The Best Fast-Flowering Climbers for Shade: Perennials and Annuals to Try on a Trellis
Climbers in the shade sounds like a contradiction. But if you’ve ever stood in a dim corner of the garden and wished something leafy, fast-growing, and preferably in bloom would rise up and soften a wall or fence, you’re not alone.
One of our members recently asked:
“What is the best fast perennial trellis climber that will flower in mostly shade? Or even an annual?”
And it’s a brilliant question. Shade gardening so often focuses on groundcovers, ferns, and woodland textures, but climbing plants can bring height, romance, and vertical interest, even where the sun is in short supply.
Let’s explore some of the best climbers for these trickier spaces, both perennial favourites and fast annuals that can give you a full season of colour.
Perennial Climbers That Flower in Shade
These are your more long-term players plants that will return year after year, often growing stronger and fuller with time. A few may start slowly but reward you handsomely if you’re patient.
1. Climbing Hydrangea (Hydrangea anomala subsp. petiolaris)
One of the best climbers for true shade. This beauty clings naturally to walls and fences with aerial roots and produces lace-cap white flowers in early summer. While it’s slow to establish, once it finds its feet, it’s surprisingly vigorous and requires very little attention. The peeling bark and textured leaves add interest even when they are not in flower.
Best for: Deep or bright shade
Height: Up to 10–15m over time
Bonus: Great for wildlife and architectural structure
2. Clematis alpina & Clematis macropetala
Not all clematis like shade, but these early-flowering types can cope well in partial or dappled shade. Their nodding, bell-shaped flowers appear in spring, often in mauve, blue, or pink, and the fluffy seed heads are a bonus later in the year.
Best for: Partial shade or bright dappled light
Height: 2–3m
Bonus: Delicate, woodland feel without overpowering growth
3. Evergreen Honeysuckle (Lonicera henryi)
Unlike the more common, sun-loving honeysuckles, this species is better suited to part shade and offers evergreen foliage in milder climates. The flowers are dusky red to purple and slightly fragrant, blooming through summer. It grows fast and provides excellent leafy cover for fences and trellises.
Best for: Light or partial shade
Height: 6–8m
Bonus: Quick coverage with a light fragrance
4. Akebia quinata (Chocolate Vine)
If you’re after speed and flowers, Akebia is your friend. This underused climber has delicate, five-lobed leaves and deep purple, vanilla-scented flowers that bloom in spring. It can grow fast, sometimes too fast, so give it space or keep it trimmed.
Best for: Bright shade or part shade
Height: 6–9m
Bonus: Exotic scent and bold growth
Annual Climbers That Tolerate Shade
While many annual climbers prefer full sun, a few can cope (and even thrive) in part shade, especially if they’re getting at least 3–4 hours of light. These options offer instant gratification and seasonal charm.
1. Sweet Peas (Lathyrus odoratus)
While traditionally sun-lovers, sweet peas can still perform in partial shade, especially older heritage types with longer blooming periods. You may get fewer flowers, but their scent and colour are still well worth the effort.
Best for: Bright shade or morning sun
Height: 1.8–2.5m
Bonus: Unbeatable fragrance
2. Black-eyed Susan Vine (Thunbergia alata)
With bright orange or yellow blooms and dark centres, this cheerful vine can thrive in warm, sheltered, part-shade spots. It’s a tender annual in the UK but grows quickly and blooms over a long period.
Best for: Sheltered partial shade
Height: 1.5–2m
Bonus: Instant tropical flair
3. Nasturtiums (Tropaeolum majus)
More of a rambler than a true climber, nasturtiums will scramble up supports with a little guidance. In shade, their foliage is often larger and lusher, while flower production may be slightly reduced but still colourful and cheery. They’re edible, too!
Best for: Light shade
Height: 0.5–1.5m with support
Bonus: Easy to grow and attract pollinators
Understanding Shade and Expectations
“Shade” isn’t always the same from one garden to the next. Climbers that flower generally prefer:
- Bright shade – where there’s lots of ambient light but no direct sun
- Dappled shade – beneath deciduous trees
- Part shade – morning sun or afternoon shade
Very few climbers will bloom freely in deep, dry shade (like under conifers), but with the right plant in the right place, you can create lush vertical interest and colour, even in a less sunny spot.
Final Thoughts
If you’ve got a shady wall or trellis that feels bare and forgotten, don’t write it off just yet. There’s a whole world of climbers subtle, scented, or bold that will rise to the challenge.
Start with one or two. Watch how they respond to the light. And don’t forget, sometimes the real joy of shade gardening is in the foliage leaves that shimmer, twist, and catch the light in ways flowers never can.
Happy Gardening