Host an Event Volunteer Join Tickets

Support the plant database you love!

Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?

A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.

Help us grow by giving to the Plant Database Fund or by becoming a member

Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?

Share

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

Search Smarty Plants
See a list of all Smarty Plants questions

Please forgive us, but Mr. Smarty Plants has been overwhelmed by a flood of mail and must take a break for awhile to catch up. We hope to be accepting new questions again soon. Thank you!

Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.

 
rate this answer
1 rating

Tuesday - May 07, 2013

From: Mobile, AL
Region: Southeast
Topic: Shade Tolerant, Vines
Title: Shade tolerant vines for Mobile AL
Answered by: Brigid & Larry Larson

QUESTION:

I am looking for an evergreen vine that will thrive in the shade in hot and humid south Alabama. I plan to plant on a trellis. A flowering vine would be even better.

ANSWER:

You’re in luck!   Hot & humid Alabama has several flowering native vines that will grow in shade.  I went to the Recommended List for Alabama, chose “Vines” as habit and “Partial Shade & Shade” as Light Requirement – and it returned these six choices.

Bignonia capreolata (Crossvine)
Gelsemium sempervirens (Carolina jessamine)
Lonicera sempervirens (Coral honeysuckle)
Passiflora incarnata (Purple passionflower)
Parthenocissus quinquefolia (Virginia creeper)
Wisteria frutescens (American wisteria)

If you honestly meant full shade [<2 hours sun] then Parthenocissus quinquefolia (Virginia creeper) and Wisteria frutescens (American wisteria) are still capable of thriving in that amount of light.

  You may want to also consider the vines climbing habit in addition to the kind and amount of blooms they produce.  For instance, Purple passionflower is famed for spreading aggressivly by root suckers.  There are  also several choices as to whether the vine grows into its support or attaches itself to it in some manner. All good things to consider before your choice is in the ground and growing vigorously.

 

From the Image Gallery


Crossvine
Bignonia capreolata

Carolina jessamine
Gelsemium sempervirens

Coral honeysuckle
Lonicera sempervirens

Maypop
Passiflora incarnata

Virginia creeper
Parthenocissus quinquefolia

American wisteria
Wisteria frutescens

More Vines Questions

Vine with red berries in North Carolina
November 04, 2011 - I found a plant/ vine pink teardrop with red berries in the Pusgah Forest in North Carolina and no on knows the name of it. I have a photo, can you help?
view the full question and answer

Removing spent flowers from passion flower in Garland TX
May 26, 2009 - To encourage more blooms, should I remove spent flowers on my passion flower vine?
view the full question and answer

Vines non-poisonous to dogs from Madison WI
June 09, 2013 - Are there any vines or crawlers that are non poisonous to dogs? Everything I am finding is poisonous, I want to plant some vines up a fence on their kennel run.
view the full question and answer

Blossoms but no fruit for gooseberries in Enoch UT
January 16, 2010 - My gooseberries always get loads of blossoms, but I never get fruit. I think they need more sun, and thus, want to transplant them to a sunnier location. What (and when) is the best way to do this?
view the full question and answer

Eliminating a briar vine in American holly
July 22, 2011 - I have a wild vine (I was told it is a type of briar) living on my place. The root nest is like a potato. I have dug them up, I have sprayed them and I still am plagued with them. I have a beautiful A...
view the full question and answer

Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today.