17 Gorgeous Flowering Vines That Grow in Shady Gardens

Today we will discuss 15 of our favorite flowering vines that grow in shaded areas in your garden.

Lately, we’ve been receiving questions if flowering vines can be grown in the shade. To answer it, it is a big YES.

Shade-loving flowering vines are not rare, more so difficult to grow. Most may prefer full sun but can equally bloom in shadier spots.

Most vines we know are sun lovers.

While it is true, it isn’t a lie that some vines grow well in areas with dappled light, receiving fewer hours of direct sun.

So, here’s the good news!

Some shade-loving vines can flourish under some freckled light from the tree canopy, brightly roofed arbors, and out of the sun parts of the garden.

Allowing some flowering vines to creep in your fence and Bower may soften the rough edges of it and at the same time add pretty attraction to your perimeter.

It will color the space you thought will go unused.

Without further ado, here’s the list of our favorite Flowering Vines That Grow in the Shade of your vicinity.

17 Fast Growing Flowering Vines For Shade

1. Yellow Passion Flower (Passiflora Lutea)

Yellow passionflower is a perennial, twining vine that can grow up to 15 feet in height. It is a complex plant producing yellow flowers in contrast to green foliage.

For more ideas on perennials, see our related posts:

• 30 Attractive Small Purple Perennial Flowers For Your Garden
• 34 Amazing Yellow Perennials for a More Beautiful Garden
• 20 Perennials For Shade That Bloom All Summer

They grow in abundance and bloom from August to September. The leaves turn yellow during fall.

They attract bees and butterflies but not deer who avoid it. The vine enjoys full sun but fully shaded spots as its shelter doesn’t hinder its growth.

It can survive in the low water supply as long as the soil is moist and drains well. It can be grown from seeds, cuttings, or divisions.

Care Guide

• Light exposure: Full sun, part shade, full shade
• Soil condition: Moist the has good drainage
• Flower color: Yellow
• Bloom time: Mid-summer – early fall
• Height: 5-15 feet
• Hardiness zone: 5-9
• Invasive: No but in warmer climates have the tendency

2. Dance Of Fire Climbing Rose (Danse Du Feu)

Rosa ‘Danse du Feu’ can bring the princess roaming around her garden feel.’

The rose climber can add magical beauty to your fence or trellis with its fragrant red blooms in contrast to green foliage.

The scent is sweet, and the fancy red roses climb up to 4 meters in height.

In summer and autumn, the rose blooms twice, provided by good care and meeting its simple requirements.

It grows best in full sun as well as in partly shaded locations in soil, preferably humus-rich. It must be moist and drains well.

The vine appreciates regular pruning and fertilizing.

Care Guide

• Light exposure: Full sun, part shade
• Soil condition: Moist, fertilized and has good drainage
• Flower color: Red
• Bloom time: Summer, autumn
• Height: 3-4 m
• Hardiness zone: 4-10
• Invasive: No

3. Trumpet Honeysuckle (Lonicera Sempervirens ‘Magnifica’)

The grit and allure of trumpet honeysuckle are the traits passed on by native honeysuckles. This shade-loving climber is showy of its fragrant, small flowers that usually have two tones.

The leaves are green on sturdy stems that can climb up to 10-20 feet.

The plant blooms every summer but can repeat flowering throughout the growing season.

Climbing honeysuckle grows best in full sun yet is tolerant of partial shade.

It will thrive in any soil condition with good drainage keeping it well watered and mulched.

Honeysuckle will greatly benefit from deadheading and pruning to stay productive yet controllable.

It is evergreen in warmer climates but deciduous to others.

Care Guide

• Light exposure: Full sun, part shade
• Soil condition: Moist, average and has good drainage
• Flower color: Yellow to bright red
• Bloom time: Summer
• Height: 6-15 feet
• Hardiness zone: 4-10
• Invasive: No

4. Climbing Hydrangea (Hydrangea Petiolaris)

I have this in our garden, and I can testify beauty of this flowering vine that blooms well in a shady area.

The climbing hydrangea features a bunch of white flowers that smell awesome from late summer to spring.

The flowers are in two sizes; the larger flowers surround the small flowers.

The leaves are green and heart-shaped.

The climber is a twining vine wrapping itself to the support structure it is near.

In the open, it enjoys full sun but can still thrive if sheltered especially during hot summers.

It is like its soil is moist and is draining well. If the soil is initially fertilized, it will benefit from it.

Much more, mulching will protect the moisture at a good level aside from being rich in the first place.

Care Guide

• Light exposure: Full sun, part shade
• Soil condition: Rich and moist
• Flower color: White
• Bloom time: Spring
• Height: 9-24 m
• Hardiness zone: 5-7
• Invasive: No

5. Star Jasmine (Trachelospermum Jasminoides)

A garden I recently visited as a wedding reception has a Star Jasmine arch.

It is very beautiful and smells amazing.

This shade vine is truly versatile.

I’ve seen it grow upright with the help of support but learned that it could twine and grow as undercover as well.

You have to prune it for about 18 inches above the ground. It is composed of abundant white flowers with glossy, green leaves.

Star Jasmine looks at its best in full sun but not during hot weather.

During high temperatures, it is best under partial shade.

It can tolerate many soil conditions keeping it moderately moist.

When it is fully established, it can survive a short drought.

Care Guide

• Light exposure: Full sun, part shade
• Soil condition: Moderately moist
• Flower color: White
• Bloom time: Late spring and summer
• Height: 25-30 feet
• Hardiness zone: 7b-10
• Invasive: Yes in warmer climates

6. Early Large-Flowered Clematis (Clematis ‘Nelly Moser’)

Clematis is regarded as ‘the queen of vines,’ and Nelly Moser is the most popular of this kind.

This Perennial vine blooms a profusion of light pink big flowers ranging to 20cm with a stripe of a darker pink shade and red-violet anthers.

The star-shaped flowers are in beautiful contrast to its green foliage.

They are easy to grow, fast growers, and most especially, beautiful.

Nelly Moser thrives in full sun but looks best when under partial shade.

It would only appreciate a few hours of direct sunlight with the exemption of hot summers.

Ideally, it should keep its head or flowers in bright space and its roots cool underground.

The soil must be draining well and moist for it to flourish truly.

Care Guide

• Light exposure: Full sun, part shade
• Soil condition: Moist, drains well
• Flower color: Pink with Carnation stripe
• Bloom time: Late spring to early summer, late summer to early fall
• Height: 8-10 feet
• Hardiness zone: 4-11
• Invasive: No

7. Chocolate Vine (Akebia Quinata)

The name pretty much implies that this vine is relatable to chocolates.

One, the blooms are purplish-brown that dangles from the green, glossy and five-leaf foliage.

Second, the flowers are chocolate-scented, making you miss your childhood a lot.

The sweetly fragrant flowers will, in turn to fruits that are edible but aren’t too delicious.

It is like its relative kiwi that has black seeds inside.

Akebia quinata, commonly known as the chocolate vine, is very shade tolerant despite doing well in full sun.

This flowering vine can be grown in the shade and still look its best.

The soil should have proper drainage, and it chooses Sandy, loam with rich nutrients.

It prefers warm climates but watering it regularly, more so during drought.

In cold winter, it can lose leaves but will eventually regrow.

Care Guide

• Light exposure: Full sun, part shade
• Soil condition: Sandy, loam with good drainage
• Flower color: Purplish-brown
• Bloom time: Spring
• Height: 15-40 feet
• Hardiness zone: 4-8
• Invasive: Yes

8. Carolina Jessamine Vine (Gelsemium Sempervirens)

The yellow Jessamine is a flowering vine native to the southeast of the United States.

The twining vine features a bunch of yellow flowers along with dense and glossy green leaves.

The flowers are fragrant are followed by a dose of seeds you can use for another batch of propagation.

Carolina Jessamine favors full sun but prefers to keep its roots under the soil cool.

It can survive short frost, but long cold winter can be fatal to the plant.

The Jessamine can tolerate drought but more when it is watered regularly during this hot weather.

It does best in full sun but can as well be in partial shade.

Care Guide

• Light exposure: Full sun, part shade
• Soil condition: Rich in organic matter soil that drains well
• Flower color: Yellow
• Bloom time: Spring, late winter
• Height: 20 feet
• Hardiness zone: 7-9
• Invasive: No

9. Chinese Wisteria (Wisteria Sinensis)

Chinese Wisteria hailed from China is a pea family member, evident from the pods appearing from its bloom.

The flowers are bluish-purple to lavender in color, fragrant, and typically in clusters.

But the catch is that waiting for the wisteria to flower may take a lot of patience- 20 years, perhaps?

It is worth the wait, though, because the drooping flowering vine lives a century.

The twining perennial has a good shade tolerance, although it does best under sunny areas.

It prefers slightly moist soil of average condition.

It does not need fertilizers once matured because it grows aggressive enough.

Hence, hard pruning is essential to keep it in check.

Care Guide

• Light exposure: Full sun, part shade
• Soil condition: Average soil type that drains well
• Flower color: Bluish-purple, lavender, mauve
• Bloom time: Mid-late spring
• Height: 65 feet
• Hardiness zone: 5-8
• Invasive: Yes

10. Yellow Butterfly Vine (Mascagnia Macroptera)

The evergreen vine gets its name by how the seeds look similar to a butterfly with its wings open.

It has green and glossy foliage with clusters of yellow flowers.

The vine climbs on trellis and fence but can also twine or use it as a ground cover.

The flowering vine can be grown in shady areas, but it also loves the full sun.

With its heat tolerance, it can fairly survive drought through regular watering during this dry weather, increasing its chance of flourishing.

The fast grower prefers moist and rich soil that is draining well.

It is winter tender and will need protection from winter frost.

Care Guide

• Light exposure: Full sun, part sun, part shade
• Soil condition: Rich, moist that drains well
• Flower color: Yellow
• Bloom time: Spring to fall
• Height: 15-20 feet
• Hardiness zone: 5-8
• Invasive: No

11. Angle Pods (Gonolobus Suberosus)

If some flowering vines like to show off their beautiful flowers, Angle pods do not.

It is a discreet vine with a small yellow-brown cluster of small flowers against a backdrop of green foliage. 

The leaves are heart-shaped which can grow up to 6 inches.

Unlike other members of the milkweed family, this vine has less popularity.

Also known as the Angular milk vine, the plant can be grown in areas with full shade.

It doesn’t get excited in the full sun much more if under direct sunlight.

When it comes to soil, it can tolerate any type, but organically rich and moist is best.

It is not good against winter and dies, but perennial will grow back when the warmer season comes.

Care Guide

• Light exposure: Part sun, part shade, full shade
• Soil condition: Average and organic
• Flower color: Yellow-brown
• Bloom time: Summer
• Height: 3 feet
• Hardiness zone: 5-9
• Invasive: No

12. Climbing Fuchsia (Fuchsia Procumbens)

Are you aware that fuchsias are also vines? Many aren’t.

The climbing fuchsia is a hardy vine that features tilted flowers of bright pink and long, green leaves.

Since flowers are drooping, it doesn’t invite many insects for its nectar. Usually, the insects near it pose a problem with its growth.

The plant can thrive in areas with the part sun, especially in hot climates.

It looks best both in partial shade or full shade location.

It prefers soil with good drainage and is consistently watered.

It will thrive on very short neglect but compensate by fertilizing it at least twice a month.

Care Guide

• Light exposure: Full sun, part shade, full shade
• Soil condition: Average with good drainage
• Flower color: pink
• Bloom time: Summer, fall
• Height: 3-8 feet
• Hardiness zone: 8-10
• Invasive: No

13. Creeping Myrtle (Vinca Minor)

The trailing flowering plant is commonly known as periwinkle.

The trailing flowering plant is one aggressive vine to watch out for in the garden.

Do not put your guard down on this vine that features purple flowers and dark green foliage.

Its ill behavior in the garden contrasts the beauty of this vine.

It is equally beautiful in sun or shady areas, but the latter producing less inflorescence.

It is not into rich soil, sand or clay will do.

The soil must be draining well in moist conditions.

Once established, Myrtle can tolerate drought. In extremely hot weather, mulching it to keep the roots in moist soil is better.

The mulch will also protect the roots during winter frost.

Care Guide

• Light exposure: Partial sun to full shade
• Soil condition: Poor to normal with good drainage
• Flower color: Purple
• Bloom time: Spring, summer
• Height: 3-6 inches
• Hardiness zone: 4-8
• Invasive: Yes

14. Purple Coral Pea (Hardenbergia Violacea)

Native to the southeast part of Australia, Purple coral pea is a rapid grower reaching 50 ft.

The twining vine easily wraps and climbs to trellis or fences even without training it to do so.

It produces strings of purple flowers that look similar to pea blossoms.

In warmer climates, the plant is evergreen, maintaining its color throughout the seasons.

Purple coral pea can be grown in areas with warm climates.

But on occasions when the temperature is especially high, instead of full sun, it will thrive in locations with partial shade.

It is actually a drought-tolerant vine but should be watered sporadically.

The vine prefers soil that is fertile, rich in humus, and drains well. Keeping it moist will help the plant establish itself faster.

Care Guide

• Light exposure: Full sun to partial shade
• Soil condition: Humus-rich, drains well, fertilized
• Flower color: Purple
• Bloom time: Late winter, spring
• Height: 4-6 feet
• Hardiness zone: 9-12
• Invasive: Yes

15. Dutchman’s Pipe Vine (Aristolochia Macrophylla)

Hidden beauty. The dense foliage of the Dutchman’s pipe can conceal the mahogany flowers, but you can still smell the fragrance from underneath.

What’s very interesting, the flowers under the wall of leaves resemble Dutch smoking pipes.

The large leaves are heart-shaped and can grow thick, enough to cover the fence and provide you the shade.

This vine is easy to grow also blooms well in the shade.

The mature height reaches 30 feet, and yearly pruning may keep it in check.

The vine is a fast grower, too, adding about 6 feet in length annually.

The soil must be well-draining and, if possible rich in nutrients too.

As much as possible, keep the soil moist, especially on long dry spells.

It will grow in full sun but can tolerate shade.

Care Guide

• Light exposure: Full sun to partial shade
• Soil condition: Rich in nutrients, moist, drains well
• Flower color: Green, brown
• Bloom time: Summer
• Height: 8-20 feet
• Hardiness zone: 4-8
• Invasive: Yes

16. Climbing Monkshood (Aconitum Hemsleyanum)

Fan of teen titans? You may find the flowers of this vine similar to Raven’s- a purplish hooded cape, thus its name and monicker.

Climbing monkshood has slender green stems that bloom dark violet flowers resembling a helmet or hood.

The 5 petals of each bloom overlap, forming a structure like the medieval monk hoods.

It is native to central and western China, where its twining stems climb in trees.

The garden will use the fence, trellis, or gazebo as its support when growing.

All parts of the plant are poisonous, so extreme caution must be observed during division.

Plants should be planted in a definite position as their roots dislike being disturbed.

It will grow on both sunny and shady areas in soil that have good drainage.

It prefers more if the soil is organically rich with humus too.

The plant will require medium attention since regular watering is advised.

Moreover, it does not attract deer too.

Care Guide

• Light exposure: Full sun to partial shade
• Soil condition: Organically humus-rich and drains well
• Flower color: Indigo
• Bloom time: Summer, fall
• Height: 6-10 feet
• Hardiness zone: 4-7
• Invasive: No

17. Canary Creeper Flowering Vine (Tropaeolum Peregrinum)

Canary as in birds? Yes, the vine derived its name from the birds because the flowers look like the open wings of the tiny yellow birds.

Canary creeper vines’ leaves have a relaxing shade of green, and the bright yellow flowers have the unique appearance of two big petals over three smaller ones.

It is native to South America and hardy to zones 9 and higher.

The twining vine is mostly grown in bright areas with shade.

The intense heat of the direct sun is not favorable in the plant’s growth, so it should be shaded from the midday/afternoon sun.

It prefers slightly acidic soil (similar to soils underneath pine trees) but not rich fertile areas.

Rather, it is in more adaptation to poor, dry soils. It is drought-tolerant too, but still, regular watering must be maintained to keep it flourishing.

Care Guide

• Light exposure: Full sun, part sun, part shade
• Soil condition: Neutral to slightly acidic, average condition
• Flower color: Yellow
• Bloom time: Spring, summer
• Height: 8-12 feet
• Hardiness zone: 5b
• Invasive: No

On Flowering Vines For Shade

After seeing the list, you may now realize that you can actually maximize your garden space when others regarded some fence as their dead end in growing plants.

Each flowering vine can be grown in the shade and give you a different appeal, but they share the same benefit for you.

They can tone down your rugged fence or trellis. It can even be your screen from being viewed unwantedly.

What are you waiting for? If you’ve got ‘a-not-into-full-sun’ area, grow the florescent creepers now.