Shaded walls can be seen as problematic for the gardener, but the good news is that a bare, unplanted, dark wall can be easily transformed overnight. It can become a green haven by planting a selection of shade-loving shrubs and climbers!
Climbers
Self-Clinging
Some climbers need no support at all as they use a special type of root called an ‘aerial root’, or suction pads to cling to the wall’s surface.
If you have a smallish space to fill, then look for plants that won’t get out of hand such as Hydrangea seemannii and shorter-growing ivies.
Some self-clinging ivies have variegated leaves which will help brighten the shady wall and are also evergreen so, if shorter-growing cultivars are chosen you should be able to plant and then just leave them to their own devices!
Hydrangea seemannii (Climbing Hydrangea)
As well as being self-clinging, this plant is also evergreen and will provide year-round interest. With the added advantage of greenish-white flowers over many weeks during the summer months. Water in well until established and you should be rewarded with a low-maintenance plant covering your wall in a few years’ time!
- Flowers from June to August
- Borderline hardy
- Grows to 10m tall and 3m wide
- Moist, well-drained soil
- Dappled shade
- Sheltered
Top Tip
This hydrangea actually requires shelter, so growing it up a shaded wall is perfect! Because they are prone to cold damage, this provides great protection for your plant.
Hedera colchica ‘Dentata Variegata’ (Ivy)
This ivy is a quick grower but doesn’t romp away to great heights. Its large leaves are bi-coloured mid-green and creamy-white and are perfect for lightening super shady areas. And it produces small yellow-green flowers followed by black berries during the autumn months.
- Flowers from June to July
- Hardy
- Grows to 4-8m tall and 3-4m wide
- Moist, well-drained soil
- Shade
- Exposed
Top Tip
Save money and buy smaller pots of plants. They will be less stressed by the lack of water around their roots as they establish, and often grow quicker than larger specimens.
If you have a large, space to fill and a very tall wall then there are self-clinging climbers that will reach heights of 10 metres or more! These are mainly ivies or virginia creepers but be warned they will romp away! Although Virginia creepers are deciduous, they have the added advantage of their leaves turning the most glorious shades of red and orange during autumn.
Parthenocissus quinquefolia (Virginia creeper)
This climber is super vigorous with pretty shape leaves that turn bright red and orange in the autumn along with blue-black berries.
- Inconspicuous flowers from June to July
- Hardy
- Grows to 12m plus tall and 4-8m wide
- Moist, well-drained soil
- Full shade to full sun
- Exposed
Fun Fact
This American ivy is otherwise known as ‘woodbine’, but you might not know that it is in the grape family. The fruit is attractive to birds, but not edible for humans.
Non-Clinging Climbers
There’s a much wider choice of climbers available for all sizes and heights of shady walls if you’re able to give the climber some form of support such as a trellis or horizontal wires attached to the wall. There are several cultivars of clematis and honeysuckle that will grow well on a shady wall.
Again, be careful to check the final height and spread as some, such as Clematis montana, can completely overwhelm the space and other plants growing near it.
Clematis ‘Carnaby’ (Clematis)
A deciduous climber that reaches a comparatively modest height of around two and a half metres. And produces pretty mauve-pink flowers with white markings during the summer months.
- Flowers from June to August
- Hardy
- Grows to 2m tall and 1m wide
- Moist, well-drained soil
- Part shade to full sun
- Sheltered
Fun Fact
The name ‘Clematis’ comes from Ancient Greek, and actually translates to “a climbing plant”. What a helpful name for this garden climber!
Lonicera periclymenum ‘Graham Thomas’ (Honeysuckle)
If you’re looking for a scented climber with a long flowering season, then ‘Graham Thomas’ is a good choice. Additionally, dark green leaves and white flowers turn to buff-yellow as they age, followed by red berries.
- Flowers from June to September
- Hardy
- Grows to 8m tall and 1.50m wide
- Moist, well-drained soil
- Part shade to full sun
- Exposed
Top Tip
If you have a large space to fill, consider plants such as Akebia quinata (the Chocolate Vine) or trachelospernum jasminoides (Star Jasmine).
Wall Shrubs
Although wall shrubs aren’t natural climbers, they can be easily trained to grow upwards against a shady wall without needing permanent support and, like climbers, there is a choice of both evergreen and deciduous shrubs. If space allows, they can also be grown as free-standing shrubs in front of the wall.
Pyracantha rogersiana ‘Flava’ (Firethorn)
An easy-to-grow evergreen shrub with shiny, dark green narrow leaves often grown for its bright colour berries that appear in the autumn months and are much loved by birds. It also produces creamy-white flowers during the summer months and tends to grow upwards quite quickly once established. This cultivar produces small, bright yellow berries.
- Flowers from June to July
- Hardy
- Grows to 2.5-4m tall and 2.5-4m wide
- Moist, well-drained soil
- Part shade to full sun
- Exposed
Fun Fact
The Firethorn is great for local wildlife! The flowers of the Pyracantha are great for attracting pollinating insects, while the dense growth gives nesting birds a great place to settle. The fruit that grow later are a wonderful food resource for these birds too.
Garrya elliptic ‘James Roof’ (Silk tassel)
Another evergreen shrub that thrives in a shady environment. This plant produces great, eye-catching, dangling, grey-green catkins about 20cm long during the late winter and early spring months.
- Flowers from December to March
- Borderline hardy
- Grows to 4m tall and 4m wide
- Well-drained soil
- Part shade to full sun
- Exposed
Top Tip
Evergreen plants with shiny or glossy leaves can make a dark space feel brighter.
Chaenomeles species ‘Geisha Girl’ (Japanese quince)
This deciduous shrub can easily be wall trained or alternatively left to its own devices. It has beautiful, semi-double, salmon-pink flowers which start to appear in the spring and then on and off until late summer. When established it can also produce scented yellow fruit which can be used to make quince jelly.
- Flowers from April to June
- Hardy
- Grows to 1.5m tall and 1.5m wide
- Moist, well-drained soil
- Part shade to full sun
- Exposed
Top Tip
This is a highly tolerant and easy to grow ornamental quince, and is later flowering than most other varieties. This means that it can provide interest and colour in your garden much later into the year! Just ensure to prune side-shoots after flowering.
Bulbs
Don’t forget to include pretty flowering, shade-loving bulbs at the base of the wall such as snowdrops, anemone blanda, and scented Lily of the Valley.
Finding plants for a shaded wall means that even the darkest parts of your garden are brightened up with ease. Make your garden more inviting by adding some colour to your under-utilised space.
For a small shaded spot that needs some colour:
Or check out my Pinterest board for more ideas:
David Domoney is a Chartered Horticulturalist, Broadcaster, and Author. David has worked with a number of the UK’s leading garden retailers as a plant buyer and strategic consultant. With more than 30 years experience, in horticulture, David is as passionate about plants now as he was when he bought his first plant at a village fete.
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