Scaling Obscure Structures: Wall or Fence Ascents
Shady walls and fences are no obstacle to creating a stunning garden! Here's a list of 10 magnificent perennials that will transform your north and east-facing boundaries:
Perennials for Shade aficionados
Even with dimmer lighting, north and east-facing walls can be bursting with life! Some perennials will flourish on an east-facing border that receives sunlight part of the day, while others can endure full shade. Let's explore the top picks:
- Rosa 'Wedding Day': A charming, fast-growing rose that's perfect for embracing house walls or boundaries in partial shade. It prefers moist, well-drained soil, thrives in poor soil, and appreciates space to grow.
- Ivy: This hardy evergreen can thrive in the darkest corners, with Hedera helix sporting lustrous, dark-green leaves, and the variegated forms providing a pop of light. Consider the alternative, Boston Ivy, for a beautiful addition.
- Honeysuckle: With a delightful fragrance, honeysuckles such as "Lonicera periclymenum" 'Serotina' (pictured) make excellent climbers for walls and fences, and many varieties can tolerate shade.
- Star Jasmine: The dainty, highly fragrant flowers of star jasmine, "Trachelospermum jasminoides", shine on an east-facing wall that gets some sun during the day.
- Viticella Clematis: Tough and fast-growing, these climbers can cover walls and fences quickly, even in partial shade. They prefer cool, moist roots and have many varieties available.
- Chinese Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus henryana): This vibrant, fast-growing climber adds a touch of freshness to north- or east-facing boundaries when the nights get chilly.
- Clematis alpina: Despite its delicate appearance, Clematis alpina is quite hardy and can tolerate a reasonable amount of shade. Plant it for graceful spring flowers cascading over a fence or a low wall.
- Clematis x durandii: Stunning indigo blooms greet you all summer with this shrubby clematis. Its stems may scramble rather than climb, so tie them to supports as they grow.
Garden Enrichment Tips:
As you design your shady oasis, consider incorporating hostas, lily of the valley, ferns, bergenia, ligularia, Brunera 'Queen of Hearts', spiderwort, astilbe, and hellebores for more variety. These perennials not only create a visually pleasing backdrop but also contribute to a balanced and thriving garden ecosystem along north- and east-facing walls and fences. Happy gardening!
Incorporating the 'Honeysuckle' and 'Clematis alpina' into your home-and-garden can enrich your lifestyle, as they make excellent choices for shady areas, particularly east-facing walls. The honeysuckles' fragrant flowers can thrive in these conditions, while the Clematis alpina can offer graceful spring blooms even in partial shade.
