So, there’s this wall at the end of our courtyard. It’s actually another building – BC Fur, a small family-run business that, despite my father-in-law’s “jokes,” doesn’t deal in neighbourhood cats. To my relief, they only wash sheepskins. Or so I’m told. Anyhow, there’s this blank, north-facing wall (shown above around Halloween, obviously) that I’d love to grow a vine against – and I need your advice in choosing one. Here are my requirements:
- shade-tolerant
- preferrably evergreen
- have flowers or berries or interesting colour
- vigorous growth
- self-supporting Commenters have noted that this wouldn’t be good for my neighbour’s building. I haven’t asked permission to attach a trellis, but let’s assume I can.
I’m considering Akebia quinata (Chocolate vine) and Parthenocissus tricuspidata (Boston Ivy), however, I don’t know that Akebia will do well in shade – or grow tall enough. Boston ivy, of course, doesn’t meet my evergreen requirement. Sigh… Any suggestions?
Hate to be a downer… but if you’re growing a self-supporting vine, it’s holding on by digging itself into your neighbors building and slowly chewing it apart. Which is not nice. It might take quite a very long time to actually cause the building to collapse, but it will weaken it. Ivy is evil!
I agree with Joel. I would be seriously mad at anyone who grew a vine against my house as I have had to struggle each year to keep vines from reattaching. They are evil, they don’t go away and they’ll take over.
Hmmm. Yes, I guess that’s true. And this may be evil (bwah ha ha ha) but I don’t know if I care. That building will be gone in a few years anyway.
But trying to be nice, then, if I can attach a trellis to the building, what then?
Boston Ivy will probably still attach to the wall even if there is a trellis. It would do almost no structural damage, it attaches with little adhesive feet rather than burrowing in, but it will leave marks on the wall that are almost impossible to remove.
Have you considered potted trees at the end of the path instead of vines? Some ornamental Arbortitae may look nice as an evergreen screen.
Pyracantha? They have lovely berries in winter. It’s not a climber, and it won’t attach itself to anything. But it grows quite tall fairly quickly.. that is, if you think 2 years is quick.
Oh yeah! That would look nice. :)
What a beautiful canvas to work on! You would not believe what I bought yesterday:
10 column cyprus (and ordered 100 more…gulp. I wanted Leland cyprus but they don’t seem to have them)
50 bougainvillea (in a rose color)
35 agave plants
Then I ordered samples of lemon, orange, and mandarine trees. Wishing you were here to advise!
Bamboo!
Timber or Black Bamboo would look great. Both are clumping, so they will not rip your area apart.
It would be good to create a planter to add to the height and the modern look as well.
Well it certainly appears like a functional place to sit… Personally I think the height of the building is a bit overwhelming line to it… I would perhaps construct an arbor over the bench to contend with the building.. Perhaps (I like color too) grow maybe a climbing rosebush that is low maintenance such as an old standby like Joseph’s coat perhaps? I like it because it changes color perpetually… It also is perpetually in bloom for me as well.. Just a thought..? For some reason this area looks a bit drab maybe there are things planted there that bloom later and produce color throughout the year? I think Ivy is a bit overused these days..and quite invasive to boot. Not only will it climb the wall madly it will also invade the surrounding landscape as well. If you really want invasive but a neat tidy look, guaranteed to climb up the building and then some.. go for ficus pumila..Definitely evergreen and substantially aggressive! Just my 2 cents -