kimbo_frog Posted April 21, 2009 Share Posted April 21, 2009 I have a large brick wall at the end of my garden and in front is a very slim garden bed. I am so fed up looking at the bricks so Ive added some trellis and last year planted some passionflower as this was a easy way of filling the area quickly.... But its not growing!!...It plagues my other-halfs mum's garden...but not mine... so I still have a horrible wall to look at.... Its in shade for all of the day as our garden faces south... So I need some advice on what to grown here?? I want something that wont spread outwards as its next to the path of the raised beds... anything that would also produce something would be brilliant, but I cant think of anything myself... help me please!!....relieve me of this boring wall..... Thank you in advance Kim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperwife Posted April 21, 2009 Share Posted April 21, 2009 what about some runner beans then you get a covered wall and some dinner if you want flowery things, climbing plants? what about jasmine? or a rose, you can get some climbers that grow crazy fast. Ivy? what about a fruit tree, like espailed, you know, the "spread out on a wall" style ***these*** if you were artistic, you could paint a big picture cathy x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 21, 2009 Share Posted April 21, 2009 fruit canes or peas? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted April 21, 2009 Share Posted April 21, 2009 How about Clematis Armandii? its evergreen and very pretty Click on the link below for a pic (far down the page) this nursery (in Horsham) is the most amazing place in the whole world, I used to drive hours to it just for one plant - don't look further or you will be hooked in oh and the loo is suspended above a beautiful valley full of tropical plants (its in a wooden house!) Other suppliers are available! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kimbo_frog Posted April 21, 2009 Author Share Posted April 21, 2009 Lots of lovely ideas there thank you everyone!! I did think of a "muriel" lol....but decided against it as the wall is made of breeze blocks so not the best medium to paint on and if it all went wrong Id have a wall of peeling paint... I already have a run of runner beans and also french beans. I did think about fruit canes but was worried that as its in shade for the whole day they might not like it.. I already have a wall of ivy along the side of the patio and a small section of honeysuckle... I may have another search on fruit as I would love one of those trained fruit trees but if they didnt like the shade, Id end up losing alot of money... keep coming with the ideas girls!!... Kim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted April 21, 2009 Share Posted April 21, 2009 Homebase have some apple and pear trees in at the moment many of which have some great horizontal shoots - they are just asking to be trained! they are £9.99 and about 4-5ft tall Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted April 21, 2009 Share Posted April 21, 2009 If it's in shade, fruit trees might not do well. I'd definitely plant a Clematis - get a 'group 3' one that you cut back quite heavily after flowering, and then you can have something else for the rest of the year. You could have a couple of clematis with different flowering times. What about some bulbs at the base, for spring interest, and some hellebores. Things that grow well in shade are dicentra (bleeding heart), and aquilegia will grow almost anywhere. Foxgloves and hellebore will grow well in shade too. You could find a climbing rose? there are some that will do ok in shade; or a climbing hydrangea would be good. I've got a golden hop that's in quite a shady area, ivy will grow like mad, of course. Or there's always Virginia Creeper, that will cover the wall in no time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparkysmum Posted April 21, 2009 Share Posted April 21, 2009 Brilliant suggestions Ollie, got it covered I think Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cloud Posted April 22, 2009 Share Posted April 22, 2009 If you go for the clematis idea you could mix it (or them) with a Winter Jasmine. We have one mixed with our clematis and the both doing well in the shade. The Jasmine flowers late in the Autumn and seems to hold on for quite a time through winter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenanne Posted April 23, 2009 Share Posted April 23, 2009 You need to make sure that whatever you get will do well in shade. Also, walls create a "rain shadow" at the base: the wall shelters the bed below from rain water. So you need to either water religiously or plant something which will tolerate dry shade. There's a really brilliant tool on the RHS website, called "plant selector". You chose from drop-down boxes all the features you want the plant to have, and it returns a bunch of options, which pictures. The fewer details you give, the more results you get, so is probably worth starting with climber, dry, north facing, and the height and spread and seeing what you get. I can't post the link, but if you google Royal Horticultral Society then you'll find the website. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kimbo_frog Posted April 23, 2009 Author Share Posted April 23, 2009 thanks chickenanne I forgot about using the selector!! seems as tho the virgina creeper type plant is the best... so will have a look at the gardencentre at weekend still tempted by a trained fruit tree for elsewhere though... Thanks for everyones input!! hopefully it wont be long til I have a much nicer wall to look at... Kim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eggypeggy Posted April 24, 2009 Share Posted April 24, 2009 Hydrangea peteolaris is a classic for a shady wall, needs no support as it has adheres to the wall like Ivy (gorgeous clusters of white flowers) or Ivy, that'll grow anywhere and covers v quickly. Virginia creepers are good looking too and spread well with no support. Like chicken anne said it could be that your plant needs more water. Always plant 30-40cm away from a wall so it's not so dry and plenty of mulch for water retention, maybe try replanting the passion flower. It probably does like the sun though. Fruit trees really do need the sun though, least of all to ripen the fruit. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted April 24, 2009 Share Posted April 24, 2009 You could also put a mirror on the wall amongst the climbming plants. Or an old station clock. Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
