Climbing Hydrangea

Climbing hydrangeas, often unknown except for the classic Petiolaris, offer a beautiful range of climbing plants for shade. Self-climbing (they cling by themselves with their small climbing roots), they even flower in north-facing positions and elegantly decorate a poorly exposed wall, fence, or tree trunk. Choose Petiolaris for its beautiful white flowering umbels, Seemanii for the persistence of its shiny foliage, or Semiola, a recent cross-breeding of the two that combines their best features. Also consider Schizophragmas hydrangeoides, cousins of climbing hydrangeas, which require planting in peaty soil but are very vigorous.