summer, it produces beautiful clusters of bright yellow orchid-like flowers that really pop against the dark green foliage.
One of the standout features of the Yellow Butterfly Vine is its papery pale green seed pods, which resemble tiny butterflies.
Growing Conditions: This vine enjoys well-drained soil, plenty of water, and regular pruning to maintain its shape. Ensuring the proper humidity and giving it a little fertilizer will help keep it thriving, making it a vibrant addition to your garden throughout the growing season.
Plant type: Perennial
Plant Size: Climbs 10-15 feet
Plant Zones: 8-11
Woodbine (Clematis virginiana)
Woodbine is a perennial vine native to eastern North America. It climbs by wrapping and twisting its leaf stalks around any available support, making it ideal for fences or trellises. This beautiful vine produces clusters of showy, fragrant white flowers in autumn, which attract a variety of pollinators. If left without support, the vine will scramble over the ground, creating a dense ground cover.
This vine is perfect for shaded areas where you want to add interest and fragrance. Its ability to cover large spaces makes it a great addition to any garden.
Growing Conditions: To keep Clematis virginiana thriving, ensure it is planted in well-drained soil and gets adequate water. Proper humidity and occasional pruning help maintain its shape, while a bit of fertilizer will encourage healthy growth.
Plant type: Perennial
Plant Size: Climbs 15-20 feet
Plant Zones: 3-8
Purple Bell Vine (Rhodochiton atrosanguineus)
The Purple Bell Vine is a tender perennial that is usually grown annually in cooler climates. Known for its dainty, green, heart-shaped leaves, which are often edged in burgundy, this vine adds a delicate beauty to any garden. The two-inch-long, bell-shaped flowers have a striking dark violet-pink colour with a deep maroon, clapper-like centre, and they hang gracefully from the stems throughout early summer into fall.
Growing Conditions: To keep Rhodochiton atrosanguineus thriving, plant it in well-drained soil and ensure regular water. Maintaining the right level of humidity and performing occasional pruning will help keep its shape. A touch of fertilizer can also enhance its flowering, allowing the vine to maintain its beauty throughout the growing season.
Plant type: Annual
Plant Size: Climbs 6-10 feet
Plant Zones: 8-10
Dutchman’s Pipe (Aristolochia macrophylla)
Dutchman’s Pipe is a deciduous vine known for its climbing and twining stems. It is an excellent choice for adding privacy to a patio, arbour, or porch. The vine has large, heart-shaped leaves that can grow up to 12 inches across, providing ample shade and coverage. The green and purple flowers are uniquely shaped like a pipe, giving the plant its distinctive name. It also has fast-growing foliage, which thrives in partially shady areas, helping to cover space in your garden quickly.
This fast-growing vine produces its yellowish-green petals and purple-brown lobes from May to August, making it an eye-catching addition to your yard.
Growing Conditions: To keep Aristolochia macrophylla healthy, plant it in well-drained soil and provide consistent water. Ensuring the proper humidity and occasional pruning will help it thrive. A little fertilizer can also boost its growth, allowing this vine to fill large spaces and add interest to shaded areas quickly.
Plant type: Perennial
Plant Size: Climbs 20-35 feet
Plant Zones: 5-8
Climbing Hydrangea (Hydrangea petiolaris)
The Climbing Hydrangea is a beautiful deciduous woody vine that is perfect for adding elegance to any garden. It climbs with the help of aerial rootlets along its stems, which easily attach to surfaces like a wall, fence, or even the bark of a tree. This vine can grow several feet from its supporting structure, making it an ideal option for covering large areas.
In late spring to early summer, the fragrant and large white flowers form flat-topped clusters that seem to blanket the vine, creating a stunning visual display. Additionally, the vine’s exfoliating bark provides unique winter interest when the flowers are not in bloom.
One of the things that makes Hydrangea Petiolaris so special is its versatility. This hardy climbing vine thrives in shaded areas. It is often prized for its delicate, lacy white flowers that can be trained to climb up walls, arbours, or trellises. It’s a perfect addition to any shaded garden, where its showy clusters of blooms can bring in vertical interest, especially in mid-to-late summer.
Growing Conditions: To keep Climbing Hydrangea healthy, plant it in well-drained soil with adequate water and humidity. Occasional pruning will help maintain its shape, and adding some fertilizer will encourage healthy growth and more vibrant blooms.
Plant type: Perennial
Plant Size: Climbs 30-50 feet
Plant Zones: 5-9
Japanese Hydrangea Vine (Schizophragma hydrangeoides)
The Japanese Hydrangea Vine (also known as Schizophragma hydrangeoides) is another excellent option for those seeking a different variety. This shade-loving vine is native to Japan, China, and Korea. It is well-known for its delicate, lacy foliage and abundant blooms.
The plant’s name comes from the Greek words “schizo,” meaning “split,” and “phragma,” meaning “fence,” which refers to the shape of its large papery bracts that surround its tiny delicate flowers. These unique blooms give the plant a striking appearance in the garden.
The Japanese Hydrangea Vine is a beautiful climbing vine that is closely related to the common climbing hydrangea but has its own unique charm. Sometimes referred to as false hydrangea, this vine stands out for its ability to bloom later in the season, offering a more extended period of enjoyment. Its branches tend to protrude less, giving it a much tidier appearance than its cousin.
Growing Conditions: To ensure healthy growth, the Japanese Hydrangea Vine needs proper growing conditions, including well-drained soil, regular water, and maintaining appropriate humidity. Occasional pruning helps to manage its shape, and a touch of fertilizer will encourage intense blooms and steady growth throughout the season.
Plant type: Perennial
Plant Size: Climbs 20 to 30 feet or more
Plant Zones: 5-8
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Trumpet Vine (Campsis radicans)
The Trumpet Vine is a vigorous and fast-growing vine that produces massive trumpet-shaped flowers in vibrant shades of deep orange, red, and bright yellow. These flowers grow in clusters of 4 to 12 and feature a striking yellow throat, making them an excellent choice for attracting pollinators like bees and hummingbirds. Campsis radicans blooms from summer to fall, adding colour to your garden over a long period.
While it is highly attractive, this vine has an aggressive growth habit. It can easily take over a space if not appropriately managed. It is considered an invasive species in some areas, so gardeners need to be careful when planting it. Its tendency to spread makes it ideal for covering large areas, but regular pruning is essential to control its growth.
Growing Conditions: With the right growing conditions, including well-drained soil, adequate water, and attention to humidity, the Trumpet Vine can thrive and become a favourite for gardeners who love its showy blooms and attractive foliage.
Plant type: Perennial
Plant Size: 20 – 40 feet tall
Plant Zones: 4-9
Boston Ivy (Parthenocissus tricuspidata)
The Boston Ivy is a fast-growing and hardy vine known for its ability to climb and attach itself to surfaces like walls, fences, and trellises using small adhesive pads on its tendrils. It’s a popular choice for covering large areas in a garden or adding greenery to vertical spaces. During spring, it produces clusters of small green flowers, which are subtle but add charm to its appearance.
One of the standout features of Parthenocissus tricuspidata is its glossy green leaves, which turn a vibrant red in the fall, offering seasonal colour changes. This vine’s resilience and ability to thrive in various growing conditions make it easy to maintain. It prefers well-drained soil and regular water, but it can tolerate a range of humidity levels.
Growing Conditions: To keep Boston Ivy looking its best, occasional pruning may be necessary to control its rapid growth, especially when it spreads too far. Applying a bit of fertilizer will ensure it remains healthy and lush, making it an excellent option for both small and large garden spaces.
Plant type: Perennial
Plant Size: 9 to 12 feet
Plant Zones: 4-8
Wild Potato Vine
The Wild Potato Vine is an interesting plant known for its tuberous roots, which you can roast and eat if you’re feeling adventurous. However, even if you don’t plan to cook it, this vine offers a lot of visual appeal. It produces large, round flowers with white petals and a striking pink-red center. The center of the flower forms a funnel that helps store pollen, making it a great addition to any garden space.
Growing Conditions: The Wild Potato Vine does best in well-drained soil with adequate water and proper humidity. Occasional pruning will help maintain its shape, and a little fertilizer will keep the plant healthy and encourage the growth of its beautiful flowers.
Plant type: Perennial
Plant Size: 15 – 30 feet tall
Plant Zones: 3-9
Climbing Roses
Climbing roses are a beautiful option for adding charm to your garden, especially in areas with light to moderate shade. Certain varieties tend to show richer colour when planted in shadier conditions than in full sun, where their hues may bleached. If you’re looking for the best plants to enhance arches or the front of your house, these roses are a natural choice to add to your wish list.
When planting roses in shady positions, it’s essential to consider factors like overhanging branches and dry places, which can create too much competition for water and nutrients from the roots of trees and shrubs. According to the experts at David Austin Roses, avoiding these conditions will help your roses thrive. A repeat-flowering variety like the English climbing rose ‘James Galway’ is a fantastic option for partly shaded areas, such as a north or east-facing wall. This light pink, medium-sized climber can grow up to 12 feet and brings with it an old rose fragrance that is simply delightful.
Growing Conditions: For growing conditions, ensure the soil is well-drained, provide enough water, and maintain proper humidity. Regular pruning will encourage healthy growth and blooming, and using a balanced fertilizer will keep the plant in top shape throughout the season.
Plant type: Perennial
Plant Size: up to 12 feet
Plant Zones: 7 – 10
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Chilean bellflower vine (Lapageria Rosea)
The Chilean bellflower vine, also known as Lapageria rosea, is a stunning twining climber that produces gorgeous dark rose-pink bell-shaped flowers. These flowers can grow up to 4 inches long, making them a striking feature in any shade garden. This vine grows best in full or partial shade, where it can easily climb a wall or trellis. It can reach up to 15 feet in height and provide excellent coverage for any space that can accommodate it.
The waxy, hothouse texture of its leaves gives the plant a unique appearance, making it a favourite in places like the San Francisco Bay area, where the climate suits it perfectly. This vine is hardy in USDA zones 9a to 11, and it can thrive as an evergreen climber in these regions. However, it needs protection from frost and extended cold, as these conditions can kill the plant.
Growing Conditions: To keep the Chilean bellflower vine healthy, ensure it is planted in well-drained soil with consistent water and maintained humidity. Occasional pruning will help it retain its shape, and a balanced fertilizer will keep it growing strong throughout the season.
Plant type: Perennial
Plant Size: up to 15 feet
Plant Zones: 9-11
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Final observations
Transforming shaded areas of your garden into vibrant, colorful spaces is easier with the right flowering vines. From fragrant climbers like Star Jasmine to unique species like Chocolate Vine, these plants bring beauty, texture, and wildlife to your outdoor sanctuary. With minimal maintenance, these shade-loving vines can elevate your garden’s design, creating vertical interest while filling empty spaces with lush greenery and blooms.
