Green Porch Evergreen Vine Ideas

For Full Sun

• Full-sun exposures receive at least six hours of direct sunlight between the hours of 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. during the summer. The Lady Banks rose (Rosa banksiae) grows best in full sun exposures. This climbing evergreen requires some support and grows to 15 feet long. It blooms with fragrant, yellow flowers in the spring and has thornless stems. Hardy to zone 9, the Cape leadwort (Plumbago auriculata) grows to 15 feet long and thrives in sunny, well-draining sites. This evergreen needs support to climb. It blooms from the summer through autumn with pale-blue blossoms.

For Light Shade

• Sites that receive two or three hours of shade or a shifting mix of sun and shade all day long are lightly shaded. The cross vine (Bignonia capreolata) grows well in lightly shaded sites and reaches lengths of 50 feet. This evergreen climbs using twining tendrils and adhesive holdfasts. This native vine flowers with scented, red-orange blossoms in summer and is hardy in zones 6 through 9. The cruel vine (Araujia sericifera) grows best in lightly shaded sites in zones 8 through 9. Often grown as an annual or in containers, this evergreen reaches lengths to 30 feet and climbs by twining. It blooms with aromatic, white-pink flowers and thrives in moist sites.

For Partial Shade

• Partially shaded sites receive an equal combination of sun and shade all day long or two to three hours of direct sun. Carolina jasmine (Carolina jasmine) is hardy in zones 7 through 9 and climbs by twining. This native evergreen blooms with aromatic, yellow, spring flowers and grows to 20 feet long. It grows well in partial shade and tolerates wind and drought. The Armand clematis (Clematis armandii) also thrives in partial shade. This twisting vine produces fragrant white blooms in late spring and has glossy, dark foliage. It is hardy in zones 7b through 9 and grows best when its roots are shaded.

For Full Shade

• Sites in full shade only receive indirect or reflected light. The smilax (Smilax lanceolata) tolerates fully shaded sites. This evergreen grows quickly to 30 feet long and climbs with twining tendrils. The smilax is grown for its lustrous foliage and is hardy in zones 6 through 8. Algerian ivy (Hedera canariensis) thrives in full shade and is hardy in zones 7b through 8. Grown for its foliage, Algerian ivy has large, glossy foliage that sometimes turns coppery in winter. This 30-foot long vine climbs using aerial rootlets.