Even though most vines require many hours of direct sunlight for best growth and bloom during the summer, there are a few vines that favor shady garden areas. Vines that flourish in shady areas may do equally well in wet soil, average moisture or dry conditions. The vines can be grown on trellises and pergolas, around patios and decks, under trees, and directly on walls.

Many plants with variegated leaves lose the richness of the variegation in the shade.  A great example of a popular vine that holds the bright contrast of green and white on its leaves is Variegated Japanese Star Jasmine. This Jasmine will tolerate a wide range of shade and soil moisture for everything except full sun.

Some of the vines for shady conditions are native plants which frequently helps the plants have more natural disease resistance, be more insect resistant and salt tolerant. A widely used low-maintenance native vine is Virginia Creeper. Interestingly, Boston Ivy isn't native. This Ivy is from Japan but got the common name for its toughness in blanketing the walls of many old homes and buildings in Massachusetts and New England with the rugged weather conditions there. A much less well-known native plant for dark areas that also tolerates a wide range of conditions is Carolina Moonseed.  It ranges naturally from the hot, high-humidity summer of Virginia, Georgia and Florida to the cold, dry winters of Illinois all the way to the baking heat and intense winter storms of Texas. Many of these vines also have lovely fall or Autumn leaf colors, or beautiful fruits. 

To view learn more about vines that grow in full shade, please visit Virtual Plant Tags.