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| I have a new privacy trellis and I'm trying to decide what vines to plant on it, it is in a spot that gets mostly dappled shade with a few hours of midday full sun. The practical side of me would choose Star Jasmine for the whole thing, while the more whimsical side of me desires a mix of trumpet vines, akebia, clematis, and shade tolerant roses. I also have several types of jasmine as well as some Woodbine honeysuckle that I could use. Should I go for uniform and evergreen, or a mix of different colored flowers at different times of the year?
Please help me choose!
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Follow-Up Postings:
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- Posted by tomatotomata 10 (My Page) on Wed, Aug 1, 12 at 19:48
| Different flowers at different times of year? Go for the whimsy! |
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- Posted by formandfoliage 9b (Sunset zone 15) (My Page) on Wed, Aug 1, 12 at 20:43
| Depends on how much upkeep you want/are willing to do. The Trachelospermum (star jasmine), in addition to being evergreen, is pretty much no muss, no fuss. Many of the others get leggy (especially in less than full sun), or are incredibly aggressive/sucker (like the trumpet vine), or need to be pruned or dead-headed with some regularity (the roses). So the whimsy is great if you have the time and inclination; if you have a large garden and/or are short on gardening time, you might want to go for the lower maintenance choice. Nice trellis, though! ps one other thought might be Clematis armandii, which is evergreen, fairly vigorous, and likes partial shade. Has glorious white bloom once a year and the glossy deep green leaves are attractive the rest of the time. |
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| I like Solanum jasminoides. Has a pretty white bloom and blooms throughout season. |
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- Posted by hosenemesis SoCal Sunset 19 USDA (My Page) on Thu, Aug 2, 12 at 16:11
| That's a beautiful trellis. You two really know how to do it right. In my experience, a mix of vines only looks good briefly, because the dominant vine swallows everything else up and you end up with a lot of dead plants. The trumpet vines and honeysuckle are rampant growers here and I got a wad of foliage at the top of my trellis that was eight feet thick and bare dead stuff underneath. Way too much labor for me to prevent that-the pruning meant no flowers. Akebia does not do well here so I can't comment on it. I drool over the pretty foliage, though. Most clematis require year-round moisture to do well. I grow three different types, Madame Julia Correvon( a viticella type), florida sieboldii, and Bees Jubilee (a large-flowered clematis) none of which thrive because I cannot provide them with enough moisture and sun. So that's a consideration. If you want clematis, I would plant a few different colors there with no competing plants. I believe they don't care for root competition. It sure would be a spectacular display once a year if they do well for you. If it was my garden, I would spray that trellis the same color as the roof and grow climbing roses on it in colors that will complement your house color- whites, pinks, reds. What fun. If all else fails, the jasmine is a lovely, green choice and it smells great. It would make quite a statement when it blooms, that's for sure. Great work, peachy. Renee
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- Posted by hosenemesis SoCal Sunset 19 USDA (My Page) on Thu, Aug 2, 12 at 17:49
| While I was outside I realized my comment about the color of your trellis sounded critical. I didn't mean it that way. I am suffering from slate-gray/black envy at the moment because my sister-in-law just got a new roof that color and painted her white patio roof to match. I'm smitten, and want elves to come here and do mine the same way. Renee |
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- Posted by peachymomo Ca 8 (My Page) on Thu, Aug 2, 12 at 20:58
| Thanks for the comments and complements, everyone! I'm afraid I'm not any closer to making a decision yet though ;oP Don't worry Renee, I didn't think your comment sounded critical, but I am one of those people who always balks at painting wood. We were planning on just letting it age naturally, like the redwood fence in front. There will be room in front of the trellis for a planting bed, it's an odd spot though because it is where the septic tank and grey water system are. I needed to come up with something that would allow access to the three different covers, so I've decided to do a 'spiral garden' with a mulch path. Here's the plan: |
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- Posted by formandfoliage 9b (Sunset zone 15) (My Page) on Fri, Aug 3, 12 at 23:42
| Clematis armandii is an evergreen version completely different from the deciduous ones (which are much more well-known). Google it and take a look. Lots of good ideas; your own preferences should dictate what you do! Have fun! Sara |
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- Posted by hosenemesis SoCal Sunset 19 USDA (My Page) on Sat, Aug 4, 12 at 2:59
| Nice plan, Peachy. Can you grow Garrya Elliptica there? I have always wanted to grow that up against a trellis. Renee |
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- Posted by peachymomo Ca 8 (My Page) on Sat, Aug 4, 12 at 12:16
| Clematis armandii and Garrya elliptica both look good, thanks for the suggestions! The trellis is lined up due east-west, with the northern side facing our property and the southern facing the neighbors, I'm wondering if that will effect who gets to see more blooms? In the winter the sun will be shining on the southern side more, do you think that might mean a winter blooming flower will have a showier display for the neighbor than for us? I know that if I planted daffodils there the trumpet would be facing away from us. Might that be a reason to go for a summer display over winter? Or is it something I shouldn't worry about? |
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| Star jasmine would definitely be a better choice for good foliage and flowers on both sides of the trellis. Other evergreen vines of similar easy growth and habit might include Clytostoma callistegioides, or Pink Jasmine/Jasminum polyanthum. While the Solanum jasminoides is especially fast and does bloom prolifically, in my opinion it looks a bit rangey and coarse after the first couple of years. You might also consider another summer blooming fragrant vine such as Mandevilla laxa, which could combine nicely with Star Jasmine and extend the summer bloom period. If you wanted some fast cover and outrageous color as a warm season annual vine, different color forms of Thunbergera alata can't be beat. |
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- Posted by formandfoliage 9b (Sunset zone 15) (My Page) on Sun, Aug 5, 12 at 9:51
| Be careful with the Garrya elliptica - it gets quite large (over 15' if happy). It starts slow but once established can really put on both height and breadth. There is a stand of 3-4 of them at a nursery around the corner from me that are at least that big and wide. They are stunning in bloom, very nice the rest of the year. Just make sure to give it enough space. I have never done well with Jasminum polyanthum - it gets enormous, ends up with very woody stems and much dead material inside. Works best in a very large space or when frequently refreshed. The scent is heavenly but I've found it too aggressive and taken out the two that I had. It continues to come up so I am still fighting it! |
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- Posted by peachymomo Ca 8 (My Page) on Tue, Aug 7, 12 at 14:16
| Clytostoma callistegioides is gorgeous, I might have to go with that one... I love the color of the scarlet trumpet vines but if lavender is better in the long run I think it's the one I should plant. I wonder if it would look good to plant star jasmine on the shadier side and lavender trumpet vines on the sunnier side? |
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- Posted by formandfoliage 9b (Sunset zone 15) (My Page) on Tue, Aug 7, 12 at 16:41
| They'll all gravitate to the light so you'll end up with 'tweed', which is more or less what you started with in your first post! |
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| It's been my experience that both Trachelospermum and Clytostoma are two vine choices that will bloom equally well on the shady side of a trellis as compared to most others. Distictis buccinatorius is a bit too rampant growing if you don't have lots of space. |
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